Introduction to College Algebra and Trigonometry

Objectives of the Course: The primary goal of this course is to improve the
mathematical background of the student to enable her/him to successfully
pursue the mathematical course specified in her/his curriculum, namely:
MATH 120 – College Algebra and Trigonometry.

The course is designed to:
(1) permit each student to begin her/his study of mathematics
at her/his level of mathematics competence.
(2) prepare students for the mathematics course specified in her/his
curriculum that requires the knowledge of elementary algebra.
(3) improve the student’s attitude toward mathematics.
(4) implement the Basic Mathematics standards, described by
the Commission Standards of the National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).

Textbooks:
Sullivan, Michael , Algebra And Trigonometry, Eighth Edition, Pearson Prentice
Hall, 2008.

Course Requirements: Textbook and a scientific Graphing Calculator:
TI-83, TI-83 Plus, TI-83 Silver Edition,TI-84, TI-84 Plus,
TI-84 Plus Silver Edition , TI-Nspire or TI-89.
MyMathLab Student Access Kit

Class Attendance: Class attendance is mandatory for freshman students. Absence
(including excused absence) does not relieve a student of completing
or making up all missed assignments. It is the student’s responsibility
( not the professor’s) to make certain that all required academic
content is made up.

Pedagogy: This course will focus on group work activities and drill work instead of the
traditional lecture three/two hours a week. Generally, the instructor will lecture only one
hour per week where the remaining class time is spent in assigned or unassigned seat
work exercises, practice work or study in the classroom.

Mastery Level: The mastery level for MATH 111 is a “C.” Although a
student may successfully complete the course with a passing grade of a
“D”, she/he tends to encounter difficulties in attaining success in the
next course in the mathematics sequence: MATH 120.

Assignments: Class Assignments and Online Homework are required and will count for
25% of the midterm grade and 20% of the final grade. Each student
MUST purchase the following: MY MATH LAB, Student Access Kit ( available
from the bookstore and pre-packaged with new textbooks ). MY MATH LAB is the
online resource for completing and submitting assignments.

Writing Exercises: “Discussion and Writing” problems are colored red. These support
class discussion, verbalization of mathematical ideas, and writing and research projects.

‘Are You Prepared?’ Problems: These assess your retention of the prerequisite
material you’ll need. Answers are given at the end of the section exercises. Working
these problems is the best way to find out if you remember what you’ve learned. If you
get one wrong, you’ll know exactly what you need to review and where to review it.

Concepts and Vocabulary: These short-answer questions, mainly Fill-in-the-Blank
and True/False items, assess your understanding of key definitions and concepts in the
current section. These problems help you understand the ‘big ideas’ before diving into
skill building.

Skill Building: These problems provide you with ample practice to dig in and develop
Your skills. Theses problems provide straightforward practice and are correlated to
section exercises.

Applications and Extensions: These problems allow you to apply your skills to real-world
problems. These problems will also allow you to see that the material learned in
this section has many uses in everyday life.

“Now Work” Problems: Many examples refer you to a related homework problem. If
you get stuck while working problems, look for the closest “Now Work” problems and
refer back to the related example to see if it helps. These related problems are marked by
a pencil and yellow number..

Mathematics/Computer Science/Statistics Tutoring Laboratory: The Tutoring
Laboratory is located on the basement floor of Hunter-McDaniel Building, Room 7S.
Faculty members and student laboratory assistants ( graduate mathematics majors and
senior mathematics majors ) are available 9 AM to 6 PM , Monday thru Friday. A
schedule for the laboratory hours will be given to you by your instructor.

Evaluation and Grading: Evaluation and grading will be accomplished as follows:

Point Distribution:
Midterm Grade:

Midterm Average = .50(Test Ave.) + .25(HW/CW/QZ) + .25(Midterm Exam)

Final Grade:

Final Average = .6(Test Ave.) + .2(MML HW/CW) +.2(Final Exam)

The grading scale is: A ( 90 – 100 ) ; B ( 80 – 89 ) ; C ( 70 – 79 ) ; D ( 60- 69 );
F ( 59 and below ). Students who desire to test out of the course must make a score of
80 or above on the pretest and their Mathematics Placement test score must greater than
or equal to 30.

Resources for Students: Student Solutions Manuel, CD Lecture
Series ( contains short video clips of an instructor working key book examples and are
packaged at the back of the textbook), .and the Chapter Test Prep Video CD , packaged
also at the back of the text, provides students with step-by-step solutions for each of the
exercises in the book’s chapter test.

Learning Outcomes and Evaluation Procedures.

Knowledge
The student will

1.. Know the steps for solving a linear equation; know how to complete the
square; know how to write the quadratic formula and the discriminate of
the quadratic equation and tell how many solutions to expect; know the
definition of a complex number and how to add, multiply, subtract and;
and divide complex numbers.

2. Know how to write inequalities using interval notation; know the addition,
multiplication and reciprocal properties of inequalities and know the
definition of absolute value.

3. Know the formulas for distance, midpoint, slope, parallel lines, direct
variation and inverse variation; know the equation of vertical and
horizontal lines; know the slope-intercept equation form and general
form of the equation of a line; and know the standard form and general
form of the equation of a circle and the equation of the unit circle.

Skills
The student will be able to …

1. Solve a linear equation; solve a quadratic equation by factoring and by
using the quadratic formula; solve radical equations; solve inequalities;
solve equations involving absolute value; solve interest, mixture, uniform
motion and constant rate job problems.

2. Use the distance formula, the midpoint formula; graph key equations; find
intercepts from a graph and from an equation; graph equations by plotting
points; graph lines using a point and a slope; identify the slope and yintercept
of a line from its equation; find equations of parallel and
perpendicular lines; graph a circle; and work with the general form of
a circle.

Abilities
The student will be able to …

1. Evaluate an algebraic expression and check a solution to a linear equation
and linear inequality;. find a linear regression equation by using data points;
and graph the data and the regression line on the same screen.
2. Evaluate numerical expressions; graph inequalities; find distance on the real
number line.; evaluate algebraic expressions and square roots; use scientific
notation; understand congruent triangles and similar triangles; factor the
difference of two squares and the sum and difference of two cubes; factor
perfect squares; factor second-degree polynomials: x² + Bx + C and Ax² + Bx
+ C, A ≠ 1; and simplify expressions with rational exponents.
3. Solve applied problems involving linear equations and quadratic equations;
solve combined inequalities; solve inequalities involving absolute value; and
translate verbal descriptions into mathematical expressions.
4. Test an equation for symmetry with respect to the x-axis, the y-axis, and the
origin; interpret the slope of a line; write the equation of the slope of a line in
slope intercept-form; write the standard form of the equation of a circle; and
construct a model using direct, inverse, joint or combined variation. .

Course Requirements:

1. Attend class regularly and on time, coming in late or leaving early
should be avoided.
2. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the classroom.
3. Phones and pagers are to be turned off during class.
4. Complete MY MATH LAB assignments by the due date.
5. Purchase and read the required texts and related material
6. Purchase and learn to effectively use a TI-83/84/89 graphing
calculator.
7. Participate actively in class problem solving exercises.
8. Perform satisfactorily on examinations.
9. Students who are covered under the American Disability Act
should privately inform the teacher of this fact so that
appropriate instructional arrangements can be made
for the student. All university policies specified in the Student
Handbook regarding cheating, plagiarism, absenteeism, etc., will
be strictly enforced.

MATH 111 Pretest:
Any student whose pretest score is 80 or greater and whose Mathematics
Placement Test Score is greater than or equal to 30 has the option of
remaining in MATH 111 or enrolling into MATH 120 .

Test Retest:
Students who do not make a score of at least 70 on a chapter / sectional test may be
permitted to redo that test, known as a test retest, for that chapter(s) or section(s) if they
want to improve their grade. There are two options: (1) A student may use the
Recitation and Test Retest Assignment Schedule for the Springl Semester 2009 by
meeting with the designated MATH 111 Tutor to seek help in solving the assigned
problems, and work out the assigned ( 20 – 40 ) problems . The Tutor will sign the Test
Retest Assignment Sheet to verify that progress has been made and that a student is now
ready to retake a different form of that chapter/sectional test. The student will bring the
assignment to her/his Instructor’s office with the Tutor’s signature on it; or (2) A student
may go to MyMathLab, Click on Take A Test , scroll down under Sample Tests to the
specific section or chapter ( 0-A, 0-B, l-A, 1-B,…., 6-A, 6-B, 8-A, or 8-B) and take a test
( Form A or Form B ), 10 – 20 questions, an infinite number of times until they get an
average score of 80. The computer scores the test and gives the average score. A student
can print out her/his results, bring it to their instructor who will give the student a Test
Retest. A time and date for the Test Retest will be determined by the student and
instructor.

Course Outline