NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title:		College Algebra
Course Prefix & Number:			MATH1314	Section Number:	830	Semester/Year:	Fall 2019
Semester Credit Hours:			3	Lecture Hours:	48	Lab Hours:
Course Description (NCTC Catalog): In-depth study and applications of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations using matrices. Additional topics such as sequences, series, probability, and conics may be included.
Course Prerequisite(s): Meet TSI college-readiness standard for College Algebra; or equivalent
Required or Recommended Course Materials: College Algebra, Lial/Hornsby/Schneider/Daniels, 12th edition, Pearson, 2017 or MyMathLab access code (e-text included in MML) Scientific calculator, TI-30X IIS is recommended Graphing calculators and phone calculators will not be allowed on exams.

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Phyllis Clark
Campus/Office Location:	Corinth
Office Hours:	MW 11-noon, TR 9:30-10:30, by appointment or On-line
Telephone Number:
E-mail Address:	pclark@nctc.edu

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values
32	Homework	10%
12	Quizzes	10%
3	Tests	60%
1	Final Exam	20%

Grade Scale:   90 – 100% = A;   80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C;  60 – 69% = D;  Below 60% = F

 

There will be a graded online homework assignment for each section we cover. All assignments will be available from the first day of the semester, but must be done by the posted due date at 11:59 p.m. to receive full credit. If you work questions after the due date, you will receive a 30% penalty on your score. Students may work ahead as far as they like. Manage your time & schedule so that you can complete the assignments ahead of time when necessary.

There is no limit on the number of times you can attempt each homework question prior to its due date. Each assignment will consist of approximately 6 – 20 questions. You should definitely try to take each assignment until you get every problem correct. Since notes are not allowed when taking exams, you should work the problems until you can do them without notes.

 

There will be graded online quizzes weekly as well.  Some weeks you may have 1 or 2 and some weeks you may not have one.  It will just depend on the sections that have been covered.  a quiz must be taken all at one sitting and you won't get results until it is completed.  You can take each quiz up to 3 times and the highest grade will be recorded.

 

Exam Information & Procedures:

The exams are NOT online. They are pencil & paper and must be proctored at the NCTC Corinth campus. Tests are scheduled on the dates provided below. You must bring to each exam: pencils, a scientific calculator (non-graphing), and a photo ID. No notes of any kind will be allowed during exams. Test Dates: Test 1 – Saturday, September 21 Test 2 – Saturday, October 19 Test 3 – Saturday, November 23 Final Exam – Saturday, December 7 *All tests will be from 10:00 am – noon on the Corinth campus.  *The final exam is a departmental comprehensive algebra exam and must be taken by all students.  The final exam may also be used to replace the lowest unit test grade. If you have any conflicts with the above test dates, time, or location please e-mail me ASAP. There are some alternatives for testing as long as you contact me in advance.

Exams will generally be graded in a week time.  Once graded, the grades will be posted in our Canvas course site. There are no retests for tests that are failed and I do not offer any extra credit during the semester. 

 

THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS.

Tentative Weekly Schedule  MATH 1314

Week	Date	Topic
1	August 26	Introduction; 1.1   Solving Linear Equations 1.2 Mixture, motion problems
		1.3 Complex Numbers
2	September 2	No Class- MON SEPTEMBER 2– Labor Day holiday   1.4 Solving quadratic equations by factoring, square root property, completing the square, quadratic formula
		1.5 Applications 1.6 Solving Rational and Radical Equations
3	September 9	1.6 Solving Rational and Radical Equations
		1.7 Inequalities – Linear, Compound (Quadratic, Rational OPTIONAL) 1.8 Absolute value equations and inequalities
4	September 16	2.1 Distance Formula 2.2 Circles 2.3 Functions – domain, range, function notation, increasing, decreasing
		Review TEST #1: Chapter 1, 2.1 – 2.3. (Saturday, September 21)
5	September 23	2.4 Graphing lines, slope 2.5 Writing Equations of lines
		2.6 Parent Functions, piecewise functions
6	September 30	2.7 Transformations
		2.8 Composite Functions, Difference quotient 3.1 Quadratic functions; graphing
7	October 7	3.2 Synthetic division; remainder theorem
		3.3 Factor theorem
8	October 14	3.4 Polynomial graphs
		Review TEST #2: Sections 2.4 – 2.8, 3.1 – 3.4 (Saturday, October 19)
9	October 21	3.5 Rational Graphs
		3.6 Variation
10	October 28	4.1 Inverse functions
		4.2 Exponential Functions
11	November 4	4.3 Logarithmic Functions 4.4 Logs with calculators, change of base rule
		4.5 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
12	November 11	4.6 Log applications
		5.1 Solving systems – substitution, elimination 5.5 Non-linear systems
13	November 18	5.2 Solving systems with matrices 5.3 Determinants and Cramer’s Rule 5.7 Matrix properties, operations
		Review TEST #3: Sections 3.5 – 3.6, Chapters 4 & 5 (Saturday, November 23)
14	November 25	7.1 Sequences 7.1 Sums, sigma notation
		NO CLASS – Thanksgiving Holiday Campuses closed Wed., Nov 27 (starting at 3 pm) until Sun Dec 1)
15	December 2	Review for Final Exam Assignment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Final exam is scheduled for Saturday, December 7

 

This schedule is tentative and will most likely change as the semester progresses.  It is provided so that you have a general idea of the order and speed with which we will be covering the material.

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog)

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
1	Demonstrate and apply knowledge of properties of functions, including domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses.
2	Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions and solve related equations.
3	Apply graphing techniques.
4	Evaluate all roots of higher degree polynomial and rational functions.
5	Recognize, solve, and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.

 

All students at NCTC are assigned a student email address, also known as Lion Pride email. Lion Pride email can be accessed on the NCTC home page by clicking on MyNCTC, then the link “Lion Pride Email” to the left. After clicking the Lion Pride Email link, the Microsoft Office 365 window will open.
1. Enter your NCTC student e-mail address. (for example, Smithj123456@student.nctc.edu)

2. Enter your password (your NCTC Student ID Number, either 7 or 9 numbers).

3. From the list of Microsoft icons, choose MAIL.

4. You will be asked to set your language and local time zone (Central Time). Your account is now activated.

 

**It is the student’s responsibility to activate and regularly monitor the assigned NCTC (Lion Pride) e-mail account. Important announcements and notifications from the Admissions office, Financial Aid, or other college staff will be sent via the Lion Pride student email system.

 

For communicating with classmates and instructors, students also have an option to communicate through Canvas. Canvas messaging is NOT the same as Lion Pride e-mail. Failure to read and/or receive NCTC e-mails (either in Lion Pride or in Canvas) is no excuse for not complying with any school policy. Be sure to regularly check BOTH the Lion Pride email as well as the Canvas inbox for important messages and information.

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies. It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval by the faculty member. Approved college-sponsored activities are also excused absences. The instructor is responsible for judging the validity of any reason given for an absence. Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work. Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless the absence is documented and excused by the instructor. Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Last day to withdraw from a 16-week course with a “W” is Friday, November 1, 2019.

 

MATH LAB Students who need help with any math class can visit the NCTC Mathematics Lab to receive assistance. No appointments are necessary. See the most current tutoring hours for all five campuses at http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/student-success/tutoring/mathematics-lab.html.    TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON TUTOR AVAILABILITY: Corinth Math Lab – 186 All other campuses Monday – Thursday          8:30 am – 6:30 pm Check the Math Lab/tutoring hours Friday                                    8:30 am – 12:00 pm on the website listed above. Saturday                             10:00 am – 1:00 pm

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-498-6207.

North Central Texas College is committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).    https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/student-services/office-students-with-disabilities.html  

 

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)________     

o         Communication

x        Mathematics              

o         Life and Physical Science

o         Language, Philosophy & Culture

o         Creative Arts

o         American History

 

o         Government/Political Science

o         Social and Behavioral Sciences

o         Component Area Option

 

x          Critical Thinking

x          Communication

x          Empirical and Quantitative

 

o           Teamwork

o           Personal Responsibility

o           Social Responsibility

COURSE TYPE

STUDENT HANDBOOK

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAMPUS RESTRICTIONS