MAT 154

Intermediate Algebra

Fall 2002

 

Instructor: Bruce Armbrust, phone: 541-4660 ext. 314, email: armbrust@ltcc.edu

 

Office Hours: Room A210,             Mon. & Wed.               9:30  - 10:30 AM

Fri.                                     10:00 - 11:00 AM

GMC G4,             Tues. & Thurs.            1:15 - 2:15 PM

And as always, by appointment.

 

Class Time and Location: Tues. & Thurs. 10:00 - 11:50 AM, B103

 

Textbook: Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, Mark Dugopolski 

 

Calculator:  A scientific calculator is required for this course.  A graphing calculator is strongly recommended.

 

Course Description: MAT 154 is an introduction to the definition of a function and its inverse, exponential and logarithmic functions, sequences and series, and conic sections.  Quadratic equations and systems of quadratic equations will be solved.

 

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in MAT 152B, or appropriate skills demonstrated through the Math assessment process.

 

Course Grade: Your final letter grade will be based on the usual grading scale:

A 90-100%, B 80-89%, C 70-79%, D 60-69%, F 0-59%

The following items will make up the course grade:

Homework:                              150 points

Quizzes:                                 200 points

Exam1 (October 10)

Exam2 (October 31):              450 points

Exam3 (November 19)

Final Exam (December 10):      200 points

 

Homework: Homework will be due the class period after it is assigned.  Homework not turned in at this time will be considered late. You may turn in homework up to two days after it is assigned for half credit.  If all homework is turned in, and no more than two are late, the lowest regular exam score will be dropped.  Your homework score will be determined in the following way: up to 5 points for completion and one point each for 5 problems chosen at random to be graded.

 

Quizzes: There will be seven quizzes given over the quarter. These quizzes will be designed to help prepare you for the exams, and quiz problems will be taken directly from the homework assignments. Your lowest quiz score will be dropped.  Since one score will be dropped, you may not make up a missed quiz.

 

 

 

Exams:  Students are to bring a pencil and blank scratch paper to each exam.  If you cannot make it to an exam (final not included), you may take it up to 2 school days prior to the scheduled date with proper arrangements.  Otherwise, the exam may be made up after the scheduled date with a penalty of 10% per day.

 

Registration Information: You must register for this class at the Office of Admissions and Records.  You may drop the class with no penalty or mark on your record on or before October 18.  After October 18, you may drop the class and receive a grade of W until November 22.  After November 22, if you are still enrolled, you will receive a grade of A, B, C, D, F or I.

 

How to Succeed in a Math Class: I am often asked how to successfully pass a math class, and here is my advice:

 

I) Come to every class session.  Be prepared, and plan on participating.

II) Do your homework.  Remember that what I assign is what I consider a bare minimum.  If you need more practice, do it.  Don’t make me be a homework enforcer.

III) Read the book.  You paid good money for it, so you might as well use it.

IV) Make use of available tutors and my office hours.  You will find tutors who know the subject matter in this course at the GMC.

V) Do math every day.  Math is just like everything else: if you don’t practice, you become rusty.

 

Learning Disabled Students: It is important that students who are identified as being learning disabled speak to me about their special needs.  I am more than willing to grant you reasonable accommodations.

 

Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty of any form will not be tolerated.  Students caught cheating on exams or quizzes will receive a score of zero on the assignment for the first offense and a course grade of F for the second offense.  Students my work together on homework assignments (and, in fact, are encouraged to) as long as all students understand the material covered.

 


Course Schedule:

The following is a tentative schedule.  If things change (and I have money that says they will), I will let you know.

 

September

24        10.3                             Graphs of Quadratic Functions

26        10.4                             More on Quadratic Equations

 

October

1          10.5                             Quadratic & Rational Inequalities Inverse Functions

3          11.1, Quiz I               Graphs of Functions and Relations

8          11.2                             Transformations of Graphs

10        11.3, Exam I             Combining Functions

15        11.4                             Inverse Functions

17        12.1, Quiz II              Exponential Functions

22        12.2                             Logarithmic Functions

24        12.3, Quiz III             Properties of Logarithms

29        12.4                             Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

31        8.3, Exam II                        Systems of Linear Equations

 

November

5          13.1                             Nonlinear Systems of Equations

7          13.2, Quiz IV                        Parabolas

12        13.3                             Circles

14        13.4, Quiz V             Ellipses and Hyperbolas

19        14.1, Exam III                       Sequences

21        14.2                             Series

26        14.3, Quiz VI                        Arithmetic Sequences and Series

28        NO SCHOOL                    THANKSGIVING

 

December

3          14.4                             Geometric Sequences and Series

5          14.5, Quiz VII                        Binomial Expansions

10        Final Exam               Note: The Final Exam is from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM          

 

 

 


The following is a list of all homework assignments for this course.  The due dates for the various sections will be given in class.

 

Section

Assignment

10.3

3,5,11,14,16,19,23,24,27,28,36,37,40,41

10.4

6,7,8,13,15,20,23,26,31,34,41,43,46,47,50,60,63

10.5

7,10,15,16,17,20,24,29,48,51,55,60

11.1

6,9,14,19,26,27,30,37,40,46,51,53-58

11.2

19,21,26,36,39,44,50,51,53,54,55-62

11.3

5,8,11,14,27,28,31,36,39,43,44,48,49,50,56,57

11.4

17-20,21,22,24,27,33,36,41,44,48,49,52,53,55,58,62,63

12.1

7,10,11,14,15,18,21,22,23,24,28,29,37,42,46,49,52,55,62,63,66,67,73,76,78,81

12.2

7,9,12,14,16,17,20,25,31,34,39,40,41-44,45,48,50,51,63,66,67,70,73-76,80,83

12.3

13,14,16,17,21,25,28,30,37-44,59,64,67,68,74,75,78,79

12.4

5,10,13,16,17,18,21,22,23,26,28,29,32,33,35,36,60,62,63,67

8.3

9,14,17,20,22,23,26,35,36,39

13.1

6,7,11,14,16,21,27,32,36,39

13.2

7,8,12,13,16,17,21,24,25,26,28,31,33,37,40,42,46,51

13.3

4,7,10,11,13,14,17,20,21,24,27,30,31,34,39,42,43,46

13.4

11,14,20,21,23,26,30,31,37,40,43,46,50,51

14.1

5,10,13,16,17,20,22,23,25,28,30,31,34,37,39,42

14.2

5,10,13,16,17,21,24,25,26,30,33,36,37,40

14.3

5,8,9,10,13,14,16,17,33,36,37,40,41,42,45,48,52,53,55,56,57,58

14.4

7,10,14,15,18,19,21,22,25,28,31,34,37,40,43,48,51,54,63

14.5

5-8,9,12,13,18,28,31