Intermediate Algebra

Math 154A-5

Winter 2010 4 units

INSTRUCTOR:                     Cindy Littell

PHONE NUMBER:              541-4660, Extension 447 (voicemail only)

E-MAIL:                                littell@ltcc.edu

MEETING TIMES:              Monday & Wednesday: 4:00-5:50p

MEETING PLACE: Room A211 

REQUIRED TEXT:             Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, 4th Ed, by Elayn                          Martin-Gay

Class webpage to log in:       http://www.coursecompass.com

Course Id for Homework:    littell39345

Course Description: MAT 154 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 Math 152B or equivalent or appropriate skills demonstrated through the Math Assessment process.

Students with disabilities must identify themselves to me within the first two weeks of class.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Students requiring accommodations for a certain disability that may affect class performance are requested to schedule with a staff member at the DRC to discuss this during the first week of the quarter so that appropriate arrangements can be made. They only test and accept new students into the program during the first two weeks of each quarter, so don’t put it off.

The Math Success Center (within A201) has free tutoring for all registered students. Please Log In and Out so that the facility gets the funds it needs to continue this free service.

 

As a Courtesy to everyone in class, please turn off your cell phones. Thank you.


How to succeed in a Math class:

1. Come to every class meeting.

2. Arrive early, be prepared, and take notes.

3. Ask questions, especially if you don’t understand a concept.

4. Do more than just the homework problems.

5. Take advantage of the free tutoring service in the MSC and my office hour (tba).

6. Study in groups and do your homework with a classmate.

7. Start preparing for exams at least one week in advance.

8. Do some math every day.

 

Dropping: In this class, it is your responsibility to drop the class in order to avoid an unwanted grade. The drop date schedule is printed on the back of the quarter schedule. To drop you must contact Admissions & Records by the appropriate dates in person or through web-reg.

 

Student Outcomes
1. Apply the course topics to real-world situations.
2. Sketch and interpret the graphs of functions and relations introduced in intermediate algebra.
3. Simplify mathematical expressions into forms more amenable to analysis.
4. Provide solutions to equations using methods from intermediate algebra.

Grading:  Your class letter grade will be based on the usual grading scale:

A:  90% and above,     B: 80-89%,     C: 70-79%,        D: 60-69%,              F: 59% and under

                        Homework                                             210 points

                        Quizzes                                                   100 points

                        3 Midterm Exams                                 450 points

                        Comprehensive Final Exam:               240 points

                        Total                                                     1000 points

Homework:  All Homework assignments are online. Due Dates for each assignment are posted online. All Homework will be due by the next lecture. You may work on the homework after the due date to improve your score.

Quizzes:  All quizzes are online. Due Dates for each quiz are posted online. Each quiz is due at the beginning of each week. There is no making up of a quiz.

Midterm Exams: Midterms are to be taken on the date scheduled unless you have a medical emergency. In such an event, please notify me as soon as possible to make arrangements. If you are unable to take the exams at the scheduled time, you will need to email me a request stating why you need to take the exam early.

Non-graphing calculators are allowed during testing. Please practice the homework with them.

The Comprehensive Final Exam is on March 24th, 2010. Check schedule for time.

Academic Integrity:

Homework may be done in groups with other students or with the help of the instructor or tutors, but each student must turn in their own work. Quizzes are to be done individually. Exams must be done by the student alone. Any Student who violates this rule will receive a zero on the Exam. A second offense will result in withdrawal, failing the course, or academic expulsion.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Date                Section                        Topic

Jan. 4              11.3                             Intros, Solving Quadratics

Jan. 6              11.4                             Non-linear inequalities in one variable

Jan. 11            11.5                             Quadratic Functions and Their Graphs

Jan. 13            11.6                             Quadratic Graphing Cont.

Jan. 18                                                Martin Luther King Holiday

Jan. 20            8.3                               Graphing Functions

Jan. 25            12.1                             Algebra and Composition of Functions

Jan. 25            12.2                             Inverse Functions

Jan. 27                                                Midterm #1

Feb. 1              12.3                             Exponential Function

Feb. 3              12.4                             Logarithmic Functions

Feb. 8              12.5                             Properties of Logarithms

Feb. 10            12.6                             Logs: Common, Natural, change of base

Feb. 15                                                President’s Day Holiday

Feb. 17                                                Midterm #2

Feb. 22            12.7                             Exponential and Logarithmic Apps.

Feb. 24            13.1                             The Parabola and the Circle

Mar. 1             13.2                             The Ellipse and the Hyperbola

Mar. 3             13.3                             Solving Nonlinear systems of Equations

Mar. 8             4.4                               3 x 3 Systems of Linear Equations

Mar. 10           14.1                             Sequences

                        14.2                             Series

Mar. 15           14.3                             Arithmetic

                        14.4                             Geometric

Mar. 17           14.5                             Pascal’s triangle and the Binomial Thereom

Mar. 22                                               Midterm #3

Mar. 24                                               Comprehensive Final