SYLLABUS - Intermediate Algebra

Read the ENTIRE Syllabus: If you ever have questions, contact me and I will answer them as soon as
possible. Keep me informed when something is interfering with your progress so I can help you resolve it
quickly. I believe ALL students with the required prerequisites have the ability to excel in this course, and I will
show you how.

Prerequisites: Passing grade in Elementary Algebra or minimum placement test score (ACC offers THEA and
T-Compass). Anyone WITHOUT a placement test on record MUST pass the pretest.

Textbook and Other Materials: Intermediate Algebra, Concepts and Applications, Bittinger/Ellenbogen, 7th
Edition. Homework is on the web page NOT in the textbook. You will need graph paper (any type without
ragged edges) and a simple NON- graphing calculator . It is best to use graph paper for all problems so you won't
have to switch back and forth. ALL electronic devices (music players, cell phones, pagers, mini-computers, etc)
must be powered off and put away. You cannot use your phone as a calculator.

Grade: Grade point information is on the schedule page. Your final grade is based on total points earned
(including bonus points), in addition to a “minimum” grade on the final. Your grade in percent = (total points
earned) divided by (total points possible). Use the tracking sheet to record your scores and compute your
progress grade.

Attendance: Plan on arriving 30 min early in case of traffic or other delays. Use this time to review your notes
or see me in room 822 for questions on the homework. Plan on being in your seat 10 minutes early in case of
elevator delays. You must contact me the day you miss class and explain your absence. You can miss a
maximum of 4 classes. Arriving late or leaving early will be charged a partial absence. Save these for
emergencies. You are responsible for any missed material and must complete the assignments. WARNING:
Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in withdrawal by the instructor.

Homework: Located on the web page (NOT the book). See the schedule for problem numbers. You can earn up
to 3 points if turned in before the quiz (plus 2 bonus points for the corresponding Practice Set 1). I will award
partial points if late or incomplete, but none after the next test. To get credit I must see the steps (your work),
not just the answer. All graphing must be on graph paper. You can earn 10 bonus points if you turn in Practice
Set 2 on test days and 10 more for the review problems for the final. There are enough bonus points for a full
letter grade.

Quizzes: Must be on time (max 10 minutes late). Closed book, 3 problems (2 points each) from the homework.
Show all the steps for partial credit. There are no quiz “make-ups”. If you know you will miss a quiz or test, see
me about taking it early. If you want extra time, make an appointment to start early in the office.

Tests/Final: Tests are in class, closed book, 25 problems from the homework (4 points each). Show all the steps
for partial credit. There are no test “make-ups”. However, your lowest test score will be replaced with your
score on the final (if it is higher). The final is written by the math department and is 26 problems from the
review for the final (25 plus 1 bonus, 6 points each). If you want extra time, make an appointment to start early.

Course Purpose/Rationale: This course is de signed to prepare students for various college-level science and
mathematics courses. After succeeding in this course, students may enroll in a number of courses in science,
mathematics, and various technical areas. These include General College Physics, General Chemistry,
Magnetism and DC Circuits, AC Circuits, Manufacturing Materials and Processes, Math for Business and
Economics, and College Algebra. This course is taught in the classroom as a lecture/discussion course.

Course Description: A course designed to develop the skills and understanding contained in the second year of
secondary school algebra. Topics include review of properties of real numbers, functions, algebra of functions,
inequalities, polynomials and factoring , rational expressions and equations, radical expressions and equations,
quadratic functions and their graphs, solving quadratic equations, and exponential functions.

Objectives

Overall: Students will feel a sense of accomplishment in their increasing ability to use mathematics to solve
problems of interest to them or useful in their chosen fields; attain more positive attitudes based on increasing
confidence in their abilities to learn mathematics; learn to understand material using standard mathematical
terminology and notation when presented either verbally or in writing; improve their skills in describing what
they are doing as they solve problems using standard mathematical terminology and notation.

Computational: evaluate a function using function notation, find the domain of a function, perform elementary
arithmetic operations with functions , rational expressions that require factoring (up to and including the sum or
difference of cubes ), and complex fractions and numbers (including one with negative exponents), an
expression with fractional exponents, a radical expression (including rationalizing a monomial or binomial
denominator).

Equation and Inequality Solving: Solve an absolute value equation and inequality of the form |x|<5 or |z|>6, a
rational equation (including one with a quadratic expression in the denominator), an equation with one radical,
recognize an extraneous root .

Using Forms and Formulas: Graph a function (such as a simple absolute value or rational function) by
completing a table and plotting points, solve a quadratic equation with real or non-real solutions, find the
midpoint and the distance between two points , complete a square to rewrite an equation for a circle in standard
form and identify its center and radius, determine if a formula, correspondence, table or graph represents a
function.

Graphing: Graph a linear inequality or system on the Cartesian plane, a system of linear inequalities on the
Cartesian plane, analyze a linear and quadratic function, sketch a quadratic function, written in the form
f(x)=a(x-h)^2+k, using transformations, exponential functions using tables, sketch a circle from its standard
form.

Applications: Represent English descriptions of numerical relationships in algebraic form, solve application
problems including, but not limited to, linear and quadratic models, direct and inverse variation, and those
requiring 2x2 systems of linear equations.

ACC Policies:

Withdrawal: You must discipline yourself to be on time and complete your assignments. If you miss more
classes than allowed you may be withdrawn. In rare circumstances I may make an exception they were
emergencies, you have contacted me in EVERY instance and ALL assignments are complete. TSI WARNING:
TSI mandated students who have excessive absences will be withdrawn in accordance with math department
policy, and may result in automatic withdrawal of ALL college courses. Final responsibility for withdrawal
rests with the student.

Reinstatement: Students who are withdrawn will generally not be reinstated unless they have completed all
course work, projects, and tests necessary to place them at the same level of course completion as the rest of the
class.

IP and Incomplete Grade: IP stands for “in progress” and is a benefit for students who have worked hard but
can’t quite grasp all the material. Your grade is “postponed” until you repeat the course the following semester
(maximum 2 times per course). To get an IP you must complete the homework, have good attendance, and seek
outside help if needed (office hours or tutoring, be sure to log in at the lab). An incomplete is given only in very
rare circumstances. Generally, to receive a grade of "I", a student must have taken all examinations, be passing,
and after the last date to withdraw, have a personal tragedy occur which prevents course completion.

Classroom Behavior: Direct ALL questions to me and speak up so all students can benefit. If you must discuss
something other than math, take it outside so other students can listen without distraction. TURN OFF PAGERS
and PHONES or any other electronic devices. Classroom behavior should support and enhance learning.
Behavior that disrupts the learning process will be dealt with appropriately, which may include having the
student leave class for the rest of that day. In serious cases, disruptive behavior may lead to a student being
withdrawn from the class.

Academic Freedom: Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good . The common good
depends upon a search for truth and upon free expression. In this course the professor and students shall strive
to protect free inquiry and the open exchange of facts, ideas, and opinions. Students are free to take exception
to views offered in this course and to reserve judgment about debatable issues. Grades will not be affected by
personal views. With this freedom comes the responsibility of civility and a respect for a diversity of ideas and
opinions. This means that students must take turns speaking, listen to others speak without interruption, and
refrain from name-calling or other personal attacks.

Scholastic Dishonesty/Penalties: Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered
include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and
unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall
be the result of their thought, work, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited
to, tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom
presentations; and homework. Students who violate the rules concerning scholastic dishonesty will be assessed
an academic penalty that the instructor determines is in keeping with the seriousness of the offense. This
academic penalty may range from a grade penalty on the particular assignment to an overall grade penalty in the
course, including possibly an F in the course.

Students with Disabilities: Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical
or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the
Office of Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes.
Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester. Students who are requesting
accommodation must provide the instructor with a letter of accommodation from the Office of Students with
Disabilities (OSD) at the beginning of the semester. Accommodations can only be made after the instructor
receives the letter of accommodation from OSD.

How To Study and Take a Test

The Problem - Most students who do not do well on math tests are not “bad at taking tests”, they do not have
“math anxiety”, and they are not bad at math either. In most cases, there is not enough practice and they “forget
the material”. This is no different than any other subject. Read on to discover one way to fix this.

Be there in class (physically and mentally): Ask questions, no matter how simple. Don’t just copy the
examples, but follow them and stop me if something does not make sense. Your notes should consist primarily
of steps on “how to solve” problems. Most of these steps are listed in “Lesson Notes” on the web page and will
be covered in class.

Homework – When solving problems write down ALL the solution steps on the paper (no matter how simple)
and use your calculator (don’t do anything in your head, this is where most of your careless errors occur). Work
vertically, down the page to avoid “transfer” errors. Check your answers without using the key (I will show you
how). You will not have a “key” on the test.

Make a Memory Notes Sheet - Use the homework to identify the information you need to remember when
solving the problems. Anytime you must stop and look something up (notes, textbook, tutor, etc.) write it on a
separate “sheet” of paper. Do not list examples. Instead, write some instructions to yourself on “how to solve”.
You are building a specific set of notes that you will need to remember during the quiz/test.

Verify the Sheet – Don’t look at examples or old homework while practicing. Solve the Practice Set 1
problems (bonus points) using only your “sheet”. If you can do all the problems, then your sheet is complete. If
you still need to look something up, add it to the sheet (including anything you needed from the tutors).

Memorize the sheet – Just before the quiz/test you will need to commit this sheet to memory. Keep re-writing
the sheet until you can recall all of it. Use colors and shapes to organize the sheet.

Get Help – When you get stuck and can’t solve a problem using notes, text, etc. you must seek help. Use the
web page resources, free tutors, see me in the office, or email me. Now go back and do the problems by
yourself. Don’t skip over the tough problems. You must seek out the hardest problems and tackle them to
maximize your points. I can make a specialized problem list for you to provide extra practice in difficult areas.
Email me the problem numbers and how many you want. I will send you an adobe file with an answer key.

Test Preparation – The best way to do well on a test is to first do well on the quizzes by following the methods
listed above. If you have been doing all the homework, practice, and sheets, you should be able to consolidate
the quiz sheets into one for the test. Use Practice set 2 (bonus points) to verify your sheet for the test.

Keys to Successful Testing

1. Preparation – use the memory sheet/practice sets, and memorize the “steps”.
2. Get a good night’s sleep. If you stay up all night, the tendency is to forget what you studied.
3. Write your "memory steps” on the back of the test so you won’t forget them during the test.
4. Carefully read the instructions BEFORE starting the problem.
5. Do the easy ones first. Tackle the hardest ones last.
6. Write out all the steps (use the calculator, don’t do any in your head).
7. Mark your work with the problem number so I can look for extra credit.
8. Clearly identify the final answer. Put it in the answer ‘space’, or circle it, etc.
9. Work vertically down the page. If you need more space use the back of the previous page, or more paper.
10. Check your answer like I showed you. If it is wrong, cross it out, come back later and do it “fresh”.
11. Any problem that does not have a method to check the answer, do it twice (independently) and compare .
12. If you have questions about the typing (symbols, etc.) or the instructions, just ask. I may be able to help.