Madisonville Community College

Fall 2008 Syllabus

 

MT 120 83191-75M1      Intermediate Algebra with Application

 

Prerequisites:

A grade of “C” or higher in MT 065 or as determined by placement examination.

 

Instructor:

Elyssa Lear

Office:

Muhlenberg:

Room 103

Madisonville:

Joe C. Davis Building

 Room 101A

Phone:

824 – 1834 voicemail

757-9881 or

toll free 1-877-659-0819

 

 

Email:

elyssa.lear@kctcs.edu  ** Best way to get in touch with me.**

 

Website:

www.madisonville.kctcs.edu/facstaf/elear/

** Assignment sheet and daily outline are posted here**

 

Office Hours:

Muhlenberg:

MW:  8:00 – 9:15 am

         1:00 – 2:00 pm

 

* I’m on the Muhlenberg campus everyday.

Fridays by appointment

Tutoring Hours:

Muhlenberg:

Learning Center, Room 110

MTWR:  1:00 – 2:00 pm

 

 

 

 

Textbook:

Prealgebra & Introductory Algebra  2nd edition by K. Elayn Martin-Gay (white book)

 

Materials:

Pencil is required.  Calculator and graph paper optional.

 

Attendance:

Regular attendance is essential for successful completion of this course.  Although it is not computed directly into your grade, attendance will be considered in borderline cases.  Perfect attendance will be rewarded with 10 points added to the final exam grade.  For each class missed, 2 points will be deducted from this bonus.

 

 

 

ADA Requirements:

If you have a documented disability and need any type of accommodation, you are required to register with the Disability Resource Coordinator.  Contact Valerie Wolfe, Disability Resource Coordinator, Room 112, LRC (Madisonville), 824-1708.

 

Course Description:

This course includes exponents, factoring, polynomials, radicals,

radical expressions, graphing in the plane, functions, linear and

quadratic equations, linear inequalities, systems of linear

equations and inequalities, and appropriate applications.

 

Course Objectives:

The goals of this course are the following:

  • To factor a polynomial completely.
  • To perform basic operations with rational expressions.
  • To solve equations involving rational expressions.
  • To distinguish between a function and a relation.
  • To find the domain and range of a function.
  • To graph linear functions using intercepts as well as slope and y-intercept.
  • To find the different forms of a linear equation.
  • To solve systems of linear equations using different methods.
  • To solve linear inequalities in one variable.
  • To simplify radical expressions.
  • To solve equations involving radical expressions.
  • To perform basic operations on complex numbers.
  • To solve quadratic equations by factoring, square root property, completing the square, and using the quadratic formula.
  • To graph quadratic equations.

 

Course Requirements:
  1. There will be 5 regular exams, worth 100 points each.
  2. The final is comprehensive.
  3. Homework will be assigned for each section covered.  You are expected to complete all assignments.
  4. There will be timed homework quizzes given each day.  These will consist of selected problems from the homework assignments.  You may use your homework during these quizzes.  All work must be shown in order to receive credit on the quizzes.  Answers alone will not receive any points

       5.  There may be in-class activities. 

Late-Work Policy:

Any assignments with a due date must be turned in that day during class.  Once class is over, the assignment is considered late.  No late assignments will be accepted. 

 

Make-Up Policy:
  1. In-class activities may not be made up.
  2. Homework Quizzes may not be made up.
  3. Missing an exam is a serious matter.  It is the students responsibility to contact the Instructor and schedule a make-up exam.  Make-up exams must be taken within two days of the original test date.  After that time, no make-ups will be given.  Make up exams will be left in the Learning Center for you, after the two day grace period they will be removed and you may no longer make up that exam. 

 

Grading Criteria:

The grade you receive in this course will be determined as follows:

          Homework Quizzes/In-class Activities         15%

          Tests (5)                                                       65%

          Comprehensive Final                                      20%

 

Using the grading scale:

           A  -  90% or above              D  -  60% to 69%

           B  -  80% to 89%                 E  -  59% and below

           C  -  70% to 79%

 

Course Outline:

Chapter Twelve – Rational Expressions

12.1             Simplifying Rational Expressions

12.2            Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions

12.3            Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with the Same Denominator and Least Common Denominator

12.4            Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with Different Denominators

12.5            Solving Rational Equations Containing Rational Expressions

12.6            Rational Equations and Problem Solving

*** Test 1 – Chapter 12 ***

 

Chapter Thirteen – Graphing Equations and Inequalities

13.1             The Rectangular Coordinate System

13.2            Graphing Linear Equations

13.3            Intercepts

13.4            Slope

13.5            Equations of Lines

13.6            Introduction of Functions

13.7            Graphing Linear Inequalities in Two Variables

13.8            Direct and Indirect Variation

*** Test 2 – Chapter 13 ***

Chapter Fourteen – Systems of Equations

14.1             Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Graphing

14.2            Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Substitution

14.3            Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Addition

14.4            Systems of Linear Equations and Problem Solving

*** Test 3 – Chapter 14 ***

 

Chapter Fifteen – Roots and Radicals

15.1             Introduction to Radicals

15.2            Simplifying Radicals

15.3            Adding and Subtracting Radicals

15.4            Multiplying and Dividing Radicals

15.5            Solving Equations Containing Radicals

15.6            Radical Equations and Problem Solving

*** Test 4 – Chapter 15 ***

 

Chapter Sixteen – Quadratic Equations

16.1             Solving Quadratic Equations by the Square Root Property

16.2            Solving Quadratic Equations by Completing the Square

16.3            Solving Quadratic Equations by the Quadratic Formula

16.4            Graphing Quadratic Equations in Two Variables

*** Test 5 – Chapter 16 ***

 

*** Comprehensive Final Exam ***

 

Holidays:

We will observe the following holiday:

         Monday, September 1st  – Labor Day

         Monday, October 13th – 18th – Fall Break

         Tuesday, November 4th – Election Day

         Thursday, November 27th - Thanksgiving

 

Withdrawal Policy:

Students have until Monday, October 6th  to withdraw on their own from a class.  From October 6th until Friday, December 5th   permission to withdraw must be given by the instructor and must be indicated by the instructor’s signature on the drop slip.  Students are officially enrolled and are assigned a final grade unless the appropriate steps to drop a class are followed.  It is the student’s responsibility to manage the drop/add process for their class if necessary.  There will be no withdrawals after December 5th.

 

** Make sure that a signed drop slip is turned back into the office.  Otherwise the withdrawal will not be processed.  **

Student Email:

Check your student email periodically. I will be sending you information through your student email account and only your student email account.

 

Cell Phones:

All cell phones must be turned off or placed on silent upon entering the classroom.  This means cell phones may not be used in place of a calculator.

 

General Education Competencies:

I. Communicate Effectively

     1.  Read with comprehension.

     2.  Speak and write clearly using standard English.

     3.  Interact cooperatively with others using both verbal and

      non-verbal means.

          Assessments:  1.  Students are expected to read each 

                                 section covered.

                                2.  Homework and tests will contain

                                     questions which require written 

                                     responses.

                                3.  Students are expected to answer

                                questions verbally in the classroom.

                           4.  Students are expected to communicate

                                ideas with each other during group 

                               activities.

 

II. Think Critically

1.        Make connections in learning across the disciplines and draw logical conclusions.

2.        Use mathematics to organize, analyze, and synthesize 

      data to solve a problem.

       Assessments:  1.  Students will complete a variety of

                                   application problems, making

                                   connections across disciplines.

                              2.  Students will list important

                                    information, create tables, and/or

                                    translate and analyze data provided

                                    when working application problems.

                              3.  Students will analyze problems,

                                    identifying which steps to do first,

                                    and look for ways to simplify or

                                    rewrite the problem making it more

                                   familiar.

 

III. Learn Independently

1.        Think creatively to develop new ideas, processes, or

      products.

       Assessments:  1.  Students are required to solve

                                   problems individually and independently

                                   by applying what they have learned in

                                   the academic environment.

                               2.  Regular exams.

 

 

 

IV. Examine Relationships in Diverse and Complex

     Environments

1.        Demonstrate an awareness of the relationship of the individual to the biological and physical environment.

Assessments:  1.  Students will work problems that relate

                            to the real world.

 

Resources:

As an MCC student, you have access to free tutoring for this class or any other class.  The options available are:

   1.  Muhlenberg Campus Learning Center

         located in Room 110, provides one-on-one tutoring, 

         and computer access

   2.  North Campus Learning Center

          located at the Learning Resource Center Building,

          Room 110