Syllabus
College Algebra

College Algebra

MATH-1314

Spring 2013
01/14/2013 - 05/12/2013

Course Information

Section 032
Lecture
Su 13:00 - 15:50
RVSA 2212
Jeffrey Feigenson

Office Hours

No office hours have been entered for this term

Course Requirements

TEXT: College Algebra with Modeling and Visualization by Gary Rockswold, 4th  ed.

             ISBN#0-32154230-4

Text bundled with MyMathLab, 0-32-157704-3 Hard copy ISBN  0-32-166511-2 Loose Leaf

You can access the material from the first two weeks online at http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/text/  password acc1314

 

MyMathLab is an optional interactive online course that accompanies the text. You may purchase access to MyMathLab online from AddisonWesley for $75.00at: www.mymathlab.com/buying.html

 

MyMathLab includes:

▫        Online access to all pages of the textbook

▫        Multimedia learning aids (videos & animations) for select examples and exercises in the text

▫        Practice tests and quizzes linked to sections of the textbook

▫        Personalized study guide based on performance on practice tests and quizzes

Visit www.mymathlab.comfor more information. To use MyMathLab, you'll need:

▫        Course ID*:acc34248

▫        Student access number: provided with purchase of MyMathLab access.

* If your instructor has set up a different course ID for your class, he or she will let you know.  If so, use the course ID provided by your instructor.

 

 

Videotapes: There is a set of video DVDs keyed to the text by section in the Learning Resource Center of each campus.  Students who miss class or who need extra review may find these useful.  Also, with the bundled text with MyMathLab is a set of video tutorials.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

MATH 1314 COLLEGE ALGEBRA (3-3-0).A course designed for students majoring in business, mathematics, science, engineering, or certain engineering-related technical fields. Content includes the rational, real, and complex number systems; the study of functions including polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and related equations; inequalities; and systems of linear equations and determinants. Prerequisites: MATD 0390 or satisfactory score on the ACC Assessment Test. (MTH 1743)

 

Course Prerequisite: Intermediate Algebra (MATD 0390) or current knowledge of high school algebra as measured by the Assessment Test.  Students who have a great deal of difficulty with the Pretest and/or review and have not had Intermediate Algebra or its equivalent recently should consider withdrawing and taking Intermediate Algebra.

 

Calculator: Students need either a scientific or business calculator. (Has log or ln key.) If a student cannot purchase one, calculators are available from the LRS.  Graphing calculators are not required, but you will use graphing technology in most sections of the book.  Graphing calculators are also available in the LRS.  Most ACC faculty are familiar with the TI family of graphing calculators. Hence, TI calculators are highly recommended for student use.  Other calculator brands can also be used.  Your instructor will determine the extent of calculator use in your class section.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY

This course is taught in the classroom primarily as a lecture/discussion course.

 

 

COURSE RATIONALE

This course is designed to teach students the functional approach to mathematical relationships that they will need for a business calculus sequence. Other courses, such as MATH 1332, or MATH 1342 are more appropriate to meet a general mathematics requirement.  Check with your degree plan as to what math course your college requires.

 

 

COMMON COURSE OBJECTIVES / LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

Functions:

  • Use and interpret functional notation.
  • Find the domain of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
  • Find a symbolic representation of the sum, difference, product, quotient, and composition of two functions.
  • Evaluate the sum, difference, product, quotient, and composition of two functions at a given value of the respective domain for functions represented symbolically, graphically, and numerically.
  • Find the inverse of a function represented symbolically, graphically, or numerically.
  • Interpret the graphs of functions.

Graphing functions:

  • Sketch the graphs of the following functions: Lines, x2, x3, x1/2, 1/x, 1/x2, |x|, factored polynomials of degree 3 or more, ax, logax, and rigid transformations of these functions.
  • Describe the end behavior of polynomial functions.
  • Approximate the zeros of a function from its graph.
  • Solve an inequality involving a function from its graph.
  • Graph a piece-wise defined function.

 

Symbolic Adeptness:

  • Solve polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic equations symbolically.
  • Solve equations involving radicals symbolically.
  • Solve equations with rational exponents symbolically.
  • Solve equations with negative exponents symbolically.
  • Solve polynomial and rational inequalities symbolically.
  • Use the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and the Conjugate Zeros Theorem to find zeros of polynomials of degree three or greater.
  • Find the vertex of a parabola and the center and radius of a circle by completing the square.
  • Find the vertex of a parabola written in standard form by using the formula                      h = -b/2a.
  • Convert an exponential equation to logarithmic form, and a logarithmic equation to exponential form.
  • Evaluate exponential and logarithmic functions using the change of base formula and a calculator.
  • Use the properties of logarithms to expand a logarithmic expression, and to write an expanded logarithmic expression as a single logarithm.
  • Solve a system of linear equations using Gaussian elimination.
  • Solve a system of linear equations using matrix inversion or Cramer’s Rule.

Applications

  • Recognize and use applications of linear functions.
  • Recognize and use applications of quadratic functions, including falling object problems and extremea problems.
  • Recognize and use applications of exponential and logarithmic functions, including exponential growth and decay, doubling time, and half-life problems.
  • Recognize and use applications of systems of linear equations.

 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to do at least 70% of the following:

 

1.      Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of properties of functions, which include domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses.

2.      Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and solve related equations.

3.      Apply graphical, symbolic and numeric techniques.

4.      Evaluate all roots of higher degree polynomial and rational functions.

5.      Recognize, solve and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.

 

The objectives and learning outcomes are posted at  http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/outcomes

 

COURSE EVALUATION/GRADING SCHEME

Four unit exams will represent 60% of the grade for the course. Homework problems to be turned in for grading will represent 15% of the course grade. A cumulative final exam will represent the remaining 25%. The unit exams will be given in class or the Testing Center at the Riverside Campus. The Riverside Testing Center, located in room A1132, is open Mon-Fri 8:00AM – 9:00PM; Sat 8:00AM – 6:00PM; Sun12:00 Noon – 5:00PM.The final exam will be given in class.  The semester grade breakdown is as follows:  A 90 – 100; B 80 – 89; C 70 – 79; D 60 – 69; F below 60.

 

           

COURSE POLICIES

Homework Policy: Directions for homework and the homework assignments, including due dates, will be given in a separate handout. The homework must be turned in by the end of the due date day. Late homework is accepted on an emergency basis as determined by the instructor. If homework is not received by the due date you may earn reduced credit for that assignment.

 

Attendance/Class Participation:Regular and punctual class and laboratory attendance is expected of all students.  If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class. A student who misses more than 3 classes may be dropped from the course.

 

Withdrawal Policy:  It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class.  The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary.  If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date.  The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records. The last day to withdraw from this class is APR 22nd .

 

Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall 2002 may be charged a higher tuition rate, for that course. State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities.  With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit.  Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.

 

Incomplete Grade Policy: “Incomplete grades (I) will be given only in very rare circumstances. Generally, to receive a grade of "I", a student must have taken all examinations, be passing, and after the last date to withdraw, have a personal tragedy occur which prevents course completion. An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester.

 

Cell Phone Policy: All cell phones are to be turned off at the beginning of class. Talking on the phone, texting, gaming, etc. are strictly prohibited. Any student who violates this policy may be asked to leave the class for the rest of the day.

 

Make-up Exams and Extra Credit Policy: There are no makeup exams. If you miss an exam for whatever reason, you must make arrangements to take the exam within 3 calendar days of the original exam date. There is no extra credit. Occasionally I will offer a bonus question on an exam or homework assignment.

 

Reinstatement Policy: Students who withdrew or were withdrawn generally will not be reinstated unless they have completed all course work, projects, and tests necessary to place them at the same level of course completion as the rest of the class.  Reinstatements must be completed before the deadline, Apr 22nd , which is the same as the deadline for withdrawals.

 

Course-Specific Support Services

Sections of MATH 0153(1-0-2) are sometimes offered.  This lab class is designed for students currently registered in COLLEGE Algebra, MATH 1314.  It offers individualized and group setting to provide additional practice and explanation. This course is not for college-level credit. Repeatable up to two credit hours. Students should check the course schedule for possible offerings of the lab class.

 

ACC main campuses have Learning Labs, which offer free first-come, first-serve tutoring in mathematics courses. The locations, contact information and hours of availability of the Learning Labs are posted at: http://www.austincc.edu/tutorThe Riverside Learning Lab is in room 9100 and is open Mon- Thurs 8:00AM – 8:00PM; Fri 9:00AM – 3:00PM; Sat 10:00AM – 5:00PM; Sun 12:00 Noon – 6:00PM.

 

 

 ACC Policies:

·         Withdrawal – It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class.  The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary.  Students who miss more 4 classes may be withdrawn. If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date - Apr 22nd.  The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records. Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall, 2002, may be charged a higher tuition rate, for that course. State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities.  With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit.  Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.

·         Incomplete Grades–An instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student was unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course.  An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester.

·         Scholastic Dishonesty- A student attending ACC assumes responsibility for conduct compatible with the mission of the college as an educational institution.  Students have the responsibility to submit coursework that is the result of their o

·         .0.0wn thought, research, or self-expression.  Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations.  Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, and falsifying documents.    Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course and/or expulsion from the college.  See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process and other policies at http://www.austincc.edu/current/needtoknow

·         Students Rights and Responsibilities- Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply with college rules and procedures. 

·         Safety- Austin Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. You are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Additional information on these can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/ehs. Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. Additional information about emergency procedures and how to sign up for ACC Emergency Alerts to be notified in the event of a serious emergency can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/emergency/.

Please note, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities.

·         Use of ACC Email- All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account.  Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account.  Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff.  Instructions for activating an ACCmail account can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/index.php.

·         Academic Freedom- Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good.  The common good depends upon a search for truth and upon free expression.  In this course you and I shall strive to protect free inquiry and the open exchange of facts, ideas and opinions.  Students are free to take exception to views offered in this course and to reserve judgment about debatable issues.  Grades will not be affected by personal views.  With this freedom comes the responsibility of civility and a respect for a diversity of ideas and opinions.  This means that students must take turns speaking, listen to others speak without interruption and refrain from name-calling or other personal attacks.

·         Testing Center- Under certain circumstances, an instructor may have students take an examination in a testing center.  Students using the Academic Testing Center must govern themselves according to the Student Guide for Use of ACC Testing Centers and should read the entire guide before going to take the exam.  To request an exam, one must have:

ACC Photo ID

Course Abbreviation (e.g., ENGL)

Course Number (e.g.,1301)

Course Synonym (e.g., 10123)

Course Section (e.g., 005)

Instructor's Name

 

Do NOT bring cell phones to the Testing Center.  Having your cell phone in the testing room, regardless of whether it is on or off, will revoke your testing privileges for the remainder of the semester.  ACC Testing Center policies can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/testctr

·         Student Services – ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services.  Information on these services and support systems is available at:   http://www.austincc.edu/s4/ . Links to many student services and other information can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/current/ . ACC Learning Labs provide free tutoring services to all ACC students currently enrolled in the course to be tutored.  The tutor schedule for each Learning Lab may be found at:  http://www.autincc.edu/tutor/students/tutoring.php . For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC Gmail, or ACC Blackboard, see a Learning Lab Technician at any ACC Learning Lab.

·         Students with Disabilities - Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities.  Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD).   Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed.  

Students who have received approval for accommodations from OSD for this course must provide the instructor with the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from OSD before accommodations will be provided.   Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from the student.  

Students with approved accommodations are encouraged to submit the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ to the instructor at the beginning of the semester because a reasonable amount of time may be needed to prepare and arrange for the accommodations.   

Additional information about the Office for Students with Disabilities is available athttp://www.austincc.edu/support/osd/

 

College Algebra
MATH 1314
Calendar/Syllabus/Testing Schedule

 

1/20: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

 

 

1/27: 1.4, 1.5, 2.1

 

 

2/3:  2.2, 2.3, 2.4

 


2/10:  2.5, 3.1, 3.2     Test 1 (Ch 1, 2.1 – 2.4)

 

 

2/17: 3.3, 3.4

 


2/24: 3.5, 4.1, 4.2

 

 

3/3: 4.3, 4.4, 4.5        Test 2 (2.5, Ch 3, 4.1, 4.2)

 

 

3/10:  4.6, 4.7, 4.8

 

3/17: No Class

 

 

3/24: 5.1, 5.2, 5.3

 

 

4/7: No Class

 

4/14: 5.4, 5.5, 5.6     Test 3 (4.3 – 5.4)

 

 

4/21: 6.1, 6.3

 


4/28: 6.4, 6.5

 

 

5/5: 6.7 Test 4 (5.5 – 6.5, 6.7)                           5/12: Review, Final Exam
 

Course Subjects

COURSE DESCRIPTION

MATH 1314 COLLEGE ALGEBRA (3-3-0).  A course designed for students majoring in business, mathematics, science engineering, or certain engineering-related technical fields.  Content includes the rational, real, and complex number systems; the study of functions including polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and related equations; inequalities; and systems of linear equations and determinants.

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

MATH 1314 College Algebra -- Objectives

Functions:

  • Use and interpret function notation.
  • Find the domain of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
  • Use composition of functions.
  • Find inverses of functions algebraically (where possible), graphically, and numerically.
  • Interpret the graphs of functions.

Graphing functions:

  • Recognize the equations and sketch the graphs of the following: Lines, x2, x3, x1/3, x1/2, 1/x, 1/x2, |x|, semi-circles, circles, factored polynomials of degree 3 or more, ax, logax, and their linear transformations.
  • Find inverses of functions graphically.
  • Find and sketch asymptotes of rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
  • Describe the end behavior of all the above functions.
  • Determine when it is appropriate to use a calculator or graphing technology.
  • Approximate zeros of a function.

Symbolic Adeptness:

  • Solve equations including quadratic, rational, literal, quadratic types, exponential, logarithmic, and equations with radicals.
  • Solve polynomial and rational inequalities.
  • Solve non-linear systems of equations.
  • Use long division and the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra to find zeros of polynomials of degree three or more.
  • Simplify fractions with terms having negative exponents.
  • Rationalize numerators as well as denominators.
  • Simplify complex fractions.
  • Use completing the square to find the vertices of parabolas and centers and radii of circles.
  • Evaluate exponential and logarithmic expressions with calculators.
  • Use the rules for logarithms.
  • Solve systems of linear equations using Gauss-Jordan Elimination and Cramer's Rule.

Applications

  • Recognize and use applications of linear functions including linear models.
  • Recognize and use quadratic applications, including falling object, maximum, and minimum problems.
  • Recognize and use rational expression applications such as animal populations in parks.
  • Recognize and use exponential and logarithmic applications, including exponential growth and decay, doubling time, and half-life.
  • Recognize and use applications of systems of linear equations.