PRE-CALCULUS 1: COLLEGE ALGEBRA Olympic College Winter 2019 MATH&141 Item Number: 4225 Day/Time: ONLINE Instructor: Dr. James Howell Office Hours: T,TH: 11 11:50am, W: 8-9:50am or by appt. Phone: 475-7716 (prefer email) Office: ST 117 E-mail: jhowell@olympic.edu Textbook Pre-Calculus: Mathematics for Calculus, (7 th edition) by Stewart, Redlin, Watson. These products are from Cengage Learning and are covered in a new program that launched this Fall - #UNLIMITED basically Netflix for textbooks. This subscription model could save you $$ and allow you to get the materials you need to be successful in your courses here at Olympic. The portal to get all the benefits for #UNLIMITED is WebAssign. An ebook is embedded in WebAssign. Other Requirements WebAssign student access. See page 2 for the enrollment class key. graphing technology (www.desmos.com or Mathematica) or graphing calculator graph paper, patience, and good time management skills. ability to organize your work so it is easy to follow. Prerequisite MATH 99 with a grade of 2.5 or above, or satisfactory placement test score. Course Description Using numeric, analytic, and graphical methods we will study linear polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions. Learning Objectives This course covers a functional approach to algebra with emphasis on numerical, graphical, and algorithmic representations of functions. This course is recommended for students majoring in mathematics, science or engineering, and is structured to prepare the student for the Calculus series. Students finishing this course should be able to: 1. combine and evaluate functions graphically, numerically and algebraically; 2. identify various types of functions and their key features (i.e. vertex for a quadratic, domain and asymptotes for a rational function, etc.); 3. identify various types of equations (i.e. linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic) and choose appropriate techniques to solve the equation based on its classification; 4. identify various types of inequalities (i.e. linear, quadratic, rational) and choose appropriate techniques to solve the inequality based on its classification; 5. construct and use functions to model various real-world problems; 6. identify functions used in contemporary society and interpret graphs, sign charts, and tables of values; 7. justify conclusions, explain procedures and communicate results using appropriate functional notation and vocabulary; 8. use technology (a graphing calculator) as a tool in solving equations and investigating the behavior of functions and graphs. Reading & Videos - You will need to read the material and/or watch the videos pertinent to the sections for the assigned homework exercises. This is a hard habit to get into (and keep), but is well worthwhile. It does not matter if you do not understand all or some of the reading - simply exposing yourself to the text and concepts is very valuable. The sections along with video content, videos will work on any platform, to be covered on any particular night can be viewed under the schedule link on the course webpage on my faculty webpage at http://faculty.olympic.edu/jhowell/math141/mainmath141online.html Learning Disabilities/Special Needs and Requests - If you have a learning disability or any other special needs or requests please make an appointment with me, as soon an possible, so we can discuss any assistance that would be helpful. PROCTORED EXAMS - Most online Math classes at Olympic College have proctored exams. A proctored exam is when a proctor, such as your instructor, is present to supervise the administration of an exam. This means that you will need to go to the Olympic College campus, or set up an appointment with a local testing center, to take three exams for this online course. See page 3 of the syllabi for the exam dates.
Class Website use www.webassign.net, click Login, then enroll with class key: olympic 1184 6597. Don t wait to enroll, there is a 14 day free trial period to use if necessary. Getting Notifications This is NOT a canvas based course. Once you enroll in WebAssign, I encourage you to login and in the upper right corner open/click Notifications, then under the settings tab be sure that that the boxes are checked for Notify me by email when my instructor posts an announcement and sends me a private message. Getting Help Free tutoring is available in the Math Study Center (ST-126) Mon - Thurs: 9am-7pm, Fri: 8am-5pm, Sat: 10am-3pm. You may make an appointment with me or send me an email to set up a meeting. I will also hold periodic online office hours that will be posted via announcement on WebAssign. If you want help on a specific question you are completing in the homework, use the Ask My Instructor email link. As well as giving you a place to ask your question, the Ask My Instructor procedure automatically sends the professor a copy of the exact problem you are working on. To obtain website or technical help, https://www.webassign.com/support/student-support/ Academic Honesty Policy: Overview: Students are required to do their own work on all homework, quizzes, exams, and projects in this class. On the Homework: Students may ask questions of the instructor or tutors, or post a question on the discussion board, and may use the online class website resources freely in completing homework. Students may NOT allow others to work their actual homework problems nor show them how to complete their actual problem. On the Quizzes: Students may use their own printed homework and personal notes and the textbook when completing the online quizzes. I would advise you to try your best to not rely on these resources, as you do not get to use them with the on ground exams. Students may NOT use any other resource while completing the quizzes. Students may NOT communicate with any person by any means about any topic while completing quizzes. On the Exams: Exam 1 and Exam 2 are scheduled on campus in ST-123, or a proctored environment, as noted on the course calendar and later in the syllabi. - These exams are closed note and closed book. NOTE: Communication by any means includes electronic communication (email, phone, text, etc.) as well as in-person communication. Students should report any instances that appear to be cheating or attempts to cheat to the professor. Students who do not comply with the Academic Honesty Policy will be subjected to a failing Assessment Inforamtion Online Homework 14% (drop the two lowest online homework scores) Online Homework may be done in several sittings, you may close homework assignments and return to it anytime. Homework Due dates can be seen within the calendar in WebAssign. These DUE dates are ADVISORY (not mandatory). If you haven t finished the homework by the advised due date, you will be able to open the assignment later and finish without penalty. You will have to ask for an extension, but they system is set up for Automatic Homework Extensions. To improve your score on a homework assignment, go to any problem you missed and click similar problem. There are 22 sections of online homework for this course.
Online Quizzes 21% (drop one lowest online quiz score) Online Quizzes will open on Thursday mornings and are due by 11:59 on the given day Quiz 1 Due Sunday January 6 sections 1.8 & 1.9 45 minutes Quiz 2 Due Sunday January 13 sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 45 minutes Quiz 3 Due Sunday January 20 sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 45 minutes Quiz 4 Due Sunday February 3 sections 2.8 & Models 45 minutes Quiz 5 Due Sunday February 10 sections 3.1 & 3.2 45 minutes Quiz 6 Due Sunday February 17 sections 3.3 & 3.6 45 minutes Quiz 7 Due Sunday March 3 section 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 45 minutes Quiz 8 Due Sunday March 10 sections 4.4 & 4.5 45 minutes You will have TWO attempts for each quiz. Once you start, you may NOT pause and resume. You are expected to finish the quiz in one sitting. Quiz due dates are ENFORCED. You may not take a quiz after the due date unless you request a due date extension. (each student gets 2 extensions without grade penalty.) Take Home Sets 15% These take home sets will be a downloadable file through WebAssign, or emailed to the entire class. Please be sure to work on these sets when they are sent out. This is a substantial portion of your grade. There are 6-8 problems on each take home set. You will have approximately 5 to 7 days after the assignment is given to finish the exercises. These problems are designed to allow me to give feedback on your notation, organization and mathematical thinking. Major Examinations 30% Exams may only be taken once. There are no second chance examinations. Each exam is closed note and closed book. No 3x5 cards or student created formula sheets are allowed. Exam 1 is scheduled for Friday January 25, 2019 from 8:00am-9:50am in ST-123 or at a proctored testing location. You will have 110 minutes for completion. Exam 2 is scheduled for Friday February 22, 2019 from 8:00am-9:50am in ST-123 or at a proctored testing location. You will have 120 minutes for completion. Material from videos, handouts and homework are all relevant to the exams. Final Examinations 20% Final exam may only be taken once. There are no second chance examinations. Final exam is closed note and closed book. No 3x5 cards or student created formula sheets are allowed. Final Exam is scheduled for Wednesday March 13 from 8:00am 9:50am in ST-123 or at a proctored testing location. You will have 110 minutes for completion. Material from videos, handouts, homework sets, Exam 1 and Exam 2 are all relevant to the final exam. If the final exam score is higher that Exam 1 or Exam 2 score, I will replace Exam 1 or Exam 2 score with the Final exam score.
Grading Policy Cutoffs for +/- grades and decimal equivalents for MATH&141 will be based on the class distribution. Students must formally withdraw through the Admissions Office to receive the "W" grade by Thursday February 14, 2019. I do not assign WP or WF grades. Your letter grade for MATH&141 will be based on the following % of the total: A 90-100 % B 80-89 % C 70-79 % D 60-69 % F less than 60 % Your decimal grade for MATH&141 will be based on the OC decimal grade system: 3.9-4.0 A 1.2-1.4 D+ 3.5-3.8 A- 0.9-1.1 D 3.2-3.4 B+ 0.7-0.8 D- 2.9-3.1 B 0.0 F 2.5-2.8 B- 2.2-2.4 C+ 1.9-2.1 C 1.5-1.8 C- Disclaimer Please be aware that certain aspects of the course may be modified in order to meet the needs of the class. You are responsible for knowing about all announcements, changes in the syllabus, exams, etc., made in class. You will leave this course having learned a lot, and hopefully having had fun learning it despite the work it entailed!!!
Possible Calendar and appropriate Sections for Math&141 Week Topic (EOO Every other odd: 1, 5, 9, 13,. OR 3, 7, 11, 15,.. ) 1 Wednesday - Login to WebAssign and Review Exercises Thursday Section 1.9 (Distance Formula and Circles) Jan 2 Jan 6 Friday Section 1.8 (Inequalities) Quiz 1 Due Sunday 1/6 by 11:59 pm from 1.9 & 1.8 2 Monday/Tuesday Section 2.1 (Functions) Wednesday Section 2.2 (Graphs of Functions) Jan 7 Jan 13 Thursday/Friday Section 2.3 (Getting Information from Graphs of Functions) Quiz 2 Due Sunday 1/13 by 11:59pm from 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 3 Monday/Tuesday Section 2.4 (Average Rate of Change of a Function) Wednesday Section 2.5 (Linear Functions and Models) Jan 14 Jan 20 Thursday/Friday Section 2.6 (Transformation of Functions) Quiz 3 Due Sunday 1/20 by 11:59pm from 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 4 MONDAY HOLIDAY (NO CLASS) Tuesday/Wednesday Section 2.7 (Combining Functions) Jan 21 Jan 27 Thursday REVIEW FRIDAY January 25 EXAM 1 from 8:00 9:50am in ST-123 5 Jan 28 Feb 3 6 Feb 4 Feb. 10 7 Feb 11 Feb 17 8 Feb 18 Feb 24 9 Feb 25 March 3 10 March 4 March 10 11 March 11-15 Monday/Tuesday Section 2.8 (Inverse Functions) Wednesday/Thursday (Focus on Modeling Section) Friday Section 3.1 (begin Quadratic Functions) Quiz 4 Due Sunday 2/3 by 11:59pm from 2.8 & modeling Monday/Tuesday Section 3.1 (finish Quadratic Functions) Wednesday/Thursday/Friday Section 3.2 (Polynomial Functions) Quiz 5 Due Sunday 2/10 by 11:59pm from 3.1 & 3.2 Monday Section 3.3 (Polynomial Long Division) Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday Section 3.6 (Rational Functions) *** Also Thursday 2/14 is the last day to take W withdraw *** Friday Section 3.7 (begin Non-Linear Inequalities) Quiz 6 Due Sunday 2/17 by 11:59pm from 3.3 & 3.6 MONDAY HOLIDAY (NO CLASS) Tuesday/Wednesday Section 3.7 (finish Non-Linear Inequalities) Thursday Review FRIDAY February 22 EXAM 2 from 8:00 9:50am in ST-123 Monday/Tuesday Section 4.1 (exponential functions) Wednesday Section 4.2 (the Natural Exponential Function) Thursday/Friday Section 4.3 (Logarithmic Functions) Quiz 7 Due 3/3 by 11:59pm from 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 Monday Section 4.4 (Laws of Logarithms) Tuesday/Wednesday Section 4.5 (Solving Exponential & Logarithmic Equations) Thursday/Friday Section 4.6 (Modeling Exponential and Logarithms Functions) Quiz 8 Due 3/10 by 11:59pm from 4.4 & 4.5 Monday Review Content Available WEDNESDAY MARCH 13 FINAL EXAM from 8:00 9:50am in ST-123 Disclaimer Please be aware that certain aspects of the course may be modified in order to meet the needs of the class. You are responsible for knowing about all announcements, changes in the syllabus, exams, etc., made in class.