Course: MATH 1111- 04, College Algebra - 3 semester
hours
Course
Description: This course is a modern view of
algebra that incorporates the use of appropriate technology with an emphasis on
functions, and solution sets for equations and inequalities. PREREQUISITE: NONE.
Course Objective: The student will become familiar with functional notation and
basic graphing techniques. Emphasis
will be placed on the study of functions, and their graphs, including
quadratic, piecewise defined, rational, polynomial, exponential, and
logarithmic functions. Appropriate
applications will be included, to give a real world perspective.
Instructor: Mr.
Jim Bellon jbellon@westga.edu office phone: 770) 836-4353
Office &
Hours: Boyd building, room 330
Mon/Wed 8-9am, 2-3 pm, and 4:30-5:30 pm
Fri 2-3 pm. Other hours by appointment.
Class Meets: MWF
10:00 – 10:50 a.m. Room 305 Boyd Building
The classes
will consist of lectures, presentations, and/or group work sessions.
Text: Precalculus,
by Robert Blitzer, 2001.
A graphing calculator is required, preferably the
TI-83.
Grading: There
will be 4 class session tests (100 pts each), 1 project (100 pts), a
comprehensive Final exam (150 pts), 8-10 quizzes (best 6 will count for 15 pts
each, totaling 90 pts), and 60 class points (defined below). This totals 800
points. Final grades will be determined
as follows:
720
and up ( 90% and up ) A
640
– 719 ( 80% to 89% ) B
560
– 639 ( 70% to 79% ) C
480
– 559 ( 60% to 69% ) D
479
and below ( 59% and below ) F
Project: Group
project (1 to 3 students) requiring some research and calculation, to be handed
in by November 11th. Description will
be handed out at a later date.
Quizzes: Expect
about 1 quiz every week lasting about 10-15 minutes (except during a test
week). Date and topics will typically
be announced the week before.
Homework: Homework
will be assigned for each textbook section.
They will periodically be collected and checked for effort. Collected HW will count towards class
points.
Class Points: The
purpose of the class points is to reward students for effort and not be based
on math performance. Class points can
be obtained as follows: 1 pt for each
day present when attendance is taken. 5
pts for each collected HW. 5 pts for
each group work completed in class.
Final Exam Date: Friday, December 13th 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend class and complete all work when
assigned. A student’s grade will not be directly affected by absence. However,
the student is responsible for all material covered and assignments due whether
present or not.
“I was not here” is NOT a valid excuse
for missing or late assignments.
Last Date to Withdraw: Thursday, October 10th
The
class starts with material from chapter 2.
You are expected to be familiar with and skilled at working problems
that you will find in the Preliminary section and Chapter 1. You should review that material and try some
problems. If you have trouble with
these, you need to put in the necessary time to catch up with the class, or you
should think about whether you are in the correct course.
Tentative
dates
2.1
Lines and Slope week
1
2.2
Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
and Circles week
2
2.3
Introduction to Functions week
2
2.4
Graphs of Functions week
3
2.5
Transformations and Combinations of
Functions week 4
2.6
Composite and Inverse Functions week
5
3.1
Quadratic Functions week
6
3.2
Polynomial Functions and Graphs week
6
3.3
Dividing Polynomials week
7
3.4
Zeros of Polynomials week
7
3.5
More on Zeros of Polynomial
Functions week 8
3.6
Rational Functions week
8
4.1
Exponential Functions week
9
4.2
Logarithmic Functions week
10
4.3
Properties of Logarithms week
10
4.4
Exponential and Logarithmic
Equations week
11
4.5
Modeling with Exponential and
Logarithmic Functions week
12
8.1
Systems of Linear Equations in Two
Variables week
13
8.2
Systems of Linear Equations in
Three Variables week
13
8.4
Systems of Nonlinear Equations in
Two Variables week
14
8.5
Systems of Inequalities week
15
8.6 Linear Programming week
16
There will be an in class
exam after each chapter is finished, with a review session just before the
exam.