Math 1314 College Algebra Brazosport College Fall 2010 Instructor: Jeffrey A. Detrick, Department of Mathematics Office: B202 Phone: 230 3383 Office Hours: TBA E-Mail: jeff.detrick@brazosport.edu Required Course Material Textbook: Sullivan. College Algebra, 8 th Edition. Prentice Hall, 2008. Graph Paper (Lots of it!) Scientific Calculator (Graphing Calculator ok, but not required) Access to a computer running Windows Media Player Course Description College Algebra will provide you with an opportunity to enhance your knowledge of algebra and to prepare you for future mathematics and science courses. It will also provide you with those three magical math credits you need. We will spend a great deal of time examining functions. This will include graphing techniques, function algebra, and inverse functions. We will apply this knowledge to linear, quadratic, exponential, and logarithmic functions. We will also spend time exploring other topics in algebra, including solutions to equations and inequalities, circles, complex numbers, and systems of equations. Course Outcomes Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to: 1. Find solution sets for compound open sentences. 2. Perform arithmetic operations with complex numbers. 3. Find all complex solutions to a polynomial equation. 4. Solve equations containing radicals. 5. Solve non-linear inequalities. 6. State the domain of a function in interval notation. 7. Graph a function using transformations. 8. Find the composition of two functions. 9. Verify if two given functions are inverses. 10. Classify a function as one-to-one and find the inverse of that function. 11. Find the slope, intercepts, and graph of a linear function. 12. Find the end behavior, intercepts and graph of a polynomial function. 13. Find the domain and graph of an exponential function. 14. Evaluate a log function and state the domain of a log function. 15. Use log properties to simplify an expression. 16. Solve exponential equations.
17. Solve log equations. 18. Apply exponential and log functions to real world situations. Grading The following grades are possible for this course: A: 90-100% B: 80 89% C: 70 79% D: 60 69% F: Below 60% Your grade will be determined by the following guidelines: Daily Activity (including quizzes): 20% Exams: 3 @ 20% each Final Exam: 20% Homework and Daily Activities The key to success is regular practice. Homework is assigned after each class meeting. It is your responsibility to complete the assignment, check your work, and ask questions. Each class day will involve some kind of hands on activity, including cooperative learning, quizzes, etc. You will receive a grade on most of this work. It is crucial to attend each class meeting. No make up quizzes or activities will be allowed. Attendance and Class Work Attendance is taken each class day but is not part of your grade. You need to attend every class meeting to succeed in college algebra. Note that if you stop attending the class, you will NOT be dropped automatically from the course. Should you need to drop this class, it is YOUR responsibility to do so. Exams There will be three exams given in this course. I do NOT believe in trick questions. My job is to help you learn and succeed in mathematics, not to trick you. All exam questions will be a fair review of the class material, quiz questions, and assigned homework problems. We will review in class before each exam so there will be no surprises. At the end of the semester, I will replace your lowest exam grade with the final exam score if that helps your average. Finally, I do allow for make up testing, but it must be arranged ahead of time. If you miss an exam and do not contact me for another week, do not expect me to allow you to make up the test. All make up exams are given in the Learning Assistance Center.
Students with Disabilities Brazosport College is committed to providing equal education opportunities to every student. BC offers services for individuals with special needs and capabilities including counseling, tutoring, equipment, and software to assist students with special needs. Please contact Phil Robertson, Special Populations Counselor, 979-230-3236 for further information. Academic Honesty Brazosport College assumes that students eligible to perform on the college level are familiar with the ordinary rules governing proper conduct including academic honesty. The principle of academic honesty is that all work presented by you is yours alone. Academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and collusion shall be treated appropriately. Any occurrence of academic dishonesty will result in zero credit on that assignment and/or test and may result in a failing course grade. Please refer to the BC Student Guide for more information. This is available online at http://www.brazosport.edu, click on the link found on the left side of the homepage. In this course, any instance of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero on the assignment/quiz/test where the instance occurred. A second instance will result in an automatic F in the course. Remember that your integrity is far more valuable and lasting than a grade. It s not a good trade! Help At no time should you think you are in this alone. Seek help before you get into trouble or fall behind. Catching up in math is really a pain! So, always feel free to get help from me, either during my office hours, or by appointment. Also, you can sign up for free tutoring in the LAC. Finally, work together. The best way to understand something is to try to explain it to someone else. This list is provided to assist you in locating available services. Information about the BC Library is available at http://www.brazosport.edu/~lib/information.htm. or by calling 230-3310. Tutoring for Math, Reading, Writing, Biology, Chemistry, and other subjects is available in the LAC, 230-3253. The Student Services area provides the following services Counseling and Advising, 230-3040; Financial Aid, 230-3294; and Student Activities, 230-3355.
Semester Schedule and Work List The schedule below is a tentative list of work for the semester. While I intend to stick with this as closely as possible, it may change. Each class day will not be used for lecture. You are expected to watch the videos and complete the assigned problems outside of class. Class time will be used for further practice, cooperative learning, and questions/answer sessions. For each date list, watch the videos BEFORE you come to class. Week Topic Text Complete Before Class Assigned Problems Week 1 Course Orientation Sets of Real Complex Syllabus Handout 1.1 1.3 Pages 109-116 Purchase Textbook Lecture 1.1 (27 min) 23 38 (page 132) Lecture 1.2 (15 min) Handout 1.1 Lecture 2.1 (27 min) 9 46 (page 116) Week 2 Labor Day Complex 1.3 Pages 109-116 1.1 Pages 86 94 Lecture 2.2 (17 min) 9 46 (page 116) Lecture 2.3 (14 min) Lecture 3.1 (16 min) 17 48 (page 94) Week 3 1.1 Pages 86 94 1.2 Pages 97 106 1.2 Pages 97 106 Lecture 3.2 (12 min) Handout 3.2 Lecture 4.1 (19 min) Lecture 4.2 (19 min) Lecture 4.2 (19 min) Lecture 4.3 (25 min) 9 70 (page 106) 9 70 (page 106) Week 4 Rational Radical Polynomial Non- Inequalities 1.4 Pages 118 122 1.4 Handout 5.3 4.5 and 5.4 Lecture 6.1 (37 min) Lecture 6.2 (33 min) Lecture 5.1 (19 min) 49 60 (page 95) 67 70; 91 92 (page 107) Lecture 5.2 (9 min) 7 26 (page 122) Lecture 5.3 (27 min) 73 86 (page 123) Handout 5.3 7 22 (page 316) 21 32 (page 373) Week 5 Exam 1 Lectures 1.1 5.3 Introduction to 3.1 Pages 208 219 Lecture 7.1 (29 min) Lecture 7.2 (19 min) 15 60 (page 219) 23 29 a-d only (p. 227) Week 6 Introduction to Graphing Graphing 3.1 Pages 208 219 Handout 8.1 3.5 (p. 252-260) Handout 8.1 3.5 (p. 252-260) Lecture 7.2 (19 min) Handout 7.1 Lecture 7.3 (25 min) Lecture 8.1 (34 min) Handout 8.1 7 26;35-44;53-60 (p. 261) Lecture 8.2 (37 min) Handout 8.1 7 26;35-44;53-60 (p. 261) Week 7 Algebra Composition Inverse 3.1 Page 217 218 Lecture 9.1 (23 min) Lecture 9.2 (15 min) Handout 9.1 61 70 (page 220) 6.1 Lecture 9.3 (34 min) 11 42 (page 407) Pages 402 406 6.2 Lecture 10.1 (32 min) 17 22; 31 40 Pages 409 419 Lecture 10.2 (16 min) 47 58 (page 419)
Week Topic Text Complete Before Class Assigned Problems Week 8 Review Day Catch our Breath Exam 2 Lectures 6.1-10.2 Week 9 4.1 Pages 278 284 4.1 Pages 278 284 4.3 Pages 293 301 Lecture 11.1 (24 min) 45 58 (page 146) 21 28 (page 284) Lecture 11.2 (24 min) Handout 11.2 Lecture 12.1 (33 min) Lecture 12.2 (19 min) 11 32; 35-52 (page 302) Week 10 Polynomial 4.3 Lecture 12.2 (19 min) 11 32; 35-52 (page 302) Pages 293 301 Lecture 12.3 (22 min) Handout 13.1 Lecture 13.1 (32 min) Handout 13.1 6.3 Pages 423 432 Lecture 14.1 (40 min) 29 56 (page 433) Week 11 Log 6.4 Pages 437-445 Log Properties 6.5 Pages 450-456 Exam 3 Lectures 11.1-14.1 Lecture 15.1 (22 min) Lecture 15.2 (21 min) Lecture 15.3 (26 min) Lecture 15.4 (15 min) 9 55; 63 70; 71 86 a,b only (page 446) 31-64 (page 457) Week 12 Applications 6.6 Lecture 16.1 (44 min) 33 48 (page 463) Pages 459 463 Handout 16.2 Lecture 16.2 (35 min) Handout 16.2 Week 13 Thanksgiving Break EAT, SLEEP, FOOTBALL Week 14 Log 6.6 Lecture 17.1 (29 min) 5 30 (page 463) Pages 459 463 Log Applications Handout 17.2 Lecture 17.2 (14 min) Handout 17.2 Week 15 Circles 2.4 Pages 189 193 Final Review Lecture 18.1 (27 min) 7 34 (page 193) Week 16 Final Comprehensive Day and Time TBA