Math 116: College AlgebraFall 2013
Course Description:
This course provides students with the ability to understand and apply mathematical skills and concepts. Math 116 students will be able to: use fundamental mathematical reasoning principles; interpret information presented in tables or graphical displays; use graphical, symbolic, and numeric methods to solve practical problems; and apply an appropriate mathematical model to the problem to be solved. The content of the course will include:
- Introduction to Functions
- Linear and Quadratic Functions
- Polynomial and Rational Functions
- Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- Systems of Equations
Learning Objectives:
This course fulfills the Quantitative Reasoning requirement in the Foundations category of WKU’s Colonnade program. As part of that program, Math 116 has the following learning objectives:
Students will demonstrate the ability to:
- Interpret information presented in mathematical and/or statistical forms.
- Illustrate and communicate mathematical and/or statistical information symbolically, visually and/or numerically.
- Determine when computations are needed and execute the appropriate computations.
- Apply an appropriate model to the problem to be solved.
- Make inferences, evaluate assumptions, and assess limitations in estimation modeling and/or statistical analysis.
Instructor:Pat PuckettOffice:Hart County High School, Room 22Office Hours:8-3
Phone:(270) 524-1324Email:
Textbook:Essentials of College Algebra with Modeling and Visualization, 4th Edition, 2012, Rockswold. Textbook is optional;the entire content of the textbook can be accessed online within the MyMathLab program.
Required:A subscription to MyMathLab.
Graphing calculator (TI 83 Plus or TI 84 Plus or Silver Edition) for classroom use. TI-89s and TI-92s are prohibited. Cell phones may not be used as calculators.
Attendance:Attendance in this course is crucial to your success and will be recorded each day. Therefore, your attendance and punctuality are expected. If you miss a class, you are responsible for finding out what topics were covered and for completing any missed work.
Students who cease attending class are expected to report to the Office of the Registrar to initiate withdrawal procedures. Withdrawal deadlines are published each term in the Registration Guide.
Excessiveabsenteeism may result in the instructor’s dismissing the student from the class and recording a failing grade, unlessthe student officially withdraws from the class before the withdrawal deadline. If the student withdraws from the university after the end of the official withdrawal period, excessive absenteeism may be one of the considerations inthe instructor’s deciding whether circumstances justify a “W” or an “F” in the course.
Homework: Homework will be assigned daily with specific deadlines for completion. Your instructor will indicate whether a particular assignment is to be completed on paper or online using MyMathLab. A review for each module will be included in the homework assignments. A grade of at least 70% will be necessary on each such module review and on the final review before a student is allowed to take the corresponding exam. Organizing and keeping the paper work you used to complete your homework will be beneficial in preparing for exams.
For the Dual Credit course, please keep in mind that you will receive a separate grade for the high school class. Therefore, the high school grade for all late homework assignments will be the grade that you have in MyMathLab on the assigned date of the unit test. Any missing assignments not completed by the date of the unit exam will receive a final grade of zero in your high school grade. Remember you can still work on missing assignments after the unit test for the college grade, but the high school grade will not be changed. Therefore, it is essential that you keep up with deadlines to ensure that your high school and college grades are an accurate reflection of your efforts. Also, your grade for an assignment will be have a deduction of 5% applied for each day an assignment is late.
Quizzes: Both announced and un-announced quizzes may be given. These quizzes may be either traditional paper-and-pencil quizzes or online quizzes using MyMathLab. Students are allowed two attempts on a quiz. Quizzes will be taken during class time and must be taken on the date assigned. If you are absent on a quiz day, it is your responsibility to make an appointment with the instructor to take the quiz before or after school. All retakes must be done during after school tutoring. You must wait at least one day between each attempt on a quiz. All retakes for a unit must occur before the unit test is given. On the day of the unit test, all quiz grades become final for that unit.
Exams: Module exams will be administered using MyMathLab, which algorithmically generates different versions of each test. All exams will be given in the classroom on an assigned day. Each test has a time limit of 2 hours, but can usually be done in about an hour. If you think you will need additional time, you may come in before school or schedule an appointment with the instructor to take the test after school.
Students will work their exam questions on paper and enter the answers into the computer. For all testing, the instructor will review the written work, awarding partial creditwhen deemed appropriate and making any necessary grade adjustments.
Each student will be allowed a maximum oftwo attempts for each module exam. When anexam is made available, the first attempt must be completed within seven (7) days or a grade of zero will be recorded. Bothattempts must be completed within two weeks of the initial availability date. A student may take onlyone exam per day.
The score for amodule exam will be the higher of the two attempts.
Students who fail to achieve a 70% on the Module 1 exam before the drop date (October 16, 2013) will receive a grade of F in the course unless they withdraw from the course or switch to Audit.
Final Exam:A comprehensive final exam will be given. The final exam will be administered using MyMathLab and on paper. Students will not be allowed to retake the final exam.
College
Course Grade:A weighted average for this course will be calculated. This weighted average will be calculated using the following scale.
Homework10%
Quizzes10%
Module Exams60% (4 exams worth 15% each)
Final Exam20%
Letter grades will be assigned from the weighted average using the following grading scale.
A90 – 100
B80 - 89
C70 - 79
D60 - 69
F59 and below
High School
Course Grade:A weighted average for this course will be calculated. This weighted average will be calculated using the following scale. The high school grade will be calculated twice per semester.
Homework20%
Quizzes30%
Module Exams50%
Letter grades will be assigned from the weighted average using the following grading scale.
A90 – 100
B80 - 89
C70 - 79
D60 - 69
F59 and below
Note: Although students may earn a D with a grade of 60 to 69, they should be aware that many courses require a C in Math 116 as a prerequisite and several majors require a C in Math 116 to satisfy a general education requirement inmathematics.
Credit for a course in which a grade of "F" has been received can be earned only by repeating the course in residence unless prior approval is given by the head of the department in which the course was taken.
Drop Date:The last day to withdraw from this course with a W, or change from credit to audit, isOctober 16, 2013.
Cell phones: Cell phones, iPods, etc. should be turned off during class. Headphones and ear buds are not allowed during the instructional time.
Tutoring:Tutoring is offered after school upon request.
ADA Statement: In compliance with university policy, students with disabilities who require academic and/or auxiliary accommodations for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services in Downing University Center, A-200. The phone number is 270 745-5004/V or 270 745-3030/TDD. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Student Disability Services.
Classroom Rules/Expectations:
Module 1 – Introduction to Functions
R.2Integer Exponents
R.3Polynomial Expressions
R.4Factoring Polynomials
1.1Numbers, Data, and Problem Solving
1.2Visualizing and Graphing Data
1.3Functions and Their Representations
1.4Types of Functions
1.5Functions and Their Rates of Change
Module 2 – Linear and Quadratic Functions
2.1Linear Functions and Models
2.2Equations of Lines
2.3Linear Equations
2.4Linear Inequalities
2.5Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities
3.1Quadratic Functions and Models
3.2Quadratic Equations and Problem Solving
3.3Complex Numbers
3.4Quadratic Inequalities
3.5Transformation of Graphs
Module 3 – Polynomial and Rational Functions
4.1More Nonlinear Functions and Their Graphs
4.2Polynomial Functions and Models
4.3Division of Polynomials
4.4Real Zeros of Polynomial Functions
4.5The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
R.5Rational Expressions
4.6Rational Functions and Models
4.7More Equations and Inequalities
R.6Radical Notation and Rational Exponents
R.7Radical Expressions
4.8Radical Equations and Power Functions
Module 4 – Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
5.1Combining Functions
5.2Inverse Functions and Their Representations
5.3Exponential Functions and Models
5.4Logarithmic Functions and Models
5.5Properties of Logarithms
5.6Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
Module 5 – Systems of Equations
6.1Functions and Systems of Equations in Two Variables
6.3Systems of Linear Equations in Three Variables