Syllabus* of College Algebra

(Fall, 2016)

Course Math 1314-0011 (CRN #14112)

Instructor Jing-Shan “Jason” Guo

Office Hour 8:30PM-9:30PM, MW or by appointment

Email jing-shan.guo@hccs.edu

Class Time Tuesday&Thursday 7:00PM-8:30PM

Location Room 310, Angela Morales Building

Course Description: Topics include quadratics, polynomial, rational, logarithmic and

exponential functions, system of equations, and matrices and determinants. A

departmental final examination will be given in this course. 3 credit (3 lectures).

Prerequisites: Math 0312 or its equivalent or an acceptable placement test score.

Course Intent: 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 as math credit for non-

science majors to other disciplines.

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

1. Solve Quadratic Equations in one variable by the method of factoring, square root property, completing the square and 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.

2

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 systems of linear and non linear in two variables. 15. Perform operations with matrices. 16. Recognize the conic sections.

Textbook: College Algebra 2nd ed, by Julie Miller and Donna Gerken

McGraw Hill, 2016 ISBN-13:978-0077836344

Course Outline: The lecture/examination schedule given below is suggested for

usage; the instructor is free to modify the schedule to meet his/her own needs.

Unit I - Equations and Inequalities Sections: 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7

This unit includes graphs of equations, quadratic equations and applications, complex

numbers, other types of equations, linear inequalities in one variable, and other types of

inequalities.

Unit II – Functions and Their Graphs Sections: 2.2 2.8

This unit includes linear equations in two variables, functions, analyzing graphs of

functions, a library of Parent functions, transformations of functions, combinations of

functions, and composite functions.

Notes: 1. Section 2.5: The latter half of this section on applications of linear equations

and linear regression should be omitted.

Unit III - Polynomial Functions Sections 3.1 3.6

This chapter includes quadratic functions and models, polynomial functions of higher

degree, synthetic division, zeros of polynomial functions, rational functions, and

inequalities.

3

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit IV - Exponential and Logarithmic Functions Sections: 4.1 4.5

This unit includes inverse functions, exponential functions and their graphs, logarithmic

functions and their graphs, properties of logarithm and exponential and logarithmic

equations.

Unit V – Systems and Matrices Sections: 5.1, 5.4,6.1 6.3

6.5(exclude Cramer’s rule)

This unit includes linear and nonlinear systems of equations, two variable linear

systems, operations with matrices and the determinant of a square matrix.

Calculator Policy Any kind of calculator can NOT be used on any examinations, including the final exam.

Connect Math Hosted by ALEKS Corporation is an exciting, new assignment and

assessment platform combining the strengths of McGraw-Hill Higher Education and

ALEKS Corporation. Connect Math is the first platform on the market to combine an

artificially- intelligent, diagnostic assessment with an intuitive ehomework platform

designed to meet your needs. Connect Math Hosted by ALEKS is the culmination of a

one-of-a-kind market development process involving full-time and adjunct math

faculty at every step of the process. This process enables us to provide you with a

solution that best meets your needs. This unique platform is built by math educators

for math educators!

ConnectMath Course Code : HQTDC-WHRJR

ConnectMath Financial Aid Access Code : 57426-52CEC-0909A-6FDDE

Resource Materials: Any student enrolled in MATH 1314 at HCCS has access to the various

MATH labs in the system. The labs are staffed with MATHEMATICS faculty and student

assistants, and offers tutorial help, video tapes and computer aided tutorial. Tutoring is also

available online at http://hccs.askonline.net/

Suggested Methods: It is helpful to begin each class with questions concerning the

material discussed and the assigned homework problems. In presenting new material, it

is suggested that an explanation be followed by students working examples in class.

Students should be encouraged to work the review exercises at the end of each chapter.

Also, they should be encouraged to visit the Academic Support Center.

4

Final Examination: The final exam is departmental, consisting of 33 multiple choice

problems. The problems cover only the required material. The review problems for final exam

will be posted in the learning web. The Final Exam will be held on December 8 (Thursday) in

the classroom from 7:30-9:30 PM.

Policies on Attendance The student is expected to be on time at the

beginning of each class period and leave the classroom until the class is

over. Students might be dropped from this course when their

accumulated absent hours reach to 6 hours (4 classes periods) or more.

Leave class early may consider as absent.

Cell Phone Policy All cell phones must be muted or turned off during

class. Cell phone Activity during class time is deemed to be disruptive to

the academic process. Cell phone usage, of any kind, is prohibited during

examinations.

Grade

Homework 15 %

3 Major Tests 50 %

Pop Quiz 5 %

Final Exam 30 %

With a total of 100 %, the course grades will be as follow:

90% -100% A 80%-89% B

70%-79% C 60%-69% D

Below 60% F or FX(Failing due to non-attendance)

Notice Students who repeat a course two or more times may soon

face significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public

colleges and universities. If you are considering course withdrawal

because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your

instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits,

reading and writing homework, test-taking skills, attendance, course

5

participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that

might be available.

Withdrawn The Texas State Legislature has begun to impose penalties on students who drop courses excessively. In 2007, the Legislature passed a law limiting students to no more than six (6) total course withdrawals throughout their academic career in obtaining a baccalaureate degree. To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which you instructor will "alert" you and HCC student services of the chance you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. You should visit with your instructor,a counselor, or HCC Online Student Services to learn about your options. Students MUST visit with a faculty advisor, a counselor or online student

services prior to withdrawal from class. If a withdrawal is to be given, this

must be done to October 28, 2016, Last Day for Administrative/Student

Withdrawals - 4:30 pm. After that date and time, students will no longer

be allowed to drop and will receive the grade that they earned. Faculty

will NO longer be allowed to give Ws on the final grade sheet; any faculty

member who wishes to withdraw a student will be required to process the

drop BEFORE to 10/28/2016

Reinstatement Policy Students have a responsibility to arrange

payment for their classes when they register, either through cash, credit

card, financial aid, or the installment plan. Students who are dropped

from their courses for nonpayment of tuition and fees who request

reinstatement after the official date of record payment of tuition and

fees who request reinstatement after the official date of record (OE

Date) can be reinstated by making payment in full and paying an

additional $75 per course reinstatement fee. A student requesting

reinstatement should present the registrar with a completed

Enrollment Authorization Form with the signature of the instructor,

department chair, or dean who should verify that the student has been

regularly attending class. Students who are reinstated are responsible

for all course policies and procedures, including attendance

6

requirements. A dean may waive the reinstatement fee upon

determination that the student was dropped because of a college error.

The dean should note the nature of the error in a memo to the registrar

with appropriate documentation.

AskOnline Tutoring

Students can get free assistance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in

Mathematics, English and many other subjects, at

www.hccs.askonline.net. Typically, posted questions will be

answered by an HCC tutor or faculty member within 24 hours

(usually under 6 hours).

Students with Disabilities:

"Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning,

psychiatric, developmental, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to

arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability

Support Services (DSS) Counselor at the beginning of each semester.

Faculty members are authorized to provide only the

accommodations requested by the DSS office. Mr. Chris Caldwell is

the Interim Southeast College's DSS Counselor. His telephone

number is (713) 718-7218."

*Note:Instructor reserve all right to modify this syllabus without prior

notice or obligation

Administration contact information

College - Level Math Courses

Chair of Math Jaime Hernandez SW Campus 713-718-2477 Stafford, Scarcella, N108

- Secretary Tiffany Pham SW Campus 713-718-7770 Stafford, Scarcella, N108

Math Assoc. Chair Clen Vance CE Campus 713-718-6448 San Jacinto Building, Rm 369

Math Assoc. Chair Ernest Lowery NW Campus 713-718-5512 Katy Campus Building, Rm 112

Math Assoc. Chair Mahmoud Basharat NE Campus 713-718-2438 Codwell Hall Rm 105

7

Developmental Math Courses

Chair of Dev. Math Susan Fife SE Campus 713-718-7241 Felix Morales Building, Rm 124

- Secretary Carmen Vasquez SE Campus 713-718-7056 Felix Morales Building, Rm 124

Dev. Math Assoc. Chair Marisol Montemayor SE Campus 713-718-7153 Felix Morales Building, Rm 124

Dev. Math Assoc. Chair Jack Hatton NE Campus 713-718-2434 Northline Building, Room 321

For issues related to your class, please first contact your instructor.

If you need to contact departmental administration, then contact the appropriate Associate Chair.

If further administrative contact is necessary, then contact the appropriate Department Chair.