MAT 154AA
Intermediate Algebra
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:
Mon., Wed., & Fri.
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. 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. If you have already purchased an
access code for Math 152A or Math 152B for this textbook, you may also use it
for this class at no extra cost.
To access our class page,
go to
pearsonmylabandmastering.com and register using your student access code and
the course ID for this class:
armbrust20797
For assistance with MyMathLab:
You may get help by calling 1-800-677-6337 during the following hours: Mon – Fri
Calculator:
A scientific calculator is required for this course.
Graphing calculators will not be allowed on exams.
If you have questions regarding your calculator (how to use, if it is
acceptable, etc.), please ask.
Course Description:
MAT 154AA 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 10)
Exam2 (October 31):
50%
Exam3 (November 30)
Final Exam (December 5):
25%
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:
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. The final
must be taken by December 5th.
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.
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.
MyMathLab has dozens of extra problems for each section as well as sample
chapter exams.
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 don’t 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 (other than calculators) 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 the dropping of lowest quiz score 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
19
4.4
Introductions, Systems of Linear Equations in 3 Variables
21
3.6
Functions
23
8.2
Functions and Their Graphs
26
8.3
Transformations of Functions
28
11.3
Using Quadratic Methods to Solve Equations 30
11.4
Quadratic and Rational Inequalities October
3
11.5
Quadratic Functions 5
11.6
Graphs of Quadratic Functions 7
Review
10
Exam I 12
12.1
Function Algebra 14
12.2
Inverse Functions 17
12.3
Exponential Functions 19
12.4
Logarithmic Functions 21
12.5
Properties of Logarithms 24
12.6
Logarithms of Different Bases 26
12.7
Logarithmic and Exponential Equations 28
Review 31
Exam II
November
2
13.1
Parabolas and Circles
4
13.2
Ellipses and Hyperbolas
7
13.3
Systems of Nonlinear Equations
9
13.4
Systems of
Nonlinear Inequalities
11
NO CLASS
Veteran’s Day
14
14.1
Sequences
16
14.2
Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
18
14.3
Series
21
14.4
Arithmetic and Geometric Series
23
14.5
Binomial Theorem
25
NO CLASS
THANKSGIVING
28
Review
30
Exam III
December
2
Review
5
Final Exam
Note: The final is from |