MAT 152B/184

Basic Algebra (Part II)

Winter 2003

 

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: Mon., Wed., & Fri. 11:00 AM - 12:25 PM, A213

 

Textbook: Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, Mark Dugopolski

 

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;

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

5)      become less anxious about mathematics; and

6)      improve their study skills in mathematics.

 

 

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 (January 24)

Exam2 (February 12):             450 points

Exam3 (March 7)

Final Exam (March 24):            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.  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 8 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 January 31.  After January 31, you may drop the class and receive a grade of W until March 7.  After March 7, 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 may 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.

 

January

6          2.4                               Introductions, Formulas

8          3.3                               Absolute Values

10        6.1                               Common Factors

13        6.2, Quiz I               Special Factoring Forms, Factoring by Grouping

15        6.3                               Factoring Trinomials (quick AC method)

17        6.4/6.5, Quiz II              Factoring Trinomials (AC method), Factoring Strategies

20        NO CLASS                        MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY                    

22        6.6                               Solving Equations Using Factoring

24        Exam I

27        7.1                               Simplifying Rational Expressions

29        7.2                               Multiplication and Division of Rational Expressions

31        7.3, Quiz III             Least Common Denominators

 

February

3          7.4                               Addition and Subtraction of Rational Expressions

5          7.5                               Complex Fractions

7          7.6, Quiz IV                        Solving Equations Involving Rational Expressions

10        7.8                               Applications of Rational Expressions

12        Exam II                       

14        NO CLASS                        LINCOLN’S BIRTHDAY

17        NO CLASS                        WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY     

19        8.1                               Solve Systems of Equations Graphically & by Substitution

21        8.2                               Solve Systems of Equations Using Addition

24        8.7, Quiz V             Solve Systems of Inequalities

26        9.1                               Radicals

28        9.2                               Rational Exponents

 

March

3          9.3, Quiz VI                        Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication of Radicals

5          9.4                               Division, Rationalizing, and Powers of Radicals

7          Exam III                     

10        9.5                               Solving Equations with Radicals

12        9.6                               Complex Numbers

14        11.5, Quiz VII                        Variation

17        10.1                             Solving Quadratics by Factoring & Completing the Square

19        10.2                             The Quadratic Formula          

21        Quiz VIII                    Review

24        Final Exam               Note: The final is from 10:00 – 11:55 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

7.8

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

11.5

7,10,11,14,17,20-22,25,28,48,49,53,56

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