College Algebra                                                           Syllabus
Math 009, Section A (13963)                                          Spring 2020


Logistical Information
Instructor: Susan Ojala (pronounced O’ juh luh)
Office:  E-415 Innovation Hall
Phone:  Office: 802-656-4335;  Cell: 802-279-3801
Email:  sojala@uvm.edu
Web Page:  www.uvm.edu/~sojala
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 1:30-2:30; Thursdays, 9-10 and 1:30-2:30, or by appointment (Tues/Thurs only, I am not on campus any other days)
Class Time:  T/TH 11:40-12:55, Votey Hall 207

Course Description  

Sets, relations, and functions with particular attention to properties of polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions, their graphs and applications.  May not be taken for credit concurrently with, or following receipt of, credit for any mathematics course numbered 19 or above.  

The course will be presented primarily in a lecture-style format interspersed with occasional periods of active learning (students work on problems alone or in groups). 

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

·         Solve linear equations and inequalities

·         Find the x and y-intercepts and the slope of a linear equation

·         Understand and use function notation

·         Identify the parent function for a variety of familiar functions and understand how that function can be transformed

·         Solve quadratic equations by factoring, completing the square and using the quadratic formula

·         Understand complex numbers as solutions to a certain type of quadratic equation

·         Solve rational and radical equations

·         Sketch the graph of a polynomial function

·         Use polynomial division to solve cubic and quartic equations

·         Find vertical and horizontal asymptotes for a rational equation

·         Identify which functions are invertible and know how to find the inverse of a function

·         Solve exponential and logarithmic equations

·         Solve a system of equations in two variables by substitution or elimination

·         Solve a system of equations in three variables by Gaussian elimination

·         Solve a variety of application problems related to all types of functions studied in this course

·         Graph constant, linear, quadratic, cubic, exponential, logarithmic, rational and piecewise functions

Required Course Materials

Textbook:  College Algebra, Beecher, Penna & Bittinger, 5th Edition

You have a choice of buying the hard-cover book or the e-book:

1)      College Algebra Plus MyMathLab W/Ebook Access Card, or

2)      MyMathLab Access Code W/E-Book

Important: You will need to purchase either a new book or the e-book with access code. Used books do not have access codes for the online homework program we will be using.

**Instructor Course ID for MyLab (register at www.pearson.com/mylab): ojala44962

Calculator:  You will need to have a scientific calculator or graphing calculator for this course. Cell phone calculators will not be allowed for quizzes or exams.

Grading Criteria

The grading system for this course is as follows:

• Homework: (20%)  Homework will be assigned after each class on the material covered that day and will be posted on Blackboard. Homework questions will be answered at the beginning of each class. You may complete homework after the due date, but it will result in a 20% grade reduction. I will drop the two lowest homework grades.
• Quizzes: (25%)  Quizzes will be given roughly every week and a half and will be announced in advance. The quiz problems will be similar to the homework problems.  I will drop the lowest quiz grade. If you have an excused absence you may set up another time to take the quiz that you missed. If you are not happy with your grade on a quiz you can talk with me about retaking it. You may not retake more than one quiz per day. No retakes for unexcused absences.
• Midterms:  (30%)  There will be two midterm exams, each worth 15% of your grade. You may not retake a midterm exam.
• Final:  (25%)  A cumulative final exam will be given on May 5th from 7:30 to 10:15 a.m. in our classroom. Do not ask to take the exam early; you will need to work your travel plans around this date.

Final grades for the course will be assigned per the following table:

Anticipated Course Schedule

The following schedule is anticipated, but some adjustments may be made as the course progresses.

Attendance & Classroom Expectations

I will take attendance during each class. A maximum of two excused absences is allowed. An excused absence is one in which you have notified me in advance of the absence and stated the reason for the absence. Any additional absences may negatively impact your overall course grade.

Students are expected to keep up with the online homework, to read the relevant sections in the textbook or e-book, and to ask for help when needed.

Turn off all electronic devices, cell phones, pagers, iPods, iPads, laptops, etc. during class. Do not text during class--it is disruptive to your classmates and disrespectful to the teacher.

Statement about Academic Integrity

UVM takes academic honesty very seriously and those standards will be enforced in this class. Offenses against the Code of Academic Integrity affect the entire university community. Any suspected violations of this code will be forwarded to the Center for Student Ethics and Standards for further investigation. Academic dishonesty includes not only “cheating”, but also fabrication, plagiarism and collusion. You are strongly encouraged to read the Code itself, which can be found at:

https://www.uvm.edu/policies/student/acadintegrity.pdf

Statement on Alcohol and Cannabis in the Academic Environment

As a faculty member, I want you to get the most you can out of this course. You play a crucial role in your education and in your readiness to learn and fully engage with the course material. It is important to note that alcohol and cannabis have no place in an academic environment. They can seriously impair your ability to learn and retain information not only in the moment you may be using, but up to 48 hours or more afterwards. In addition, alcohol and cannabis can:

·         Cause issues with attention, memory and concentration

·         Negatively impact the quality of how information is processed and ultimately stored

·         Affect sleep patterns, which interferes with long-term memory formation

It is my expectation that you will do everything you can to optimize your learning and to fully participate in this course.

Statement on Students with Disabilities

In keeping with University policy, any student with a documented disability interested in utilizing accommodations should contact SAS, the office of Disability Services on campus.  SAS works with students and faculty in an interactive process to explore reasonable and appropriate accommodations, which are communicated to faculty in an accommodation letter.   All students are strongly encouraged to meet with their faculty to discuss the accommodations they plan to use in each course. A student's accommodation letter lists those accommodations that will not be implemented until the student meets with their faculty to create a plan. Contact SAS: A170 Living/Learning Center; 802-656-7753; access@uvm.edu; or www.uvm.edu/access

Statement on Religious Holidays

Students have the right to practice the religion of their choice. Each semester students should submit in writing to their instructors by the end of the second full week of classes their documented religious holiday schedule for the semester. An arrangement can then be made to make up the missed work.

Statement on Student Athletes

In order to be excused from classes, student athletes should submit appropriate documentation to the Professor in advance of all scheduling conflicts within the first two weeks of class. Those missing class are expected to submit make-up assignments within a reasonable time period.