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MAT 154A, Section 4 Intermediate Algebra Fall 2011
Instructor:
Wynn Walker, email: wlwalker326@gmail.com
Office Hours:
To be announced
Class Time and Location:
Tues. & Thurs. 6:00 - 7:50 PM, E106
Textbook (Optional):
Beginning and Intermediate Algebra,
4th Edition, Elayn Martin-Gay
Required Software:
It is required to have a software license to use the software MyMathLab
in this class. The coursecompass course ID for this class is
walker07496.
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. The second choice
is to purchase the license alone either from the bookstore or online at
coursecompass.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. If you purchase a used textbook, you will also need to
purchase the software license. If you have already purchased software
for Mat 152A or Mat 152B for this textbook, you may also use it for this class
at no extra cost.
For assistance with MyMathLab:
You may get help by calling 1-800-677-6337 during the following hours: Mon Fri
5:00 AM 5:00 PM & Sunday 2:00 PM 9:00 PM. Online assistance is available 24
hours every day at: 247pearsoned.custhelp.com
Calculator:
A scientific calculator is required for this course. Graphing calculators
will not be allowed on exams.
Course Description:
MAT 154A is a continuation of MAT 152B and covers functions and inverses,
exponential and logarithmic functions, sequences and series, and conic sections,
quadratic equations, and systems of quadratic equations.
Prerequisite:
A grade of C or better in MAT 152B, or appropriate skills demonstrated through
the Math assessment process.
Student Learning Objectives:
1. Apply the course topics to real-world situations.
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:
15%
Quizzes:
10%
Exam1 (October 11)
Exam2 (November 1):
50%
Exam3 (November 17)
Final Exam (December 6):
25%
You may check your grades at any point in the quarter by accessing the grade
book on Course Compass.
Homework:
Homework is to be completed online with MyMathLab. Homework will be
assigned daily and will be due by midnight after the next class period. If
a homework assignment is not completed on time, a Late Homework Assignment may
be requested. This assignment will be accepted for half credit up to a
week after the original due date. To access our class page, go to
www.coursecompass.com and register
using the course ID: walker07496
and your student access code.
Quizzes:
Each week you will be required to take a quiz on MyMathLab. The quiz will
be made up of problems that are very similar to the problems from your homework
assignments. Quizzes must be completed by midnight Tuesday. The
quizzes may be taken as often as you would like before this time. However,
your most recent score will be the score entered into the grade book. So
be aware that your score can go down if you retake the quiz. Your lowest
quiz score will be dropped. Because of this, there will be no make-up
quizzes
Exams:
Students are to bring a pencil and blank scratch paper to each exam. 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.
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.
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.
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 Math Success Center (MSC).
V) Do math every day. Math is just like everything else: if you dont
practice, you become rusty.
Technology in the Classroom:
All cell phones, laptops, headphones, MP3 players, iPods, etc, must be turned
off and put away prior to the start of each class. No electronic devices
may be used during and exams.
Academic Dishonesty:
Academic dishonesty of any form will not be tolerated. Students caught
cheating on exams 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, I will let
you know.
September
20 4.4
Introductions, Systems of Linear Equations in 3 Variables
22 3.6, 8.2
Functions and Their Graphs
27 8.3
Transformations of Functions
29 11.3
Using Quadratic Methods to Solve Equations
October
4 11.4
Quadratic and Rational Inequalities
6 11.5, 11.6
Graphs of Quadratic Functions
11 Exam I
13 12.1, 12.2
Function Algebra, Inverses
18 12.2, 12.3
More on Inverses, Exponential Functions
20 12.4
Logarithmic Functions
25 12.5, 12.6
Properties and Bases of Logarithms
27 12.7
Logarithmic and Exponential Equations
November
1 Exam II
3 13.1
Parabolas and Circles
8 13.2
Ellipses and Hyperbolas
10 13.3, 13.4
Systems of Nonlinear Equations and Nonlinear
Inequalities
15 14.1, 14.2
Sequences (including Arithmetic and Geometric)
17 Exam III
22 14.3
Series
24
Thanksgiving
29 14.4
Arithmetic and Geometric Series
December
1 14.5
Binomial Theorem
6 Final Exam 6:00 7: 50 PM |