St. Gregory's University
Syllabus: MA 1513 -- College Algebra
3 hours lecture per week

Instructor: Bob Yarbrough, M.N.S.
Office hours will be posted on door and web site below

Office: Room 403 878-5193 bwyarbrough@sgc.edu
Home: 275-3314
Web Site: http://intranet.sgc.edu/people/faculty/bwyarbrough

Course description from official bulletin:
Students studying in a field requiring more than basic mathematics need to strengthen their mathematical literacy and algebraic skills to gain the tools necessary for further study. This course is designed to provide a more thorough understanding of algebraic functions. Major components include: real number system, algebraic expressions and exponents, polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions. A graphing approach is emphasized to aid understanding.

Prerequisites: High school Algebra II and Geometry or equivalent.

Mission Statement To satisfy a necessary requirement for some majors; to prepare others for pre-calculus and trigonometry; to give students the tools to analyze situations through the language of mathematics. The class will also acquaint the student with a particular graphing software package.

Goals:
-- solve linear, quadratic, absolute value, radical, and rational equalities and inequalities
-- solve linear, quadratic, absolute value, radical, and rational equalities and inequalities
-- know what functions are and work with them
-- graph a function and its translations and reflections
-- find real and imaginary zeros of functions
-- graph relations
-- recognize, apply, and graph exponential and logarithmic functions
-- solve linear and nonlinear systems of equations by elimination, substitution, and matrices
-- identify arithmetic and geometric sequences and series and find sums of finite series

Required Materials:
Text: Barnett, Raymond A., et. al. College Algebra: A Graphing Approach. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2000

You must have either a graphing calculator or a laptop computer.

Expectations: To become good at anything, one must practice. To learn mathematics, one must do problems. Homework will be assigned and collected each class. Homework should be neat and complete (with work shown). I want to see, not just a neat answer, but how you got that answer. 

I expect you to be present, on time and prepared each day. You should have all class materials including due assignments. You should read the book as any material in the book is possible test material whether it has been covered in class or not.  

Methods of Student Evaluation:
Three hourly exams 300 points
Quizzes 100 points
Class Participation 100 points
Homework 200 points
Final Exam 200 points  

A 90% of total
B 80% of total
C 70% of total
D 60% of total

 

Absences
(any absence is discouraged)
Your first 2 absences will not be questioned. Absences beyondthe first 2 may result in a lowered grade or dismissal from the class.Absenses and tardies both lower your class participation grade.

Outline of Course: College Algebra Fall 2000

 

Date

#

will cover

Topic

Homework Assigned

Due

W

8/23

1

1.1

Graphing

pg. 11: 5-10,14-17,21-24,27-30,32,34-37,44,54 46,56

8/28

F

8/25

2

1.2

Utilities

pg. 25: 9-14,21-24,29-32

lab

M

8/28

3

1.3

Functions

pg. 40: 1-33,36,37,40,42,75-77

9/1

W

8/30

4

1.4

Graphs

pg. 56: 1-8,13-15,18-21,23-27,30,31,33-35

9/6

F

9/1

5

 

Graphs

pg. 58: 50,52,54,67,68,77-81

9/6

W

9/6

6

1.5

Transformations

pg. 70: 1-50 52

9/11

F

9/8

7

Quiz

Review

pg. 78: 2,4-15,17,25,27,34,35,40-43 38

9/11

M

9/11

8

 

Test 1

Covering Chapter 1

 

W

9/13

9

2.1

Linear Functions

pg. 101: 1-30,34-56(x2), 61-65 58,66,68

9/18

F

9/15

10

2.2

Linear Equations

pg. 116: 1-28,37,38,45,46,49-52 30,40

9/20

M

9/18

11

2.3

Quad. Functions

pg. 129: 1-6,13-18,33-37,43-46 38,48

9/22

W

9/20

12

2.4

Complex Nos.

pg. 144: 3-60(x3) 62

9/22

F

9/22

13

2.5

Quad. Equations

pg. 154: 2-46(x2) 48,50,68

9/27

M

9/25

14

2.6

Equations

pg. 164: 5-12,31-38 40

9/27

W

9/27

15

Quiz

Chapter 2

From the Chapter Review

 

F

9/29

16

Lab

Regression

Group Activity -- Bring G.U.* else --> 0

 

M

10/2

17

3.1

Polynomial Fcns

pg. 191: 1-30, 45-49 50

10/6

W

10/4

18

Lab

Polynomial Fcns

pg. 193: 61-68,73,74 Bring G.U.*

 

F

10/6

19

3.2

Rational Zeros

pg. 206: 1-6,11-24, 27-29 30,32

10/11

M

10/9

20

Lab

Rational Zeros

pg. 207: 34-60(x2) G.U. ok, but not required

 

W

10/11

21

3.4

Rational Fcns

pg. 233: 1-20 48

10/16

F

10/13

22

Quiz

Review

From the Chapter Review

 

M

10/16

23

 

Test 2

Covering Chapters 2 and 3

 

W

10/18

24

4.1

Ops w/ Fcns

pg. 252: 1-12,14,39-44 16

10/23

M

10/23

25

4.2

Inverse Fcns

pg. 268: 1-16,24-34(x2), 42,44,46 48

10/27

W

10/25

26

4.3

Exp. Fcns

pg. 281: 1,2,19-36 6,8

10/30

F

10/27

27

4.4

e

pg. 292: 1-6,9-14,44-46,60-62,67-70 16B

11/1

M

10/30

28

4.5

Logarithms

pg. 303: 2-26(x2),17-44,45-66(x3) 88-96(x2)

11/3

W

11/1

29

4.6

Special Logs

pg. 312: 3-24(x3),54-56,59,60,63,64 66

11/6

F

11/3

30

4.7

Equations

pg. 321: 1-28, 39-44, 77,78,83,84 80

11/6

M

11/6

31

Quiz

Review

pg. 327: 2-37 Quiz over evens

 

W

11/8

32

 

Test 3

Covering Chapter 3

 

F

11/10

33

5.1

Systems

pg. 347: 1-26, 37-40

11/13

M

11/13

34

5.2

Systems

pg. 361: 1-6, 15-45(x3)

11/15

W

11/15

35

5.3

Gauss Jordan

pg.. 373: 11,12, 19-28

11/17

F

11/17

36

Quiz

Chapter 5

 

 

M

11/20

37

6.1

Seq. & Series

pg. 455: 1-38,49,50 52

11/27

W

11/22

38

6.3

Sequences

pg. 475: 1-25, 39,40,51-62,73 26

11/27

M

11/27

39

6.4

Counting

pg. 490: 1-20,23-34 36

12/1

W

11/29

40

6.5

Probability

pg. 507: 1-12,17-34 36

12/4

F

12/1

41

6.6

Binomial Thm.

pg. 515: 2-16(x2), 17-22, 30-45(x3) 26,28,46

12/4

M

12/4

42

Quiz

Review

From the Chapter Review

 

W

12/6

43

 

Review

Pre-Final Quiz

 

F

12/8

44

 

Final Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Graphing Utility

 

 

 

 

Final

 

 

 

This schedule is tentative at best. It is your responsibility to be in class and get announcements as to changes. All scheduled quizzes may not happen. Unscheduled quizzes may happen.

Homework assignments may be shortened, lengthened or cancelled.