Spring 2018MAT1033-1265 Intermediate Algebra
Monday/Wednesday 8 – 9:15AM SA-219
Instructor: Alison Gonzalez
Webpage:
Phone: (727) 341-4273
Office: SA-222 on the 2nd floor of Social Arts Building on the Gibbs Campus
Office hours: In myCourses or see the schedule posted next to my office SA-222.
Campus Email:
Course Description: Major topics include: factoring, algebraic fractions, radicals and rational exponents, complex numbers, quadratic equations, rational equations, linear equations and inequalities in two variables and their graphs, systems of linear equations and inequalities, introduction to functions, and applications.
Prerequisites: Appropriate scores on the SPC mathematics placement test or completion of required developmental education coursework (MAT0024; MAT0022; or MAT0028) or exemption allowing self-placement.
Course Goals:
- The student will apply concepts of solving equations and inequalities.
- The student will apply concepts of solving nonlinear equations and simplifying nonlinear expressions.
- The student will perform the methods of factoring.
- The student will apply concepts of rational expressions.
- The student will perform the basic concepts of functions.
A more detailed list of course objectives can be found in the Course outline:
Text: Intermediate Algebra, Eighth Edition, by Toby, Slater, Blair, Crawford,ISBN 0134178963
Calculator: Calculator use is recommended for this course. It is suggested that the student obtain at least a scientific (non-graphing) calculator for basic operations (TI-30). For those continuing on to College Algebra or Statistics, it may be a better investment to obtain the TI-83 Plus or TI-84 Plus which is the preferred calculator for these courses. Symbolic calculators, such as the TI-89, as well as cell phone calculators are prohibited during all tests.
Other materials: Students must use notebook paper or graph paper to submit assignments that measures 8 ½” x 11” andhas a smooth edge. Assignments not submitted on correct paper receive a zero (0).
Calendar and Important Dates are published in the myCourses calendar.
Course Dates: 1/8/2018 – 5/4/2018
Last day to drop with a refund: 1/12/2018
Last day to withdraw with a grade of W: 3/21/2018
Please see the academic calendar forimportant college wide dates.
Financial Aid:
Assignments, Grades and Grading Policy
Homework (12% of overall course grade): Homework is assigned from the textbook. There is a complete list of homework assignments in myCourses. Print this list. Homework is collected and graded throughout the semester. The due dates are published in the myCourses calendar. The homework assignment is graded pass/fail. You must show your work and complete ALL the assigned problems for credit. Homework will be considered late if it is not turned in during class on the prescribed day. Late homework will be accepted for half credit up to 3 days after the submission deadline.
Take advantage of the College’s resources to help you complete your homework. It is the best way to study for the tests.
Quizzes (10% of overall course grade): There will be 4 in-class quizzes during the semester. The lowest quiz score will be dropped. Dates are published in the myCourses calendar. If you miss a quiz, it will be recorded as a zero (0). Students may miss one quiz without impacting their course grade. No make-up quizzes.
Tests (60% of overall course grade): There will be 4 in-class tests during the semester. The lowest test score will be replaced with the final exam score when it is to the student’s advantage. Test dates are published in the myCourses calendar. If you miss a test, it will be recorded as a zero (0). There are no late make-up tests or retakes. If you know in advance that you have a schedule conflict with a test date, you may take the test early during my office hours. If a student is not able to appear around the Instructor’s schedule, then the student will be unable to take the test early.
Final Exam (15% of overall course grade): All students will take a cumulative final exam during exam week. The final exam score may be used to replace one (1) test score. Students who do not take the final exam will receive a grade of zero(0) on it. There are no late final exams or retakes.
Attendance (3% of overall course grade):Attendance is taken at every class period. For this class attendance is defined as attending every class, arriving to class on-time and staying through the duration of class. You must participate in class to receive attendance credit: taking notes, listening to classroom discussion and answering questions. You may not work on other classes or homework, nap, converse with tablematesor use a cell phone in the class. Students do not receive attendance points for absences, excused or otherwise.
How to Calculate your Overall Grade: (Homework avg)*0.12 + (best 3 Quiz avg)*0.10+ (Test avg)*0.60 + (Attendance Average)*0.03 + (Final Exam grade)*0.15
Grades are issued according to the traditional grading scale: A: 90-100% B: 80-89% C: 70-79% D: 60-69% F: 0-59%
Academic honesty policies will be strictly enforced. It is the responsibility of the student to act above suspicion while taking tests and completing assignments. No cell phone use at all is permitted during tests. College policies will be applied in the event of suspected academic dishonesty.
Accessibility:
If you are eligible for alternative testing arrangements through Disability Resources, please provide appropriate documentation by the end of the first week of class. You must schedule your out of class tests to coincide with the end of the testing period in class. If you need special arrangements for completing assignments or participating in the classroom, you must make arrangements in person with the instructor during office hours (not in the classroom).
Attendance Policy:
The college-wide attendance policy is included in the Syllabus Addendum ( The policy notes that each instructor is to exercise professional judgment and define “active participation” in class (and therefore “attendance”), and publish that definition in each syllabus.
For this class, attendance is defined as attending class, completing all assignments by the due dates, including the quizzes and tests, and logging into myCourses each week. See the section above for the requirements for attendance credit.
For the 60% point in the semester, active participation is defined as have no more than 2 unexcused absences.Students who are not actively participating in class as defined in an instructor's syllabusmay be subject to administrative withdrawal from the course with a grade of WF.A “W” or “WF” grade could impact the student's financial aid, requiring repayment of financial assistance. Students should consult with their instructor and their academic advisor or financial assistance counselor whenever they are considering withdrawing from a class.
Math Department Information:If you have problems that I cannot help you with, please seek assistance from either the Mathematics Department Academic Chair, David Kolonoski (727-341-4757 or SA-215A) or the Dean of the Mathematics Department, Jimmy Chang (727-341-4305 or SA 215B).
Other Policies:
· The student is responsible know of anything announced in class or via MyCourses email.
· The instructor reserves the right to make any changes to the syllabus or course schedule if absolutely necessary and in the best mutual interest of the students and instructor.
· All college policies regarding student conduct, academic honesty, students with disabilities, withdrawals, etc. apply in this course. Please refer to the student handbook for more details.
Student Survey of Instruction:
The student survey of instruction is administered in courses each semester. It is designed to improve the quality of instruction at St. Petersburg College. All student responses are confidential and anonymous and will be used solely for the purpose of performance improvement.
Incorporated into the syllabus is everything found in the standard SPC Syllabus Addendum:
Instructional Continuity
The St. Petersburg College website at is the official source of college information regarding the status of the institution. Other important information will be communicated via SPC Alert, local media outlets, and the college toll-free phone number 866-822-3978. All decisions concerning the discontinuation of college functions, cancellation of classes, or cessation of operations rest with the President or his/her designee. The College realizes that it is possible for a significant natural disaster to compromise SPC campus facilities sufficiently to disrupt the delivery of classes on campus/campuses for an extended period of time, and is planning ways our operations can continue following such an emergency.
So, in the event that a hurricane or other natural disaster causes significant damage to St. Petersburg College facilities, please visit the college website for an announcement of the College's plan to resume operations.
Further, in the event of such a disaster, the Instructor will continue using the Learning Management System (LMS) of MyCourses for continuation of all required learning and instructional activities in this course, including the issuing of graded online assignments and expectation of student completion of those graded assignments.
Therefore, in order to keep up with all activities in this course during and after a natural disaster please plan to continue this course by maintaining online access to MyCourses (possibly through duration of the course’s regularly scheduled end date). We will finish this course in MyCourses and your Instructor will issue your final letter grade for this course, as normally planned, despite occurrence of the natural disaster.