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MAT 154A, Section 3
Intermediate Algebra
Winter 2010
Instructor:
Bruce Armbrust, phone: 541-4660 ext. 314, email:
armbrust@ltcc.edu
Office Hours:
Room A210, Mon.
Thurs.
Fri.
MSC A201,
Tues.
Wed.
And as always, by appointment.
Class Time and Location:
Tues. & Thurs.
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. 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
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 (January 26)
Exam2 (February 16):
50%
Exam3 (March 4)
Final Exam (March 23):
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
If all homework is completed, and no more than two are late, your lowest regular
exam score will be dropped.
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
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.
Registration Information:
You may drop the class with no penalty or mark on your record on or before
January 29. After January 29, you
may drop the class and receive a grade of W until February 19.
After February 19, 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.
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 (and I have money that says they will), I will let you
know.
January
5
4.4
Introductions, Systems of Linear Equations in 3 Variables
7
3.6, 8.2
Functions and Their Graphs
12
8.3
Transformations of Functions
14
11.3
Using Quadratic Methods to Solve Equations
19
11.4
Quadratic and Rational Inequalities
21
11.5, 11.6
Graphs of Quadratic Functions
26
Exam I
28
12.1, 12.2
Function Algebra, Inverses
February
2
12.2, 12.3
More on Inverses, Exponential Functions
4
12.4
Logarithmic Functions
9
12.5, 12.6
Properties and Bases of Logarithms
11
12.7
Logarithmic and Exponential Equations
16
Exam II
18
13.1
Parabolas and Circles
23
13.2
Ellipses and Hyperbolas
25
13.3, 13.4
Systems of Nonlinear Equations and Nonlinear Inequalities
March
2
14.1, 14.2
Sequences (including Arithmetic and Geometric)
4
Exam III
9
14.3
Series
11
14.4
Arithmetic and Geometric Series
16
14.5
Binomial Theorem
18
Review
23
Final Exam |