INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA

Math 154/185                                                                                       Spring, 2008

Monday/Wedneday/Friday                                                                11:00 – 12:25

Room: A211                                                                                          4 units/ 1 unit

 

INSTRUCTOR:                    Colleen McDonough

 

PHONE NUMBER/EMAIL:              541-4660 ext. 368 / mcdonough@ltcc.edu

 
Office Hours                Monday:          12:30 – 1:00 PM
                                                                        5:00  – 6:00 PM
 
                                       Tuesday:         3:25 – 3:55 PM 
 
                                       Wednesday:   12:30 – 1:00 PM
                                                                        5:00 – 6:00 PM
 
                                       Thursday:       3:25 – 3:55 PM
 
                                        Friday:       8:30 – 9:30 AM
 
                                          Or By Appointment
 
REQUIRED TEXT: Elementary and Intermediate Algebra 2nd Edition by Mark Dugopolski 
 
Optional Textbook: Student Manual for Elementary and Intermediate Algebra by Mark Dugopolski 

CALCULATOR:    You will need a scientific calculator for this course.  It should have the following keys: log, ln, and an exponent key.  Graphing calculators are not allowed.  (See handout for more details)

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:

 

MAT 154 is a continuation of MAT 152B and covers functions and inverses, exponential and logarithmic functions, sequences and series, conic sections, quadratic equations, and systems of quadratic equations. 

 

MATH 185 is taken in conjunction with Math 154. This “class” gives us an extra hour each week so that we can take time to go over the concepts more carefully and thoroughly.  The class is specially designed for students who are nervous about math and/or find math difficult to master.

 

THESE TWO CLASSES MUST BE TAKEN CONCURRENTLY.

REGISTRATION:

             Ψ      You must register for this class at the Office of Admissions and Records.

Ψ      The last day to drop the class with no record is Friday, May 2.

Ψ      The last day to drop the class for a "W" grade is Friday, May 23.

Ψ      After May 23, if you are enrolled you will receive some kind of grade.

In this class, it is your responsibility to drop the class in order to avoid a grade.

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

Grading:  Your class letter grade will be based on the usual grading scale:

A:  90% and above,     B: 80-89%,      C: 70-79%,        D: 60-69%,    F: less than 60%

                       Homework                                   150 points                              

                       Quizzes                                              150 points

                          3 Exams (150 points each)               450 points

                        Comprehensive Final Exam:           250 points  

                        Total                                                1000 points

Your letter grade will be based on your percentage of the  1000 possible points.

Homework:  Their due dates are listed every week.  These problems are considered late if they are not turned in by 1:00 p.m. the day they are due.  If you will be absent, either turn in the homework early or have someone turn in the homework assignment for you.  Homework that is one class meeting late is worth 80%, two class meetings late is worth 70% and one week late receives half credit.  Homework turned in after one week receives no credit. 

Quizzes:  There are no make-up quizzes.   The lowest quiz score will be dropped. 

Exams:  Grading will based on the progress towards the final answer, and the demonstration of understanding of the concept that is being tested, therefore, work must be shown in detail.  Any student who cannot make it to an exam must notify me before the exam and may elect to take the exam up to two days before the exam is scheduled.  Without a proven medical excuse, a 10% per day penalty will be given for each day the exam is taken late.

 

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.   

 

Checking your grade online:

 

To retrieve your grade information online, follow these steps:

Ψ         www.gradesource.com

Ψ         student reports

Ψ         Instructor Name: McDonough

Ψ         Click on your class: Math 154 and your secret number will be given in class.

LEARNING DISABILITIES:  If you have a learning disability, be sure to discuss your special needs with me.  Learning disabilities will be accommodated.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Apply the course topics to real-world situations.

2. Sketch and interpret the graphs of functions and relations introduced in   

    intermediate algebra.

3. Simplify mathematical expressions into forms more amenable to analysis.

4. Provide solutions to equations using methods from intermediate algebra

 

TUTORING:  Tutoring is available in the Math Success Center (MSC) during the following times:

 

            M-TH 9:00 am – 6:00 pm   

            Fri 10:00 am – 4:00 pm    

            Sat 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

 

ACADEMIC COACH:  Cindy Littell and Steve Shattuck will be working as special tutors who assist students in Math 152A, Mat 152B, and Mat 154.  You are encouraged to take advantage of this extra help available only to beginning and intermediate algebra students.  The will be working in the tutoring center during the following times:

 

Steve:  Tues.4 – 6 p.m, Thurs. 10 – 12 pm & 4:30 – 6:00 pm, Friday 10 – 12:30 pm

Cindy: MW 11:45 – 1:15 pm and TTh 12 – 1:30 pm

 

HOW TO SUCCEED IN A MATH CLASS:

 

            1)  Come to every class meeting prepared and ready to participate.

 

2)  Arrive early, get yourself settled and be ready when class starts.                  Sit where you won’t be distracted.

 

            3)  Read each section before it is discussed in class.

HOW TO SUCCEED IN A MATH CLASS (cont):

 

 

4)  Do all of the homework.

 

            5)  Do some math every day.

 

            6)  Start preparing for tests at least a week in advance.

 

7)  Take advantage of tutors and office hours, extra help can make a              difference.

 

            8)  Do some review every time you study math

 

            9)  Be willing to ask questions.

 

10)        Take notes.

The Comprehensive Final Exam is on Monday, June 23, 10:00 11:50

Tentative Lecture Schedule

 

Date    Section                     Topic                          

 

4/7        10.1, 10.2         Introductions, Review of Quadratic Equations

 

4/9        10. 3                  Graphs of Quadratic Functions

 

4/11         10.4                More on Quadratic Equations  

                

4/14      10.5                  Quadratic & Rational Inequalities

                 HW 1:  10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4

 

4/16     Quiz 1 (10.2 – 10.5)

                 Finish Chapter 10

 

4/18         11.1               Functions and Relations (Read Only)     

                11. 2                 Graphs of Functions and Relations

 

4/21        11.3                Transformations of Graphs

HW 2: 10.5, 11.1              

 

4/23      11.6                 Combining Functions

 

4/25        Review for Exam 1  

        

Date    Section                     Topic   (Continued)                      

 

4/28      Exam 1 (10.1 – 10.5, 11.1 – 11.3)    

                HW 3: 11.2, 11.3, 11.6

 

4/30     11. 7                 Inverse Functions

 

5/2      11.7                    Finish Inverse Functions

 

5/5      12.1                  Exponential Functions              

 

5/7        Quiz 2 (11.6, 11.7, 12.1)   

                 12.2                Logarithmic Functions

 

5/9      12.3                 Properties of Logarithms

                 HW 4: 11.7, 12.1

 

5/12         12.4                  Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

 

5/14         Review of Chapter 12

 

5/16      7.3                   Systems of Linear Equations

 

5/19         Review Exam 2                                                           

                         

5/21      Exam 2 (11.6, 11.7, 12.1 – 12.4, 7.3)                  

                 HW 5:  12.2, 12.3, 12..4

 

5/23      13.1                  Nonlinear Systems of Equations

 

5/26         HOLIDAY

 

5/28      13.2                  Parabolas                                

                 HW 6:  7.3, 13.1

  

5/30         13.3                Circles           

                 13.4                Ellipses and Hyperbolas   

        

6/2       Quiz 3 (13.1 – 13.3)  

                 13.4                Finish Ellipses and Hyperbolas           

                 13.5                 Second-Degree Inequalities

                 HW 7:  13.2 & 13.3

           

6/4        14.1                 Sequences                                        

 

6/6        14.2                 Series                                      

 

Date    Section                     Topic   (Continued)                    

 

6/9       Quiz 4 (13.4, 14.1, 14.2)         

                 14.3                Arithmetic Sequences and Series     

                 HW 8: 13.4 & 14.1

 

6/11       Review Exam 3                                   

 

6/13       Exam 3 (13.1 – 13.4, 14.1 – 14.3)  

              HW 9:  14.2 & 14.3

 

6/16      14.4                  Geometric Sequences and Series

 

6/18         14.5                Binomial Expansions

                

6/20         Review for Final                       

               HW 10:  14.4, 14.5

 

6/23       COMPREHENSIVE FINAL 10:00 – 11:50 a.m.

 

 

The following is a list of all homework assignments for this course. Their due dates are in the schedule. 

Section

Math 154 Homework Assignment

10.1

7, 13, 14, 43, 51, 61, 69, 70, 79, 89.

10.2

11, 19, 20, 29, 49, 51, 61, 62, 79.

10.3

5, 7, 19, 25, 36, 37, 41, 42, 47, 57, 65.

10.4

7, 11, 19, 22, 28, 33, 34, 43, 44, 47, 57,74, 87.

10.5

7, 9, 14, 17, 19, 29, 30, 35, 39, 47, 65, 75.

11.1

Read Section

11.2

13, 25, 26, 33, 37, 39, 41, 43, 49, 54, 55, 59.

11.3

9, 19, 25, 27, 33, 36, 39, 41, 49, 55-62, 63, 65, 67.

11.6

5, 7, 13, 25, 27, 29, 41, 42, 43, 49, 53, 58, 59, 63.

11.7

17-20, 23, 22, 27, 33, 38, 41, 45, 49, 55, 57, 58, 63, 67, 69.

12.1

7, 11, 15, 21, 23, 27, 30, 31, 33, 43, 46, 47, 57, 61, 63, 67, 75, 83, 89,93.

12.2

7, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 35, 39, 41- 44, 49, 53, 56, 65, 67, 73, 77-80, 88, 93, 95.

12.3

13, 15, 16, 17, 25, 29, 30, 33, 37-44, 47, 51, 59, 65, 68, 75, 78, 79.

12.4

5, 6, 13, 17, 18, 21, 25, 28, 29, 33, 35, 39 - 42, 47, 55, 65, 67, 75, 83, 87

7.3

9, 14, 15, 17, 22, 27, 29, 35, 43, 47, 53.

13.1

6, 7, 9, 14, 17, 19, 21, 27, 31, 35, 39, 55.

13.2

1, 3, 9, 10, 13, 57, 59, 60, 61, 67, 69.

13.3

1, 4, 7, 11, 13, 15, 19, 25, 27, 30, 31, 34, 35, 41, 43, 47.

13.4

13.5

1, 6, 11, 14, 17, 20, 21, 23, 26, 31,37, 43, 47, 49, 51, 57, 61, 65 

1, 5, 9, 15-23 odd, 27, 35, 37, 39

14.1

5, 11, 19, 23, 24, 27, 29, 31, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41.

14.2

5, 9, 13, 15, 19, 21, 24, 26, 31, 35, 39, 41, 46, 49.

14.3

1, 9, 13, 15, 17, 23, 26, 29, 33, 35, 37, 40, 45, 48, 53, 57, 59.

14.4

1, 7, 9, 15, 16, 19, 21, 27, 28, 31, 33, 37, 43, 45, 51, 55.

14.5

3, 7 - 9, 13, 19, 20, 25, 33, 34, 35, 37.