Intermediate Algebra Madison Area Technical College Fall 2013 Syllabus Course Information Catalog Number: 20-804-201 Class Number: 33285 Schedule: Mon./Wed. 5:30PM - 7:55PM Location: West Campus Room 218 Dates: 8/26/2013-12/18/2013 Credits: 4 Instructor Information Instructor: Sarah Bannen Email: scbannen@madisoncollege.edu Phone: (608) 246-6071 Office hours: Mon./Wed. 4:30-5:15pm, Tues./Thurs. 2:00-2:45pm Office: West Campus Room 320 Description This course offers traditional algebra topics with applications. Learners develop algebraic problem solving techniques needed for technical problem solving and for more advanced algebraic studies. Topics include linear equations, exponents, polynomials, rational expressions, and roots and radicals. Successful completions of this course prepares learners to succeed in technical mathematics courses. Pre-requisites: College Tech Math 1A,10-804-113 or Algebra Concepts, 10-804-140 or Elementary Algebra w/apps, 10-804-110, or COMPASS Test: Algebra 51-65 Supplies The required textbook is Intermediate Algebra, 3rd edition, by Sullivan and Struve; ISBN: 0321880123; publisher: Pearson. A scientific calculator with trigonometric and exponential functions is required. If you have the option, get a calculator that has parentheses buttons. If you are taking more math classes after this one, the TI-83 or TI-84 graphing calculator is recommended. Bring your textbook, your calculator, and a pencil to every class. We will do class work that is required for your grade. You will also need your calculator for every test. Grading Component Point Value Number Total Percentage Attendance* 1 30 20 2% Classwork/Homework 5 50 250 25% Take-Home Quizzes** 30 7 180 18% Tests approx. 70 6 400 40% Final Exam 150 1 150 15% Total Possible 1000 100% A [92%, 100%] AB [88%, 92%) B [82%, 88%) BC [78%, 82%) C [72%, 78%) D [65%, 72%) F [0%, 65%) (*You can get 10 extra points for perfect attendance. **Your lowest take-home quiz score will be dropped.) 1
Intermediate Algebra Syllabus Page 2 of 5 Attendance (2% of your grade) Attendance counts for only 2% of your grade, so it is quite possible (but not easy) to get an A even if you miss a lot of class. Therefore, please do not come unless you are willing to be an active participant. Please don t send text messages, check the internet, or do other distracting things during class. If you do act in a distracting manner during class, you will be given a warning, then asked to leave. Attendance will be checked at the end of each hour of class and you will receive half a point for each hour you attend. There are 30 class days, each worth 1 attendance point, for a total of 30 possible points. However, the attendance grade will be calculated out of 20 points. Therefore you can get a possible 10 extra credit points, or 1% of your grade, for perfect attendance. Classwork and Homework (25% of your grade) There will be classwork and homework assigned for each section covered in class (see the schedule below). The assignments will be handed out in class and posted on Blackboard. It is strongly recommended that you turn in the assignments at the next class period so you can get feedback. However, I understand that life gets in the way sometimes, so there is no penalty for turning them in up to the day of the test covering that section. No assignments will be accepted after the last chance days noted on the schedule below. Here is how the assignments are graded, out of 5 points: One problem from the section will be chosen and graded out of 3 points based on neatness, the correct steps being shown, and the correctness of the final answer. You will not get credit for this problem if you do not show your work. You will get a possible 2 points for the completeness of the assignment. This includes whether it is stapled and has your name on it. Even though we only meet twice a week, it is strongly recommended that you work on the homework every day. You will understand the material better and you will have a chance to ask questions before the tests come along. Take-Home Quizzes (18% of your grade) There will be a Take-Home Quiz for every chapter (see the schedule below). The Take-Home Quizzes will give you a good idea of the problems that will be on the tests, so they are your best study guides. They give you a chance to work collaboratively to review for the tests. As with the classwork and homework, Take-Home Quizzes will not be accepted after the test for that chapter. Tests (40% of your grade) There will be 6 tests. You may bring one page of handwritten notes, front only. You should also bring your calculator to every test. You can take a makeup test for at most one of your tests within one week of the day the test is handed back. In order to do a makeup test, you must complete a correction packet consisting of new correct solutions for the problems you got wrong, plus sentences explaining what you did wrong. You can find the correction packet on Blackboard. Even if you were absent on the day of the test, you must still complete a correction packet. If your correction packet is not done satisfactorily, I may refuse to let you take the makeup test. Your makeup test grade will be final I will not take the higher of the two grades unless you write do not grade on the makeup test before you turn it in. Final Exam (15% of your grade) There will be a cumulative final exam during exam week. You may bring one page of handwritten notes, front and back, to the final exam. There are no makeups on the final. As the final exam approaches I may offer ways to boost your grade that include correcting old tests or take-home quizzes or turning in missed homework. Don t give up if you are falling behind, because I believe in second chances. But you must talk to me before the final exam if you want me to help you boost your grade; afterwards it will be too late.
Intermediate Algebra Syllabus Page 3 of 5 Blackboard and Madison College Email The course website is on Blackboard (http://blackboard.matcmadison.edu). I will post your grades on an ongoing basis on Blackboard so that you can monitor your progress in the class. I will also post everything I hand out in class so that you can download and print it if you miss class. Please check your Madison College email regularly so that you don t miss important announcements. Part of your first homework assignment will be to login to Blackboard, click Email your instructor, and respond to a survey using your Madison College email. Partial Credit I am a firm believer in partial credit, so it is always better to make an attempt rather than completely omit a question or blow off an assignment. Show your work! Disability Act Statement Madison College complies with all provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and makes reasonable accommodations upon request. Please contact Disability Resources Services at 246-6716 (Students who are deaf via Relay 711), room 159 at Truax or email drs@matcmadison.edu If you have an accommodation card from their office indicating that you have a disability which requires academic accommodations, please present it to me so we can discuss the accommodations that you might need in this class. It is best to request these accommodations at the beginning if not before class so there is ample time to make the accommodations. Religious Holidays If you need to turn in a homework or test late due to a religious holiday, let me know ahead of time so it won t count against you. Student Responsibilities Students are expected to be familiar with Madison College policies and procedures. Many of the important policies and procedures are on the Madison College website, located at http://matcmadison.edu/student-rightsresponsibilities. Academic Integrity is an expectation in all Madison College classes. Plagiarism, cheating and collusion are prohibited at Madison College. Plagiarism is defined as passing of another persons work as your own. Students who fail to observe these standards are subject to disciplinary action. Madison College has a strong policy on Academic Misconduct which is published on the Madison College website. Please refer to this page on the Madison College Website to review all Academic Integrity and Misconduct policies located at http://matcmadison.edu/academicintegrity. Withdrawal Policy If a situation arises that prevents the successful completion of this course, please note that it is each student s responsibility to formally withdraw from this course. Class Cancelation Besides local radio stations and the Madison College website, students can call the hotline to inquire about weather related school closings. (608) 246-6606.
Intermediate Algebra Syllabus Page 4 of 5 Syllabus Changes As your instructor, I retain the right to make changes based on the timeline of the class, feedback from learners and/or logistical issues and will inform you as soon as a change is made. Policy on Late Work If you can t come to class on a due date or test day, please talk to me before the date in question. I do not accept late work, but we may be able to arrange for you to do it early. If you have an emergency, get in touch with me! If you don t talk to me beforehand, don t expect me to accept your late work. Instructor Schedule and Availability I try to reply to emails as quickly as possible. During the week, you can expect a response within 24 hours of the sent time. Over the weekend, I will not guarantee this response time, but you will see a reply early Monday morning. Madison College Sun Aug 25 Sat Aug 31, 2013 (Central Time) Sun 8/25 Mon 8/26 Tue 8/27 Wed 8/28 Thu 8/29 Fri 8/30 Sat 8/31 10am 11am 12pm Elem. Alg. @ West 136 11:30am - 1:55pm Elem. Alg. @ West 136 11:30am - 1:55pm 1pm 2pm 3pm 2pm - 2:45pm 2pm - 2:45pm 4pm Tutoring @ West 437 3:30pm - 4:20pm 5pm 6pm 4:30pm - 5:15pm Int. Alg. @ West 218 5:30pm - 7:55pm 4:30pm - 5:15pm Int. Alg. @ West 218 5:30pm - 7:55pm 7pm 8pm 9pm Talk to me if you find yourself falling behind. I will help you! I want everyone to succeed.
Intermediate Algebra Syllabus Page 5 of 5 Course Schedule and Assignments Week Meet Date Day Section Topic 1 1 8/26 M R.2 (1) Sets; Classification of Numbers R.4 (2) Order of Operations R.5 (3) Algebraic Expressions 1 2 8/28 W 1.1 (4) Linear Equations 1.2 (5) An Introduction to Problem Solving 2 3 9/4 W 1.3 (6) Using Formulas to Solve Problems 1.4 (7) Linear Inequalities in One variable 3 4 9/9 M 1.6 (8) Linear Equations in Two Variables 1.7 (9) Parallel and Perpendicular Lines 3 5 9/11 W 1.8 (10) Linear Inequalities in Two Variables Compare answers on Take- Home Quiz for Chapters R and 1 4 6 9/16 M TEST on Chapters R and 1; Last chance to turn in Ch. R- 1 assignments 2.1 (11) Relations 4 7 9/18 W 2.2 (12) An Introduction to Functions 2.3 (13) Functions and Their Graphs 5 8 9/23 M 2.4 (14) Linear Functions and Models 2.5 (15) Compound Inequalities 5 9 9/25 W 2.6 (16) Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities Compare answers on Take- Home Quiz for Chapter 2 6 10 9/30 M TEST on Chapter 2; Last chance to turn in Ch. 2 assignments 3.1 (17) Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables 6 11 10/2 W 3.2 (18) Problem Solving: Systems of Two Linear Eqautions containing Two Unknowns 7 12 10/7 M 3.3 (19) Systems of Linear Equations in Three Variables 3.4 (20) Using Matrices to Solve Systems 7 13 10/9 W 4.2 (21) Multiplying Polynomials 4.3 (22) Dividing Polynomials; Synthetic Division Compare answers on Take- Home Quiz for Chapter 3 8 14 10/14 M TEST on Chapter 3; Last chance to turn in Ch. 3 assignments 4.4 (23) Greatest Common Factor; Factor by Grouping 8 15 10/16 W 4.5 (24) Factoring Trinomials 4.6 (25) Factoring Special Products 4.7 (26) Factoring: A General Strategy 9 16 10/21 M 4.8 (27) Polynomial Equations 5.1 (28) Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions 9 17 10/23 W 5.2 (29) Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions 5.3 (30) Complex Rational Expressions 10 18 10/28 M 5.4 (31) Rational Equations 10 19 10/30 W Compare answers on Take- Home Quiz for Chapters 4-5 11 20 11/4 M TEST on Chapters 4 and 5; Last chance to turn in Ch. 4-5 assignments 6.GR (32) Getting Ready for Chapter 6: Rules of Exponents and Square Roots 11 21 11/6 W 6.1 (33) nth Roots and Rational Exponents 6.3 (34) Simplifying Radical Expressions 12 22 11/11 M 6.4 (35) Adding, Subtracting, and Multiplying Radical Expressions 6.5 (36) Rationalizing Radical Expressions 12 23 11/13 W 6.7 (37) Radical Equations 6.8 (38) The Complex Number System 13 24 11/18 M 7.2 (39) Solving Quadratic Equations by Quadratic Formula 13 25 11/20 W Compare answers on Take- Home Quiz for Chapters 6-7 14 26 11/25 M Test on Chapters 6-7; Last chance to turn in Ch. 6-7 assignments (40) Review for the final 15 27 12/2 M 8.2 (41) Exponential Functions 15 28 12/4 W 8.3 (42) Logarithmic Functions 16 29 12/9 M (43) Review for the final 16 30 12/11 W Compare answers on Final Take- Home Quiz 12/16 M Cumulative FINAL EXAM, Same room, 5:30-7:20pm