COURSE DESCRIPTION

MATH 1314 COLLEGE ALGEBRA (3-3-0). In-depth study and applications of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations using matrices. Additional topics such as sequences, series, probability, and conics may be included.

Prerequisites: MATD 0390 or satisfactory score on the ACC Assessment Test. (MTH 1743)

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.

COURSE EVALUATION/GRADING SCHEME

Your final grade in this course will come from 5 different components. 

Your final course average will be calculated as:

course grade = ( written homework average × 6%) + (MML homework x  6%) + (quiz average × 8%) + (test average × 60%) + (final exam x 20%)

At the end of the semester you will be assigned a letter grade corresponding to the following:

Grades: You will receive your test and homework grades through Blackboard.  You will need to log on to Blackboard each week for new announcements from me and to view your grades.

Online Homework: Online Homework assignments are required, and are available from the Pearson MyMathLab links in Blackboard. You must complete each assignment with a 70% or higher to move on to the next MyMathLab assignment within a Unit. Typically, students who get behind, stay behind, so be sure to get homework done early!

MyMathLab Homework can be worked on after the due date, at a five percentage points per day penalty for all problems that are not completed on time. The penalty applies only to individual problems that are completed after the due date. MyMathLab assignments are due on Sundays at 11:59pm, so keep up with the due dates in MyMathLab. The lowest two MyMathLab homework grades will be dropped.

Written Homework: The written homework assignment is done from your textbook and should be worked out on paper and sent to me for grading. Please make sure label your paper with the page number and section of the text. You should submit your written homework Electronically through Blackboard and do not attach homework to email.

Online Quizzes: You will have online weekly quizzes. After you have Completed both the online and paper homework, and you feel comfortable with the material, then you may take a quiz. You may take a quiz up to three times by due date and your best score will be recorded.

Tests: You will be required to take four (4) tests and a final exam that are not on the computer. These will be paper and pencil exams that will be administered at any one of the ACC testing centers. For each test, there will be a scheduled week in which you must go to a testing center and take the exam. You may take tests early if you are working ahead. Late tests will only be given in extreme circumstances and will be decided on a case by case basis and may include a penalty. For info on the ACC testing center, go to: http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/

Missed Tests: If you do not take a test by the deadline, a zero will be recorded for that test. However, if your final exam score is higher than any of the four tests, then I will replace the lowest test score with your final exam score. So, in that case, your final will count twice. If you should miss a test, then obviously the zero will be your lowest score, and the final will replace it.

Final Exam: You are required to take a final exam on campus that will be administered at an ACC testing Center.

TEXT: First Day Access

To enhance your learning experience and provide affordable access to the right course material, this course is part of an inclusive access model called First Day™. You can easily access the required materials for this course through Blackboard, at a discounted price, and benefit from single sign-on access with no codes required.

Austin Community College includes the discounted price as a course fee in your registration fees for this course.

It is NOT recommended that you Opt Out, as these materials are required to complete the course. You can choose to Opt Out on the first day of class, but you will be responsible for purchasing your course materials at the full retail price and access to your materials may be suspended. See your course in Blackboard for details.

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 library.  Graphing calculators are not required, but you will use graphing technology in most sections of the book.  Graphing calculators are also available in the library.  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.

COMMON COURSE OBJECTIVES

Functions:

• Use and interpret function 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, a^x, and log_ax
• Identify and sketch transformations of the graphs of the following functions: x², x³, x^1/2, 1/x, 1/x², |x|.
• 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.
• Use the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
• 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.
• Evaluate the sum, difference and scalar multiplication of matrices.

Applications

• Recognize and use applications of linear functions.
• Recognize and use applications of quadratic functions, including falling object problems and extrema problems.
• Recognize and use applications of rational functions. 
• 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 General Education Competency of:

1. Critical Thinking: gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information is covered in every SLO.
2. Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning: applying mathematical, logical, and scientific principles and methods is covered in every SLO.
3. Technology Skills: using appropriate technology to retrieve, manage, analyze, and present information is covered in SLOs # 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
4. Written, Oral and Visual Communication: communicating effectively adapting to purpose, structure, audience and medium is covered in every SLO.