Revised 8-02-07

SOUTHWEST COLLEGE

Department of Mathematics

COURSE SYLLABUS

MATH 1314:  College Algebra

Spring 2008 / Distance Education 

Textbook:

Essentials of College Algebra.  Lial, Hornsby, and Schneider.  Pearson/Addison-Wesley:  Boston, 2008.

Catalog Description: 

Topics include quadratics, polynomial, rational, logarithmic, and exponential functions; systems of equations; matrices; and determinants.  A departmental final examination will be given in this course.

Prerequisites:      Math 0312:  Pass with “C” or better

                                                    Or

                              Acceptable placement test score.

Credits:  3 credit hours (3 lecture).

Course Intent & Audience:

This course is designed as a review of advanced topics in algebra for science and engineering students who plan to take the calculus sequence in preparation for their various degree programs.

 It is also intended for non-technical students who need college mathematics credits to fulfill requirements for graduation and prerequisites for other courses.  It is generally transferable to other disciplines as math credit for non-science majors.

Testing policy:

There are three (3) exams that are done onsite.  The Final Exam is also done onsite.

Grading policy:

Your final course grade is based on the following standard HCCS scale. 

[(Best 3 grades of Exam 1, Exam 2, Exam 3, and Homework) + Final Exam] / 4 = Final Average

Final Examination: 

The final examination is departmental and consists of 33 multiple-choice problems. The problems cover all the material required in the course.

Attendance policy: 

Attendance is checked using WebCT.  The course site tells the first time you access it, and monitors the number of times and duration of your visit. 

Tardiness policy:

The schedule is given in advance using the course calendar.  It is automatically set up and will not allow tardiness.

HCC Course Withdrawal Policy

The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on students who drop courses excessively.  For example, if you repeat the same course more than twice, you have to pay extra tuition.  Beginning in Fall 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting students to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree. 

To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which your professor will “alert” you and distance education (DE) counselors that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance.  You should visit with your DE professor or a DE counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be available to assist you – online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic performance. 

If you plan on withdrawing from your DE class, you MUST contact a DE counselor or your DE professor prior to withdrawing (dropping) the class and this must be done PRIOR to the withdrawal deadline to receive a “W” on your transcript.  **Final withdrawal deadlines vary each semester and/or depending on class length, please visit the online registration calendars, HCC schedule of classes and catalog, any HCC Registration Office, or any HCC counselor to determine class withdrawal deadlines.  Remember to allow a 24-hour response time when communicating via email and/or telephone with a DE professor and/or counselor.  Do not submit a request to discuss withdrawal options less than a day before the deadline.  If you do not withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you are making in the class as your final grade. 

Homework policy:

All homework must be completed online using MYMATHLAB.

This accounts for 25% of your final course grade, if you want to drop any one of your 3 exam grades.  This won’t count if you want all your grades to be determined by the 3 exams.  The final exam is always included.

Calculators:

You may use scientific calculators in this class.

Academic dishonesty:

All students are required to exercise academic honesty in completion of all tests and assignments.  Penalties for academic dishonesty (cheating on a test, collusion on an assignment, etc.) include, but are not limited to, a reduced grade, a “0” on that test or assignment, a “W” in the course, or an “F” in the course. 

Resources and supplemental instruction:

Any student enrolled in Math 1314 at HCC has access to the tutoring labs where additional help is available.  The math tutoring labs are staffed with student assistants who can aid students with math problems and offer help with MYMATHLAB.  Another helpful resource is the student solutions manual that may be purchased in the bookstore.

Students with Disabilities: 

Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Services Office at this college at the beginning of the semester. To make an appointment, please call 713-718-7910.  Professors are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Office.

Course Schedule:

    Chapters and Sections                                                                                           Approximate Time

Chapter 1  Equations and Inequalities                                                                               Wk 1,2

1.4     Quadratic Equations

1.5     Applications and Modeling with Quadratic Equations

1.6     Other Types of Equations

1.7      Inequalities

1.8      Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities                 

Chapter 2  Graphs and Functions                                                                                      Wk 3 - 4

2.1      Graphs of Equations

2.2      Functions

2.3      Linear Functions

2.4      Equations of Lines; Curve Fitting

2.5      Graphs of Basic Functions

2.6      Graphing Techniques

2.7      Function Operations and Composition

Chapter 3  Polynomial and Rational Functions                                                               Wk 5 - 6             

3.1    Quadratic Functions and Models

3.2    Synthetic Division

3.3     Zeros of Polynomial Functions

3.4     Polynomial Functions:  Graphs, Applications, and Models

3.5     Rational Functions:  Graphs, Applications, and Models

3.6     Variation

Chapter 4   Exponential and Logarithmic Functions                                                    Wk 7 - 8

                     4.1  Inverse Functions

4.2  Exponential Functions

4.3  Logarithmic Functions

4.4  Evaluating Logarithms and the Change-of-Base Theorem

4.5  Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

4.6  Applications & Models of Exponential Growth & Decay (doubling time problems)

Chapter 5   Systems and Matrices                                                                                   Wk 9 - 10

5.1    Systems of Linear Equations (two variables only)

5.3   Determinant Solution of Linear Systems (Omit Cramer’s Rule.)

5.5   Nonlinear Systems of Equations

5.7   Properties of Matrices

Test Schedule:

Course Objectives:

At the completion of this course, a student should be able to:

1.      Solve quadratic equations in one variable by factoring, using the square root property, completing the square, and using the quadratic formula.

2.      Find the distance and midpoint between two points in the Cartesian plane.

3.      Solve radical equations, fractional equations, and equations of quadratic form.

4.      Recognize the equation of a straight line, graph the equation of a straight line, find the slope and intercepts of a line, know the relationship between the slopes of parallel and perpendicular lines, and be able to determine the equation of a line from information such as two points on the line, or one point on the line and the slope of the line.

5.      Know the definition of a function, determine the domain and range of a function, evaluate expressions involving functional notation, simplify expressions involving the algebra of functions, graph functions by plotting points, know the definition of inverse functions, and given a function find its inverse.

6.      Graph linear functions, quadratic functions, piecewise-defined functions, absolute value functions, polynomial functions, rational functions, exponential functions, and logarithmic functions.

7.      Solve linear inequalities and linear equations involving absolute value, state the solution in interval notation, and graph the solution.

8.      Solve non-linear (quadratic and rational) inequalities, state the solution in interval notation, and graph the solution.

9.      Understand vertical and horizontal shifts, stretching, shrinking, and reflections of graphs of functions.

10.  Recognize the equation of a circle, sketch the graph of a circle, and find the equation of a circle.

11.  Determine the rational zeros of a polynomial.

12.  Understand the inverse relationship between the exponential and logarithmic functions.

13.  Solve exponential and logarithmic equations.

14.  Solve problems involving variation.

15.  Perform operations with matrices, and find the determinants of matrices.