Montgomery College

Distance Learning – Web/TV

Fall 2008

MA 103 Intermediate Algebra     CRN 24030

I.                 Instructor Information

          Instructor: Professor Ellen Terry

          Office: 317 HT – Germantown Campus

          Office Phone: 240-567-7792

          Email: Ellen.Terry@montgomerycollege.edu

          Division Phone: 240-567-7722

          Office Hours: MW  12:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.      F  10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Office Hours by Appointment: Please email or call me to schedule an appointment if you would like to come to campus for help and you cannot come during office hours.  Questions may be addressed by email or over the phone.

II.       General Course Information

          MA 103                                                 CRN 24030

 

          COURSE DESCRIPTION: MA 103  Intermediate Algebra

An examination of algebraic skills and concepts intended to prepare students for

MA 180, MA 160, and MA 130.  Algebraic, graphical, numerical, and verbal approaches are used in working with a variety of functions and their applications, including linear, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, rational, and radical functions.  Solve systems of equations.

 

PREREQUISITE: A grade of C or better in MA 091, MA 091A, or MA 091D; or appropriate score on the mathematics assessment test; or consent of department.  Assessment level:

RD 120.  For computation of tuition, this course is equivalent to four semester hours.

Four hours lecture each  week.                                                                3 semester hours

 

FORMAT: This course is Web/TV based.  Instruction is available at www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra2  by clicking on “TV SHOWS.”

 

The shows are available at any MC Campus Library or on reproducible CDs or DVDs in the Germantown Campus Technology Lab, room HT 230.

 

HOMEWORK: MyMathLab Online will be used for homework.  You will need to purchase an access code for MyMathLab.

After purchasing an access code and obtaining the course ID from your MC e-mail, follow these simple steps to log in to MyMathLab.  If you have any questions please contact me.

 

1.     Go to www.coursecompass.com.  (you can also go to www.mymathlab.com)

 

2.     Click on Register under Student on the right side of the screen.

 

3.     There is a screen reminding you what you will need (the course ID and MyMathLab code).  Click “Next.”

 

4.     Accept the privacy and licensing agreement.

 

5.     Enter your incredibly long access code (double check it for typos)

 

__________-__________-__________-__________-__________-__________

 

6.     Enter 20876 for the school zip code

 

7.     Select United States for the Country then click “Next.”

 

8.     Enter the course ID: __________ (The course ID will be sent to your MC school e-mail address)

 

9.     Answer the questions, choose a login name and password then click “Next.”

 

10.  You will be sent a confirmation email and you can log in immediately.

 

11.  Login using your new username and password

 

12.  If you are using your computer at home make sure you install ALL the plug-ins with the installation wizard.

 

III.       Specific Outcomes

          COURSE OBJECTIVES: See MYMC – MY COURSES - Files.

          COURSE OUTLINE: See MYMC – MY COURSES - Files.

          COURSE HOMEWORK: See MYMC – MY COURSES – Files.

IV.      Text and Supplies

          OPTIONAL TEXTBOOK:   Beginning & Intermediate Algebra, by K. Elayn Martin-Gay, 4th Edition, Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2009.

HOMEWORK:         Required MyMathLab Online.  There are three options for purchasing a MyMathLab Online access code:

                              1.  Purchase the optional textbook which is packaged with a MyMathLab Online access code at the Germantown bookstore.

                              2.  Purchase the MyMathLab Online Access Code at the Germantown bookstore.  OR

                              3.  Purchase the MyMathLab Online access code at www.coursecompass.com.  A valid credit card is required to complete the purchase.  The postal Zip code for Germantown is 20876.

NOTEBOOK:          Required for homework.

CALCULATORS:     A graphics calculator such as the TI-83/TI-83 Plus or other models may be used during proctored tests and the final exam.  CAS calculators may not be used during proctored tests and the final exam.  No electronic devices (cell phones, etc.) except an approved calculator may be used during proctored tests and the final exam.

V.       Grading

A.              Requirements

In order to pass this course, you must take all tests and the final exam.

B.              Course Grade

HOMEWORK: Scores are automatically recorded when you use MyMathLab Online.  Write each homework problem and your work in a notebook for future study.  If you get many problems wrong, seek help either from the software (MyMathLab has a multimedia textbook, section video lectures, examples, step-by-step explanations, etc.), the Math/Accounting Learning Center, or your instructor (me).

TESTS: There will be four 90-minute proctored tests and one 2-hour comprehensive departmental final exam.  The tests and final exam must be taken at the Germantown or Rockville Campus Assessment Center.

Germantown

110 Sciences & Applied Studies Building (SA) (Call ahead to schedule a time)

240-567-7739

Rockville

14 Campus Center (CC) (walk-in available)

240-567-7459

 

          For hours of operation, see:

www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/studevgt/mcg-assessmenthome.htm

                                    Dates:    Test #1      Between September 29 and September 30, 2008

                                                  Test #2      Between October 20 and October 21, 2008

                                                  Test #3      Between November 10 and November 11, 2008

                                                  Test #4      Between December 8 and December 9, 2008

                                                  Final           Between December 15 and December 16, 2008

                    There are two ways by which you can receive a grade for this course:

1.     If you receive a higher grade on the final exam than your class average, you will receive the grade from the final exam.  – OR -

2.     The course grade will be computed as follows:

 

Homework

20%

Tests

60%

Final Exam

20%

C.       Standards

           LETTER GRADES: A = 90 - 100  B = 80 - 89  C = 70 - 79  D = 60 - 69  F = 0 - 59

D.       Make-Up Policy

           MAKE-UP TESTS: No Make-up tests will be given.

VI.      Policies

A.              Academic Honesty

See the Student Code of Conduct – “Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct” – in the MC Student Handbook on the web at:

http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/departments/academicevp/Student_PandP.htm

B.              Conduct

ON-CAMPUS COMPUTER USE that is not directly related to the course is not permitted.  Inappropriate use of the College computers will result in the student being dropped from the course and may result in dismissal from the College.

C.              Student E-Mail

FACULTY STUDENT E-MAIL USAGE STATEMENT: See MYMC – MY COURSES –

Files.

E-MAIL ETIQUETTE: See MYMC – MY COURSES – Files.

D.              Support Services

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES: Any student who may need an accommodation due to a disability, please contact me as soon as possible.  A letter from Disability Support Services (R-CB122; G-SA175; TP-ST120) authorizing your accommodations will be needed.  Any student who may need assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation must identify to the Disability Support Services Office; guidelines for emergency evacuations for individuals with disabilities are found at:

www.montgomerycollege.edu/dss/evacprocedures.htm

MATH LEARNING CENTERS: Although this is a Web/TV course, you are welcome to use any of the services provided in the Learning centers.

GERMANTOWN MATH/ACCOUNTING LEARNING CENTER:

The Center is located in HT 229 (and HT 230).  The hours are:

Monday – Thursday: 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Friday - Saturday: 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Sunday: CLOSED

 

Other campus’s hours are available at http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/math/resources.html

These facilities offer supplementary and review material and tutors are available who are eager to help you!  Please take advantage of them.

 

VII.     General Information

Successful students are those who KEEP UP, DO ALL ASSIGNED HOMEWORK,

and ask questions about those topics that they do not understand.

Work to understand the material and take ownership of the knowledge.

Your efforts in MA103 will payoff - not just this semester, but also

when you advance to a college-level course next semester.

I look forward to working with you this semester.

Ellen Terry

 

IMPORTANT DATES:

                     Monday, September 1, 2008            Labor Day holiday; College closed.

                   Tuesday, September 2, 2008           NO CLASSES

                     Tuesday, September 9, 2008           Drop with refund deadline.

                   Wednesday, September 10, 2008    Change of Schedule fee begins; $10 nonrefundable fee charged.

                   Tuesday, September 23, 2008         Deadline to add with instructor permission, drop with no grade, or change to audit or credit.  Audit to credit and credit to audit changes require instructor’s signature.

                     October 17 - 23, 2008                     Midterm week

                     Tuesday, November 18, 2008          Deadline to drop full semester classes in person with a grade of W.

                    Wednesday, November 26, 2008      NO CLASSES

                    November 27 - 30, 2008                  Thanksgiving holiday; College closed.

                    December 15 - 21, 2008                  Final Exams

                    Friday, December 21, 2008             Last day of classes

 

 

VIII.         Course Schedule

 

TENTATIVE COURSE CALENDAR: See MYMC – MY COURSES - Files.

 

 

MA103 Intermediate Algebra - Assigned Sections

For Textbook:  Beginning and Intermediate Algebra, 4th ed.

By K. Elayn Martin-Gay – Published by Prentice Hall 2009

 

(R) indicates that part or all of this section is review and can be covered more quickly

The sections in the course are identified as follows:

Section 3.4          would be Chapter 3 and Section 4

Section 3.6.4       would be Chapter 3, Section 6 and Objective 4

 

Chapters 3 – Graphs and Introduction to Functions

For review watch:  www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra  Show 3

3.4 Slope and Rate of Change  (R)

               __ Find the slope of a line given its equation

               __ Find the slopes of horizontal and vertical lines

               __ Compare the slopes of parallel and perpendicular lines

               __ Slope as a rate of change

 

3.5.6 The Point-Slope Form  (R)

__ Use the point-slope form to solve problems

 

3.6 Functions:      Watch Show 1 at www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra2

               __ Identify relations, domains and ranges

               __ Identify functions

               __ Use the vertical line test

               __ Use function notation

 

Chapter 4 – Solving Systems of Linear Equations

For review watch:  www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra  Shows 10 and 11

4.1 Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Graphing  (R)

               __ Determine if an ordered pair is a solution of a system of equations in two variables.

               __ Solve a system of linear equations by graphing

               __ Without graphing, determine the number of solutions of a system

 

4.2 Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Substitution  (R)

               __ Use the substitution method to solve a system of linear equations

 

4.3 Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Addition  (R)

               __ Use the addition method to solve a system of linear equations

 

4.5 Systems of Linear Equations and Problem Solving  (R)

               __ Solve problems that can be modeled by a system of two linear equations

               __ Solve problems with cost and revenue functions

               __ Solve problems that can be modeled by a system of three linear equations (optional)

 

Chapter 5 – Exponents & Polynomials (Optional)

Watch Show 3 at www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra2

5.6 Dividing Polynomials  (R)

               __ Using long division to divide a polynomial by another polynomial

 

5.7 Synthetic Division and the Remainder Theorem

               __ Use Synthetic Division to divide a polynomial by a binomial

               __ Use the Remainder Theorem to evaluate polynomials

Chapter 6 – Factoring Polynomials (R)

For review watch:  www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra  Show 6

6.1 The Greatest Common Factor and Factoring By Grouping

               __ Factor a polynomial by grouping

 

6.2 Factoring Trinomials of the form

               __ Factor trinomials of the form

               __ Factor out the GCF and then factor a trinomial of the form

 

6.3 Factoring Trinomials of the form  and Perfect Square Trinomials

               __ Factor trinomials of the form , where

               __ Factor out a GCF before factoring a trinomial of the form

               __ Factor perfect square trinomials

 

6.4 Factoring Trinomials of the form  by Grouping

               __ Use the grouping method to factor trinomials of the form

 

6.5 Factoring Binomials

               __ Factor the difference of two squares

               __ Factor the sum or difference of two cubes

 

6.6 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring

__ Solve quadratic equations by factoring

__ Solved equations with degree greater than 2 by factoring

__ Find the x-intercepts of the graph of a quadratic equation in two variables

 

TAKE TEST ONE at either of the Assessment Centers Sept. 29 – Sept. 30

 

 

Chapter 7 – Rational Expressions

Watch Show 5 at www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra2

7.1 Rational Functions and Simplifying Rational Expressions

               __ Find the domain of a rational function

               __ Simplify rational expressions

               __ Write equivalent forms of rational expressions

               __ Use rational functions in applications

 

7.2 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions

               __ Multiply rational expressions

               __ Divide rational expressions

               __ Multiply or divide rational expressions

 

7.3 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with Common Denominators and LCD’s

               __ Add and subtract rational expressions with the same denominators

               __ Find the LCD of a list of rational expressions

               __ Write a rational expression as an equivalent expression whose denominator is given

 

7.4 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with Unlike Denominators

               __ Add and Subtract rational expressions with unlike denominators

 

Watch Show 6 at www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra2

7.5 Solving Equations Containing Rational Expressions

               __ Solve equations containing rational expressions

               __ Solve equations containing rational expressions for a specified variable

7.6 Problem Solving with Rational Equations

               __ Solve problems about numbers

__ Solve problems about ”work”

__ Solve problems about ”distance”

 

7.7 Simplifying Complex Fractions

               __ Simplify complex fractions by simplifying the numerator and denominator and then dividing

               __ Simplify complex fractions by multiplying by a common denominator

               __ Simplify expressions with negative exponents

 

Chapter 8 – More on Functions and Graphs

Watch Show 2 at www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra2

8.1 Graphing and Writing Linear Functions

               __ Graph linear functions

               __ Write an equation of a line using function notation

               __ Find equations of parallel and perpendicular lines

 

8.2 Reviewing Function Notation and Graphing Nonlinear Functions

               __ Review function notation

               __ Find square root of numbers

               __ Graph nonlinear functions

 

8.3 Shifting and Reflecting Graphs of Functions

               __ Vertical and horizontal shifts

               __ Reflect Graphs

 

TAKE TEST TWO at either of the Assessment Centers Oct. 20 – Oct. 21

 

 

Chapter 10 – Rational Exponents, Radicals and Complex Numbers

Watch Show 7 at www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra2

10.1 Radicals & Radical Functions  (R)

For review watch:  www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra  Show 12

               __ Find Square Roots

               __ Approximate roots

               __ Find cube roots

               __ Find nth roots

               __ Find  where a is a real number

               __ Graph square and cube root funstions

 

10.2 Rational Exponents

               __ Understand the meaning of a1/n

               __ Understand the meaning of  am/n

               __ Understand the meaning of  a-m/n

               __ Use rules for exponents to simplify expressions that contain rational exponents

               __ Use rational exponents to simplify radical expressions

 

10.3 Simplifying Radical Expressions

               __ Use the product rule for radicals

               __ Use the quotient rule for radicals

               __ Simplify radicals

 

10.4 Adding, Subtracting and Multiplying Radical Expressions

               __ Add or subtract radical expressions

               __ Multiply radical expressions

 

10.5 Rationalizing Denominators and Numerators of Radical Expressions

               __ Rationalize denominators

               __ Rationalize denominators having two terms

               __ Rationalize numerators

 

10.6.Radical Equations and Problem Solving

               __ Solve equations that contain one or two radical expressions

               __ Use the Pythagorean Theorem to model problems

 

Watch Show 8 at www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra2

10.7 Complex Numbers

               __ Write square roots of negative  numbers in the form bi

               __ Add or subtract complex numbers

               __ Multiply complex numbers

               __ Divide complex numbers

               __ Raise i to powers

 

Chapter 11 – Quadratic Equations and Functions

Watch Show 9 at www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra2

11.1 Solving Quadratic Equations by Completing the Square

               __ Use the square root property to solve quadratic equations

               __ Solve quadratic equations by completing the square

               __ Use quadratic equations to solve problems

 

11.2 Solving Quadratic Equations by the Quadratic Formula

               __ Solve quadratic equations by using the quadratic formula

               __ Determine the number and type of solutions of a quadratic equation by using the discriminant

               __ Solve geometric problems modeled by quadratic equations

 

11.3 Solving Equations by Using Quadratic Methods

               __ Solve various equations that are quadratic in form

               __ Solve problems that lead to quadratic equations

 

TAKE TEST THREE at either of the Assessment Centers Nov. 10 – Nov 11

 

 

Watch Show 10 at www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra2

11.5 Quadratic Functions and Their Graphs

               __ Graph quadratic functions of the form   f(x) = x˛ + k

               __ Graph quadratic functions of the form   f(x) = (x – h)˛

               __ Graph quadratic functions of the form   f(x) = (x – h)˛ + k

               __ Graph quadratic functions of the form   f(x) = ax˛

               __ Graph quadratic functions of the form   f(x) = a(x – h)˛ + k

 

11.6 Further Graphing of Quadratic Functions

               __ Write quadratic functions in the form   y = a(x – h)˛ + k

               __ Derive a formula for finding the vertex of a parabola

__ Find the minimum or maximum value of a quadratic function

 

Chapters 12 – Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Watch Show 11 at www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra2

12.2 Inverse Functions

               __ Determine whether a function is a one-to-one function

               __ Use the horizontal line test to determine whether a function is a one-to-one function

               __ Find the inverse of a function

               __ Find the equation of the inverse of a function

               __ Graph functions and their inverses

               __ Determine whether two functions are the inverses of each other

 

12.3 Exponential Functions

               __ Graph exponential functions

               __ Solve equations of the form   bx =  by

__ Solve problems modeled by exponential equations

 

Watch Show 12 at www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra2

12.4 Logarithmic Functions

__ Write exponential equations with logarithmic notation and write logarithmic equations with

     exponential notation

               __ Solve logarithmic equations by using exponential notation

               __ Identify and graph logarithmic functions

 

12.5 Properties of Logarithms

               __ Use the product property of logarithms

               __ Use the quotient property of logarithms

               __ Use the power property of logarithms

               __ Use the properties of logarithms together

 

12.6 Common Logarithms, Natural Logarithms and Change of Base

               __ Identify common logarithms and approximate them by calculator

               __ Evaluate common logarithms of powers of 10

               __ Identify natural logarithms and approximate them by calculator

               __ Evaluate natural logarithms of powers of e

               __ Use the change of base formula

 

12.7 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations and Applications

               __ Solve exponential equations

               __ Solve logarithmic equations

               __ Solve problems that can be modeled by exponential and logarithmic equations

 

TAKE TEST FOUR at either of the Assessment Centers Dec. 8 – Dec. 9

 

 

Chapter 13 - Nonlinear Systems of Equations

Watch Show 13 at www.montgomerycollege.edu/algebra2

13.3 Solving Nonlinear Systems of Equations

               __ Solve a nonlinear system by substitution

               __ Solve a nonlinear system by elimination

 

TAKE FINAL EXAM at either of the Assessment Centers Dec. 15 – Dec. 16