MATH 1070 College Algebra Instructor: Roxanne Byrne (Rox) Fall Semester 2010 Section OL1 Email Address: Roxanne.Byrne@ucdenver.edu (this will be your best method of contact) Office Hours: Ask questions in the threaded discussions. If it is about the course, post the questions in the Virtual Office. If you have a question about your grade or other personal issue, then email me. Text: There is no required text for this course. You are required to use the MyMathLab (MML) software for the book: College Algebra By J. S. Ratti Marcus McWaters You can buy a hardcopy of the text if you desire, but it is not required. *note: The MML software required for this course has an electronic copy of the text book page for page so if you don t want to buy the paper copy you do not need to. If you do decide to buy the textbook I strongly recommend only buying a brand new text book bundled with the MML software. Make sure that MML is packaged with the new text book before you open the package because once you open it you cannot return it for full price. If you do not want to buy the text book then you can purchase an access code to MML online at http://www.coursecompass.com/.
To register for the course you will need to enter the course ID: byrne47758 Course Objectives: To help students understand the fundamental concepts of algebra. To introduce several algebra topics and functions. To reaffirm the students knowledge of Algebra and strengthen the students algebraic skills. Graphing Calculator: All students will need a graphics calculator for this class. You could use Excel or some other type of spreadsheet if you know how to use it instead of a calculator. The minimum required calculator is a TI-83/84 however the TI-89 will work. I will teach using the TI-83 and will not give instructions for the TI-89. Grading: There will be the following components to your grade and will be distributed as follows: Points Percentage of grade Weekly homework 50 points each, 50 x 11 = 550 34.81% Introduction 10 points 0.6% Weekly threaded discussions (2 per week) 10 points each, 20 x 11 = 220 13.92% 3 exams 200 points each, 3 x 200 = 600 37.97% Comprehensive final 200 points 12.66% Total 1580 100% My grade scale is the following percentages: 93-100 : A 90-93 : A-
87-90 : B+ 83-87 : B 80-83 : B- 77-80 : C+ 73-77 : C 70-73 : C- 60-70 : D 0-60 : F Grading details: Threaded Discussion: This is a very important aspect of the course. If you fail to participate you will not only lose points toward your grade, you will in affect be taking a correspondence course. 240 points for the semester is considered 100% participation. You may earn up to 20 points per unit in the threaded discussion. Your entries may be one of three types: 1. Ask a question about the current section(s). Do not ask about a specific homework problem unless you have already tried working it. You may also ask about another question that is similar to a homework question. You certainly may ask more than one question in the threaded discussions. 2. Respond to someone who has asked a question. You may respond to as many questions as you like. Nothing cements knowledge in your mind better than explaining it to someone else! 3. Comment on something you have learned in the current unit. This should be several sentences, not just "I learned how to differentiate a function." Questions and comments will only receive credit when entered during the current unit. Responses providing help or clarification will receive credit until I respond to the question. *I expect two postings per unit that homework is due. One posting must be by Wednesday of the week and the second by Saturday. Remember, these threaded discussions are your way to communicate with me and the other students in the class. Use them to your advantage!* NOTE: Replies like "I didn't get that problem either" will not earn you any points. Your comments must pertain to the question being asked and make some kind of contribution towards the solution. You can solve the problem or give a hint. There may be an example in the text that is helpful. If so, point the example out and note how it is similar to question being asked. It is OK
to respond to a question that someone else has already responded to as long as you provide additional help, clarity or resource. The Threaded Discussion is not to be used for: Procedural questions (use the virtual office under Course Home). Personal issues email me. Complaints or venting frustrations email me. Extended personal discussions. A little personal discussion is very good - it helps us to feel comfortable and connected with our classmates; too much makes the threaded discussion like a chat room. Anything you would not say in a classroom setting. Homework. The homework will be done on the mymathlab.com website. Each homework assignment has between 20 and 25 questions so don't wait till the last minute to do them. There is not a time limit on the homework, but there is an absolute deadline. If your computer system has a tents to give you problems, then do the homework early (all assignments are open as soon as I create them.) Homework assignments can be printed so that you may work on them offline. You may work on the homework without submitting it, then leave and go back to it at another time. Make sure you click the Submit Work button each time you complete a problem and always before you leave a session. When you have finished the homework, just simply click the Submit Work button again in order to grade the final question. You have 3 chances to answer each question correctly. After 3 incorrect answers, you can ask for a similar problem to work and the system will generate another version of that particular homework question. You are welcome to do this as often as you like without penalty. Homework questions with multiple parts will be given partial credit depending on how much you have done correctly. For example if you answer parts a and b correctly of a 3 part question you would receive.67 points on that particular problem. If you ever feel your homework was graded incorrectly please let me know ASAP with the homework # and problem #. I will go in and look at your answer and give back points accordingly. Never be shy to ask points back because I m happy to look at the work you ve done and see if there has been a mistake in grading. No homework is accepted late for any reason. Exams and Final. There will be 3 exams worth 200 points apiece. The final exam will be comprehensive. The final will also be worth 200 points. Exams submitted after the due date will NOT be accepted. All exams will be taken
on the mymathlab website. The exams and final are timed and must be done in one session (you cannot leave the exam and come back to it later.) If you get kicked out of an exam, email me right away. No exam is accepted late Extra Credit. Before you take an exam, if you find a really good video on one or more of the concepts we that will be on the exam, you can post that video with a complete discription of the video in the Extra Credit link in the Exam Threaded Discussion. It will be worth 10 points if no one else has posted it. You must do this by the end of Thursday in the exam week to get credit. Time Commitment for the course: The general rule of thumb for time spent outside of the classroom is 2 to 3 hours per course hour. This is a 4 hour course - so you need to spend a good 12 hours or more (probably more like 16 hours, accounting for the fact that you do not have in class time) on this course. You need to be disciplined about this time - set up a schedule to do your work. Do not wait until you "get around to it". Some parts of the course may require more time, and some may require less, depending on you. If this doesn't sound like your idea of an online course, then re-think if an online course is for you. Other important information: Please see Important information in the Course Home for policies on incomplete, military duty, and student code of ethics, among others. Course Prerequisites: Elementary Algebra is a prerequisite for the course. This means that you REMEMBER the material. Concepts covered: Unit Sections Covered Due Date 10:00 PM 1 1.1, 12, 1.4: Linear and Quadratic Equations 8/28 2 1.5, 1.6: Solving Other Equations and Linear Inequalities 9/4 3 2.1, 2.2, 2.3: Coordinate Plane, Graphs and Lines 9/11 4 2.4, 2.5: Relations and Functions and Properties of Functions 9/18 6 2.8, 2.9: Combining Functions, Composite Functions and Inverse Functions 10/2 7 3.1, 3.2, 3.3: Quadratic Functions, Polynomial Functions, Dividing Polynomials 10/9 8 3.4, 3.6: Zeros of Polynomials and Rational Functions 10/16 9 4.1, 4.2: Exponential Functions and Their Properties 10/30 11 4.3, 4.4: Logarithmic Functions and Their Properties 11/6 12 4.5, 5.1: Solving Exponential and Logarithmic Equations, System of Linear Equations 11/13 13 6.1, 6.2: Matrix and Matrix Algebra 11/20 The Center for Learning Assistance
The Center for Learning Assistance is where students go to get help or insight with class assignments, course-loads, and study skills. The Center also helps with arranging tutoring sessions, which take place in the days or evenings. North Classroom Building (NC) Room 2006 (303) 556-2802 Monday - Thursday 8am-7pm Friday 8am-5pm Program Access for Persons with Disabilities The University of Colorado at Denver is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and access to programs and services to persons with disabilities. Students should contact the Disabilities Services Offices. Arts building 177; 303-556-3450, TTY 303-556-8484. Academic Advising Center This office serves as the first point of contact for students who are pre-business, pre-engineering, or who have not declared a major in CLAS or CAM. In addition, the center provides general information and resource referral to all students. North Classroom Building (NC) Room 1 Phone # 303-352-3520 Career Center The Career Center offers a full array of services that prepare students for career success, such as resume help, internship and career counseling and they have a large career library. Tivoli Student Union Room 260 Unit 1 2 3 Sections Covered 1.1, 12, 1.4: Linear and Quadratic Equations Introduction 2 Threaded HW #1 1.5, 1.6: Solving Other Equations and Linear Inequalities2 Threaded HW #2 2.1, 2.2, 2.3: Coordinate Plane, Graphs and Lines2 Threaded Due Date 10:00 PM 8/28 9/4 9/11
4 HW #3 2.4, 2.5: Relations and Functions and Properties of Functions2 Threaded HW #4 9/18 5 Exam #1 9/25 6 7 8 9 2.8, 2.9: Combining Functions, Composite Functions and Inverse Functions 2 Threaded HW #5 3.1, 3.2, 3.3: Quadratic Functions, Polynomial Functions, Dividing Polynomials 2 Threaded HW #6 3.4, 3.6: Zeros of Polynomials and Rational Functions2 Threaded HW #7 4.1, 4.2: Exponential Functions and Their Properties2 Threaded HW #8 10/2 10/9 10/16 10/23 10 Exam #2 10/30 11 12 13 4.3, 4.4: Logarithmic Functions and Their Properties2 Threaded HW #9 4.5, 5.1: Solving Exponential and Logarithmic Equations, System of Linear Equations2 Threaded Discussions - one due Wednesday and one Saturday HW #10 6.1, 6.2: Matrix and Matrix Algebra2 Threaded Discussions - one due Wednesday and one Saturday HW #11 11/6 11/13 11/20 14 Exam #3 12/4 15 Final Exam 12/15