Central Alabama Community College

Math 112 MW - Precalculus Algebra

Course Syllabus – Fall, 2008

3 Semester Hours

Instructor: K. W. Nicholson

Office Phone: (256) 215-4336

Home Phone: (256) 839-6728

Email: nnicholson@cacc.edu

Webpage: http:// caccphysics.cacc.cc.al.us

Date Submitted: August 19, 2008

Course Prerequisites: All core mathematics courses in Alabama must have a minimum prerequisite high school Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II with an appropriate mathematics score. An alternative to this is that the student should successfully pass with a C or higher in Intermediate College Algebra.

I. Course Description:

This course emphasizes the algebra of functions - including polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions. The course also covers systems of equations and inequalities, quadratic inequalities, and the binomial theorem. Additional topics may include matrices, Cramer's Rule, and mathematical induction.

II. Aims and Objectives:

As a result of completing this course, the student should be able to:

1. Solve systems of linear equations.

2. Solve linear inequalities and absolute value equations and

inequalities.

3. Solve quadratic equations and inequalities.

4. Graph linear and circular functions.

5. Determine the inverse of a function.

6. Solve and graph polynomial functions.

7. Find the real zeros of a function.

8. Solve and graph exponential equations.

9. Solve and graph logarithmic equations.

III. Content and Organization:

(See pacing chart - attached)

IV. Textbook and Supplementary Materials:

Precalculus: Fourth Edition by Mark Dugopolski.

A graphing calculator is required for the class. A TI-83 or TI-84 Texas Instrument calculator is recommended.

V. Required Computer Assignments:

Each homework assignment has 10 multiple choice questions. You may retake each homework assignment three times to improve your grade. The highest of the three grades will be used to compute your homework average. It is recommended that you work each problem on notebook paper and keep this paper as an aid in studying for a test.

There are two ways to approach submitting the answers to each question. The student may submit each answer as the problem is worked or may wait until all ten problems have been worked and submit the entire quiz at once. It is recommended that the student submit after each problem is worked. It is important to remember that if a student does not submit the problems individually and leaves the computer, the answers will be lost.

All problems are multiple choice with four solutions. If the student gets the answer right on the first attempt, he or she will earn 1 point for that problem and should move to the next problem. If the student answers incorrectly, he or she will be penalized 0.1 of a point. If on the second attempt, the answer is correct, the student may proceed to the next problem. If the second attempt is incorrect, the student will be penalized an additional 0.1 of a point. If on the third attempt, the answer is correct, the student may proceed to the next problem. If on the third attempt, the answer is incorrect, the student will be penalized an additional 0.1 of a point. If the answer is correct, the student can proceed to the next problem. Of course, there is only one choice left for the fourth attempt. The lowest score a student can earn on an individual problem is 0.7 of a point.

VI. Evaluation Procedures:

4 100-point chapter tests 300 points 37.5%

Computer Assignments 300 points 37.5%

1 200-point comprehensive exam 200 points 25%

800 points 100%

Note: No make-up tests will be given. The lowest grade of the four chapter tests will be dropped. If a student is absent on a test day, that test grade will be automatically dropped. If a second test is missed, a zero will be assigned.

VII. Other Important Information:

1. Grading system: See the grading system in the catalog on page 46.

2. Attendance will be recorded for each class. Regular attendance is essential for success in mathematics classes. Classes will begin and end on time. You must remain for the duration of a class unless you have permission to leave. Cell phones and headphones are not allowed.

VIII. Office Hours:

(See attached)

IX. Important! If you have a disability that may prevent you from meeting the course requirements, contact the instructor before the end of the first week of classes to file a student disability request and to discuss a reasonable plan. Course requirements will not be waived but accommodations may be made to assist you in meeting the requirements, provided you are timely in working with the instructor to develop a reasonable accommodation plan.

X. Statement of Harassment/Discrimination: The College and the Alabama State Board of Education are committed to providing both employment and educational environments free of harassment or discrimination related to an individual's race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Such harassment is a violation of State Board of Education policy. Any practice or behavior that constitutes harassment or discrimination will not be tolerated.

MTH 112

Precalculus Algebra

8:00-9:25

Tuesday	Thursday
August 19 Orientation	August 21 Section P.2
August 26 Section P.3	August 28 Section P.4
September 2 Section 1.1	September 4 Section 1.2 literal eq
September 9 Section 1.2	September 11 Section 1.3 & 1.4
September 16 Section Test 1 drill	September 18 Test on Chapter P and 1.1.- 1.4
September 23 Section 1.6 Quad equations	September 25 Section 1.7 linear & absolute value inequalities
September 30 Section 2.1 Def & Evaluating Functions 2.2 Graphing Functions	October 2 Section 2.2 & 2.3 Graphing Functions & transformations of functions
October 7 Section 2.4 Operations with Fu	October 9 Section 2.5 (Mid Semester was yesterday)
October 14 2.5 Inverses of FunctionsTake iTest2	October 16 Test 2 on Chapter 2
October 21 Section 3.1	October 23 Section 3.2
October 28 Section 3.3	October 30 Section 3.5
November 4 Section 3.6 and 8.1	November 6 Test on Chapter 3
November 11 Section 4.1	November 13 Section 4.2
November 18 Section 4.3	November 20 Section 4.4
November 25 (No Classes)	November 27 (No Classes)
December 2 Practice Test 4	December 4 Test on Chapter 4
December 9 Review for Final	December 11 Final Exam (8:00-10:00)

Note! This pacing chart is subject to change at any time.

Fall, 2008

Office Hours

Monday/Wednesday	Tuesday/Thursday	Friday
7:30-10:40 Phy 213	7:30-8 Office	9:00-12:00 Office (By appointment only)
10:50 - 12 Office
1-5 Phy lab	8-9:15 MTH 112
	10:50-12:35 MTH 125
	Office/Lunch 12:05-3:30

MTH 112 Fall 2008

Textbook Homework Problems

Chapter 1

P-2 p. 22 1,3,5,19,29 31,41,45,51

P-3 pp. 35-36 1,3,7,13,15:21,23,27,33,35,41,49,55,57,63,65,67,71,77,79,83

P-4 p. 44 9,11,19,23,25,31,33,43,51,57,61,69,75

1-1 pp. 95-96 7,11,15,19,23,29,35,59,63,83

1-2 pg. 106 1 - 16

1-3 pp. 120-122 1,3,9,11,15,27,31,35,39,45,51,55,61,71,77

1-4 pp. 134-136 1,5,9,11,13,19,23,27,37,39,49,57,59,63,65,70

1-6 pp. 157-158 1,3,9,15,19,23,25,31,35,41,47,49,85

1-7 pp. 170-172 9,13,17,29,33,35,37,39,41,43,45,47,53,57

Chapter 2

2-1 pp. 194-195 11,13,15,17,19,25,29,33,35,37,45,51,55,61

2-2 pp. 207-208 9,11,26,28,33,35,47,49

2-3 pp. 224-225 1,5,7,17,19,21,23,25,27,35,37,47,51,55

2-4 pp. 235 1,5,21,35,37,49,61,63,71,73

2-5 pp. 248-249 7,9,19,21,23,25,27,29,31,33,39,41,45,53,55,63,65

8-1 pp. 663-664 1,3,5,7,9,17,31,33

Chapter 3

3-1 pp. 276-277 1,5,7,13,15,21,23,33,37,39,45,49,51,69,71

3-2 pp. 290-291 1,3,7,9,11,15,19,23,25,31,33,35,37,43,45,49,51,53,61

3-3 pp. 300-301 1,3,7,11,19,21,27,33,49,51,57,61,67

3-4 pp. 312 1,3,11,15,27,31,35,49,59

3-5 pp. 325-326 1,3,5,7,13,15,17,19,27,29,45,47,49,51,55,59,63

3-6 pp. 341-342 1,3,9,13,17,19,21,33,39,57,59,61,69

Chapter 4

4-1 pp. 365-367 1,3,5,11,13,17,22,25,31,33,37,47,51,53,55,63,75,85,87,91,95

4-2 pp. 378-379 1,5,9,11,13,15,19,21,43,45,47,49,51,53,55,57,59,73,75,79,81,

83,103,105,107

4-3 pp. 392-393 1,3,5,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,23,25,27,29,31,41,49,51,59,61

4-4 pp. 403-404 1,3,5,15,17,27,29,31,59