MAT 152B

Basic Algebra (Part II)

Spring 2001

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

Office Hours: Room A210, Mon. & Wed. 2:00-3:00 PM, Fri. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

GMC G4, Tues. & Thurs. 2:00-3:00 PM

And as always, by appointment.

Class Time and Location: Tues. & Thurs. 10:00-11:50 AM, E106

Textbook: Algebra for College Students, Daniel L. Auvil

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 a satisfactory score on the Mathematics Assessment Exam.

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 (April 19):

Exam2 (May 10):                      450 points

Exam3 (May 31):

Final Exam (June 19):                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 one week after it is assigned for half credit.  If all homework is turned in, and no more than three are late, the lowest regular exam score will be dropped.

Quizzes: There will be approximately 7 announced quizzes given over the quarter.   These quizzes will be designed to help prepare you for the exams. 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 April 27.  After April 27, you may drop the class and receive a grade of W until June 1.  After June 1, 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.

Course Schedule:

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

April

3,5        2.2, 2.7, 3.6, 3.7             Problem Solving with Formulas, Absolute Values

                                                Factoring (Grouping and Trinomials)

10,12    3.8-3.10                        Factoring (Special, Strategies), Equations and Factoring

17,19    4.1, 4.2, Exam I             Simplifying, Mult., and Div. of Rational Expressions

24,26    4.3-4.5                          Add. and Sub. of Rational Expressions

                                                Complex Fractions, Equations with Rational Expressions

May

1,3        4.6, 5.1-5.3                    Problem Solving with Rational Expressions, Roots

                                                Rational Exponents, Simplifying Radical Expressions

8,10      5.3-5.5, Exam II            Mult., Div., Add., and Sub. of Radical Expressions

15,17    5.6-5.9                          Rationalizing Denominators, Radical Equations, Complex #’s

22,24    5.9, 6.1-6.3                    Completing the Square, Quadratic Formula, Quadratic Equations

29,31    6.3, 7.6, Exam III          More Quadratic Equations, Variation

June               

5,7        11.1-11.3                      Solving Systems of Equations, Problem Solving with Systems

12,14    11.9, Review                 Second-Degree Inequalities and Systems of Inequalities

19         Final Exam                    Note: The time of the final is 11 AM -12:50 PM