MAT 103–001
Applied Intermediate Algebra
TritonCollege
Fall 2011
Meets M, 6:00 – 8:45 pm, G–203
Instructor:John BaligaOffice:E–216
Office Hours:5 – 6 pm R / Voicemail:x6312
Email:
Website:
Text:
- Intermediate Algebra, 4th ed., Elayn Martin-Gay.The course covers eight chapters in this book.
- MyMathLab access
Course Description:
This is an intermediate-level course in algebra, including topics in exponential and radical manipulation, functions, relations, rational expressions and solving fractional and quadratic equations. Heavy emphasis on applications rather than theory. This course may not be used to fulfill the mathematics requirement in the AS or AA degree. Prerequisite: MAT 055 or 053 (minimum grade “C” or qualifying score on placement test).
Course Objectives:
It is presumed that students will spend a minimum of two hours of study outside of class for each hour in class to meet the following objectives:
1. Develop an understanding of the properties of the real number system.
2. Develop facility with the manipulative aspects of operations on polynomials and rational expressions.
3. Develop an understanding of the ideas of functions and graphing.
4. Develop the ability to solve systems of linear equations, systems of inequalities, and quadratic equations.
5. Develop competence in appropriate problem-solving skills, and an appreciation of a variety of approached to problem solving.
Classroom Policies:
1. Attendance: Attendance is expected at every course meeting, and attendance will be recorded at the beginning of each class. Arriving excessively late will count as an absence for that day. If you know that you will be absent for an excusable reason, make arrangements ahead of time to complete work early. If you have three or more absences you may be terminated from the course or asked to withdraw.
2. Reading: It is expected that you read the material before it is covered in class.
3. Cheating and Plagiarism:The Triton College academic honesty policy addresses cheating and plagiarism. This policy is detailed below.
4. Conduct: Appropriate conduct is expected in class and in the lab. In-class discussion is a part of the learning process in this course, but it will be done at the instructor’s direction to maintain order. Cellular phones will be turned off during class. No electronic communication is allowed during tests or quizzes.
5. Eating, drinking, smoking or the use of tobacco products is prohibited in class.
Office Hours and Tutoring:
I will not have formal office hours, though I will generally be available in my office immediately before and after class on class days. I can also hold office hours by arrangement. TritonCollege provides a free tutoring service in the Academic Success Center (ASC), Room A–100, which is located in the Learning Resource Center (LRC) building. The names and hours of tutors will be announced when they are determined. Please feel free to use this service. The extension for the ASC is x3361.
Assistance for Students with Disabilities:
Students who have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability, may be eligible for reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the Center for Access and Accomodative Services (CAAS), located in A–137.The extension for the CAAS is x3854, and the TTY access number is (708)456-0991. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. No essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program will be waived.
Academic Accommodations for Religious Obligations
A student whose religious obligations conflict with a course requirement may request an academic accommodation from the instructor. Any such requestshould be made before the conflict occurs.
Academic Honesty Policy:
Academic Honesty Policy
TritonCollege closely adheres to principles of academic honesty and integrity. The academic honesty policy is designed to inform students and faculty of the expectations and procedures associated with the honest pursuit of a TritonCollege education. Overall, academic achievement is a product of personal commitment, and investigation of knowledge, and a pursuit of independent and honest work, both in and out of the classroom. All forms of cheating deprive the student of achieving true academic success and are therefore, considered a serious violation. Furthermore, all incidents of cheating will result in a disciplinary response from college officials. Below is a non-inclusive list of behaviors that are considered to be violations of academic honesty.
Examples of Academic Dishonesty
- copying someone else's work or answers
- allowing another student to copy your work or answers for internal or external class assignments
- using materials or information hidden on one's person during quizzes and examinations
- obtaining and using tests and answers in an unauthorized fashion
- providing course materials such as papers, lab data, reports, or answers to be used by another student
- fabricating information for the purpose of completing an assignment, quiz, exam or presentation
- taking an exam in place of another student or having someone take an exam in your place
- turning in the same paper to two different classes without receiving permission from both instructors
- copying a computer program for unauthorized use
- breaking into or utilizing college owned computer files in an unauthorized manner
- altering a grade sheet or forging a signature on an academic document
- enrolling in a telecourse while serving as an employee in the MediaCenter or within six months of termination
Another example of academic dishonesty, known as plagiarism, is less simple to define, but is nonetheless considered a serious violation. When using direct quotes or ideas created by someone other than yourself, it is imperative that the source of information be clearly identified. It is appropriate and acceptable to borrow ideas, thoughts and data from other sources as long as the original authors receive credit for their contributions through referencing.
Examples of Plagiarism
- borrowing or paraphrasing (other than common knowledge) for a paper without referencing the source
- intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as your own
- purchasing a term paper or having someone write a paper to submit as your own work
All members of the TritonCollege community including faculty, staff and fellow students share responsibility for maintaining an academically honest learning environment. Therefore, all members of the TritonCollege community are eligible to report apparent acts of academic dishonesty to the Dean. Below is a non-inclusive summary of consequences that may result from student violation of the academic honesty policy. (AcademicInformationTritonCollege Catalog, 2007-2008)
Consequences of Academic Dishonesty
- a failing grade for the assignment in question
- a failing grade for the course
- placement on academic probation
- a notation on the academic transcript stating, "Student violated academic honesty policy" for a specific course
- an immediate suspension from the class for one or more class sessions
- administrative withdrawal from the course in question
- administrative withdrawal from the student's major or related majors as determined by the dean
- suspension or academic dismissal from TritonCollege
The decision of the academic dean or the Dean of Student Services is final. Thereafter, any student grievances must be submitted in writing within thirty calendar days of the disciplinary hearing to the Student Life Committee, CollegeCenter, Room 100, 2000 Fifth Avenue, River Grove, Illinois, 60171. The request for a grievance hearing must include a brief summary of the alleged incident in addition to reasoning as to why the disciplinary process did not adequately serve the rights of the student who was deemed to be in violation of the academic honesty policy.
Homework Policies:
1. There will be 11 homework assignments, and each will be due at the beginning of the following class meeting as indicated in the attached schedule.
2. Homework may be turned in one class meeting later than indicated in the schedule, but will receive a 50% point reduction. Any homework that is more than one class meeting late receives a zero.
3. Though working in groups is encouraged, each homework submission must be done individually. Photocopies will not be accepted.
4. Show all work. Clearly label each problem and draw a box around each answer.
5. The best 10 homework scores will be used in the course grade.
Online Problems:
1. For every homework assignment to be turned in, there will also be an online problem set. To access the online problem sets, you need MyMathLab access. The course ID for this section is baliga04034.
2. Practice tests will be available online. No credit is given for doing them, but they can help you prepare for tests and quizzes.
3. Each online problem set is worth the same as a homework set.
Quizzes:
1. There will be 10 quizzes. In general, you will be quizzed or tested once a week.
2. Quizzes may be made up in the case of an excusable absence.
3. Each quiz will be worth 15 points.
Tests:
1. There will be 4 tests, each covering approximately two chapters from the book, as indicated in the attached schedule.
2. There will be no make-up tests. A test may be taken early by arrangement if necessary.
3. Each test will be worth 100 points.
Final Exam:
1. The final exam will be comprehensive, covering all the course material.
2. The final exam is worth 250 points, one-fourth of the total possible points.
3. The final exam can not be made up, nor can it be taken early. You must take the final at the scheduled time.
Grading:
The course grade will be determined using a point system, with the total possible being 1,000 points. The points available from the tests, quizzes, homework and the final exam are as follows:
Homework:11 assignments, 10 points each, best 10 used:100 points
Online Problems:11 assignments, 10 points each, best 10 used:100 points
Quizzes:10 quizzes, 15 points each:150 points
Tests:4 tests, 100 points each:400 points
Final Exam:comprehensive, 250 points:250 points
The course grade will be determined using the following scale.
A:900 points or moreB:800 to 899 points
C:700 to 799 points
D:600 to 699 points
F:599 points or less / Note: The grade "R" is not available for this course.
Incomplete Policy:
A course grade of incomplete will only be given in serious cases, such as a serious illness, accident or death in the family. If you wish to withdraw from the course, it is your responsibility to withdraw officially. Simply ceasing to attend may lead to termination, but may also lead to a failing grade (F). If you have any questions regarding this policy, please ask. The withdraw deadlines are:
Withdraw with 100% refund: / 27 / August / 2011Withdraw with 50% refund: / 3 / September / 2011
Withdraw with a grade of W (Drop Deadline): / 12 / November / 2011
MAT 103–001
Fall 2011 Schedule
Reading assignments are to be done before the class for which they are indicated.
22August / Introduction; Sections 1.1 – 1.5HW 1 assigned / Introduction, Sets, Real Numbers, Order of Operations
29 August / Sections 1.6 – 1.7, 2.1 – 2.3
Quiz 1
HW 1, Online 1 due; HW 2 assigned / Exponents, Scientific Notation, Linear Equations, Solving Problems with Linear Equations,
Formulas and Problem Solving
5 September / — Labor Day —
12 September / Sections 2.4 – 3.1
Quiz 2
HW 2, Online 2 due; HW 3 assigned / Linear Inequalities, Compound Inequalities, AbsoluteValue Equations and Inequalities, GraphingLinear Equations
19 September / Sections 3.2 – 3.5
Quiz 3
HW 3, Online 3 due; HW 4 assigned / Slope of a Line, Equations of a Line,
Graphing Linear Inequalities
26 September / Review for Test 1
Test 1 (Chapters 1 – 2)
Sections 3.6 & 3.7 / IntroductiontoFunctions
3 October / Sections 4.1 – 4.3
Quiz 4
HW 4, Online 4 due; HW 5 assigned / Solving Systems of Linear Equations in Two and in Three Variables, Applications
10 October / Sections 4.5 – 5.3
Quiz 5
HW 5, Online 5 due; HW 6 assigned / Solving Linear Inequalities,
Operations with Polynomials
17 October / Sections 5.4 – 5.7
Quiz 6
HW 6, Online 6 due; HW 7 assigned / Factoring Polynomials,
Solving Problems by Factoring
24 October / Review for Test 2
Test 2 (Chapters 3 – 4)
Section 6.1 / Rational Functions, Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions
31 October / Sections 6.2 – 6.5
Quiz 7
HW 7, Online 7 due; HW 8 assigned / Operations with Rational Expressions,
Solving Rational Equations
7 November / Sections 7.1 – 7.6
Quiz 8
HW 8, Online 8 due; HW 9 assigned / Radical Expressions, Rational Exponents,
Solving Radical Equations
Drop Deadline: 12 November 2011
14 November / Review for Test 3
Test 3 (Chapters 5 – 6)
Section 7.7 / Complex Numbers
21 November / Sections 8.1 – 8.3
Quiz 9
HW 9, Online 9 due; HW 10 assigned / Solving Quadratic Equations
28 November / Sections 8.4 – 8.5
Review for Test 4
Quiz 10
HW 10, Online 10 due; HW 11 assigned / Nonlinear Inequalities of One Variable
Quadratic Functions and Their Graphs
5 December / Test 4 (Chapters 7 – 8)
Review for Final Exam
HW 11, Online 11 due
Final Exam:
Monday, 12 December 2010
6:00–7:50 pm
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