MAT 113 - 301 College Algebra

Instructor: Vann Crucillo E-mail: vcrucillo@chesapeake.edu

Course Material:

Textbook: College Algebra 3rd Corrected Edition by Carl Stitz and Jeffrey Zeager.

You may buy the textbook from the Book Store or you may order it online.

Note that, you do not need the textbook to enroll. It is a free open source textbook with open

access to textbook and assessments.

Course Description:

Prerequisite: MATH 032 or an appropriate result on the placement test. “A college level algebra

course for students not majoring in mathematics, engineering, or the physical sciences. Topics

included are the real number system, algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, polynomial and

rational functions; systems of equations, and appropriate applications.”

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Apply the mathematical skills required in problem-solving. * Quantitative Reasoning 2. Analyze mathematical models such as formulas, graphs, and tables and draw inferences

from them. * Critical Thinking, Quantitative Reasoning 3. Communicate mathematical information conceptually, symbolically, visually, and

numerically using appropriate terminology. * Oral & Written Communication, Technology Literacy, Quantitative Reasoning

4. Evaluate and/or interpret mathematical information, relationships, facts, concepts, and theories. * Reading with Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Quantitative Reasoning

* Meets Gen Ed Requirements

Course Introduction

The study of mathematics is an integral part of a college education. All students need to

develop critical skills in problem solving and analytical thinking. This course enables

students to build a solid foundation of mathematical concepts which can be applied to a

variety of fields from accounting to zoology.

This fast-paced course covers an introduction to equations, inequalities, and absolute

values, and a study of functions and their properties, including linear functions,

quadratic functions, higher-order polynomial functions, as well as rational, exponential,

and logarithmic functions.

This course prepares you for pre-calculus. Problem-solving methods are mastered and

applied to topics in life sciences, social sciences, physical sciences, business, and

engineering.

Disability Information

Disability: Students with Disabilities seeking services or accommodations through Chesapeake College must disclose the need for these services or accommodations to the Office of Disability Services. Given sufficient notice and proper documentation, the College will provide reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids, and related services required by persons with disabilities to allow access to our programs and services, if it is not an undue burden to do so. Students requiring accommodations are urged to submit requests at least 14 days in advance of the need to use them. To be eligible for academic accommodations through Chesapeake College, a student must have a documented disability as defined by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. For information on eligibility, contact: Judy Gordon Developmental Studies Case Manager/ADA Coordinator jgordon@chesapeake.edu. Phone: (410) 827-5805 FAX: (410)827-5233.* Student Services: For help with or information about advising, registration, career planning, financial aid, or the many other aspects of your life as a student at Chesapeake College, consult the Student Success and Enrollment Services office at http://www.chesapeake.edu/studentsuccess/default.asp

Grading Information and Criteria

You are responsible for the following graded items:

Meeting course deadlines is crucial for success in computer mediated courses. You may read at

your own pace, but online participation, MyOpenMath exercises, homework problems, quizzes,

midterm, and final exam must adhere to the timetable given in the course schedule. Otherwise

the grade will be 0. The academic schedule in this syllabus is referenced to local time (Eastern

Standard Time or eastern daylight saving time, whichever is appropriate) at Wye Mills,

Maryland. No late online participation, assignments, homework, or makeup for quizzes,

midterm and final exam will be accepted.

You are expected to submit your own work for all assignments, quizzes, and exams. No credit

will be given for plagiarism.

The course grade will be determined as follows:

Component Weighted

Percentage

MyOpenMath Assignments 10%

Quizzes/project/Group work 15%

Tests 50%

Final examination 25%

TOTAL 100%

Grading Scale

Letter grades will be assigned as:

A 90 – 100%

B 80 – 89%

C 70 – 79%

D 60 – 69%

F 0 – 60%

Grading Details

The work you are required to do in this course consists of

MyOpenMath assignments

Quizzes/project

Tests

a final examination

Each of these is described below.

Weekly Reading Assignments

Even though there is no numerical score associated with the weekly reading assignments, how

well you do in the course depends heavily on how conscientiously you follow the reading

assignments. Each week, there will be readings assigned from the textbook. Those readings will

include a chapter or part of a chapter. You should also read the module information presented

in the Course Content area of Canvas. Assignment details can be found in the schedule in this

syllabus.

When doing the reading for this course, you need to slow down!

Reading mathematics is not like reading anything else. You need to look carefully at the

numbers and formulas and spend time making sure you understand them and that they make

sense. Reading any mathematical text can take three to four times longer, per page, than

reading a nonmathematical text.

MyOpenMath Assignments

There are homework assignments each week in MyOpenMath, an interactive program that

provides homework problems similar to the problems in the textbook. For each section of the

textbook there will be some videos to watch to learn algebra and there will be two problem

sets assigned in MyOpenMath. The first set is just simple concept questions with videos. The

second set has 10 to 20 practice problems. (See the schedule for due dates.)

The homework assignments give you practice in solving problems associated with each week's

topics. Your aim should be mastery of all concepts, and you will be given unlimited

opportunities to succeed in solving all of the problems every week. As completing the

homework problems on time will help you understand and master the topics, plan your weeks

according to the schedule. There will be several MyOpenMath assignments due each week; to

earn credit for each MyOpenMath assignment; you must complete it on time.

Quizzes and Tests

Quizzes and exams are important milestones, as they provide valuable feedback for instructors

and students. Quizzes are open book and will be given as indicated in the schedule.

You will be given one week to work on each quiz, and the due dates of the quizzes can be found

in the schedule. Each quiz will be posted in the Lessons folder under Quizzes at the beginning of

the designated academic week, and each will be due at the end of that academic week.

Quizzes and exams must be individually completed and represent your own work. Neither

collaboration nor consultation with others is allowed.

Final Examination

The final exam constitutes 25 percent of the final course grade.

The final exam is close book and includes multiple-choice and short answer questions.

However, you are required to show your work and calculations, where requested, in order to

receive full credit. The chapters to be covered on the final exam are Chapters 1 - 6.

The final exam must be individually completed and represent your own personal work. Neither

collaboration nor consultation with others is allowed.

The solutions for the final examination will not be posted.

Tips for Success in this Courses:

Log in to class regularly. Study at least one section daily. Complete the MyOpenMath

homework at least one section per day. Do not wait till Sunday evening to complete all

the assignments for the week. You will find yourself very stressed if you do not work on

a section or two every day. Learning takes time, focus, repetition and practice.

Pay attention. Read all the information given in Canvas and MyOpenMath.

Take notes. When you are reading the textbook, doing MyOpenMath activities, or

completing homework take notes.

Keep up with readings and assignments. Reading math is no like reading anything else!

You need to look very carefully at the numbers and formulas and spend some time

making sure that you understand them and that they make sense.

Ask questions when you do not understand something.

Adhere to the deadlines posted in the course outline. There are absolutely no

extensions for MyOpenMath homework, quizzes, tests, and final exam.

Additional Information

Late Policy

Meeting course deadlines is crucial for success in computer-mediated courses. You may read at your own pace, but homework in MyOpenMath, quizzes, tests, and projects must adhere to the timetable given in the schedule. Otherwise the grade will be zero. No late MyOpenMath homework, quizzes, or exams will be accepted.

Originality of Work

You are expected to submit your own work for all assignments and quizzes. Assignments which are highly similar in content and presentation will be considered suspect and will be

questioned. No credit will be given for plagiarism. Refer to the Chesapeake College Policy on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.

Tutoring - Wye Mills and Cambridge

If you live in the vicinity of the Wye Mills or Cambridge, Maryland, you may take advantage of free, walk-in tutoring.

Guideline for Receiving Tutoring Services

We appreciate that many students may seek tutoring services to supplement our instructional program. However, tutors may not be used to complete any portion of assignments, projects, quizzes, and exams on behalf of students. Students are expected to submit their own work. Students who are suspected of submitting the work of their tutors will be reported to the dean's office for potential investigation in accordance to Chesapeake College’s Policy on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.

If you are to receive tutoring services, inform your tutor of this expectation and clarify your tutor's role and responsibility to your academic endeavors at Chesapeake College.

Academic Policies

Academic Integrity

Chesapeake College is an academic community that honors integrity and respect for others; and it is expected that as a member of this community, you will maintain a high level of personal integrity in your academic work at all times.

Academic dishonesty is the failure to maintain academic integrity and includes the intentional or unintentional presentation of another person's idea or product as one's own (plagiarism) and/or the use or attempt to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise and/or doing work for another student (cheating). All academic work you submit during your time at Chesapeake College should be original work for each of your courses.

Course Expectations

For a fourteen-week course, students should expect to spend about five hours per week in class

activities (online or on-site) and two times that number of hours outside the class in study,

assigned reading, and preparation of assignments.

The syllabus is my opportunity to tell you how I manage this class and give you notice of what is

expected of you as a student. Please remember that I will do everything I can to help you and I

expect you to be motivated and responsible for your own learning and course grade. If you

have any questions about the syllabus please let me know soon.

Title IX Policy

Chesapeake College prohibits sexual misconduct and sex discrimination by or against all students,

employees, and campus guests. If you have any questions or concerns or if you need to make a

complaint, contact Chesapeake’s Title IX Coordinator, Human Resources Director Susan Cianchetta

(scianchetta@chesapeake.edu; 410.827.5811) or Deputy Coordinator, Student Affairs Vice President

Richard Midcap (rmidcap@chesapeake.edu; 410.827.5858). Please note: If you choose to report

sexual misconduct or sex discrimination to a faculty member, that individual is required to report the

incident (including the names of alleged perpetrators, and all the facts surrounding the misconduct) to

our Title IX Coordinator. You may request that we keep your name confidential, but we may not be

able to do so. If you do not want this information reported, you may share the information

confidentially with counseling, advocacy, health, mental health, or sexual-assault-related services

(outside the college). For detailed information about policy, procedures, prevention education, and

sources of counseling, advocacy and support, please visit Chesapeake’s Title IX webpage at:

http://www.chesapeake.edu/students/chesapeake-college-title-ix-policy-statement

MATH 113 – 101: 14-Week Course Schedule - Fall, 2015 (Starts 8/24/15)

Module Assignments

1

Relations and Functions (August 24 – September 6) Read:

Textbook sections 1.1 – 1.3

Do:

MyOpenMath Section 1.1: due 8/30/15 MyOpenMath Section 1.2: due 9/06/15 MyOpenMath Section 1.3: due 9/06/1

Objectives 1.1.1 Identify sets. 1.1.2 Describe sets using the verbal, roster, and set-builder methods. 1.1.3 Recognize the different sets of numbers. 1.1.4 Write sets in interval notation. 1.1.5 Write sets as inequalities. 1.1.6 Find the intersection and union of sets. 1.1.7 Find points symmetric or reflected about the x-axis, y-axis, and origin. 1.1.8 Determine the distance of a line segment. 1.1.9 Determine the midpoint of a line segment. 1.2.1 Recognize relations. 1.2.2 Graph relations. 1.2.3 Find x- and y-intercepts of an equation. 1.2.4 Test the graph of an equation for symmetry. 1.3.1 Determine whether a relation is a function. 1.3.2 Use the vertical line test to determine if a graph represents that of a function. 1.3.3 Find the domain and range of a function from a set of points. 1.3.4 Find the domain and range of a function from a graph. 1.3.5 Determine whether an equation is a function.

Module Assignments

2

Continuation of Relations and Functions (September 7 - September 13) Read:

Textbook sections 1.4 – 1.5 Do:

MyOpenMath Section 1.4: due 9/13/15 MyOpenMath Section 1.5: due 9/13/15

Outcomes 1.4.1 Evaluate a function at a given value or expression. 1.4.2 Find the domain of a function. 1.4.3 Use function evaluation to solve application problems. 1.4.4 Evaluate piecewise functions. 1.5.1 Find the sum, difference, product, or quotient of two (or more) functions. 1.5.2 Find the domain of a function formed by function arithmetic. 1.5.3 Find the difference quotient of a function. 1.5.4 Use function arithmetic to solve application problems.

3

Continuation of Relations and Functions (September 14 - September 20) Read:

Textbook sections 1.6 – 1.7 Do:

MyOpenMath Section 1.6: due 9/20/15

MyOpenMath Section 1.7: due 9/20/15

Outcomes 1.6.1 Graph functions. 1.6.2 Find the zeros of a function. 1.6.3 Determine analytically if a function is even, odd, or neither. 1.6.4 Find the intervals on which a function is increasing, decreasing, and/or constant. 1.6.5 Find the local and/or absolute extrema of a function. 1.6.6 Find various characteristics of a graph. 1.7.1 Given a point, find the corresponding transformed point for a transformed function. 1.7.2 Graph transformations. 1.7.3 Find a formula for a transformed function given the sequence of transformations. 1.7.4 Find a formula for a transformed function given the transformed graph. 1.7.5 Identify the transformations occurring in a function.

Module Assignments

4

Linear and Quadratic Functions (September 21 – October 4) Read:

Textbook sections 2.2 – 2.4

Do:

MyOpenMath Section 2.2: due 09/27/15 MyOpenMath Section 2.3: due 10/04/15 MyOpenMath Section 2.4: due 10/04/15 Quiz 1 on 1.1 - 1.7: due 9/27/15

Outcomes 2.2.1 Solve absolute value functions. 2.2.2 Graph absolute value functions. 2.2.3 Graph absolute value functions using transformations. 2.2.4 Find requested characteristics of an absolute value function. 2.3.1 Graph quadratic functions. 2.3.2 Convert quadratic functions from general form 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 to standard form 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑘.

2.3.3 Find the vertex of a quadratic function in general form using 𝑥 = −𝑏

2𝑎.

2.3.4 Find the zeros of a quadratic function using the quadratic formula. 2.3.5 Use the discriminant to find the type and number of solutions of a quadratic function. 2.3.6 Use quadratic functions to solve application problems. 2.4.1 Find the solution(s) for absolute value inequalities analytically. 2.4.2 Find the solution(s) for absolute value inequalities graphically. 2.4.3 Find the solution(s) for quadratic inequalities analytically. 2.4.4 Find the solution(s) for quadratic inequalities graphically.

Module Assignments

5

Polynomial Functions (October 5 – October 11)

Read:

Textbook sections 3.1 – 3.2

Do:

MyOpenMath Section 3.1 and 3.2: due 10/11/15

Quiz 2 on 2.2 – 2.4 due 10/11/15

Outcomes

3.1.1 Determine if a function is a polynomial.

3.1.2 Identify the degree, leading term, leading coefficient, and constant term of a polynomial. 3.1.3 Solve application problems involving polynomials. 3.1.4 Determine the end behavior of polynomials. 3.1.5 Use the Intermediate Value Theorem to locate a zero of a polynomial. 3.1.6 Use a sign diagram for a polynomial function. 3.1.7 Determine the multiplicity of a zero. 3.1.8 Using zero’s multiplicity, determine the behavior of a polynomial at its zeros. 3.2.1 Divide polynomials using long division. 3.2.2 Write the quotient of a polynomial in the form 𝑝(𝑥) = 𝑑(𝑥)𝑞(𝑥) + 𝑟(𝑥). 3.2.3 Find a function value using the Remainder Theorem. 3.2.4 Find the factor(s) of a polynomial using the Factor Theorem. 3.2.5 Divide polynomials using synthetic division. 3.2.6 Determine the maximum number of zeros of a polynomial. 3.2.7 Make connections between the zeros, factors, and graph of polynomial functions.

6

Polynomial Functions (October 12 – October 18)

Read:

Textbook sections 3.3 – 3.4

Do:

MyOpenMath Section 3.3: due 10/18/15

MyOpenMath Section 3.4: due 10/18/15

Outcomes

3.3.2 Use Descartes’s Rule of Signs to determine the number of positive and negative real zeros of a polynomial. 3.3.3 Solve application problems using the zeros of a polynomial. 3.4.1 Add, subtract, multiply, and/or divide complex numbers. 3.4.2 Find a polynomial using the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and Complex Factorization Theorem.

3.4.3 Find all the zeros of a polynomial function.

Module Assignments

7

Rational Functions (October 19 – November 2) Read:

Textbook sections 4.1 – 4.3

Do:

MyOpenMath Section 4.1 and 4.2: due 11/01/15 MyOpenMath Section 4.3: due 11/01/15 Quiz 3 on 3.1 – 3.4: Due 10/25/15

Outcomes 4.1.1 Find the domain of a rational function. 4.1.2 Find the vertical asymptote(s) and hole(s) of a rational function. 4.1.3 Find the horizontal asymptote of a rational function. 4.1.4 Solve application problems involving rational functions. 4.1.5 Find the slant asymptote of a rational function. 4.2.1 Graph rational functions. 4.3.1 Solve rational inequalities. 4.3.2 Solve application problems involving rational inequalities.

Module Assignments

8

Further Topics in Functions (November 2 – November 15) Read:

Textbook sections 5.1 - 5.3 Do:

MyOpenMath Section 5.1: due 11/08/15 MyOpenMath Section 5.2: due 11/15/15 MyOpenMath Section 5.3: due 11/15/15 Quiz 4 on Sections 4.1 – 4.3: due 11/08/15

Outcomes 5.1.1 Find a composition of functions. 5.1.2 Find a function value of a composition of functions. 5.1.3 Find the domain of a composition of functions. 5.1.4 Given a composition of functions, find two functions that were composed to make the composition.

5.2.1 Determine if a function is one-to-one analytically. 5.2.2 Determine if a function is one-to-one graphically. 5.2.3 Find the inverse of a function. 5.2.4 Determine if a two functions are inverses of one another analytically. 5.2.5 Determine if a two functions are inverses of one another graphically. 5.2.6 Graph a function and its inverse. 5.2.7 Find the domain of a function’s inverse. 5.2.8 Solve application problems involving inverses. 5.3.1 Solve equations involving radicals. 5.3.2 Solve equations involving rational exponents.

Module Assignments

9

Exponential and logarithmic functions (November 16 – November 29)

Read: Textbook sections 6.1 – 6.3

Do:

MyOpenMath Section 6.1: due 11/22/15

MyOpenMath Section 6.2: due 11/29/15

MyOpenMath Section 6.3: due 11/29/15

Quiz 5 on Sections 5.1 – 5.3: due 11/22/15

Outcomes 6.1.1 Solve application problems involving exponential or logarithmic functions. 6.1.2 Convert equations from exponential to logarithmic and from logarithmic to exponential. 6.1.3 Evaluate logarithms. 6.1.4 Find the domain of logarithmic functions. 6.1.5 Graph exponential or logarithmic functions. 6.1.6 Graph exponential or logarithmic functions using transformations. 6.1.7 Verify that the given exponential and logarithmic functions are inverses of one another. 6.1.8 Find the inverse of an exponential or logarithmic function. 6.2.1 Expand logarithms using logarithmic properties. 6.2.2 Use the properties of logarithms to write a logarithmic expression as a single logarithm. 6.2.3 Use the change of base formula to convert an expression with the indicated base. 6.2.4 Use the change of base formula to approximate a logarithm.

6.3.1 Solve exponential equations.

10

Continuation of Exponential and Logarithmic Functions (November 30 – December 6)

Read: Textbook sections 6.4 – 6.5

Do:

MyOpenMath Section 6.4: due 12/06/15

MyOpenMath Section 6.5: due 12/06/15