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MAT 154/185 Intermediate Algebra Spring 2006
Instructor: Bruce Armbrust, phone: 541-4660 ext. 314, email: armbrust@ltcc.edu
Office Hours: Room A210 Mon. 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Wed. 12:00 – 1:00 PM Thurs. 12:00 – 1:00 PM GMC G4, Tues. 9:30 – 10:30 AM Fri. 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM And as always, by appointment.
Class Time and Location: Mon., Wed., & Fri. 9:30 - 10:55 AM, E106
Textbook: Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, 2nd Edition, Mark Dugopolski
Calculator: A scientific calculator is required for this course. Graphing calculators will not be allowed on quizzes and exams.
Course Description: MAT 154 is a continuation of MAT 152B and covers functions and inverses, exponential and logarithmic functions, sequences and series, and conic sections, quadratic equations, and systems of quadratic equations. MAT 185 allows for an additional hour each week of instructional time and is specifically designed for students who are nervous about math and/or find math difficult to master.
Both MAT 154 and MAT 185 must be taken concurrently.
Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in MAT 152B, or appropriate skills demonstrated through the Math assessment process.
Course Objectives: The successful student will: 1) become less anxious about mathematics; 2) improve their study skills in mathematics; 3) exhibit a proficiency in the topics covered in the course; 4) engage in logical and critical thinking; 5) read technical information; and 6) 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 Grades: Your final letter grade in MAT 154 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 Average of HW Scores X 15 Quizzes: 200 points Average of Quiz Scores X 10 Exam1 (April 21) Exam2 (May 12): 450 points Average of Exam Scores X 4.5 Exam3 (June 2) Cumulative Final Exam (June 21): 200 points
You may check your grades at any point in the quarter by going to the following website:
http://www.gradesource.com/reports/1027/9186/index.html
Your grade in MAT 185 will be either Credit of No Credit. In order to receive credit for this one-unit course you must pick one of the following books, read the appropriate chapters, and type a paper on your chosen reading.
Pick one of the following (all are on reserve and available to checkout in the library):
1) Managing the Mean Math Blues, by Cheryl Ooten, Chapters 16 & 17. 2) Conquering Math Anxiety, by Cynthia Arem, Chapters 9 & 10. 3) Overcoming Math Anxiety, by Randy Davidson & Ellen Levitov, Chapters 5,8, & 10.
Then type a two-page paper on what you have learned from these chapters and how it will help you in your current mathematics class. The paper is due by noon on May 19th.
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 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 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 April 28. After April 28, you may drop the class and receive a grade of W until June 2. After June 2, 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.
April3 10.1,10.2 Review of Quadratic Equations 5 10.3 Graphs of Quadratic Functions 7 10.4 More on Quadratic Equations 10 10.5 Quadratic & Rational Inequalities 12 11.1 Functions and Relations 14 Quiz I Flex Day 17 11.2 Graphs of Functions and Relations 19 11.3 Transformations of Graphs 21 Exam I 24 11.6 Combining Functions 26 11.7 Inverse Functions 28 Quiz II Flex Day May1 12.1 Exponential Functions3 12.2 Logarithmic Functions 5 Quiz III Flex Day 8 12.3 Properties of Logarithms 10 12.4 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations 12 Exam II 15 7.3 Systems of Linear Equations 17 13.1 Nonlinear Systems of Equations 19 Quiz IV Flex Day, Paper Due for MAT 185 Course Schedule (Cont.):
May22 13.2, 13.3 Parabolas and Circles 24 13.4 Ellipses and Hyperbolas 26 Quiz V Flex Day 29 NO SCHOOL MEMORIAL DAY 31 14.1 Sequences
June2 Exam III 5 14.2 Series 7 14.3 Arithmetic Sequences and Series 9 Quiz VI Flex Day 12 14.4 Geometric Sequences and Series 14 14.5 Binomial Expansions 16 Quiz VII Review for Final 21 Final Exam Note: The Final Exam 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.
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