MAT 152B – Section 5

Basic Algebra (Part II)

Fall 2012

 

Instructor: Wynn Walker, email: wlwalker326@gmail.com

 

Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday: 10:00 – 10:30, 1:00 – 2:30, Tuesday, Thursday: 2-3pm Math Success Center

 

Class Time and Location: Tuesday & Thursday 3:30 – 5:20 PM, A206

 

Textbook (Optional): Beginning and Intermediate Algebra, 5th 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 walker52813. 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 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

 

Calculators:  Calculators are not allowed in MAT 152B.

 

Course Description: MAT 152B is a continuation of MAT 152A.  Topics covered will include factoring, solving equations with rational and radical expressions, systems of linear equations, and solving quadratic equations.

 

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in MAT 152A, or appropriate skills demonstrated through the Math assessment process.

 

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Factor a polynomial.
2. Apply the four basic operations to rational and radical expressions.
3. Solve equations with rational and radical expressions.
4. Solve a 2 x 2 system of linear equations.
5. Solve quadratic equations.
6. Apply 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:                                                                           20%

Computer Quizzes                                                         5%

In Class Quizzes:                                                                   10%

Exam1                                                                        15%

Exam2                                                                                    15%

Exam3                                                                                    15%

Final Exam (December 4th 4:00 – 5:50 PM)                     20%

 

You may check your grades at any point in the quarter by accessing the grade book in MyMathLab.

 

Computer Homework   Homework is due by Sundays at 11:59 PM    It is recommended that you work on the homework each day with the goal of completing both your homework and quiz 24 hours before they are due so that you have time to respond to unforeseen emergencies or confusions.  Feel free to consult a fellow classmate, a tutor, your instructor, or anyone else for assistance on the homework.  

 

Quizzes There will also be five in class quizzes scheduled throughout the quarter.  Quizzes cannot be made up.

  

Computer Quizzes: There will also be five online quizzes in MyMathLab with specified due dates.  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. 

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 4th .

  

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 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.  Things are very likely to change and because of the slightly longer length of time that the class meets we will be a bit ahead of schedule and there will not be four sections of material that will be covered all on the last day.

 

September

18        4.1, 4.2                       Solving Systems by Graphing and Substitution

20        4.3, 4.5                       Solving Systems by Addition and Applications

25        6.1, 6.2                       Factoring: Common Factors, Grouping

                                           Quiz 1 (4.1,4.2, 4.3, 4.5)

27        6.3, 6.4                       Factoring Trinomials

 

October

2          6.5, Review                Factoring Special Forms

                                           Quiz 2 (6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4) 

4          6.6, 6.7                       Solving Equations using Factoring and Applications

9          Exam I                    (4.1,4.2,4.3,4.5,6.1,6.2,6.3,6.4)

11        7.1, 7.2                       Simplifying, Multiplying, Dividing Rational Expressions                                      

16        7.3, 7.4                       Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

                                                Quiz 3 (6.6, 6.7, 7.1, 7.2)

18        7.5, 7.6                       Equations with Rational Expressions and Applications

                                          

23        7.7                               Complex Fractions, Variation

                                                Quiz 4 (7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6)

 

25        8.4, Review                Variation       

30        Exam II                      (6.5,6.6,6.7,7.1,7.2,7.3,7.4,7.5,7.6, 7.7)         

 

November

1          9.3, 9.4                       Absolute Value Inequalities, Systems of Linear Inequalities

6          10.1, 10.2                   Radicals and Rational Exponents 

8          10.3, 10.4                   Simplifying Radicals, Operations on Radicals

                                           Quiz 5 (7.7, 8.4, 10.1, 10.2)

 

13        10.5, Review              Rationalizing Denominators

 

15        Exam III                     (7.7, 8.4, 9.3,9.4,10.1,10.2,10.3,10.4,10.5)

20        10.6, 10.7                   Solving Radical Equations, Complex Numbers

22        Thanksgiving

27        11.1, 11.2                   Completing the Square and the Quadratic Formula 

29        Review for Final Exam

                                              

December      

4          Final Exam               4:00 – 5:50 PM (NOTE THE DIFFERENT TIME)