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MAT 103A
College Algebra (Part I)
Fall 2011
Instructor:
Bruce Armbrust, phone: 541-4660x314, email:
bruce.armbrust@hotmail.com
Office Hours:
Room A210, Mon. & Wed.
Thurs.
MSC A201, Tues.
Fri.
And as always, by appointment.
Class Time and Location:
Tues. & Thurs.
Textbook:
Precalculus,
Michael Sullivan and Michael Sullivan III, 5th Edition
Required Software:
It is required to have a software license to use the software MyMathLab
in this class. You must have a valid e-mail address to use the on-line
curriculum.
Students have two choices. The first
choice is to purchase the textbook from the bookstore. The
textbook comes with the software license. Note:
If you purchase a used textbook, it may not have a valid course access
code. Be VERY careful when
acquiring the text. The
second choice is to purchase the license alone either from the bookstore
or online at
pearsonmylabandmastering.com. The license gives you access to the
textbook online. This is a more economical choice, but is only recommended
to students who have online access and feel comfortable reading a computer
screen instead of a traditional book.
To access our class page,
go to
pearsonmylabandmastering.com and register using your student access code and
the course ID for this class:
armbrust18448
For assistance with MyMathLab:
You may get help by calling 1-800-677-6337 during the following hours: Mon Fri
Course Description:
MAT 103A provides an in-depth coverage of functions: polynomial and rational
functions, their graphs and finding solutions and zeros of polynomial functions.
Special emphasis will be placed on application problems and the use of
calculators.
Prerequisite:
Mat 154A or Mat 154AA with a grade of C or better or equivalent or appropriate
skills demonstrated through the math assessment process.
Corequisite:
Mat 153 or equivalent or appropriate skills demonstrated through the math
assessment process. Prior
completion of Mat 153 with a grade of C or better also satisfies this
corequisite.
Calculators:
A graphing calculator is required for this class.
I will be demonstrating with the Texas Instruments-89.
I will do my best to assist with other models, but I promise nothing.
Student Learning Outcomes: 1.
Produce and interpret graphs of functions and relations.
Course Grade:
Your final letter grade will be based on the usual grading scale:
A 90-100%, B 80-89%, C 70-79%, D 60-69%, F 0-59%
The following items will make up the course grade:
Homework:
10%
Quizzes:
15%
Exam1 (October 11)
Exam2 (November 1):
45%
Exam3 (November 22)
Final Exam (December 6):
30%
You may check your grades at any point in the quarter by accessing the grade
book in MyMathLab.
Homework:
Homework is to be completed online with MyMathLab.
Each section covered will have a homework assignment.
The homework assignments will be due at
Quizzes:
Each week you will be required to take a quiz on MyMathLab.
The quizzes are designed to help you prepare for exams, and will be made
up of problems that are very similar to the problems from your homework
assignments. The quizzes may be
taken as often as you would like before the due date/time.
Your lowest quiz score will be dropped.
Because of this, there will be no make-up quizzes.
Exams:
All exams will be given in two sections: one portion will allow
calculators while the other will not.
If you cannot make it to an exam (final not included), you may take it up
to 2 school days prior to the scheduled date with proper arrangements.
Otherwise, the exam may be made up after the scheduled date with a
penalty of 10% per day. The final
must be taken by December 6th.
Registration Information:
You may drop the class with no penalty or mark on your record on or before
October 14. After October 14, you
may drop the class and receive a grade of W until November 4.
After November 4, if still enrolled, you will receive a grade of A, B, C,
D, F or I.
How to Succeed in a Math Class:
I am often asked how to successfully pass a math class, and here is my advice:
I) Come to every class session. Be
prepared, and plan on participating.
II) Do your homework. Remember that
what I assign is what I consider a bare minimum.
If you need more practice, do it.
Dont make me be a homework enforcer.
III) Read the book. You paid good
money for it, so you might as well use it.
IV) Make use of available tutors and my office hours.
You will find tutors who know the subject matter in this course at the
MSC.
V) Do math every day. Math is just
like everything else: if you dont practice, you become rusty.
Learning Disabled Students:
Students with disabilities who may need accommodations for this class are
encouraged to notify me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) early
in the quarter so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as
possible. Students may contact the DRC by visiting the Center (located in
room A205) or by phoning 541-4660, ext. 249 (voice) or 542-1870 (TTY for deaf
students). All information will remain confidential.
Technology in the Classroom:
All cell phones, headphones, MP3 players, iPods, etc, must be turned off and put
away prior to the start of each class.
No electronic devices (other than calculators) may be used during exams.
Academic Dishonesty:
Academic dishonesty of any form will not be tolerated.
Students caught cheating on exams or quizzes will receive a score of zero
on the assignment and all dropping of lowest exam or quiz scores will be
forfeit. Students may work together
on homework assignments (and, in fact, are encouraged to) as long as all
students understand the material covered.
Course Schedule:
The following is a tentative schedule.
If things change (and I have money that says they will), I will let you
know.
September
20
1.1, 1.2
Cartesian Coordinate System, Intercepts, Symmetry
22
1.3, 1.4
Solving Equations using Calculator, Lines
27
1.5, 2.1
Circles, Functions
29
2.1, 2.2
More on Functions and their Graphs
October
4
2.3, 2.4
Properties of Functions, Piecewise-defined Functions 6
2.5
Transformations of Functions 11
Exam I 13
2.6
Modeling Using Functions 18
3.1
Linear Functions and Models
20
3.2
Building Linear Models from Data
25
3.3
Quadratic Functions
27
3.4
Building Quadratic Models from Data
November
1
Exam II
3
3.5
Inequalities Involving Quadratic Functions
8
4.1
Polynomial Functions and Models
10
4.2
Properties of Rational Functions
15
4.3
Graphs of Rational Functions
17
4.4
Polynomial and Rational Inequalities
22
Exam III
24
NO SCHOOL
Thanksgiving
29
4.5
Real Zeros of Polynomials
December
1
4.6
Complex Zeros of Polynomials
6
Final Exam
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