MAC 1105 - 003, College Algebra

Office hours:

MWF 4:30-5:30 (tentative) or by appointment

Prerequisite:

C (2.0) or better in MAT 1033, or 490 or better SAT Math score, or 21 or better ACT Math score, or 90 or better Elementary Algebra CPT score, or 40 or better College-Level Math CPT score.

Aims and objectives:

• The course aims to introduce the fundamental mathematical concepts, techniques and theories of college algebra, which include graphs of equations such as circles and lines, equations and inequalities, functions, polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations and inequalities.
• Upon completing the course, you should be able to understand the basic theories and methods of college algebra, and to apply college algebra methods to solve some practical problems.
• The course may also be taken either for General Education credit or as preparation for a pre-calculus course.

Text:

J. Stewart, L. Redlin and S. Watson, College Algebra, 3th Edition, Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA, 2000

Chapters 2 - 7, Sections: 2.2, 2.4, 3.2-3.8, 4.1-4.8, 5.1-5.3, 6.1-6.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.7

Remark: Most lecture material is chosen from the textbook and the instructor will also provide some additional examples and different proofs.

Tests and examination:

There will be two midterm tests and a final examination. All are two hours.

• Test 1. Friday, July 12 (tentative)
• Test 2. Friday, July 26 (tentative)
• Final exam. Friday, August 9 (tentative)

The contents covered by the tests will be announced in class. The final exam will be comprehensive.

Drop dateline:

It is eligible for a full refund of tuition to drop the course before July 8 (5:00 pm).

Assessment scheme:

• Attendance is optional, but highly recommended.
• Each of the tests counts for 30%. The final exam counts for 40%. Your final score will be computed by these weights, the maximum being 100.
• Your grade is determined by your final score as follows: 90 for A-, 80 for B-, 65 for C-, 50 for D-, etc. Other plus and/or minuses will be assigned accordingly.

Homework assignments:

- There will be six homework assignments for the course. All chosen exercises will help you to develop your skills in calculation and more importantly, to develop reasoning skills and your ability to apply the techniques you have learned to concrete situations.

- You are required to do all homework exercises. Doing exercises is the best way to deepen your understanding of the topics and to convince yourself that you understand them.

- Keep in mind the following statement by D. Hilbert: "A mathematical problem should be difficult to entice us, yet not inaccessible lest it mock our efforts."

• Assignment 1:

J. Stewart, L. Redlin and S. Watson, College Algebra, 3th Edition, Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA, 2000

2.2 (pp. 92-93): 3, 21, 41, 57, 59, 63 (July 1)

2.4 (pp. 112-113): 27, 31, 35, 53 (July 3)

• Assignment 2:

J. Stewart, L. Redlin and S. Watson, College Algebra, 3th Edition, Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA, 2000

3.2 (pp. 147-150): 25, 29, 61, 67 (July 3)

3.3 (pp. 161-163): 17, 53, 59, 83 (July 5)

3.4 (p. 170): 17, 35, 43, 61 (July 5)

3.5 (pp. 178-180): 13, 21, 45, 61 (July 8)

3.6 (pp. 185-186): 33, 35, 39, 43 (July 8)

3.7 (pp. 194-195): 9, 21, 37, 49 (July 10)

3.8 (p. 199): 7, 19, 33, 39 (July 10)

• Assignment 3:

J. Stewart, L. Redlin and S. Watson, College Algebra, 3th Edition, Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA, 2000

4.1 (pp. 217-218): 15, 23, 33, 49 (July 15)

4.2 (pp. 228-230): 3, 5, 35 (July 17)

4.4 (pp. 245-246): 7, 17, 25 (July 17)

4.5 (pp. 256-257): 9, 29, 41 (July 19)

4.6 (pp. 266-267): 17, 37, 41 (July 19)

4.7 (pp. 275-277): 7, 31, 57 (July 24)

4.8 (pp. 287-288): 19, 27, 53 (July 24)

• Assignment 4:

J. Stewart, L. Redlin and S. Watson, College Algebra, 3th Edition, Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA, 2000

5.1 (pp. 323-324): 11, 35, 37 (July 29)

5.2 (pp. 228-230): 3, 13, 41 (July 29)

5.3 (pp. 341): 3, 7, 9, 13, 15 (July 31)

• Assignment 5:

J. Stewart, L. Redlin and S. Watson, College Algebra, 3th Edition, Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA, 2000

6.1 (pp. 384-385): 11, 29, 37 (August 2)

6.2 (pp. 394-395): 11, 15, 21 (August 2)

6.3 (pp. 405-406): 9, 21, 25, 33, 41 (August 5)

6.4 (p. 411): 21, 31, 41 (August 5)

6.5 (p. 418): 15, 29, 37, 47 (August 7)

6.6 (pp. 430-432): 3, 11, 21, 30 (August 7)

Announcements:

There is an engineering tutor center at ENB 229, which offers free tutoring services for Summer 2002, from 11:00am - 8:00pm from Monday to Thursday. You are welcome to go to the center to ask questions about your various courses including college algebra. (July 3)
Please make your schedule well to guarantee you are available at test times. No make-up tests. (July 3)
Happy Birthday America. And remember there is a class on Friday. (July 4)
Just remind you that today is the dateline for dropping the course with a full refund of tuition. (July 8)
Test 1 will cover all topics in Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 which were taught. (July 10)
Test 2 will cover all sections except 4.3 in Chapter 4. Good luck! (July 24)
Your attendance will be checked during the class on 2 August. (July 31)
The final examination will cover all sections from Chapter 2 to Chapter 6 that were taught and will be taught during the class. (August 5)
Now, the course was finished today, but there will be the final examination from 2:00- 4:00 pm, on Friday 9 August, in CHE 105. Through these six weeks, I got good experience of teaching elementary math in summer. I thank you for attendance, patience and hard-work. And I wish all of you every success and bright future! (August 7)

Links to Related Sites:

"If you look around, you can see a lot". "Farther along, we'll know all about it. Farther along, we'll understand why?"
MAC 1105 College Algebra Resources at University of South Florida
The Number Pi at The Pi Page
The Origin of Zero at What is the origin of zero?
MAA Florida Section Site at St. Petersburg College

If you have questions or suggestions, please leave your messages at mawx@math.usf.edu