Instructor: Wayne Cook
Contact Email: [email protected]
Class Room: 229
Academic Website: www.cecacademics.org
Text:Beginning and Intermediate Algebra, 4th ed., Julie Miller, Molly O’Neill, Nancy Hyde, 2014. ISBN: 9780073384511
- Students will check out a copy of the textbook from the bookstore and will be responsible for it for the semester.
My book number is _______________________.
Materials:
- Pencils for homework and exams.
- Notebook and folder OR binder with loose-leaf paper
- Graphing Calculator TI -83 or 84 (TI-84 preferred) if you cannot purchase a graphing calculator you may check one out from the bookstore.
Course Description:
Math is about more than just calculating numbers, it is about patterns and information of numbers. No job will ask their employee to use a specific math method or theorem to get information, but rather will expect the employee to use appropriate math tools and be able to check their work. This course, therefore, will focus on discovering numerical patterns that underlie mathematics as well as looking at practical applications of it.
This is a college-preparation course in higher-level algebra and problem-solving skills that have uses in everyday life, in many careers, and in advanced mathematics courses. We will explore math concepts in these contexts, by looking first at use in everyday life, in careers, and in advanced math courses, and then learning the material through those applications. This course is designed for students who dislike math or don’t feel they are good at it, students who want to go on to higher-level math classes, and students who love the challenge of math, and others.
This course’s content includes the vocabulary, operations, and applications of real numbers, linear equations and inequalities, applications of algebra, exponents, polynomials, factoring, graphing, linear equations, probability, and statistics.
Course Objectives:
After completing the course, the student will be able to:
- Review of basic concepts: use basic set theory; apply properties and operations of real numbers; apply order of operations; apply rules of exponents; factor polynomials; utilize scientific notation; set-up and solve application problems; solve equations for indicated variables.
- Systems of equations and inequalities: solve systems of linear inequalities in two variables by graphing; solve systems of linear equations graphically, by substitution, and using the addition method; use systems of equations to solve two variable problems.
- Functions, relations, and graphs: plot points in the Cartesian coordinate system, draw graphs by plotting points, graph nonlinear equations, and interpret graphs; identify functions and relations using the definition and vertical line test; use function notation to express and evaluate functions; apply functions for common applications; create new functions through algebra.
- Advanced functions and inverses: find the inverse of a function and recognize its use for solving equations; evaluate and solve exponential functions and equations; evaluate and solve logarithmic functions and equations.
- Rational expressions and equations: find the domain of rational functions then simplify, multiply, and divide rational functions; add and subtract rational expressions with like and unlike denominators; simplify complex fractions by multiplying by a least common denominator or by factoring the numerator and denominator; solve and check rational equations; solve for a variable in a formula containing rational expressions; solve applications using rational expressions.
- Deeper studies of equations and functions:
o Roots, radicals, and complex numbers: find square and cube roots; understand patterns of odd/even roots, and evaluate radicals; convert between root and exponent notation, simplify radical expressions, apply exponent rules to rational and negative exponents, factor and simplify rational expressions; use the product and quotient rules to simplify radicals; add, subtract, and multiply radical expressions; divide and simplify radicals by rationalizing denominators, understand when a radical is simplified, divide radical expressions with different indices; solve radical equations, solve applications using radical equations, solve for a variable in a radicand; recognize a complex number; add, subtract, multiply, and divide complex numbers; find powers of i.
o Quadratic functions: use the square root property of equality to solve equations; solve quadratic equations by completing the square; derive the quadratic formula; use the quadratic formula to solve equations; study and solve applications containing quadratic equations; solve equations that are quadratic in form including equations with rational exponents; graph quadratic functions using the axis of symmetry, vertex and intercepts, understand translations of parabolas; write functions in vertex form f(x) = a (x – h)2 + k by completing the square.
Priority Standards for 090 (Algebra I)
These are the concepts each student should master by the end of the semester:
- Function Notation
- Rational Expressions
- Radical Expressions
- Rational Exponents
- Quadratic Functions
Expectations:
- Follow school rules. THIS INCLUDES DRESS CODE!
- Do not use your cell phone. If your cell phone is with you, it should be on silent and not visible.
- Be Responsible.
- Be Respectful. Show respect to all other students and CECFC staff members and school property, as well as neighbors, community members, and all people.
- Be Ready to Learn. Come prepared to class each day ready to learn and work.
Assessment:
There will be five exams (including the final), weekly quizzes, in-class assignments, and homework assignments (which count as the effort grade).
The weekly quizzes will typically occur at the end of the week on Friday. The purpose of the weekly quizzes is to provide students feedback and for them to show me what they know.
Warm-ups and questions of the day will be given and graded in-class as a quick way to assess student understanding. Points will occasionally be awarded and will likely count as part of the homework grade.
Homework:
Students will be assigned daily homework. The purpose of the homework is for students to attempt a small homework set to practice the skills learned in class. I expect students to complete these problems for the next class. Their grades will be mostly on completion, however occasionally students will submit their homework or selected problems for grading. We will discuss some of these problems in the next class, so students should complete their homework and bring questions.
Late Policy:
Practice homework can be submitted late, however the student is responsible for showing the instructor the missed work. Students who are absence the day practice homework is due or checked may show the instructor the assignment the day they return to receive full credit.
Homework Late Policy: up to 24 hours late, 50% deduction
24+ hours late, not accepted
Homework assignments will be posted to the academic website as well as Infinite Campus so students who are absent can check their for their homework assignment. Occasionally important documents or supplementary material may be posted on the academic website. If a student has an excusable absence, they must talk with the instructor to discuss due dates. If an assignment was due the day the student was absent (and they were in class the day the assignment was assigned), it is due the day the student returns. In any other excused absence situation the student and instructor will work together to come up with reasonable guidelines to make-up the work. A student must contact the instructor (via email) if they are going to miss a quiz or exam before the assessment.
Grades:
Assignments will be given a point value and grades will be determined by the percentage of points earned out of the total points available. Letter grades will be assigned based on the following percentages earned:
| Group | % of Grade |
|---|---|
| Exams | 60% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
| Quizzes | 10% |
| Homework | 9% |
| Participation | 1% |
<h2Grades
(passing grades must be a C or higher, no Ds given)In addition to grades being available on Infinite Campus, students should keep track of their own grades.Attendance Policy:It is a CECFC policy that there is a 5% reduction in the final grade if at the end of the semester the student has more than 5 unexcused absences.Tardy Policy:It is a CECFC policy that three unexcused tardies in a single course will equal one unexcused absence and the student will automatically receive one hour of detention with the possibility of a write-up.Tutoring:CECFC – As part of our commitment to student success CECFC offers one on one tutoring to all students regardless of skill level. Group tutoring will be available at specific times. CECFC will recommend tutoring for students deemed in need of assistance.
The Computer Learning Lab:CECFC – The computer lab is available to CECFC students on a drop-in basis. Use of this room by classes takes priority and your admittance to the lab during these times is up to the discretion of the teacher and the availability of computers. Please help respect the lab by not eating or drinking in the room and by reminding others to do the same. Academic Honesty:Students enrolled at CECFC are expected to conform to high standards of academic honesty. Cheating and plagiarism are breaches of this standard and will not be tolerated. Violations will be dealt with by the discretion of the instructor and the leadership team, including the Head of School.Cheating is considered: copying and submitting the work of another student as your own, intentionally assisting another student during an assessment when not authorized to do so, using unauthorized materials on an exam, having an unauthorized copy of an exam.Plagiarism is considered: submitting the ideas or writing of someone else as your own (i.e. you did not cite them). Disability statement:Any student who feels he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Learning Specialist privately to discuss his or her specific needs. Please be aware that before most accommodations can be allowed in class, they must be approved through the Learning Specialist. I am more than happy to reasonably accommodate any disability, but you need to go through the proper channels to get that accommodation. Everyone will be given the opportunity to succeed! Audio/Video Recording statement:Except where a student is entitled to make an audio or video recording of class lectures and discussions as an educational accommodation determined through the student’s interactive process with college disability services, a student may not record lectures, classroom discussions, or classroom activities unless written permission from the class instructor has been obtained and all students in the class, as well as guest speakers, have been informed that audio/video recording may occur. A student granted permission to record may use the recording only for his or her own study and may not publish or post the recording on YouTube or any other medium or venue without the instructor’s explicit written authorization.I reserve the right to modify details in the Syllabus/Schedule based on the needs of the class. All changes will be announced either in class or through class email.
| Grade | Percent |
|---|---|
| A: | 100 – 90.0% |
| B: | 89.9 – 80.0% |
| C: | 79.0 – 70.0% |
| F: | 69.9 – 0% |