PACIFIC UNION COLLEGE SYLLABUS - Autumn 2003

MATH 106   COLLEGE ALGEBRA

COURSE DESCRIPTION: A quick review of intermediate algebra, including rational exponents and radicals, complex numbers, linear and quadratic equations, and inequalities. Also includes binomial theorem, composition and inverse of functions, exponentials and logarithms, arithmetic and geometric progressions. Other topics may include further study of polynomials and/or linear programming. Prerequisite: MATH 096 or satisfactory placement score.

OBJECTIVES: You will sharpen your numerical reasoning skills and learn the algebraic methods used in a variety of other courses, including MATH 130 Precalculus, CHEM 111 General Chemistry, PHYS 111 General Physics, and various Business Administration courses.

TEXT AND REFERENCES: Blitzer, College Algebra, Prentice Hall, second edition. Similar books are available in the Math Reading Area in Chan Shun Hall. Please bring the textbook and a scientific calculator to class.

INSTRUCTOR: Lloyd Best (Lbest@puc.edu). Phone: office/965-6591; home/942-9680. Fax: office/965-7135.

OFFICE: CSH 238C.

OFFICE HOURS: Monday: 9-10 & 1-2; Tuesday: 11-12 & 1-4; Wednesday: 1-2 & 3-4; Thursday: 11-12 & 1-2. These hours change from time to time. I am happy to help you during my office hours and by appointment.

GRADING: The final grade will be based on Homework (15%), Quizzes (20%), and Tests (65%).

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D-
92% 88% 84% 80% 75% 70% 65% 60% 57% 53% 50%

LEARNING DIFFERENCES: PUC strives to accommodate students with documented learning differences. If you have a learning disability, or think you might have one, please check with the Counseling Center. They can provide a diagnosis and will work with your professors to accommodate your situation.

TUTORING HELP: Tutors from the Learning Center conduct evening help sessions to answer questions and give suggestions. Hours and locations for these help sessions will be announced in class and posted in Chan Shun Hall. I am also happy to help you during my office hours and by appointment.

ATTENDANCE: Previous students have discovered that missing three or more class presentations makes it very difficult to pass the course. Some explanations presented in class are not in the text. In addition, announcements made during classes have the same force as statements in this syllabus.

HOMEWORK: Assignments will be announced in class. Assigned work is collected near the beginning of class on the due date. Late work is not accepted unless delayed by illness or other emergency. You must ask me to sign any late work to indicate to the reader that it is accepted.

Preparation for doing the homework problems will require more than careful attention and participation in class. Before working on the assignment you will need to carefully read the textbook and rework the textbook examples. Many students find it very useful to study with other classmates. Answers to all odd-numbered problems are given in the back of the book. Also, a Student Solutions Guide with worked solutions to odd-numbered problems is available for purchase at the College Bookstore.

QUIZZES: Quizzes should be expected daily. Missed quizzes will not be made up. If a quiz is missed due to illness or other emergency circumstances, a Missing Work Appeal Form stating the emergency circumstances must be submitted to the teacher at the first class meeting following the emergency. These forms are available from the instructor. Upon approval from the instructor, the missed quiz will be averaged with other quiz scores.

TESTS: Tests must be taken at the scheduled time (see schedule). Only tests which are missed due to illness or emergency circumstances may be made up. If you must miss a test, you are required to notify me in advance.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: You are encouraged to work with other students on assignments, but your work should reflect your own understanding. Homework which matches word-for-word the answers in the back of the book, the Student Solutions Guide, or the work of another student will be given no credit. All test work must be completely your own. A student involved in cheating (or assisting someone in cheating) on a test should expect to be dismissed from the course with a failing grade. See PUC's Code of Academic Integrity (page 229 of the General Catalog) for further details.

Class Schedule

[This schedule is subject to revision. Changes may be announced in class.]

Date Homework Due This Day Class Lecture/Discussion
Sep 23 None §P.2: Exponents and Scientific Notation
Sep 24 Review for the Placement Test: pages 81-84 Placement Test
Sep 26 HP.2(p22): 5-90 (multiples of 5), 98,99,100 §P.3: Radicals and Rational Exponents
Sep 29 HP.3(p33): 3-84 (multiples of 3) §P.4: Polynomials
Sep 30 HP.4(p44): §P.5: Factoring Polynomials
Oct 1 HP.5(p53): §P.6: Rational Expressions
Oct 3 HP.6(p63): §P.7: Complex Numbers
Oct 6 HP.7(p70): §1.1: Linear Equations
Oct 7 H1.1(p94): §1.2: Formulas and Applications
Oct 8 H1.2(p105): §1.3: Quadratic Equations
Oct 10 H1.3(p123): §1.4: Other Types of Equations
Oct 13 H1.4(p136): §1.5: Linear Inequalities
Oct 14 H1.5(p148): §1.6: Quadratic and Rational Inequalities
Oct 15 H1.6(p159): §2.1: Lines and Slope
Oct 17 Review for Test TEST Chapters P-1 [100 points]
Oct 20 H2.1(p177): §2.2: Parallel & Perpendicular Lines & Circles
Oct 21 H2.2(p188): §2.3: Introduction to Functions
Oct 22 H2.3(p199): §2.4: Graphs of Functions
Oct 24 H2.4(p215): §2.5: Transformations & Combinations of F's.
Oct 27 H2.5(p234): §2.6: Composite and Inverse Functions
Oct 28 H2.6(p247): §3.1: Quadratic Functions
Oct 29 H3.1(p268): §3.2: Polynomial Functions and Their Graphs
Oct 31 H3.2(p280): §3.3: Dividing Polynomials
Nov 3 H3.3(p293): §3.6: Rational Functions and Their Graphs
Nov 4 H3.6(p328): §3.7: Modeling Using Variation
Nov 5 H3.7(p341): §4.1: Exponential Functions
Nov 7 Review for Test TEST Chapters 2-3 [100 points]
Nov 10 H4.1(p359) §4.2: Logarithmic Functions
Nov 11 H4.2(p372): §4.3: Properties of Logarithms
Nov 12 H4.3(p382): §4.4: Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
Nov 14 H4.4(p392): §4.5: Modeling: Exponentials & Logarithms
Nov 17 H4.5(p405): §5.1: Systems of Linear Equations in 2 Var.
Nov 18 H5.1(p427): §5.2: Systems of Linear Equations in 3 Var.
Nov 19 H5.2(p436): §5.4: Systems of Nonlinear Eqns. in 2 Var.
Nov 21 H5.4(p455): §8.1: Sequences and Summation Notation
Nov 24- Thanksgiving Recess Have Fun!
Dec 1 H8.1(p608): §8.2: Arithmetic Sequences
Dec 2 H8.2(p617): §8.3: Geometric Sequences
Dec 3 H8.3(p630): §8.5: The Binomial Theorem
Dec 5 H8.5(p647): Review
Dec 10 Wednesday, 9:45 a.m. FINAL TEST Chapters 4, 5, 8 [125 points]