Intermediate Algebra

MATH 0312-05

 MWF 10:00-10:50 

 Fall 2009

 

Instructor:  Karen Anglin                          Office #2

Phone:       830-4447                                 Office Hours:  MTWRF        8:30 – 10:00

E-mail:       kanglin@blinn.edu                                         

 

Course Description:  Intermediate algebra is the study of rational expressions, rational exponents, radicals, complex numbers, inequalities, quadratic equations, linear systems, radical equations, and equations with rational exponents.  Credit: Three semester hours.

 

Prerequisites:  MATH 0310 with a grade of a C or better or high school Algebra I, high school Geometry, high school Algebra II, and a score of 230 or higher on the mathematics section of THEA, or an appropriate score on the alternate test instrument.

 

Course Objectives:  The student should perform at a 70% or better average on all course work covering factoring rules, rational expressions, rational exponents, radicals, complex numbers, inequalities, quadratic equations, linear systems, and equations with radicals, rational expressions, and exponents.

 

Required Materials:  Beginning and Intermediate Algebra  4th Edition. Elayn Martin-Gay.

Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009.

                                    MathXL

Stapler

Graph Paper

Green Scantron #882 (for the final)

Examination Blue Book (for the final)

 

Calculator Policy: Calculators will not be allowed on exams or the pre-post test.  Students with documented learning disabilities that may provide for a calculator accommodation should contact the Office of Disability Services for further information.

 

Grading Policy: The student's course grade will be based on the following:

Major Exam average   60%

Homework & Quizes  20%

Final Exam                  20%

 

Major Exams - There will be 4 major exams given in this course.  Exams are free response and all work must be shown on the test paper.  Exams will be taken on the scheduled class meeting.

 

Homework & Quizes - This grade will be based on quizzes and MathXL homework grades. A quiz will be given on specified days (see tentative schedule) during the last 15 minutes of class.  All quizzes will be taken from sections completed in class since your most recent quiz or test.  The student is expected to show his/her complete work from the MathXL assignment for a section.  This section of homework will then be stapled together, folded in half lengthwise and the correct heading written on the top.  MathXL homework will be collected daily.  Homework is due at the beginning of the class period and will not be accepted at the end of class.  Late homework will not be accepted.  Home­work solutions must be neat and orderly and stapled together or they will not be graded.  Paper from a spiral notebook will not be accepted.  If no work is shown on the MathXL homework, the MathXL computer grade will be divided in half.  To allow for emergency situations, 3 Homework & Quizes grades will be dropped at the end of the semester.

 

Final Exam - The final exam is a comprehensive 25 question test.  Twenty questions are multiple choice while five are free response.

 

Make-up Policy: One make-up exam will be administered as shown on the daily schedule.  This will be available to any students who have missed an exam or a student may challenge his/her low­est test score.

 

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:  Blinn College would like to help students with disabilities achieve their highest potential in college.  In order to receive accommodations on exams or assignments, proper documentation must first be provided to the Office of Disability Services.  This office is located on the bottom floor of the new Administration Building in Room 104 (phone #: 830-4157).  You must then self-identify and conference with me during my posted office hours to begin receiving accommodations in the class.

 

Attendance Policy:   The College District believes that class attendance is essential for student success; therefore, students are required to promptly and regularly attend all their classes. Each class meeting builds the foundation for subsequent class meetings. Without full participation and regular class attendance, students shall find themselves at a severe disadvantage for achieving success in college.  If a student has  the equivalent of one week’s worth of unexcused absences during the semester, s/he will be sent a message to her/his Blinn e-mail account by the College requiring the student to contact her/his instructor and schedule a conference immediately to discuss her/his attendance issues. Should the student accumulate the equivalent of two weeks’ worth of unexcused absences, s/he will be administratively withdrawn from class.  For a MWF class students will receive the first notification via Blinn student email after 3 days of unexcused absences and a 2nd notification via Blinn student email after 6 days of unexcused absences.  If a student is dropped from a class prior to the “W” date, they will receive a “W” in the class.  When the student is administratively dropped after the “W” date, students will receive a “WF” as stated in current policy.  Students will be able to access their Student e-mail account by logging into BORIS.

Students are considered to be in attendance if they are present at roll call and stay until class is dismissed by the instructor.  If a student is tardy to class, it is the student’s responsibility to stay around after class is dismissed and politely request that his/her absence be changed to a tardy.  Students may turn in homework early and make arrangements for quizzes if the instructor is noti­fied before an excused absence.

 

Civility Statement: Members of the Blinn College community, which includes students, staff and faculty, are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all aspects of campus life. Blinn College holds all members accountable for their actions and words. Therefore, all members should commit themselves to behave in a manner that recognizes personal respect and demonstrates concern for the personal dignity, rights, and freedoms of every member of the College community, including respect for College property and the physical and intellectual property of others.  If a student is asked to leave the class room because of uncivil behavior, the student may not return to that class until he or she arranges a conference with the instructor: it is the student's responsibility to arrange for this conference.

 

Electronic Device Policy:      All the functions of all personal electronic devices designed for communication and/or entertainment (cell phones, pagers, beepers, iPods, and similar devices) must be turned off and kept out of sight in all Blinn College classrooms and associated laboratories.  Any noncompliance with this policy will be addressed in accordance with the Blinn College civility policy (Administrative Policy).  Additionally, any communication understood by the instructor to be in the nature of cheating will have consequences in accordance with this Blinn College policy section regarding academic dishonesty [FLB (Local)]. Students exempted from this policy section include, active members of firefighting organizations, emergency medical services organizations, commissioned police officers, on-call employees of any political subdivision of the state of Texas, or agencies of the federal government.  Exempted students are expected to set the emergency-use devices on silent or vibrate mode only. 

 

Classroom Policy: No food, drinks or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Students are expected to engage themselves in their learning.  One way to show that you are engaged is to answer questions, ask questions and make appropriate comments.  So that all students are able to interact with the instructor, the three person rule will be implemented.  Each student will wait until at least three other students have spoken before they speak.  All students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is conducive to learning.  Please do not talk or interrupt the lesson.  You will be preventing others from learning.  If a student is asked to leave the classroom for any reason, the student is responsible for setting up a meeting with the instructor to discuss the dismissal before the next class meeting.  The student cannot at­tend class until this meeting has taken place.  The policy on scholastic dishonesty and classroom discipline will follow the policies adopted by Blinn College.  For more information please see “Scholastic Integrity Policy” page 57-60 of the 2009-2010 Blinn College Student Handbook.

 

Academic Support: The Learning Center is located in A-13 and is open during the following hours:

Mon.-Thurs.    8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Fri.                   8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sun.                 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

 

 

Computers, videos, and tutors are available to assist students.  A student ID must be presented upon entering the Learning Center.

 

Tentative Schedule and Due Dates for MathXL

MATH 0312       Fall 2009

Martin-Gay         Beginning & Intermediate Algebra 4th e

 

Due Date

Section

Description

8/31

 

Introduction to class

9/2

 

Review Packet

Syllabus quiz

9/4

6.1

The Greatest Common Factor and Factoring by Grouping

9/7

6.2

Factoring Trinomials with a Leading Coefficient of 1 and Perfect Square Trinomials

9/9

6.3

Factoring Trinomials with a Leading Coefficient Other Than 1

Quiz #1

9/11

6.5

Factoring Binomials

9/14

6.6

Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring

9/16

4.1

Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Graphing

Quiz #2

9/18

4.2

Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Substitution

9/21

4.3

Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Addition

9/23

4.5

System of Linear Equations and Problem Solving

Quiz #3

9/25

 

Exam I

9/28

7.1

Rational Functions and Simplifying Rational Expressions

9/30

7.2

Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions

Quiz #4

10/2

7.3

Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with Common Denominators and Least Common Denominator

10/5

7.4

Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with Unlike Denominators

10/7

7.4

Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with Unlike Denominators

Quiz #5

10/9

7.5

Solving Equations Containing Rational Expressions

10/12

7.7

Simplifying Complex Fractions

10/14

7.7

Simplifying Complex Fractions

Quiz #6

10/14

 

Review

10/16

 

Exam II

10/21

10.1

Radicals and Radical Functions

Quiz #7

10/23

10.2

Rational Exponents

10/26

10.3

Simplifying Radical Expressions

10/28

10.4

Adding, Subtracting, and Multiplying Radical Expressions

Quiz #8

10/30

10.5

Rationalizing Denominators and Numerators of Radical Expressions

11/2

10.6

Radical Equations and Problem Solving

11/4

10.7

Complex Numbers

Quiz #9

11/4

 

Review

11/6

 

Exam III

11/11

11.1

Solving Quadratic Equations by Completing the Square

11/13

11.1

Solving Quadratic Equations by Completing the Square

11/16

11.2

Solving Quadratic Equations by the Quadratic Formula

11/18

11.3

Solving Equations by Using Quadratic Methods

Quiz #10

11/20

11.4

Nonlinear Inequalities in One Variable

11/23

9.2

Absolute Value Equations

11/30

9.3

Absolute Value Inequalities

12/2

9.3

Absolute Value Inequalities

Quiz #11

12/2

 

Review

12/4

 

Exam IV

12/7

 

Make-Up Exam

12/9

 

Review

12/14

10:30-12:30

Final Exam (comprehensive)