MAT 152B

Basic Algebra (Part II)

Fall 2004

 

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

 

Office Hours: Room A210,             Tues.  1:00 – 2:00 PM

                                                          Thurs. 12:00 – 1:00 PM

Thurs. 3:00 – 4:00 PM

GMC G4,             Mon. & Wed.            9:30 – 10:30 AM

And as always, by appointment.

 

Class Time and Location: Mon. & Wed. 11:00 AM - 12:50 PM, E106

 

Textbook: Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, Mark Dugopolski

 

Calculators:  Calculators are not allowed in MAT 152B.

 

Course Description: MAT 152B is a continuation of MAT 152A.  Topics covered will include factoring, solving equations with rational and radical expressions, systems of linear equations, and solving quadratic equations.

 

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

 

Course Objectives:

The successful student will:

1)      exhibit a proficiency in the topics covered in the course;

2)      engage in logical and critical thinking;

3)      read technical information; and

4)      demonstrate the solution to problems by translating written language into mathematical statements, interpreting information, sketching relevant diagrams, analyzing given information, formulating appropriate mathematical statements, and checking and verifying results.

 

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:                              200 points            Average of HW Scores X 20

Quizzes:                                 200 points            Average of Quiz Scores X 10

Exam1 (October 11):

Exam2 (November 1):             400 points            Average of Exam Scores X 4

Exam3 (November 24):

Final Exam (December 6):            200 points

 

You may check your grades at any point in the quarter by going to the following website using your secret code:

http://www.gradesource.com/reports/1027/6233/index.html

 


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 one week 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 6 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 your lowest score will be dropped, missed quizzes may not be made up.

 

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 15.  After October 15, you may drop the class and receive a grade of W until November 19.  After November 19, if 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

20        2.4,3.3                         Introductions, Formulas, Absolute Values

22        6.1,6.2                         Factoring: Common Factors, Special Products, Grouping

27        6.3, Quiz I              Factoring Trinomials

29        6.4,6.5                         More Trinomials and Factoring Strategies

 

October

4          6.6, Quiz II             Solving Equations using Factoring

6          7.1, Review                        Reducing Rational Expressions

11        Exam I                        

13        7.2,7.3                         Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions, the LCD

18        7.4, Quiz III                        Adding & Subtracting Rational Expressions

20        7.5,7.6                         Complex Fractions, Solving Equations with Rat. Exp.

25        7.7, Quiz IV                        Ratios and Proportions

27        7.8, Review                        Applications of Rational Expressions

 

November

1          Exam II

3          8.1,8.2                         Solving Systems of Linear Equations                               

8          8.7, Quiz V             Solving Systems of Linear Inequalities     

10        9.1,9.2                         Radicals, Rational Exponents

15                9.3, Quiz VI                     Operations with Radicals

17        9.4,9.5                         More Operations on Radicals, Solving Eqns. with Radicals

22        9.6, Review                        Complex Numbers

24        Exam III

29            10.1,10.2                     Completing the Square, Quadratic Formula

 

December

1          11.5, Review                        Variation

6          Final Exam               Note: The final is from 10:00 -11:50 AM.       

 


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
2.4 9,12,14,17,20,23,25,26,30,31,36,41,44,47,61,64,73,74
3.3 1,2,10,15,25,28,32,33,34,35,55,58,60,61,73,76
6.1 7,10,13,16,18,19,24,25,28,31,34,37,52,55,59,62,63,66
6.2 7,10,12,13,17,18,65,68,71,76,79,80,82,83,85,88
6.3 2,6,15,18,21,30,37,40,47,50,54,57,59,60,61,64,67,72,75,80
6.4 5-8,15,20,26,31,34,37,41,42,43,46,65,68,72,78,81,87
6.5 8,15,17,21,26,28,36,41,59,60,63,66,71,76
6.6 3,8,9,14,15,18,19,23,28,29,30,33,38,43,46,54,57,68,73
7.1 13,17,18,20,27,30,35,38,47,52,62,67,70,73,79,86,89,94
7.2 11,14,18,21,29,32,36,39,62,65,66,68
7.3 27,30,31,34,35,40,43,46,51,54,55,58
7.4 2,27,30,33,38,39,42,47,50,56,57
7.5 11,16,23,28,33,36,37,40
7.6 2,4,16,19,29,30,39,50,53,56
7.7 20-25,33,34,40,41,46,48,55,56,59,61
7.8 13,14,17,20,28,31,34,37,39,42
8.1 3,6,9,12,17-20,27,30,31,42,46,51
8.2 7,10,13,18,19,22,27,30,40,43
8.7 15,18,21,24,25,30,36,41
9.1 2,3,9,16,20,23,29,34,41,46,74,77,87,88,91,92
9.2 8,9,11,14,23,26,27,30,74,75,77,80,82,85,92,93
9.3 1,17,24,35,36,51,56,59,62,73,76,79,80,87,90,100,107
9.4 17,19,20,24,45,48,65,72
9.5 7,10,15,22,34,35,39,42,48,53,55,58,64,67
9.6 7,10,11,14,23,28,29,32,49,50,52,53
10.1 7,12,19,22,43,48,53,56,68,69,76,77,80,85
10.2 7,10,20,23,26,29,31,34,40,43,47,56
11.5 7,10,11,14,17,20-22,25,28,48,49,53,56