NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

 

Course title:  College Algebra

Course prefix, number, and section number:  MATH 1314 501

Semester/Year of course:  Fall 2023

Semester start and end dates: 8/28/2023 – 12/16/2023 (16-week session)

Modality:  Face to face

Class meeting location, days, and times: MW 11-12:20, FM 204

 

Semester credit hours:  3 (Lecture hours: 48)

 

Course description:  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 prerequisites:  Meet TSI college-readiness standard for College Algebra or equivalent

 

Required course materials: 

Registration in the course gives you the access code to the online learning platform and e-book needed for MATH 1314 (MyLab Math).  You do not need to purchase a separate access code.  Instructions can be found in a separate document on the Course Homepage. (see * Follett ACCESS below for more information)

 

Scientific calculator, TI-30X IIS is recommended

Graphing calculators and phone calculators will not be allowed on exams.

 

Optional course materials:  College Algebra, Lial/Hornsby/Schneider/Daniels, 13^th edition, Pearson, 2021

 

Name of instructor: Cary Crawford

Office location: Flower Mound Campus Room 107 (Faculty Offices)

Telephone number:

E-mail address: ccrawford@nctc.edu

Office hours for students: MW 12:30-2:00; TR 10-1:30

STUDENT HOURS (OFFICE HOURS)

Each week I have time set aside to meet with students outside of class. USE THIS TIME to get help on homework, ask questions, get clarification with me.  If you need help outside of this time, we can set up a time on Webex to meet.  Email me to set up a time.

 

MATH TUTORING LAB

 Students who need help with any math class can visit the NCTC Mathematics Lab to receive assistance.  There are math tutors available on every campus and online.  This service is free for all students enrolled in an NCTC math class. Sign up for an appointment or see the most current tutoring hours for all campuses at https://www.nctc.edu/math-lab.  

 

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

 

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

 

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

 

List of graded assignments: 

 

Assignment: Due Date

             

1.1 Solving Linear Equations: Aug 30

1.2 Mixture and Motion Problems: Sep 1

1.3 Complex Numbers: Sep 4

Quiz 1 (1.1-1.3): Sep 6

1.4 Quadratic Equations: Sep 8

1.5 Quadratic Applications: Sep 11

1.6 Rational and Radical Equations: Sep 13

1.7 Inequalities: Sep 15

1.8 Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities: Sep 15

Quiz 2 (1.4-1.8): Sep 18

EXAM 1 (1.1-1.8): Sep 20

2.1 Distance Formula: Sep 27

2.2 Circles: Sep 27

2.3 Functions: Sep 29

2.4 Slope And Graphing: Oct 2

Quiz 3 (2.1-2.4): Oct 2

2.5 Writing Equations of Lines: Oct 4

2.6 Parent Functions and Piecewise Functions: Oct 4

Graph Shifting – OFFLINE HOMEWORK DUE IN CLASS: Oct 9

2.7 Transformations: Oct 6

2.8 Composite Functions and Difference Quotient: Oct 9

Quiz 4 (2.5-2.8): Oct 9

EXAM 2 (2.1-2.8): Oct 11

3.1 Quadratic Functions and Graphing: Oct 18

3.2 Synthetic Division: Remainder Theorem: Oct 20

3.3 Factor Theorem: Oct 23

Quiz 5 (3.1-3.3): Oct 23

3.4 Polynomial Graphs: Oct 25

3.5 Rational Graphs: Oct 27

Polynomial Graphing - OFFLINE HOMEWORK DUE IN CLASS: Oct 30

Rational Graphing – OFFLINE HOMEWORK DUE IN CLASS: Oct 30

3.7 Variation: Oct 30

4.1 Inverse Functions: Nov 1

4.2 Exponential Functions: Nov 1

Quiz 6 (3.4-4.2): Nov 3

Exponential Graphing – OFFLINE HOMEWORK DUE IN CLASS: Nov 6

EXAM 3 (3.1-3.6, 4.1-4.2): Nov 6

4.3 Logarithmic Functions: Nov 10

4.4 Logs with Calculators; Change of Base Rule: Nov 13

4.5 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations: Nov 13

4.6 Log Applications: Nov 15

Quiz 7 (4.3-4.6): Nov 17

5.1 Solving Systems – Substitution and Elimination: Nov 17

5.5 Non – Linear Systems: Nov 20

5.2 Solving Systems with Matrices: Nov 27

5.7 Matrix Properties, Operations: Nov 27

5.3 Determinants and Cramer’s Rule: Nov 29

7.1 Sequences, Sums, Sigma Notation: Dec 1

Quiz 8 (5.1-5.3, 5.5, 5.7, 7.1): Dec 1

EXAM 4 (4.3-7.1): Dec 4

Final (Comprehensive): Dec 11 11:00

 

Homework: 10%

Quizzes/Offline Homework: 15%

Exams: 75%

 

Final grade scale:  90 – 100% = A;   80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C;  60 – 69% = D;  Below 60% = F

*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.

 

Late work policy: Late homework will be counted off 20% regardless of how late it is.  It is important to do/keep up with homework to practice for exams.  NO LATE QUIZZES will be accepted.  I will allow one makeup exam IF I AM NOTIFIED AHEAD OF TIME.

 

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

 

COURSE POLICIES

 

Academic Integrity Policy:

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation, and collusion.  The use of online math solvers with submitted work is considered academic dishonesty.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Code of Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”.  

Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:

1. Zero on the assignment
2. Failing grade for the course

 

Attendance Policy:

Regular attendance is expected and necessary for student success in this course. For more information on attendance regulations please see the 2022-2023 NCTC Catalog.  (https://www.nctc.edu/catalog; Click on 2022-2023 CATALOG and go to page 138 to see Attendance Regulations)

 

Withdrawal Policy

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

 

Last day to withdraw from a 16-week course with a “W” is: Monday, November 6, 2023

 

Student Learning Outcomes:  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.

 

Core Objectives:

             X            Critical Thinking

X            Communication

X            Empirical and Quantitative

Teamwork

Personal Responsibility

Social Responsibility

 

COLLEGE POLICIES