Mesa Community College                                                                                            Spring 2010
MAT 150 - College Algebra
Sections: 38004 (8:00), 38060(11:00),38064 (12:00)

Phone: 480.461.7732                                                                        Office Hrs: 10:00-10:50 (daily)
Email: steig@mesacc.edu                                                             (or by appointment)

Course Description and Prerequisites:Relations and functions; polynomial functions; exponential and logarithmic functions; systems of equations and inequalities; matrices; sequences and series.Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in MAT120, or MAT122, or equivalent, or satisfactory score on District placement exam. It is your responsibility to have taken the appropriate prerequisite and possess the skills/abilities/understandings necessary for the successful completion of this course.

TEXT: College Algebra- Concepts Through Functions, Sullivan & Sullivan

Extra info on the Web: www.mc.maricopa.edu/~steig/readings/

Attendance: Attendance will be taken daily and you may be withdrawn if you are absent more than 5 times. However, it remains your responsibility to take the appropriate steps if you wish to be withdrawn (see Withdrawal Policy in this handout). You are expected to be present and ready to go at the time the class begins. If you leave class early you will be counted absent. 

Arriving late: If you arrive after the beginning of class then you will be marked tardy – each tardy after your first three will count as an absence. If you are tardy please submit (same day) to me a Late Notice (explained below). I need this for my records and so that I can count you as having attended class. If you do not submit a Late Notice on the day you were late you will be counted absent. Repeatedly arriving late to class will result in an excess of absences so please adjust your schedules as necessary.

  Late Notice: On a standard 8.5 x 11 sheet of notepaper (no frayed edges) please include the following:
  Title : Late Notice
  Your name, the date, and the time the class meets.

Wandering about: Please be prepared to stay for the full fifty minutes once the class begins. Do not leave for water, chatting up friends, stapling papers, rest room breaks, etc. If you have a medical condition that requires you to leave please come to my office to discuss arrangements.

Cell phones, etc.: Students may not use cell phones, pagers, IPods, or other electrical devices in class that will take your attention away from the activity at hand.  Cell phones must be in the silent mode (please do not vibrate) and not visible in the classroom.  Once you enter the class you should be disconnected from the rest of the world (oh  my!) and give your attention to this course. You may be asked to leave and counted as absent if your cell phone goes off, if you check messages, or send text messages. Do not use your phone as your time keeper or calculator. Students may not record (video or audio) lectures without permission of the instructor.

Grades: Grades are taken from the following:
  Written Exams (5)
  Graded assignments  (weighted as 1 exam)
  Final exam (weighed the same as 2 exams)
A ten point grading scale will be used: 100-90 (A), 89-80 (B), 79-70 (C), 69-60 (D), below 59 (F)
Grades are not curved.

Exams: Exams are to be taken as indicated on the attached schedule and written in pencil.
DO NOT EXPECT MAKEUP EXAMS
Questions come from lectures, assigned reading, handouts, text assignments, and other assignments.

Calculator: A graphing calculator is required for this class. If in doubt, ask me before purchasing your calculator. If you would like some help in learning to use your calculator please come see me in my office as we generally do not have time to address this during class time. Some calculating devices may not be used on exams: They include TI-89, TI-92, cell-phone calculator, PDA  or anything else that is clearly not just a calculator.

Text Exercises: The text exercises have been selected to give you an opportunity to practice the concepts discussed in class & in the text and to help you identify areas where you have misunderstandings. If you are unable to complete a problem then you need to seek help. If you struggle with a problem then you need to work more problems of the same type. If are able to get an answer that matches the one in your text but the process really makes no sense to you then you should seek help in developing your understandings. While some homework questions can be answered during class it is expected that the majority of your questions will be dealt with outside of the scheduled class time (tutoring center, study groups, instructor).Except when specifically requested, the text problems are for you to develop your understandings and I will not be collecting them each day.

Graded Assignments:Graded assignments will be of three types: some text assignments, worksheet assignments, and in-class assignments.

Homework Guidelines for work that is to be turned in: Homework assignments should be written like a good example problem.  They should be organized, neat, and show enough steps so that someone with less knowledge could learn from them how to work a similar problem. Correct notation should be used at all times – incomplete statements will be counted as wrong.  On all assignments   
  (1) Using pencil, show your work in an organized and neat manner, including necessary steps. Spread your work out so that it is easily read.
  (2) Do not submit paper with frayed edges.
  (3) Write on only one side of the paper and staple all pages together.

In-class Assignments: On some days you will be asked to complete a short assignment at the beginning of class. You will be able to refer to your notes and homework on the assignment but not your textbook. In-class assignments will be announced the day before they are given.

MCC Early Alert Program (EARS): Mesa Community College is committed to the success of all of our students. Numerous campus support services are available throughout your academic journey to assist you in achieving your educational goals. MCC has adopted an Early Alert Referral System (EARS) as part of a student success initiative to aid students in their educational pursuits. Faculty and Staff participate by alerting and referring students to campus services for added support. Students may receive a follow up call from various campus services as a result of being referred to EARS. Students are encouraged to participate, but these services are optional. The Early Alert webpage with campus resource information can be located at http://www.mesacc.edu/students/ears or locate the “Early Alert” selection at the “mymcc” link from MCC’s home page.

Disabilities: If you have a documented disability, including a learning disability, and would like to discuss possible accommodations, please see me in my office as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made. Disability Resources and Services in Building 37 can be of help.

 Withdrawal Policy: During the first 7 weeks of class a student may with draw with a grade of W. After the 7th week a student must obtain the instructor’s signature to withdraw. If your grade is 60% or higher you will be assigned a W. If your grade in below 60% then you will be assigned a grade of Y. If you stop attending class but do not notify me that you want to withdraw, you will receive a zero on every assignment and exam until you do withdraw. You may be withdrawn for excessive absences.

Academic Integrity: Students are expected to exhibit honesty and integrity in their dealings with all aspects of this class. No form of dishonesty, cheating, fabrication, and/or plagiarism are acceptable and make you subject to disciplinary action. See the Mesa Community College catalog for institutional policy and due process procedures.

Students will be notified by the instructor of any changes in course requirements or policies.

Text Assignment                                                                                    (subject to changes)

Note: Everyone has different needs in terms of the amount of work needed to be done to master the material. The problems below are suggested to give you direction as to the kinds of problems I will expect you to have mastered. Though I will not be collecting all of this work, please do take these sections seriously.

F.1       23,25,31, 32,39,41,42,45,46,51
F.2       3-10,15,19,23,39-49, 51-54, 57,61,69, 75, 76
F.3      1-10, 13,15,19,21,25,27,29,33,39,41,43,53,54,61,
             62,65,66,73,83,89,95,96,117,118,121,122,123
1.1       29,37,39,45,49,51,53,57,63,69,71,73,75,81,91,93,97
1.2       3-8, 11-21, 23,27,28,29,31
1.3       6-10,11-20, 21,22,29,32,35,39,43,55,59,61,67,75
Exam 1

1.4      4-8,25,26,31,32,35,36,41,43,44
1.5      1-6,19,20.23,24,27,29,32,33, 41,44,51,54,57,65
1.6      1,5,6,7,11,12,15,16,17,23,27
2.1       7-12,15,23,25,35,36,38,45-49,51,53,55
2.2        3-12,19,21,27,31
2.3       7-10,19,20,21,22,24,27,29,39,40,45,46,53,54,63,73,83,87,88
2.4       5-10,35,39,43,47,51,55,63,71,75
2.5       5,9,13,15,21,27,35
2.6       5,17,23,25,33
2.7       7,8,11,17,19,23,29
Exam 2

2.8      7-12,15,25,35,36,39,47,49,51,52,53,55,56,57
3.1      5-10,11-21 odd, 25,29,33,39,40,43,44,51,55,87,88,99bc
3.2         5-10, 15,16,21,22,26,27,29,33,37,41-44 (all), , 49-52 (all), 54
3.3        17,23,29,35,49,53,55,61,63,69
3.4       7,8,11,12,23,27,28,31,32,43,44,45,46
3.5       13,17,45,46,61,71,103,105,111
3.6        3-6, 7-15 odd, 19,21,23,27,35
4.1         4-6,7,9,13,19,21,25,33,35,49,53,55,63,65

Exam 3

4.2        4-8,11,15,17-22,27,31,33,35,41,45,53,63,67,87,89
4.3        6-10, 13,21,31,39,47,51,55,65,73,77,79,91,95,99,
             101,103
4.4        4-8 , 11,19,31,45,57,61,73,85,89,101,103,107,109,
             119,123,125,127,131
4.5         1-6,7-29 odd, 43,47,48,49,55,56,57,58,63,67, 83,84
4.6         5,13,19,29,39,45,51,61,63,85,87
4.7         5,15,21,23,31,37,43,51,59
F.4        17,25,35,45,47,49,52
5.2       37,38,41,42,44,47,48,53,54 (see ch 5 handout)
5.3       43-50 (see ch 5 handout)
5.4       27,29,30,47,48,49,50,53,54,55,56 (see Ch 5 handout)
6.6         9,11,13,19,21,33, 43,55,57,63

6.1        23, 25,29,43,45,47          (can use methods from 6.2)
6.2        1-4,15,19,25-35 odd,39,41,51,53,55,65,67,
             73,79,81,87 (only set up equations for word problems
              – do not solve)
6.3        1-4, 21 & 24 (no calculator), 35, 37, 40, 43, 44
6.4        9,13,16, 24, 36, 52, 61
6.2         use inv. Matrix method to solve 73,79,81
6.5         17,19, 21,27,28
7.1        9,11,13,15,19,20,23,27,28,31,32,35,36, 41,42,51, 75,81,89
7.2        5,9,15,23,29,37,49,51,53
7.3        11,12,17,19-31,41,42,57,61,62,69,71,75,81
7.5        5,9,10,11,12,17,19,21,23,25
Exam 5

Assessment of Current Skills and Review: Many students find that they have forgotten significant concepts and skills of previous classes and these deficiencies threaten their success in this class. Information about how you can assess your current skills and review those needed for this class can be found at http://www.mesacc.edu/dept/d25/placement/math_placement_review.html