College Algebra

To acquaint the student with the topics of equations, inequalities, rational expressions, exponents, logarithms, radicals, functions, graphs, and systems of equations.  This course is designed to prepare students to take additional mathematics courses

Prerequisites : MATH 1003 with a grade of C or better, math THEA score of 270, math Accuplacer score of 90, or satisfactory score on placement exam

Each student must have a graphing calculator 

Calculator Requirement:  Each student will need to have a graphing calculator available for some of the material of the course. The instructor will generally use a TI-83, TI-84 or TI-86, and recommends that the student use a TI calculator too.  If a student has another brand, the instructor may not be able to help with any problems. If the student has a TI-89 (or TI-92) use will be restricted to those functions available on the TI-84.  Cell phones or PDA’s  are not acceptable.  Cell phones and PDA’s should be turned off and put away during all class periods, and especially during tests.

See the attached course syllabus

Homework assignments should be done on 8 1/2 by 11 paper.  The problems should be done neatly and in order, and if the assignment involves more than one page, the pages should be stapled together.  Assignments should be done in pencil with all mistakes neatly and cleanly erased.  It is recommended that the student solve the problems on scratch paper, and then copy the solution (not just the final answer) onto the homework sheets

The teacher may give homework handouts, in which case the final answer should be placed in the underlined blank, if provided, and the work should be done neatly in the space between problems.  Again, any misprints should be neatly and cleanly erased.

Tests will be given in-class and will done on paper provided by the instructor.  In-class quizzes may also be given.  No make-ups will be given for quizzes, and tests will only be able to be made up for unavoidable reasons.  If a student knows that he/she has a legitimate conflict with a scheduled test, that student should contact the instructor well in advance of the test to make arrangements for making up the assignment.  If a student misses a test for an unavoidable reason, that student must contact the instructor no later than the first day that student returns to class (and preferably before that, if possible).

All tests and homework should be completed according to the schedule provided in the syllabus.  No make-ups will be given for in-class quizzes or exercises (if any).  If the instructor assigns problems to be worked outside class and handed in in class, then the problems are due at the beginning of the designated period (and each student should be prepared to hand the assignment in before taking his/her seat as the student enters the classroom.

Students are expected to attend every session of the class.  Recognizing that there are extenuating circumstances where students must miss an occasional class, the instructor will follow the Midwestern State University attendance policy as stated on page 71 of the Midwestern State University Undergraduate Catalog, Volume LXXVIX, Number 1, 2012-2014.  In particular, the instructor will keep track of attendance and if a student accumulates four or more un-excused absences and is not taking the course seriously as evidenced by homework and tests, then the instructor reserves the right to use the policy to drop the student from the class

An absence is defined as not being present for the entire period.  Students who come in late or leave early may be counted absent for that class, unless they have made arrangements with the instructor in advance.

Use of cell phones for communication during class is forbidden.  Students may not use cell phones or PDA's to communicate with other individuals inside or outside of the classroom.  Any student found using a cell phone PDA, or computer during a test will be considered to be cheating, and will be subject to receiving a zero on the assignment.  Students may use cell phones or cameras to copy material on the board, but communication during class is not permitted. 

Students may use personal computers to take notes during class, but again, communication with other people, surfing the web, or working on assignments for other classes is not permitted during this class.  At the teacher's sole discretion, a cell phone, PDA or computer may be confiscated for the remainder of the class period.

Entering the class late or leaving the class early is a disturbance to the other students and to the teacher.  Each student is expected to treat the other students and the teacher with respect.  Any student who is being disruptive to the class may be asked to leave the classroom and will be counted absent for that day.

Grading:  The final grade for the course will be determined by a combination of hour exams, exercises (some take-home and some in-class), and a final exam.  Any take-home exercises will be due at the beginning of the period designated by the instructor.  Late exercises will not be accepted. No makeup on in-class exercises will be given.  The grade assigned will be determined by the grade scale listed below.

         Instrument             Weight      |    Grade Scale

         ---------------        ---------   |    -----------------

         Hour Tests (4)            68%      |    90 - 100%     A

         Exercises/Quizzes         10%      |    80 -  89%     B

         Final Exam                22%      |    70 -  79%     C

                                            |    60 -  69%     D

Cheating:  Each student is expected to do his or her own work on all graded assignments. ANY EVIDENCE OF CHEATING OR UNAUTHORIZED group effort WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION which may range from a zero on the assignment to an F in the course.  On homework assignments students may discuss the problems outside of class, but each student is expected to work out and understand the solutions to the problems.  For some of the exercises done in class the teacher will let students work together, but not on tests.

Note:   Any student experiencing difficulty with this course has an obligation to himself and the rest of the class to seek help in mastering the material.  The first step is to talk to the instructor.  Putting it off will only make it worse.  It has been the experience of the teacher that students who study together in groups outside class generally do better.  Therefore the teacher encourages students to form study groups.  It is permissible to work on homework problems outside class in study groups.  However, simply to copy the answers derived by another student is not only self-defeating, but cheating.  The Mathematics Department provides help sessions in Bolin 101 from 2:00 to 5:00 Monday through Thursday and 1:00 to 4:00 on Friday, starting the second week of classes and ending the last week of classes. This provides a good place to study and/or seek help.

Course Outline:   The following is a tentative outline of the material to be covered in this course, and the pace at which it should be covered.  Due to the fast pace, it is recommended that each student read the sections listed for each day prior to coming to class.