READ THIS SYLLABUS CAREFULLY! IT CONTAINS ANSWERS TO MANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND HAS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXPECTATIONS OF THIS COURSE.
College Algebra/Math 143 (Web Based)
3 Credits Spring 2005
| Instructor: Jason Rose Office: SHLDS 207 B |
Find Math Syllabi and other stuff at http://www.csi.edu/L3.cfm?math |
| Phone: 208.732.6807 or 800.680.0274 ext.6807 E-mail: jrose@csi.edu |
Office Hours: Tu 11-11:50, Th 4-4:50, MWF 9-9:50 (Email/Phone only) or by appt. I am taking classes MWF at ISU in |
Description: Fundamental concepts of Algebra; equations and inequalities; functions and graphs; polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions; systems of equations and inequalities; conics; the Binomial Theorem. Credit not granted in both MATH 143 and MATH 147.
Pre-requisites: C or better in Math 108 OR placement recommendation from COMPASS (Algebra Score of 62 or greater), ACT (Math Score of 23 of greater) or SAT (Math Score of 540 or greater)
Required Textbooks and Supplies:
College Algebra Third Edition Robert Blitzer, Prentice Hall, 2004, ISBN 0-13-101365-3
If you buy a new book from the bookstore it comes shrink-wrapped with some optional materials for free. I haven't had the pleasure of opening the shrink-wrapped package, but supposedly it contains the student solutions manual, the CD Lecture Series, and an access code for the Publisher's online tutor center. The whole package (book and supplements) has the ISBN 0-13-161989-6.
A scientific calculator with log and exponential functions (If it says “scientific” on it, it should do; you won’t have to pay more than $12 for this type of calculator.)
Optional Materials
I will prepare online video instruction for the course, but you might also like to have the publisher-produced CD Lecture Series Robert Blitzer College Algebra Third Edition ISBN 0-13-140130-0 or you can check out video tapes of those same publisher-produced lectures from the library. Some students like them; others don’t. Try before you buy by checking them out from the library. (http://library.csi.edu, 1-800-680-0274 ext. 6500)
To order materials from the CSI Bookstore, call (208) 732-6550 or (208) 732-6551 or 1-800-680-0274, EXT 6550 Toll free in ID and NV. Fax: (208) 736-3015
Hardware/Software Requirements: Pentium II 300 MHz processor or better, 64 MB RAM, Video Card capable of 800 x 600 resolution, Windows 95 or later operating system. Internet Explorer 6.0 or better, Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0 (4.0 or higher should work), Windows Media Player 6.4 or higher (see What to do First below)
Course Objectives: The student will demonstrate knowledge of:
linear, quadratic, and certain other equations; linear, quadratic, and rational inequalities; lines and slope; parallel and perpendicular lines and circles; functions and their graphs; transformations, compositions, combinations, and inverses of functions; quadratic and polynomial functions and their graphs; polynomial division; the remainder and factor theorems; finding zeros of polynomial functions; rational functions and their graphs; modeling using variation; exponential and logarithmic functions and their properties; exponential and logarithmic equations; using modeling with exponential and logarithmic functions; systems of linear equations in two or three variables; systems of nonlinear equations in two variables; systems of inequalities; linear programming; ellipses, hyperbolas, and parabolas; and the binomial theorem.
Policies and Procedures:
a. Consistent Effort is important for your success in this class and you will be required to complete assignments on-time in order to get credit. This class is not "Independent Study."
b. Assignments: for each section that we cover, you should do the following:
· Read the section in the book
· Watch the online mini-lecture
· Take the online quiz. After you score the quiz, you can see detailed explanations of how to work each problem.
· If you didn't score well the first time through or just for extra practice, take the 2nd Chance Quiz. (You might want to try some of the odd problems from the book first, the answers to the odds are in the back of the textbook.)
· Submit the written assignment online.
c. Exams: after every 7 to 10 sections (see tentative schedule below), you will take a paper/pencil exam. If you live near CSI or one of CSI's outreach centers, you can take the exam there. Otherwise, we'll need to arrange to have the exams proctored at some other location. Please contact me early on if you can't take the exam at CSI or an outreach center. I reserve the right to change testing accommodations if I feel it is necessary.
d. Please read the behavioral policy on Honesty starting on page 16 of the current CSI Catalog. Any violation of the policy will be dealt with severely, including but not limited to, being dismissed from the class and/or given a grade of "F" for the course.
e. Any student with a documented disability may be eligible for related accommodations. To determine eligibility and secure services, students should contact the coordinator of Disability Services at their first opportunity after registration for a class. Student Disability Services is located on the second floor of the
f. Resources for Help: 1. Free drop-in tutoring in the Math Lab in Shields 207; see schedule on the door there. 2. Free drop-in tutoring for developmental math at the Math Help Desk in Library 202; call Nate Kelsey 732-6548 for schedule. 3. Get a free Peer Tutor; call Nate Kelsey 732-6548 for application information. 4. Form a study group with others in the class; to reserve a study room in the library, call 732-6500. 5. Check out Math 143 Videos on reserve in the library; ask at the circulation desk. 6. Download instructor videos from http://www.csi.edu/L3.cfm?math. 7. Email, call, or visit the instructor with your questions–you’re supposed to.
g. I reserve the right to correct errors or omissions in this syllabus.
Library Use: The CSI Library is an excellent place to find further information about topics in mathematics. The computers in the library are available for your use in finding information from the card catalog and the internet as well as sending email. Student Email Account If you don't currently have an email address, every registered student has a web-based student email account. To access it, go to http://students.csi.edu Your username is the first two letters of your first name, your middle initial, the first two letters of your last name, two digits for your birth month and two digits for your birth day (no spaces anywhere; if you do not have a middle initial or did not use it when registering at the Records Office, you need to use an x instead) Your password is your full Social Security Number as given to CSI, no spaces or dashes.
Example: John Doe who was born May 7th with social security number 555-00-1111
username: joxdo0507 password: 555001111 John Doe's CSI e-mail address: joxdo0516@students.csi.edu You can access this account anywhere that you can find access to the web: at home, in a public library, in a computer lab, etc.
Outcomes Assessment: Quizzes taken after each section will be graded, and analyzed. Paper/pencil tests and a final will be administered and the results compared to course objectives. As part of departmental analysis of outcomes in this course and its place in the Mathematics program, student completion of the pre-requisite, success in the current course, success in subsequent courses and student satisfaction will be reviewed by the instructor. A report containing this information will be submitted by department faculty to determine what, if any, changes can be made to improve the course in terms of content, focus, and instruction.
Grading Practices: Each section has a "First Quiz" and an optional "2nd Chance Quiz." At the end of the semester, I will select your highest quiz score from each section and average them. For each section, there will be a written assignment as well. At the end of the semester, the written assignments will be averaged. The quiz average will be 1/7 of your grade. The written assignment average will be 1/7 of your grade. Each of the first four tests will be 1/7 of your grade. The final will make up the remaining 1/7 of your grade. 90 - 100 is an 'A', 80 - 89 is a 'B', 70 - 79 is a 'C', 60 - 69 is a 'D', and below 60 is an 'F.’ Blackboard will automatically score most of the quizzes, but it can’t automatically choose the highest score, so you’ll want to track your grade using the “Grade Tracking Form” below.
The following schedule is TENTATIVE and subject to change.
| Week of |
Due Date for Quizzes and Other Assignments |
Sections to cover and/or test to take before due date |
| Jan 17 |
Sun. Jan 23, Midnight |
1.1, 1.2, 1.3 (Graphs & Graphing Utilities; Linear Equations; Formulas & Applications) |
| Jan 24 |
Sun. Jan 30, Midnight |
1.4, 1.5, 1.6 (Complex Numbers; Quadratic Equations; Other types of Equations) |
| Jan 31 |
Sun. Feb 6, Midnight |
1.7, 1.8, 2.1 (Linear, Quadratic, and Rational Inequalities; Lines and Slope) |
| Feb 7 |
Sun. Feb 13, Midnight |
2.2 (Distance and Midpoint Formulas, Circles) Take Test 1 (covers 1.1-1.8) |
| Feb 14 |
Sun. Feb 20, Midnight |
2.3, 2.4, 2.5, (Basics of Functions; Graphs of Functions; Transformations of Functions) |
| Feb 21 |
Sun. Feb 27, Midnight |
2.6, 2.7, 3.1(Combinations & Compositions of Functions; Inverse Functions; Quadratic Functions) |
| Feb 28 |
Sun. Mar 6, Midnight |
3.2 (Polynomial Functions and Graphs) Take Test 2 (covers 2.1 – 2.7) |
| Mar 7 |
Sun. Mar 13, Midnight |
3.3, 3.4, 3.5 (Dividing Polynomials, Remainder & Factor Theorems; Zeros of Polynomial Functions) |
| Mar 14 |
Sun. Mar 20, Midnight |
3.6, 3.7, 4.1 (Rational Functions & Their Graphs; Modeling Using Variation; Exponential Functions) |
| Mar 21 |
No Assignments |
Spring Break, March 21-25 |
| Mar 28 |
Sun. Apr 3, Midnight |
4.2 (Logarithmic Functions) Take Test 3 (covers 3.1-3.7) |
| Apr 4 |
Sun. Apr 10, Midnight |
4.3, 4.4, 4.5, (Properties of Logarithms; Solving Exponential and Logarithmic Equations; Modeling with Exponential, Logarithmic, and Logistic Equations) |
| Apr 11 |
Sun. Apr 17, Midnight |
5.1, 5.2, 5.4 (Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables; Systems of Linear Equations in Three Variables; Systems of Nonlinear Equations in Two Variables; 5.3 intentionally skipped) |
| Apr 18 |
Sun. Apr 24, Midnight |
5.5, 5.6, 7.1 (Systems of Inequalities; Linear Programming; The Ellipse;) |
| Apr 25 |
Sun. May 1, Midnight |
7.2 (Hyperbolas) 7.3 (Parabolas) Take Test 4 (covers 4.1-4.5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.4 – 5.6) |
| May 2 |
Sun. May 8, Midnight |
8.5 (The Binomial Theorem), Prepare for the final |
| May 9 |
Thursday, May 12, Midnight |
Take the final in your regular testing place. The final will be comprehensive, i.e. it will cover all of the sections discussed during the entire semester. Due to slowness of the mail, I may not receive finals taken after Monday, May 9 before grades are due in the Records Office. If I don’t receive your final in time, I’ll calculate your grade with a zero for the final. After the break, I’ll grade your final and then change the grade up as necessary. |
What to do first:
1. Obtain the required materials (see above.) To order books from the bookstore, call 1-800-680-0274 ext. 6550 (208-732-6550).
2. Install Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 (or higher) which can be downloaded for free from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html If you have an older version (4.0 or higher), you technically shouldn’t have to upgrade, but if you have any trouble viewing PDF files, you should try upgrading first. The file is about 8.5 MB, and will take about 50 minutes with a 28.8 kbps modem.
System Requirements: Intel Pentium Processor, Microsoft Windows 95 OSR 2.0, Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0 with service pack 5, Windows 2000, or Windows XP
64 MB of RAM
24 MB of available hard-disk space.
3. Install Windows Media Player 6.3 or higher
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp
(will take about 18 minutes with a 28.8 kbps modem)
Getting Started in the class:
1. Make sure you’ve installed the necessary free software (above.)
2. Open your web browser.
3. Go to the CSI homepage at http://www.csi.edu and click on the “Blackboard” link OR go directly to http://blackboard.csi.edu .
4. Click the “Login” button.
5. In the “Username” box, type the first two letters of your first name, your middle initial, the first two letters of your last name, two digits for your birth month and two digits for your birth day (no spaces anywhere; if you do not have a middle initial or did not use it when registering at the Records Office, you need to use an x instead)
6. In the “Password” box, type your full Social Security Number without spaces or dashes (unless you have used this account previously and changed your password, in which case use the password you’ve selected.) If you can’t login, send me an email. Be sure to tell me in the email the exact username that you are trying to use.
Example: John Doe who was born May 7th with social security number 555-00-1111
username: joxdo0507
password: 555001111
7. Once you’re logged in, click on “Math 143…”.
8. Click on the “Assignments” button
9. Do the weekly assignments as they appear
How to see the results of your quizzes
As soon as you submit a quiz, the computer will grade the items that it can and then show you the corrected test. Occasionally, some of the items need to be graded by me, so your correct score won’t show until after I’ve had a chance to grade quizzes. You can see the results of quizzes you’ve taken before by clicking on “Tools” and then “My Grades.” When the list of quizzes and scores is displayed, click on the score to see the graded quiz.
If a symbol of a padlock is displayed, that indicates that you have opened the quiz but not submitted it. Go back to the "assignments" folder, click on the folder where the quiz was assigned, click on the title of the quiz, complete your responses, and hit "submit."
How to get test results
When one of your paper/pencil tests is graded, I’ll send you an email (to the address you have listed under personal information in Blackboard.) You’ll be able to view your graded exam through Blackboard by clicking on “Tools” and then “Digital Dropbox.”
Common Problems and Frequently Asked Questions
1. When I try to play the Instructor’s video I hear the sound, but I can’t see the image.
(From Windows Media Player 6.4 Help) Make sure the appropriate video codec is installed
1. While the media file is playing, click the File menu, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Advanced tab.
3. In the Codecs in use box, make sure that all of the codecs have been installed. If a codec has not been installed, the Installed column in the Codecs in use box will display No. To attempt to install a missing codec, close the media file, and then open it again. When you open a media file, Windows Media Player automatically attempts to download and install any missing codecs. You must have an open connection to the Internet to automatically install missing codecs.
4. If all of the codecs are installed, it could be that the content was created with a newer version of the codec than is installed on your computer. To remedy this, click the Help menu, and then click Check for player upgrade. If a newer version is available, click Upgrade Now to install it. You must have an open connection to the Internet to check for and install an upgrade.
2. I can’t hear or I can barely hear the sound from the Instructor’s video, even though the volume slider on “Windows Media Player” is all the way to the right.
Your master volume or wave volume is probably turned down. Double click on the bullhorn on the Start bar down by the time. Move the “Volume Control” slider and/or the “Wave” slider up (make sure “mute” isn’t checked on either.)
3. My computer locked up in the middle of a quiz.
Email me and let me know which section, which quiz (first or second), and which problem number.
4. The computer scored a quiz incorrectly. (From time to time quizzes are not programmed correctly or the feedback has errors. I like to know about these so that I can fix them for future students.)
First, check to make sure that the item just wasn’t scored because it’s a “Short Answer/Essay” question that I need to grade. Next, check to make sure that you’re looking at your answer and not the feedback, then email me and let me know which section, which quiz (first or second), and which problem number.
5. I just submitted a quiz that had a question of type “short answer/essay” or a writing assignment. My answer is pretty similar to the answer in the feedback, but I didn’t get any credit. Why not?
“Short Answer/Essay” questions have to be graded by hand. I sit down and grade these all together a couple of days after the deadline. Until then, your score will not be correct. After I grade the essay questions, you can see the results of the quiz by clicking on “Tools” and then “My Grades.” When the list of quizzes and scores is displayed, click on the score to see the graded quiz.
6. I took the second quiz instead of the first. I’m happy with my score on the second quiz, do I have to go back and take the first quiz?
No. For each section, I take the higher of the two. For example, if your first quiz score is 0 or not taken and your second quiz is 93, your score for the section is 93.
7. I took the first quiz and I’m happy with my score. Do I have to take the second quiz?
No, but extra practice never hurts.
8. How can I download a video so that I can watch it later?
Right click on the link and choose “Save Target As.” Be sure to save it somewhere where you can find it again.
9. There are a bunch of gray boxes in my quiz (mathematical equations are not displaying properly)
The mathematical equations require Java to load. Java may be disabled or not available on your computer. The equations are usually the last part of the page to load, so be patient. It takes an extra long time for the very first equation to load, but if it still hasn't loaded after 15 minutes, try going to http://www.java.com and clicking on the “Get It Now” button. That will automatically install the latest version of Java on your machine. If that doesn't work, let me know.
10. I sent the instructor email, but I haven’t heard back. If you sent your message from within Blackboard, the "reply to" address is your CSI Student Email account by default. If you don’t use your CSI Student Email account, be sure you change your email address by logging into Blackboard and clicking on “Personal Information” and then “Edit Personal Information.” I don’t usually get email checked on the weekends, but otherwise, I try to respond right away.
11. Is there a way I can print out a quiz, disconnect from the internet, work the problems, and then reconnect and submit my answers?
Yes, click on the title of the quiz to open it. From the file menu, select print. At the bottom of the quiz, click "save". NOT "SUBMIT" (yet.) You can now close your browser and disconnect from the internet. When you are ready to submit your answers, reconnect to the internet, login in to the course, click on the title of the quiz, enter your answers, and then click "SUBMIT." To check and make sure the quiz went through okay, look at the score (see "How to see the results of your quizzes" above.)
12. I want to ask a math question but I don't know how to type it. Here are some tips:
Exponents:
Use the “^” key (usually “shift” and the number “6”) for exponents
for example:
x^2 means “x-squared”
4^(x – 3) means “four to the x minus third power”
Fractions:
Use the regular “tipped forward” slash “/” for the fraction bar. If the numerator or denominator involves more than one number, put it in parentheses.
E.g.
1/3 means “one third”
(x + 2)/(7 – x) means “the quotient of the sum of x and 2 and the difference between 7 and x.” or “the fraction whose numerator is x + 2 and whose denominator is 7 – x."
Square roots:
Type what you want to take the square root of in parentheses after the letters “sqrt.”
E.g.
sqrt(4) means “the square root of four”
sqrt(5 – x) means “the square root of the difference between 5 and x.”
Or you could use a fractional exponent. 4^(1/2) means “four to the one-half power,” which is the same thing as the square root of 4.
(5 - x)^(1/2)
Cube roots: change “sqrt” to “cubert”
Exponential functions:
The function f(x) = ex is usually typed as e^x or exp(x), but the java-based calculator that we use within Blackboard uses euler^x
Absolute Value Bars:
Usually hold down “shift” and hit the key between the “=” key and the backspace key. The picture on your keyboard looks like a colon with flat dots, but it makes absolute value bars.
E.g. |-3|
Braces:
Braces for sets are usually right of the “P” key. You’ll need to hold down the “shift” key to get them
For example:
{1, 2, 3}
Please don’t hesitate to ask questions. I expect you to have questions.
The more specific your question is, the quicker we can start resolving the issue. E.g. "I don't understand section 1.6" is too broad. We would have to email back and forth to find out where the actual problem lies. "I don't understand how to solve equations like
x^2 + 3x = 10" is a better question because it narrows the focus immediately and gives me an idea of where you're having trouble.
If you reply to an email from me, please include the text of the original message. That way I can easily recall what we were discussing.
Tracking your Grade
Sect. |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Max |
Quiz Grade points (¸ 36) |
W.A. |
W.A. Grade Points (¸ 36) |
| 1.1 |
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| 7.1 |
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| 8.5 |
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| Total Quiz Points |
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| Total Quiz Grade Points (Divide Total Quiz Points by 36) |
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| Total Writing Assignment Points |
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| Total Writing Assignment Grade Points (Divide Total Writing Assignment Points by 36) |
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You can see how many points you received on a writing assignment or quiz by logging into Blackboard, opening the course, clicking on “Tools” and clicking on “View Grades.” (Click the score to see the actual questions items & feedback.)
| Total Quiz Grade Points (100 possible) |
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| Total Writing Assignment Grade Points (100 possible) |
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| Test 1 (100 possible) |
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| Test 2 (100 possible) |
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| Test 3 (100 possible) |
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| Test 4 (100 possible) |
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| Final (100 possible) |
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| Total Points (700 Possible) |
There are 700 grade points possible in the class. Each point on a test (there are 100 possible on each test) is one grade point
Every 36 quiz points make one grade point. (Each quiz is worth 100 quiz points, which is 2 and 7/9 grade points. Only the highest quiz score is counted.)
Every 36 writing assignment points make one grade point. (Each writing assignment is worth 100 writing assignment points, which is 2 and 7/9 grade points)
You need 630 grade points or more for an A.
You need 560 grade points or more for a B.
You need 490 grade points or more for a C.
You need 420 grade points or more for a D.
Less than 420 grade points is an F.
For each section, write your score on the first quiz in the “Q1” column. Write your score on the second-chance quiz (if any) in the “Q2” column. Write the higher of the two quiz scores in the “Max” column. (You may also choose to convert quiz points into grade points by dividing the number in the “Max” column by 36; don’t round.) Write your score on the Writing Assignment for each in the “W.A.” column. (You may also choose to convert writing assignment points into grade points by dividing the number in the “W.A.” column by 36; don’t round.)
To calculate your total quiz grade points, add the entries in the “Max” column and divide by 36. To calculate your total writing assignment grade points, add the entries in the “W.A.” column and divide by 36.