MATH 154A Section 4

Intermediate Algebra

Tuesday and Thursday  1:00 to 2:50 PM    Room L107           4 UNITS

Instructor Larry Green

Office Phone Number  541-4660 Extension 341

Internet

(Optional) Text Beginning and Intermediate Algebra 5th edition by 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 or a textbook that is not sold at our library, 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 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 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 www.coursecompass.com and register using your student access code and the course ID for this class: green02889

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: http://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.
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 Policy Your letter grade will be based on your percentage of possible points.

A 90 -- 100%         C 70 -- 79%

B 80 -- 89%            D 60 -- 69%

Homework and Computer Quizzes  ..................................................150 points

In Class Quizzes................................................................................150 Points

Exam 1: January 23      .......................................................................125 points

Exam II: February 13      ....................................................................125 points

Exam III: March 20        ................................................................... 125 points 

Final Exam: March 27   ..................................................................   325 points

Exam Policy Students are to bring pencils or pens, a scientific non-graphing calculator, and blank paper to each exam. Grading will based on the progress towards the final answer, and the demonstration of understanding of the concept that is being tested, therefore, work must be shown in detail. Any student who cannot make it to an exam may elect to take the exam up to two days before the exam is scheduled.  Without a proven medical excuse, a 10% per day penalty will be given for each day the exam is taken late.  If all homework and computer quizzes are completed and scored at least 50%, then the regular exam with the lowest score will be dropped.

Computer Homework and Quiz Policy  Homework and online Quizzes are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM.  These are all done using the MyMathLab computer assisted learning tool.  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.  If you cannot do the homework or quiz on time you are encouraged to work on the "late" assignments.  You will not receive points, but without practice the exams will not go well for you.

Thursday Quizzes  The part of each class on Thursdays when there is not an exam, there will be a quiz that covers the main points from the previous  week.  Quizzes cannot be made up.

Office Hours:

Monday  ............................  10:40 to 11:40           MSC

Tuesday..........................      10:30 to 11:30             A210

Wednesday ....................      10:40 to 11:40           A210

Thursday........................       12:00 to 1:00           A210

Friday........................            12:00 to 1:00           A210

Learning Disabilities: If you have a learning disability, be sure to discuss your special needs with Larry.  Learning disabilities will be accommodated.

Tutoring:  Tutors are available at no cost in A201 (The Math Success Center).  

A WORD ON HONESTY:

Cheating or copying will not be tolerated. People who cheat dilute the honest effort of the rest of us.  If you cheat on a quiz or exam you will receive an F  for the course, not merely for the test.  Other college disciplinary action including expulsion might occur. Please don’t cheat in this class.  If you are having difficulty with the course, please see me.

Lecture Schedule

 

Date    Section  Topics                                                        

1-7   

3.6     Functions  
4.4     System of Linear Equations in 3 Variables  

1-9
          Quiz 1 (3.6,4.4)
          8.2     Graphs of Functions

 

1-14   

8.3     Transformations of Functions and Piecewise Functions
11.3   Using Quadratic Methods to Solve Equations

1-16

Quiz 2  (8.2, 8.3, 11.3)
11.4     Quadratic and Rational Inequalities
                       
         

1-21     
          11.5  Quadratic Functions and Their Graphs
          Review For Exam 1
         

 

1-23     Exam I  (3.6, 4.4, 8.2, 8.3, 11.3 11.4)

  

1-28    

11.6  Further Graphing of Quadratic Functions  
          

1-30

Quiz 3  (11.5,11.6)
12.1  Function Algebra
       

2-4      

12.2   Inverses 
12.3  Exponential Functions

2-6

Quiz 4  (12.1, 12.2, 12.3)
12.4   Logarithmic Functions

2-11

12.5   Properties of Logs
Review for Exam II

2-13

Exam II (11.5,11.6, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4)

2-18    

12.6  Common and Natural Logs and Change of Base
12.7  Log and Exponential Equations

2-20   Quiz 5 (12.5, 12.6, 12.7)
           12.8  Problem Solving with Exponentials and Logs
           13.1  Parabolas and Circles

2-25
           13.2   Ellipses and Hyperbolas
           13.3   Systems of Nonlinear Equations

2-27  

Quiz 6  (12.8, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3)
13.4   Systems of Nonlinear Inequalities
 

3-4

14.1    Sequences
14.2   Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences

3-6   

Quiz 7  (13.4, 14.1, 14.2)
14.3   Series

                      

3-11   

14.4   Arithmetic and Geometric Series 
           

3-13    

Quiz 8  (14.3, 14.4)
14.5  Binomial Theorem

3-18     Review for Exam III and for the Final

3-20    Exam III (12.5,12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5)

3-27     Comprehensive Final Exam  1:00 - 2:50 
 

HOW TO SUCCEED IN A MATH CLASS

  •  Come to every class meeting.
  •  Arrive early, get yourself settled, spend a few minutes looking at your notes from the previous class meeting, and have your materials ready when class starts.
  •  Read each section before it is discussed in class.
  •  Do some math every day.
  • Study at least an hour for each quiz, at least two hours for each exam, and at least four hours for the final.
  •  Start preparing for the tests at least a week in advance.
  •  Spend about half of your study time working with your classmates.
  •  Take advantage of tutors and office hours, extra help can make a big difference.