COLLEGE ALGEBRA
MATH 1314-09
FALL 2009
Instructor: Karen Anglin Office #2
Phone: 830-4447 Office Hours: MTWRF 8:30 – 10:00
E-mail: kanglin@blinn.edu
Course Description: College Algebra is the study of real and complex numbers, factoring, exponents, radicals, linear, fractional and quadratic equations, inequalities, graphing techniques, equations of straight lines, functions, graphs of polynomial and rational functions, systems of equations, matrices, and exponential and logarithmic functions.
Prerequisites: MATH 0312 with a grade of “C” or better or high school Algebra I, high school Algebra II, high school Geometry, high school precalculus and a score of 270 or higher on the mathematics section of THEA(TASP), or an appropriate score on the alternate test instrument.
Credit: Three Semester hours.
Core Course: This is a Core Course in the 42-Hour Core of Blinn College. As such, the students will develop proficiency in the appropriate Intellectual Competencies, Exemplary Educational Objectives, and Perspectives. See www.blinn.edu/corecurriculum
Course Objectives: The student should perform at a 70% or better average on examinations and quizzes covering real and complex numbers, factoring, exponents, radicals, linear, fractional and quadratic equations, inequalities, graphing techniques, equations of straight lines, functions, graphs of polynomial and rational functions, systems of equations, matrices, and exponential and logarithmic functions.
Required Materials: College Algebra by Lial, Hornsby & Schneider,
Tenth Edition; Pearson Education, Inc., 2009.
MathXL
Examination Blue Book (1 for final)
Green Scantron #882 (1 for final)
Stapler
Graph paper
Graphing Calculator: A graphing calculator is required in this course and I will be using the TI-84 plus in class. Other calculators may be used; however the student is responsible for learning how to operate them. Symbolic calculators such as the TI-89 and the TI-92 will not be allowed.
Grading Policy: The student's course grade will be based on the following:
Major Exams 50%
Weekly Grades 20%
WebQuest 10%
Final Exam 20%
Major Exam - There will be 4 major exams given in this course. Exams are free response and work must be shown on the test paper. A calculator may be used. Exams will be taken on the scheduled class meeting.
Weeky Grade - These grades will be based on an average of MathXL work and homework grades. The student is expected to show his/her complete work from the MathXL assignment for a section and then work the problems assigned from the text on the same section. This section of homework will then be stapled together, folded in half lengthwise and the correct heading written on the top. 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. Students may turn in homework early and make arrangements for exams if the instructor is notified before the absence. 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. The instructor will choose 1 problem to be graded from each section. This homework problem will count 100 points (correctness of the problem - 75 points, and the remaining 25 points for completion of the assignment). For example, Weekly Grade 2.2 will then be an average of the MathXL grade and homework grade from that section. If no work is shown on the MathXL work, the MathXL grade will be divided in half. To allow for emergency situations, 3 weekly grades will be dropped at the end of the semester.
WebQuest - The full description of the Webquest is available on Mrs. Anglin’s web pages. http://www.blinn.edu/matheng/anglin/Logwebquest.htm The students will be placed in groups by Mrs. Anglin. Every individual will use the internet to research logarithms. Each group will turn in a project. The WebQuest grade will be calculated by considering both the final group’s project and the individual’s participation in the project. For details about the grade calculation see the aforementioned webpage.
Final Exam - The final exam is a comprehensive 25 question test. Twenty questions are multiple choice while five are free response.
Make-up Policy: The Final Exam will be used as a Make-Up Exam 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 your instructor during the instructor’s posted office hours before you will receive 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. Class participation shall constitute at least ten percent of the final course grade. It is the responsibility of each faculty member, in consultation with the division chair, to determine how participation is achieved in his or her class. Participation in the Division of Mathematics is measured by quizzes and homework assignments, which count at least ten percent of the of the semester grade. 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 MW class students will receive the first notification via Blinn student email after 2 days of unexcused absences and a 2nd notification via Blinn student email after 4 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 Daily Schedule College Algebra
Each of these homework assignments has a corresponding MathXL assignment that must be completed first. There are three additional MathXL assignments that do not have corresponding homework assignments.
Date Taught |
Topic |
Homework |
|
8/31 |
2.2 Circles
|
Page 198: 20, 41, 43, 47 |
|
9/ 2 |
2.3 Functions |
Page 213: 36, 38, 69, 83, 86
|
|
9/ 7 |
2.6 Graphs of Basic Functions
|
Page 255: 22, 26, 31, 50, 54 |
|
9/ 9 |
2.7 Graphing Techniques
|
Page 270: 24, 28, 30, 46, 52 |
|
9/14 |
2.8 Function Operations and Composition
|
Page 282: 58, 70, 77, 87 |
|
9/16 |
3.1 Quadratic Functions and Models
|
Page 311: 12, 22, 49, 61, 73 |
|
9/21 |
Exam I (Chapter 2)
|
|
|
9/23 |
R3 Dividing Polynomials |
Page 31: 88, 90, 92, 94
|
|
9/23 |
3.2 Synthetic Division |
Page 326: 12, 32, 35, 46, 52
|
|
9/28 |
3.3 Zeros of Polynomial Functions (part 1 - Real) |
Page 337: 8, 20, 30, 32, 36
|
|
9/28 |
3.3 Zeros of Polynomial Functions (part 2 - Complex) |
Page 337: 40, 48, 68, 83, 88
|
|
9/30 |
3.4 Polynomial Functions: Graphs, Applications, and Models
|
Page 351: 24, 30, 31, 46, 66 |
|
10/ 5 |
3.5 Rational Functions: Graphs, Applications, and Models
|
Page 371: 42, 62, 68, 88, 94 |
|
10/ 7 |
QEP: Functions Due |
Math XL |
|
10/ 7 |
4.1 Inverse Functions
|
Page 411: 44, 46, 50, 56, 70 |
|
10/12 |
Exam II (Chapter 3) |
|
|
10/14 |
4.2 Exponential Functions (part 1)
|
Page 427: 14, 21, 28, 32, 46 |
|
10/14 |
4.2 Exponential Functions (part 2 - Equations)
|
Page 427: 49, 53, 55, 59, 71 |
|
10/19 |
4.3 Logarithmic Functions (part 1) |
Page 441: 2, 5, 15, 24, 28
|
|
10/19 |
4.3 Logarithmic Functions – (part 2 - Graphs and Logarithmic Expressions) |
Page 441: 45, 49, 51, 61, 73
|
|
10/21 |
Domain and Asymptotes Due |
MathXL |
|
10/21 |
4.4 Evaluating Logarithms and the Change-of-Base Theorem |
Page 453: 45, 48, 62, 63, 68 |
|
10/26
|
4.5 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
|
Page 464: 23, 30, 36, 42, 48 |
|
10/28 |
4.6 Applications and Models of Exponential Growth and Decay |
Page 475: 9, 14, 20, 35, 45 |
|
11/ 2 |
QEP: Logarithmic and Exponential Equations Due |
MathXL |
|
11/ 4 |
Exam III (Chapter 4) |
|
|
11/ 9 |
5.1 Systems of Linear Equations (part 1)
|
Page 504: 12, 22, 29, 34, 38
|
|
11/11 |
5.1 Systems of Linear Equations (part 2)
|
Page 504: 54, 66, 90, 92, 96
|
|
11/16 |
5.5 Nonlinear Systems of Equations |
Page 549: 14, 16, 18, 50, 55 |
|
11/18 |
WebQuest Due
|
|
|
11/23 |
5.2 Matrix Solutions of Linear Systems |
Page 518: 16, 28, 36, 52, 53 |
|
11/30 |
5.7 Properties of Matrices |
Page 574: 28, 52, 60, 62, 64 |
|
12/ 2 |
Review |
|
|
12/ 7 |
Exam IV (Chapter 5) |
|
|
12/ 9 |
Review |
|
|
12/14 |
1:30 – 3:30 Final Exam |
Cumulative |