COURSE SYLLABUS
MATH 143, College Algebra
3 credits
Semester/year: Fall 2016 Office Location: Shields 207B
Instructor: Christie Waters Office Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., MWF
E-Mail Address: 4:00 – 5:00 p.m., T
Office Phone: 208-732-6807 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Th
Course Description: This course includes fundamental concepts of algebra; equations and inequalities; functions and graphs; polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions; systems of equations and inequalities; conics; the Binomial Theorem. Credit hours are not granted in both MATH 143 and MATH 147.
Pre-requisite: MATH 043 with ‘C’ grade or better or COMPASS Algebra score of 62 or higher.
Textbook and Supplies:
· Hawkes Learning Systems access code for College Algebra, packaged with new textbooks through the campus bookstore or available to purchase online.
· College Algebra: A Concise Approach, 1st edition, Sisson, published by Hawkes Learning Systems, 2012. (If eBook access is purchased with Hawkes access code, hardcover book is optional.)
· Scientific calculator (Graphing calculators are recommended, but not required.)
Course Objective: Students who complete Math 143, College Algebra, will have a strong understanding of
the topics listed in the course description and in the detailed list of course outcomes. This course will prepare students for Math 144, Math 157, Math 160, Math 253 and other courses which have a College Algebra pre-requisite.
Philosophy Statement:
General education in Mathematics develops the understanding of mathematics as a language which permits the student to express, define, and answer questions about the world.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. The students will be able to analyze real-world questions and mathematically structure strategies to model the questions.
2. The students will be able to correctly provide solutions to the models of the questions.
3. The students will be able to communicate the solutions to the questions when analyzed and solved mathematically.
Policies and Procedures:
Attendance: Attendance will generally be taken each class period. If, for one reason or another, you are unable to attend, you will still be responsible for all material covered that day.
Homework: Assignments will be given for each class period on Hawkes and will generally be due by the date of the following class period at midnight. Be sure to read each section in the textbook and/or go through the “Learn” portion on Hawkes before attempting problems, and make sure to use the “Practice” section before the “Certify” portion. After the due date, homework scores will be assigned based on a graduated penalty scale. Your lowest 5 homework scores will be dropped.
Exams: Four exams will be given throughout the semester. These exams will be given in the CSI Testing Center and are to be completed outside our scheduled class time. There will be no make-up or re-take exams given. If you must miss one, that grade will be replaced by your score on the final exam. (If you do not miss any exams, your score on the final will replace your lowest test score, if applicable.)
Final Exam: The final exam will be comprehensive and will be given in our classroom. Again, no make-up final exam will be given. (See tentative course schedule for date and time of final exam.)
Academic Integrity Policy: See page 25 of the current CSI catalog, or the CSI Academic Integrity website at http://www.csi.edu/studentHandbook/academicIntegrity.asp. Cheating is unacceptable. Students caught cheating will be assigned 0 points for that exercise or test. A pattern of cheating may be grounds for dismissal from the course with a failing grade.
Classroom Behavior: You as a student are expected to maintain good conduct during class, treating fellow students with respect and demonstrating a cooperative attitude toward the instructor. Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. After one warning, further breaches in acceptable conduct will result in your being dropped from the course, and the matter will be referred to student services for college discipline. If there is a situation creating a problem for you in this class, please let me know so that I can conference with any students who are involved. Information regarding student behavior policies can be found on pages 24-25 of the C.S.I. catalog. See also the Student Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook.
Cell Phones: All cell phones and pagers must be turned off or to a vibrate mode during class. No texting allowed during class.
Grading Practices:
4 regular exams worth 100 points each 400 points
Online Homework worth 125 points 125 points
Comprehensive final exam* worth 175 points 175 points
Total Points Possible 700 points
*Students must score at least 60% on the comprehensive final exam to receive a grade
of C or higher for the course.
Grades are computed by adding up total points for all exams and homework and dividing the sum by the total possible number of points. This is converted to percent. Your letter grade is determined according to the following table:
Percent Grade
90 -100 A
80 – 89 B
70 – 79 C
60 – 69 D
0 - 59 F
It is the student’s responsibility to drop the course.
A student may drop a course or all courses prior to the end of late registration (first Friday of the term) without it being recorded on the student’s official transcript. A student initiated drop after the late registration period is considered a withdrawal, and results in the grade of W.
(Students may drop courses online until the end of the late registration period. In order to withdraw from one or more courses following late registration, a completed registration form is required. Instructions on the form indicate when a signature of instructor and/or Financial Aid advisor is required. The completed form may be submitted to Admissions & Records or any off-campus center.)
NOTE: Students may withdraw from courses until 75% of the course meetings have elapsed, which is Thursday, November 10 this semester. No course may be withdrawn from after 75% of the course has elapsed.
CSI E-mail: Since email is the primary source of written communication with students, all registered CSI students get a college email account. Student e-mail addresses have the following format: <address>@eaglemail.csi.edu where <address> is a name selected by the student as a part of activating his/her account. Students activate their accounts and check their CSI e-mail online at http://eaglemail.csi.edu. Instructors and various offices send messages to these student accounts.Students must check their CSI e-mail accounts regularly to avoid missing important messages and deadlines. At the beginning of each semester free training sessions are offered to students who need help in using their accounts.
On-line course evaluation statement: Students are strongly encouraged to complete evaluations at the end of the course. Evaluations are very important to assist the teaching faculty in continually improving the course. Evaluations are available online through MyCSI (http://mycsi.csi.edu) by clicking on the CoursEval tab in the yellow navigation bar at the top of the MyCSI website once you are successfully logged-in. Students will receive an email when the evaluation becomes available and then have up to two weeks to submit the evaluation before the end of the course. The last day to complete an evaluation is the last day of the course. Evaluations are anonymous and are not available to faculty until after grades are submitted.
Nondiscrimination Statement
It is the policy of the College of Southern Idaho to comply with all federal, state and local authorities requiring nondiscrimination, including but not limited to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Executive Orders 12898 (Environmental Justice) and 13166 (Limited English Proficiency). College of Southern Idaho is an equal opportunity employer.
The college does not exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject any individual to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, income, protected veteran status, limited English proficiency, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
For more information or if you believe you have been subject to discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, or if you believe you have been subject to discrimination on any other basis, please contact the College of Southern Idaho’s Title IX, ADA, and 504 Coordinator: Eric Nielson--Director of Human Resources, (208) 732-6267 Or Nolan Goubeaux- Associate Dean of Student Affairs, (208) 732-6225.
Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability may be eligible for reasonable accommodations. To determine eligibility and secure services, students should contact Student Disability Services at their first opportunity after registration for a class(es). Student Disability Services is located on the second floor of the Taylor Building on the Twin Falls Campus. 208.732.6260 or e-mail Marita DeBoard, .
Topical Outline for the Course:
Students will demonstrate a working knowledge of the following processes and concepts:
a. Linear equations (solve all types, simple to complex, model data and solve application problems)
b. Formulas (solve problems using formulas, isolate a specified variable)
c. Quadratic equations (solve by factoring, by taking square roots, by completing the square, using the quadratic formula, solve application problems)
d. Solve other types of equations (polynomial, radical, absolute value, equations that are quadratic in form, equations with rational exponents)
e. Inequalities with one variable (graph and solve linear, compound, absolute value, quadratic and rational inequalities)
f. Lines (find slope, graph, write equation, model data, use idea of parallel and perpendicular)
g. Circles (equation, center, radius, graph, convert equation to standard form)
h. Functions (definition, domain, range, zeros, use vertical line test, evaluate, intervals for increasing and decreasing, odd, even, symmetry, model data)
i. Graph and analyze common functions (quadratic, cubic, square root, absolute value, reciprocal, piece-wise, greatest integer)
j. Transformations and combinations of functions (vertical shifts, horizontal shifts, reflections, vertical stretching and shrinking, add, subtract, multiply, divide, composition, inverse)
k. Quadratic functions (graph, standard form, vertex, intercepts, model data, solve application problems)
l. Polynomial functions (end behavior, leading coefficient test, graph, Remainder Theorem, Factor Theorem, find all zeros)
m. Rational functions (vertical asymptotes, horizontal asymptotes, slant asymptotes, intercepts, graph, solve application problems)
n. Variations (direct, inverse, joint, combined)
o. Conic sections (analyze and graph parabolas and circles, find vertices, axis of symmetry, and center as applicable, model data and solve application problems)
p. Exponential functions and equations (evaluate, graph, transform, solve equations, model data and solve application problems)
q. Logarithmic functions and equations (log notation, properties of logs, evaluate, graph, solve log equations, change bases, model data and solve application problems)
r. Systems of equations (linear equations in two variables, linear equations in three variables, nonlinear equations in two variables, application problems)
s. Systems of inequalities (linear, nonlinear, linear programming)
t. Binomial theorem (expand binomial raised to a power, find one specified term)