OAKTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Intermediate Algebra Course Syllabus

Instructor: Carol Murphy Semester: Fall, 2006

Office Phone: (847) 635-1961 Office Hours: M/W DP 11:00am - 12:00pm

T/R RHC 11:00am - 12:00pm

Room: 2604 Des Plaines Campus

B200 RHC Campus Email: murphy@oakton.edu

I. Course Course Course

Prefix Number Name Credit Lecture Lab

MAT 120 Intermediate 4 4 0

Algebra

II. Prerequisite

MAT 052 (or an appropriate score on the OCC Mathematics Assessment Test) and MAT 053 (or geometry proficiency). MAT 053 and MAT 120 may be taken concurrently.

III. Course (Catalog) Description

This course covers real and complex numbers, exponents, polynomials, radicals, first and second degree equations, system of equations, inequalities, rational expressions and logarithms.

IV. Course Objectives:

A. Demonstrate an understanding of the real numbers and their properties.

B. Extend the basic operations and factoring with polynomials.

C. Extend the basic operations of rational expressions.

D. Solve first and second degree equations and inequalities in one variable.

E. Perform the basic operations of complex numbers.

F. Demonstrate the ability to use the definitions and laws of exponents, roots and

radicals.

G. Graph equations and inequalities in two variables.

H. Solve systems of equations and inequalities.

I. Demonstrate an understanding of functions.

J. Apply concepts and techniques to problem solving.

V. Academic Integrity:

Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This

code prohibits:

cheating,
plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
helping others to cheat,
unauthorized changes on official documents,
pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
any other behavior that violates academic integrity.

There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.

Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.

VI. Outline of Topics:

A. Real Numbers

1. Properties

2. Operations

3. Real number system

B. Solving Equations and Inequalities in One Variable

1. Solving linear equations

2. Formulas

3. Solving linear inequalities

4. Compound inequalities

5. Absolute value equations and inequalities

6. Applications

C. Graphing Equations and Inequalities in Two Variables

1. Rectangular coordinate system

2. Distance, midpoint and slope formula

3. Graphing

4. Slope-intercept and point-slope formulas

5. Parallel and perpendicular lines

6. Graphing inequalities

7. Graphing circles with center at origin

8. Applications

D. Systems of Equations and Inequalities

1. Graphical solution

2. Algebraic solutions (elimination and substitution)

3. Solution of systems with three variables

4. Nonlinear equations

5. Systems of inequalities

6. Applications

E. Polynomials

1. Basic operations

2. Long division and synthetic division

3. Special products

4. Factoring

5. Using factoring to solve equations

6. Applications

F. Rational Expressions

1. Simplifying

2. Basic operations

3. Complex rational expressions

4. Solving equations with rational expressions

5. Formulas

6. Variation

7. Applications

G. Exponents, Roots and Radicals

1. Laws of exponents

2. Scientific notation

3. Rational exponents

4. Simplifying radical expressions

5. Operations with radical expressions

6. Rationalizing denominators

7. Solving equations with radical expressions

8. Applications

H. Complex Numbers

1. Definition

2. Simplifying powers of i

3. Basic operations

I. Quadratic Equations and Inequalities

1. Solving by factoring

2. Solving by completing the square

3. Solving by use of quadratic formula

4. Formulas

5. Algebraic solutions of nonlinear systems

6. Solving nonlinear inequalities

7. Applications

J. Functions

1. Definition

2. Function notation

3. Graphing linear and quadratic functions

VII. Methods of Instruction:

Methods of presentation include lectures, class participation and discussion, demonstration and handouts, group work, and regularly assigned homework from MyMathLab online software. Calculators / computers will be used when appropriate.

VIII. Course Practices Required:

The student is responsible for reading the assigned material and for online homework. All assignments must be handed in on time. Try to pace yourself since some of the assignments will take longer than others. Calculators will be used (TI 83 or TI 83 Plus are recommended).

Instructor reserves the right to change the seating of students to enhance the learning experience.

Tests:

All work must be shown for each problem on tests. Credit will be awarded only for those problems where student’s work is clearly shown.

One makeup test will be allowed for the semester. It is suggested that you save it for a true emergency. Please leave a message on instructor’s voice mail (not e-mail) or with the division office prior to test. The instructor must be contacted and the test made up before the next class. A copy of the test will be left in the Testing Center at the campus where your class is held. You must take the test at the Testing Center before the start of the next class.

Homework:

All homework will be done using MyMathLab computer software which accompanies the text. The course website may be accessed either from a home computer or from computers on campus. Some class time will be devoted to homework lab sessions; however, it will be necessary to do most of the homework either at home or at school outside of class time. Homework for material covered for a particular test must be completed by the test date to receive credit. No credit will be awarded for late homework.

IX. Instructional Materials:

Required Textbook:
Intermediate Algebra with MyMathLab by Marvin L. Bittinger, 9^thEdition, Addison-Wesley, 2003.

Required Materials:

MyMathlab software which comes either bundled with the text or in a stand-alone version.

Graphing calculator (TI 83 or TI 83 Plus recommended)

Supplemental Materials:

Videos which correspond to the text and other helpful tools can also be found at the text’s website.

Instructional videos are available from Instructional Media (Room 1815, DP and A 221, RH).

Tutoring is available in the Learning Center (Room 2415, DP and A135, RH).

IX. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:

Tests: There will be three tests (each worth 20 % of your grade) plus a comprehensive final (worth 30% of your grade).

Quizzes: Chapter Quizzes are optional and do not count toward your grade. However, if a student has 4 or fewer absences, the student may choose to replace his lowest test grade with his online chapter quiz average (there are seven chapter quizzes, one for each chapter).

Homework: The homework component (worth 10% of your grade) is online using MyMathLab software and will come from the exercises found under the icon labeled "DO HOMEWORK" in the list of links found on the left side of your first course webpage. You will find about 20 - 25 homework exercises for each section of the course. Homework exercises for material covered on a test must be completed by the date of the test. No late homework will be accepted.

[Optional homework method:
If you feel you know most of the material in a chapter you may take a Practice Quiz for that chapter and go directly to the Study Plan exercises for the chapter.

To activate your personalized Study Plan, simply take a Practice Quiz for the chapter (found under "Take a Quiz"). You may take each Practice Quiz an unlimited number of times. Practice quizzes will not count towards your grade. Their purpose is to set up your personal study plan concentrating on exercises designed especially for you and your specific needs (you may also use them either for additional practice or in place of the homework exercises, if desired). Taking a practice quiz may reduce the number of Study Plan exercises you will be required to do so, you may want to look over the material before taking the practice quiz.

Next, click on the "Study Plan" button found on the left side of the first course page. When you click on the desired chapter, each section of the chapter will be listed. For topics that have been mastered (earning 100% on a quiz), you will see a graduation cap. When you see the graduation cap you don't need to do any exercises for that chapter. For those that need more work, you will see a pencil. Just click on the sections that have a pencil or click on the button that says "Show What I Need to Study". You will be asked to do only the exercises for the types of problems you got wrong on the practice quiz. If you check the Study Plan out and prefer that your homework exercises come from the Study Plan, please let me know.]

Grading Scale:

90 -100 = A

80 - 89 = B

70 - 79 = C

65 - 69 = D

0 - 64 = F

XI. Other Course Information:

Attendance:

A good part of the educational experience is classroom attendance. If you miss a class, you must learn that material on your own, which is usually much more difficult. You are responsible for all announcements made and work covered during your absence. Attendance is therefore, strongly recommended! It is important to understand that one of the main causes of failure in this course is poor attendance.

Cell Phones:

All cell phones must be turned off and put away during class and exams. Repeated violation during class time could result in student being asked to leave. Violation during a test will result in student being asked to forfeit the phone for the remainder of the exam. Since phones must be turned off and out of sight during tests, they may not be used as calculators for tests.

Assist:

If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in Instructional Support Services. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.

Important Dates:

Jan. 16 Classes begin.

Feb. 19 Presidents' Day holiday. College closed.

Mar. 10 Last day to withdraw with a “W”.

Mar.12-18 Spring Recess.

May 9 Last day of class.