Spring 2011 Syllabus
MA 111
COLLEGE ALGEBRA
3 Credit Hours
Textbook
College Algebra, Concepts and Models. 5th edition,
Larson, Hostetler and Hodgkins
Division of Mathematics and Applied Sciences
Instructor: Gayathri Kambhampati
The learning outcomes and competencies detailed in this syllabus meet, or exceed, the learning outcomes and competencies specified by the Kansas Core Outcomes Project for this course, as sanctioned by the Kansas Board of Regents.
COLLEGE ALGEBRA
SPRING 2011
Course Number: MA 111
Time & Day: 9:30 – 10:55am Tuesday/Thursday
Location: Room B3
Instructor: Gayathri Kambhampati
Office: Bldg B
Phone: (785) 238 -8010 ext 727 (Office)
Email:
Required Text: College Algebra, Concepts and Models. 5th edition, by Larson, Hostetler and
Materials: Hodgkin and Graphing Calculator/Scientific Calculator that does not
have a Computer Algebra System built in.
Office Hours: Mon, Wed: 11:00-11:30am; Tue, Thurs: 3:00 – 4:00pm; Fri: 10am-12pm
Note: Responsibilities & committee assignments may place me in other areas of the college during office hours.
Advisement Center: Not applicable
Course Description: The course reviews standard topics of algebra. A student will study
linear and quadratic equations, Graphing, linear, quadratic, rational, logarithmic, and exponential functions, functional notation, systems of equations, matrix algebra and determinants.
Prerequisite: Two units of high school algebra with a grade of C or better AND appropriate test scores or Intermediate algebra with a grade of C or better.
SEQUENCING: This class is offered in the fall and spring semesters.
Method of Evaluation/Grading: A semester grade is based on at least five home works, nine 10-15 min quizzes, three tests, and a final exam. The dates are subject to change.
NOTE: *The Lowest quiz will be dropped.
FINAL EXAM: 100 PTS MAY 10 (9:30am-11:30am)
TESTS: 150 PTS FEB 08 MAR 17 APR 26
*QUIZZES: 70 PTS JAN 25 FEB 01 FEB 17
MAR 01 MAR 08 APR 05
APR 12 APR 19 MAY 03
HOMEWORK: 100 PTS
The following grading scale will be used:
90%--100% = A
80%-- 89% = B
70%-- 79% = C
60%-- 69% = D
0%-- 59% = F
Teaching Methods: Classes will be a combination of various exercises and lectures. Students will
participate in several exercises. The purpose of these exercises is to provide an opportunity to practice the
various skills. Class participation is expected and appreciated.
assignment policy: Students are expected to complete all assignments before coming to class. Late homework will not be accepted except with special permission from the instructor.
Make sure your name, class, and assignment title appear in the header of all assignments.
It is imperative that each student do his or her own work.
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
It is imperative that each student does his/her own work. The following policy will apply to all students in class.
Infractions of academic integrity (honesty) shall include:
· Using another student’s work without giving the student credit for the work. In other words, taking someone else’s file and placing your name on it and claiming it is yours, using another student’s quiz, or help on a quiz/exam.
· Giving another student your file(s) knowing that he/she intends to turn it in as his/her own creation, giving another student your quiz, or help on a quiz/exam.
It is not an infraction of the policy to help another student understand how to do an assignment if he/she does the work himself/herself with your assistance.
Cheating:
“Cheating means getting unauthorized help on an assignment, quiz or examination.”
- You must not receive from any other students or give to any other students any information, answers, or help during an exam.
- You must not use unauthorized sources for answers during an exam. You must not take notes or books to the exam when such aids are forbidden, and you must not refer to any book or notes while you are taking the exam unless the instructor indicates it is an “open book” exam.
- You must not obtain exam questions illegally before an exam or tamper with an exam after it has been corrected.
Materials taken from “Academic Dishonesty in Our Classrooms.” Instructional Exchange, 1990, 2 (2), 1-4 (Newsletter available from the Office of University Assessment and Intellectual Skills Program, Western Michigan University)
Plagiarism:
“Plagiarism” means submitting work as your own that is someone else’s. For example, copying material from a book, the Internet, or another source without acknowledging that the words or ideas are someone else’s and not your own is plagiarism. If you copy an author’s words exactly, treat the passage as a direct quotation and supply the appropriate citation. If you use someone else’s ideas, even if you paraphrase the wording, appropriate credit should be given. You have committed plagiarism if you purchase a term paper or submit a paper as your own that you did not write.
Penalties for Infractions:
Any infraction will receive zero (0) credit on the assignment, quiz or exam the first time and an F in the class the second time.
Attendance Policy: Attendance will be recorded daily. Make up and late homework policies are left to
the discretion of the instructor. Best Way to keep up in math is to attend class regularly. A class that is missed
for a legitimate reason will not be counted against the student. Legitimate reasons include: Sickness (Personal
or family), weather and any reason approved in advance by the instructor. Students missing class are
responsible for all missed class work, exams, quizzes and homework. Final exam is mandatory. Failure to
do so results in an F in the class.
Conduct: Disruptive behavior in class will not be tolerated. A student exhibiting disruptive
behavior that is interfering with the classroom learning environment will be asked to leave the room. A student
exhibiting disruptive behavior a second time will need to meet with the instructor to discuss their future in the
class. Mature behavior is expected and required. Please respect others in the class by turning off pagers, cell
phones, other disruptive devices and by being on time for class. Text messaging, listening to music using
ear phones and playing games on the calculators is not allowed in the class. Please dress appropriately for
being in public.
Examination Policy: Makeup exams are not given except in emergencies and will only be given by
special arrangement with the instructor and must be completed before the next class time. NO MAKEUP
exams will be allowed without prior arrangements made.
Instructor Assistance: If you are having problems with the course work or assignments, please let
me know as early as possible. My office hours are intended as a time to work with students and prepare for
classes. If you are unable to come during my office hours, please ask for an appointment in advance. I
encourage you to use E-mail as a reliable way to contact me about any issues.
Tutor Assistance:
There is free tutoring available in the tutoring center in Building A.
Incomplete Policy:
Students will not be given an incomplete grade in the course without sound reason and documented as described in the Student Handbook. The incomplete must be made up with the instructor assigning the incomplete and must be completed the semester immediately following the semester in which the class was taken. Refer to the Student Handbook for a complete explanation.
ACADEMIC COMPLAINTS:
Cloud County Community College has an Academic Due Process Policy to address any student academic complaints. For any unresolved complaints, the policy can be obtained from the Academic Affairs Office.
GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS:
1. The student will extract, represent, analyze, and interpret data, draw correct conclusions from data, and
present data and conclusions
2. The student will demonstrate applied mathematics in a career setting in at least one of the following
ways: financially, scientifically, agriculturally or technologically.
3. The student will use appropriate technology to solve mathematical problems.
Department Goals: Students who complete a mathematics class at Cloud County Community College should be able to:
1. Demonstrate mathematical reasoning or analysis.
2. Demonstrate mathematical knowledge.
3. Manipulate mathematical expressions.
CORE COMPETENCIES:
These competencies are what you should be able to do after taking this class. These are statewide competencies, so you should be studying these topics at a minimum regardless of where you take this class in the state of Kansas.
I. Analysis and graphing of functions and equations: The student should be able to:
A. Use functional notation.
B. Recognize and distinguish between functions and relations (equations).
C. Use concepts of symmetry, intercepts, left- and right-hand behavior, asymptotes, and transformations to sketch the graph of various types of functions (constant, linear, quadratic, absolute value, piecewise-defined, square root, cubic, polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic) or relations (circle) given in description.
D. Determine the domain and range of a function.
E. Write the equation that describes a function (for types given above) or circle given its description.
F. Use graphs of functions for analysis.
G. Find arithmetic combinations and composites of functions.
H. Find the inverse of a function.
II. Solutions of equations and inequalities: The student should be able to:
A. Solve equations listed in Intermediate Algebra competencies (literal equations, quadratic equations by factoring and quadratic formula, equations involving rational expressions, equations involving radicals, equations involving absolute value expressions).
B. Solve inequalities of the following types: linear (in one and two variables), polynomial, rational, absolute value.
C. Solve systems of inequalities by graphing.
D. Apply equations from II (A) to real-world situations, including but not limited to depreciation, growth and decay, max/min problems.
E. Examine and analyze data, make predictions/interpretations, and do basic modeling.
F. Solve systems of equations by various methods.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
Students who complete this course, College Algebra, at Cloud County Community College, will be assessed on the following outcomes:
1. Solve various types of equations as listed in Core Competencies.
2. Solve various types of inequalities as listed in Core Competencies.
3. Solve systems of equations and inequalities using various methods.
4. Work extensively with functions, including, but not limited to, arithmetic operations with functions, finding compositions of functions, describing transformations of graphs, and finding inverse functions.
5. Write the equations of various functions given sufficient information.
6. Develop and solve various mathematical models.
7. Perform arithmetic operations on matrices.
ASSESSMENT of COURSE OUTCOMES: Student learning is assessed every semester based on course outcomes. Each instructor measures student performance on all course outcomes for each course section every semester. The instructor fills out an electronic form, which populates a database. This information is reviewed by the Assessment Coordinator and the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Team. It is due to be completed by February 15th for the fall semester and June 15th for the spring.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES:
1. Prepare students for future courses and for the mathematical requirements encountered in other disciplines and future careers.
2. Define arithmetic, algebraic, geometric, spatial and statistical concepts.
3. Calculate arithmetic, algebraic, geometric, spatial and statistical quantities using appropriate technology.
4. Estimate arithmetic, algebraic, geometric, spatial and statistical quantities.
5. Simplify and/or solve arithmetic, algebraic, geometric, spatial and statistical expressions, equations and problems using appropriate technology.
6. Represent mathematical information numerically, symbolically, graphically and verbally using appropriate technology.
7. Develop mathematical and statistical models such as formulas, functions, graphs and tables using appropriate technology.
8. Interpret mathematical and statistical models such as formulas, functions, graphs and tables using appropriate technology.
ASSESSMENT of PROGRAM OUTCOMES:
Student learning is also assessed each semester based on program outcomes. Program outcomes accomplishment is measured through performance on course outcomes. Each program uses a matrix to match course outcomes of individual courses to overarching program outcomes. The program outcomes are calculated as an average of all of the relevant course outcomes. This information is processed after each semester and then immediately reviewed by the Assessment Coordinator and the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Team.
Accommodation for Disability:
If you need academic adjustments for any type of disability, see your instructor during office hours or make an appointment. Students also may contact the Director of Advisement and Counseling, located in the Advisement Center.
Inclement Weather Policy:
In the winter months, weather conditions may cause the college to delay the start of the day or cancel classes all together. In cases of a delayed start, students should report to the class that would normally be in session at the time of the start. A two-hour delay means courses would begin at 10:00 am. The students would go directly to their 9:30 classes. These classes would end at 11:30, allowing the afternoon classes to resume the normal schedule.
The following radio and TV stations will be notified of any delays or cancellations:
KJCK 1420 AM and 94.5 FM KABI 1560 AM
KQLA 103.5 FM and 97.5 FM KMKF 101.5
KBLS 102.5 WIBW Channel 13
KSAJ 98.5 FM KSNT Channel 27
KYEZ 93.7 FM KSALLink.com
KSAL 104.9 FM and 1150 AM
Notification will also be placed on the internet at www.cancellations.com. A text message will also be sent out on the Emergency Text Messaging System for the students who have signed up for it.
Students should contact their instructors or call the campus at 800-729-5101 or 785-238-8010 if they are unable to attend classes due to hazardous conditions.
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
When alarms are sounded or crisis conditions arise, you will be instructed to move to a designated safe area or to remain in the classroom until the crisis has passed. If you are informed to leave the room, take as many of your personal belongings as time permits. Cell phones and other electronic devices are only to be used once you arrive in the safe area outside the building. The instructor or staff person is responsible for aiding students requiring special assistance.
Alert for tornado or bomb threat: telephone intercom system or staff interruption of class. All buildings are equipped with weather band radios.
Alert for fire: alarm will sound.
If directed to leave the classroom, evacuate to the designated safe area. These locations, both inside and outside the building, are noted on the evacuation maps posted in each building. Remain in these areas until cleared to leave.