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MAT 152B Basic Algebra (Part II) Fall 2008
Instructor: Bruce Armbrust, phone: 541-4660 ext. 314, email: armbrust@ltcc.edu
Office Hours: Room A210, Mon. 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Thurs. 12:00 – 1:00 PM MSC A201, Wed. 12:00 – 1:00 PM Fri. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM And as always, by appointment.
Class Time and Location: Tues. & Thurs. 10:00 – 11:50 AM, A211
Textbook: Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, 2nd edition, 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.
Student Learning Outcomes: 1.
Factor a polynomial.
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: 20% Quizzes: 20% Exam1 (October 9) Exam2 (October 30): 40% Exam3 (November 20) Final Exam (December 9): 20%
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/1027/14269/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. The final exam may not be taken after the scheduled exam time.
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 17. After October 17, you may drop the class and receive a grade of W until November 7. After November 7, 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 Math Success Center (MSC). We also have academic coaches that are specifically set aside for students in Mat 152A, 152B, and 154A who can be found in the MSC. Cindy Littell will be available 1-3pm Mon. & Wed. and 10-11am Wed. Rachel Green will be available 9-10am and 3-4:30pm on Tues. and Thurs. V) Do math every day. Math is just like everything else: if you don’t practice, you become rusty.
Learning Disabled Students: Students with disabilities who may need accommodations for this class are encouraged to notify me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) early in the quarter so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible. Students may contact the DRC by visiting the Center (located in room A205) or by phoning 541-4660, ext. 249 (voice) or 542-1870 (TTY for deaf students). All information will remain confidential.
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.
Technology in the Classroom: All cell phones, headphones, MP3 players, iPods, etc, must be turned off and put away prior to the start of each class. No electronic devices may be used during quizzes and exams.
Course Schedule: The following is a tentative schedule. If things change (and I have money that says they will), I will let you know.
September23 2.4,3.5 Introductions, Formulas, Variation 25 5.1,5.2 Factoring: Common Factors, Special Products, Grouping 30 5.3, 5.4 Factoring Trinomials
October2 Quiz I, 5.5 Sum and Difference of Cubes 7 5.6, Review Solving Equations using Factoring 9 Exam I , 6.1 Reducing Rational Expressions 14 6.2, 6.3 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions, the LCD 16 Quiz II, 6.4 Adding & Subtracting Rational Expressions 21 6.5 Complex Fractions 23 Quiz III, 6.6 Solving Equations with Rational Expressions 28 6.7, 6.8, Review Applications of Rational Expressions 30 Exam II, 7.1 Solving Systems of Linear Equations
November4 7.2, 8.2 The Addition Method, Absolute Value Eqns. and Inequals. 6 Quiz IV, 8.3 Compound Inequalities in Two Variables 11 9.1,9.2 Solving Systems of Linear Inequalities 13 Quiz V, 9.3 Operations with Radicals Radicals, Rational Exponents 18 9.4, Review Quotients, Powers, and Rationalizing Denominators 20 Exam III, 9.5 Solving Equations with Radicals 25 9.6 Complex Numbers 27 NO CLASS THANKSGIVING
December2 Quiz VI, 10.1 Completing the Square 4 10.2 Quadratic Formula 9 Final Exam Note: The final is from 11:00 AM – 12:50 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.
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