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College Algebra Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Instructor

(Curriculum Vitae)

E-Mail

dljohnson@actx.edu

Phone

<p><u>681-9920</u></p>

Office Location

Durrett Room 105

Office Hours

Monday-Thursday 9:30am – 10:15am

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

MATH-1314-002 College Algebra

Prerequisites

MATH 0303-minimum grade of C, an Accuplacer score of 75, a THEA score of 270, an equivalent score on a state-approved test or Department Chair consent

Course Description

Study of quadratics; polynomial, rational, logarithmic and exponential functions; systems of equations; progressions, sequences and series; matrices and determinants.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

College Algebra, 5th Edition    ISBN-13:  978-0-321-55983-8   Author:  Robert Blitzer  Publisher: Pearson

Supplies

You will need a graphing calculator for this course. The perfered calculator is either a TI-83, TI-84, or the Plus of those models.  All computations and demonstrations in class will be done on one of those models.

Student Performance

\ After completing this course, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the following topics:

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  1. \ Recognize, solve, and apply radical, absolute value, linear, quadratic, and rational equations.
    2. \
  2. \ Recognize, solve and apply inequalities.
    3. \
  3. \ Recognize, solve, graph and apply polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
    4. \
  4. \ Explore functions, graphing techniques, operations of functions, composition of functions, and inverse functions.
    5. \
  5. \ Evaluate all real roots of higher degrees of polynomial equations.
    6. \
  6. \ Recognize, solve and apply systems of linear equations, including the use of matrices and matrix algebra.
    7. \
  7. \ Identify sequences and series, and calculate the sum of a sequence.
    8. \
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Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR:  Students are expected to behave in the classroom in a manner that is supportive of the learning environment. For a full discussion of appropriate behavior and student responsibilities, please refer to the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook. http://sites.actx.edu/catalog/notices/

Cheating is defined in Webster’s College Dictionary as “taking an examination in a dishonest way, as by having improper access to answers.” Improper access includes, but is not limited to, copying from another student’s paper and using unauthorized sources of information while taking a test. Any student caught cheating on a test will receive a gradeof zero with no chance of that zero being dropped as lowest grade.

Students who fail to comply with the standards outlined in the syllabus and/or Student Rights & Responsibilities will be subject to disciplinary action.

FOOD/DRINK:  It is the policy of the Mathematics and Engineering Department that food and drink be allowed in the classroom setting, at the instructor’s discretion, but food and drink are not allowed in the Computer Labs.

PHONE/PAGERS:  It is the policy of the Mathematics and Engineering Department that cell phones and pagers must be turned off or in silent mode in the classrooms and the Computer Labs.  CELL PHONES SHOULD NOT BE OUT DURING CLASS AND THE CALCULATOR ON YOUR CELL PHONE CAN NOT BE USED ON EXAMS.

 

Grading Criteria

 The final grades of A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), and F (below 60) will be computed as the mean (average) of the earned grades from:  Homework Average - 5%, Classwork grade - 5%, Skill Drill grade - 5%, Exam Average - 65%, Final Exam grade - 20%.

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  Your classwork grade will count 5% toward your final average.  Many absences will lower your final grade because you will not be able to do your homework, pass exams, or keep a high classwork grade. 

If you stop attending class and you do not officially drop the course by the deadline, you will receive an F for the course.  The deadline for dropping a class at AC is published in the official Amarillo College Schedule of Classes. 

This semester the last day to drop is November 16, 2011.

Calendar

College Algebra Tentative Lecture Schedule.  This schedule is subject to change by the instructor at any time.

Week 1   Syllabus, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5                Week 9     4.1, 4.2, Review

Week 2   1.5, 1.6, 1,7                                 Week 10   Exam 3, 4.3

Week 3   2.2, Review                                 Week 11   4.4, 6.1

Week 4   Exam 1, 2.5                                 Week 12   6.1, 6.2, 6.5

Week 5   2.6, 2.7                                         Week 13   6.5, Review, Exam 4

Week 6   3.1, 3.2, Review                          Week 14   8.1, 8.2, 8.3

Week 7   Exam 2, 3.3, 3.4                          Week 15   Conics, Final Review

Week 8   3.5                                                 Week 16   Comprehensive Final Exam

 

Additional Information

INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD/EXAMINATIONS:

The class will consist of traditional lecture along with group work. 

Classwork:  If you are in class and are working problems along with the class or group, you will receive a grade of 100 for your classwork grade. At the end of each class you will answer a question over the subject covered that day.  If you are not present at the end of class, you will get a 0 for your class participation grade.  Don't worry too much if you have a 0 or two.

 Homework:  Homework problems will be assigned and graded.  Each assignment is due the next class after you have had time to ask questions over the assignment.  You must write all problems on your paper so you can use your homework to help you study for exams.  You must show all of your work on homework problems to receive credit.  Late homework will be accepted and graded as late until the test over that material.  The highest grade on late homework will be 75.  The homework assingment will consist of odd numbered problems and possibly some even numbered problems.  You are asked to check your answers to odd numbered problems in the back of the book.  Answers to even numbered problems will be given to you also.  The three lowest homework grades will be dropped.

Skill Drills:  Doing the homework assgnment is so important that you will be given a skill drill over problems that you have completed and turned in.  You will need to purchase a blue exam book for this purpose.  These are generic blue books that have no specific class name and are located by the cash registers in the book store.  Each skill drill will be worth 5 points.  These quizzes will be given at the beginning of class after you have asked questions over the previous assignment and have handed in that homework.

Exams:  We tentativaly will have 4 exams.  Your lowest exam grade will be dropped.

Final Exam:  The Final Exam will be comprehensive.  The final exam will be on Monday, December 5 from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m.

 Skill drills and chapter tests will not be made up.  Your lowest chapter test grade will be dropped.

FREE HELP:  If you feel yourself getting behind in class or having problems with certain concepts covered, get help immediately.  It is YOUR responsibility to get help outside of class.  The following are ways to get FREE help outside class:

  1. Contact your instructor during their office hours or make an appointment.
  2. Get free tutoring from the Outreach Center (Engineering Rm 104)
  3. Contact a fellow classmate. Group learning is encouraged, just do your own work.

Syllabus Created on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM

Last Edited on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM