COLLEGE ALGEBRA

Spring 2003

Chris Pinner, College Algebra Coordinator.
Office: CW113,  Tel: 532-0587,
 email: pinner@math.ksu.edu

 WEB PAGE:  http://www.math.ksu.edu/math100

Students are encouraged to regularly check the College Algebra Home-Page located at the above web address.  The syllabus printed here is just a hard copy of the internet version.  If you need assistance with using the internet,  go to  iTAC, Information and Technology Help Desk, 313 Hale Library, 532-7722, 8:30am-5pm.  For locations of computers on campus click  Computers.

Exam room assignments, exam solutions and grade scales will all be posted on the web-page. If you have difficulty viewing these, paper versions will often be posted on the College Algebra Bulletin Board located in the Hall Way of Cardwell close to CW129. The home-page will also contain links to sample exams. Any updates and messages will be posted on the home-page so check the site frequently.

TEXT: College Algebra, by Larson and Hostetler  5th Edition,  IAE soft cover special edition for Kansas State University, Houghton Mifflin 2001.  (Available at K-State Union Book Store and Varney's Book Store).

CALCULATOR:  Any type of TI-83  or TI-83 Plus  (required!)   Click here for help on using the TI-83 for College Algebra.

ATTENDING CLASSES:  Each student is required to be enrolled in a lecture (LEC)  meeting Tuesday and Thursday, and  a recitation (REC) meeting Monday or Friday.  It is important that you attend all lectures and take notes. Review your notes after each lecture to make sure that you have understood the concepts and then work on the  homework problems listed in the syllabus below. Any questions you have may be addressed in the following recitation or in the Help Sessions.   Exam problems will be based on examples given in lecture as well as the homework problems.  All the lecturers know what problems will be on the exams. There will be three Tuesday evening exams (the QZ on your schedule is for these exams and not a regular class meeting).

GRADING:  You may earn 700 points in this course: 100 points on each of the three evening hour exams, 200 points on the comprehensive final exam, 100 points on the weekly homework, and 100 points for recitation work.  Your recitation instructor will administer your exams and determine your final grade. Not doing homework or not attending recitation will lower your final letter grade. CURVES for the exams and cumulative totals will be posted here after each test.

HOMEWORK: The first assignment is due Friday Jan 24 at 6pm. Subsequently homeworks will be due by 6 p.m. each Tuesday. The homework should be turned in to the homework box of your recitation instructor (not your lecturer).  Homework boxes are located in the first floor hall way of Cardwell. Many instructors have more than one box so check that the box has the correct day and time.  If you are unsure of your instructor's name a list of instructors will be posted on the website and on the College Algebra Bulletin Board (near CW129). You must show work for every problem; a correct answer alone will not receive any credit. There will be 15 homework assignments, worth 8 points on full weeks and 4 points on exam or other part weeks. Only four problems will be graded (2 on part weeks), each worth 2 points. Technically it is possible to score 104 points out of 100 on the homework! Write your name and your recitation instructor's name and the recitation day & time at the top of the front page. The  homework will be graded and returned to you during your next recitation class. If there is a mistake or oversight in the grading, see your recitation instructor.  If you have a legitimate excuse for being late with your homework contact your recitation instructor. Generally, an average grade can be assigned for such homework, but it will not be graded.

RECITATION GRADE:  The 100 recitation points will be assigned at the discretion  of  your recitation instructor. Make  sure you understand  your instructor's  grading scheme and expectations. Generally, this score is based on attendance, quizzes, correcting exam mistakes and presenting problems at the board.

EXAMINATIONS:  Exam time and dates are listed on the syllabus below. Room assignments for the examinations will be announced in class and posted on the web page. Exam room assignments will be by recitation class and not by lecture class. Be sure to know your exam room assignment the week before the first exam and again before the final exam.  Picture ID must be brought to the exam and shown when turning in your paper.  Students should follow the proctor's instructions  during the exam and sit  at least one seat apart.  Write clearly  and show all your work - A correct answer alone may not receive any credit. The exams will be returned in your recitation class. If there is a mistake or oversight in the grading, see your recitation instructor first.  Your recitation instructor has the authority to change blatant errors in the grading. If the error is subtle, you must appeal to the original grader. Exam solutions and scales will be posted on the College Algebra Bulletin Board (near CW 129) as well as on the update web page.

Missed Examinations: If you miss or expect to miss an hour examination for a legitimate reason (for example, a serious illness), then notify your recitation instructor as early as possible prior to the examination. If your recitation instructor excuses your absence from an hour exam, then your score on that exam will be the weighted average of your other exam scores. If your recitation instructor does not excuse your absence from an hour exam, then your score on that exam will be zero. There will be no make-up exams. If you miss more than one hour exam or the final exam, for verifiable personal emergencies, then it is possible to receive the grade of ``incomplete'' for the course. It is your responsibility to work out the details with your recitation instructor before final grades are made out. Under no circumstances will the grade ``incomplete'' be awarded simply because a student is failing the course.

GENERAL INFORMATION:  If you have any condition, such as a physical or learning disability, which will make it difficult for you to carry out the work as I have outlined it, or which will require academic accommodations, please notify  me, the coordinator  Chris Pinner, CW113, as well as your recitation instructor, within the first two weeks of classes. Bring to me the documentation provided by disabled student services and provide me with an email  address (or other means of contacting you). It is your responsibility to check with me on  the location and time of the special exams and report to the  assigned room at the instructed time.

HELP SESSIONS:  Help sessions will be held  Monday through Thursday in Cardwell 145. A help session schedule with specific times will be posted across from the Math office in Cardwell and at http://www.math.ksu.edu/math/helpsession.htm. Several instructors will be present to assist you. Your recitation instructor will also announce office hours during which you may seek help.

TUTOR INFORMATION: Students may apply for a College Algebra tutor in the Academic Assistance Center (101 Holton Hall, phone 532-6492) and can get tutoring in the Tutoring Center (201 Leasure Hall, phone 532-5703).   Academic Assistance Center offers Group Tutoring Sessions in College Algebra, as well as academic skills  instruction and direct application of study techniques to College Algebra.  Students may enroll in an EDCEP 111, Enhanced University Experience Lab, linked to College Algebra.   A list of individual tutors (who charge $5 to $20 an hour) for College Algebra is  also available in the information box outside Cardwell 138.

STUDY ADVICE:  Students are  expected to attend all classes. Missing class can seriously affect your course grade.  It is important that you learn to manage your time and have assignments done well before the deadline.  College Algebra moves faster than high school algebra. Don't fall behind. Prepare for the lectures by reading  the book before class. Take notes and ask questions during class.  Review your lecture notes to make sure that you have understood all of the concepts presented. It is essential  that you attempt the homework problems before going to recitation.  Solving lots of problems is the best way to solidify your understanding of mathematics and to prepare for exams. If you find you can't do something ask for help. All the exam problems will be based on lecture examples and the homework,  so it is important that you  attend the lectures  and take good notes. Do all of  the homework and do not  throw away the returned homework! Your old homework and lecture notes will be your study guide for exams .

ONLINE LECTURE NOTES:  Professor Burckel's  Math 100 lecture notes can be found at http://www.math.ksu.edu/math100/burckel-notes .

VIDEOS:  There are 18 video tapes of lectures  held at the Reserve Desk of Hale Library.  Tapes can be watched  in the Library or checked out overnight. These lectures are based on the text book, but are not by K-State Faculty so may not contain all the material required for the exams (though they are a useful way to make up missed lectures on certain sections).

OLD EXAMS:  Old College Algebra Exams and solutions are on reserve at Hale Library. Exams from the past year are available by clicking here. Keep in mind, that the topics and questions will generally be different from semester to semester.
Spring 2002 had the same coordinator and text so that those exams will probably be the closest to this semester's exams.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses and may be punished by failure on the exam, paper or project, failure in the course and/or expulsion from the University. For more information refer to the academic conduct policy in `` Student Life Handbook''  and the honor system web site.
 

Homework Assignments College Algebra Spring 2003

 
Lecture Section Topic  Homework Problems Due Date 
U-Jan 16 P.1 Real Numbers P.1  2, 10, 16, 24, 34, 36, 38, 44, 56, 70, 78, 102, 116, 120  HW1 F-Jan24 
P.2 Integer Exponents P.2  4, 6, 10, 12, 16, 18, 30, 34, 38, 40
T-Jan 21 P.2  Radicals P.2  44, 50, 56, 62, 72, 74, 80, 86b, 90a, 108, 110  HW2 T-Jan28
P.3 Polynomials P.3  2, 8, 12, 24, 28, 34, 50, 52, 56, 58, 64, 72, 102a
U-Jan 23 P.4  Factoring P.4  12, 20, 28, 30, 36, 44, 52, 56, 62, 68, 80, 88, 106, 124  HW2
T-Jan 28 P.5 Rational Expressions P.5  6, 8, 12, 20, 24, 26, 28, 40, 50, 54, 58, 64, 66, 72, 80, 84   HW3  T-Feb4
P.6 Common Errors P.6  4, 8, 12, 26, 40  
U-Jan 30* P.7 Cartesian Plane P.7  12, 18, 24, 46, 56  HW3
1.1 Graphs of Equations 1.1  4, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 26, 32, 38, 40, 44, 48
Graphing Calculator  C1, C2, C3, C4  (Calculator problems attached to syllabus)  
T-Feb 4 1.1 Equations of Circles 1.1  54, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66.   4.5  8, 10.  HW4  T-Feb11
1.2 1-Variable Linear Eqns. 1.2  10, 14, 30, 32, 34, 42, 54, 58, 64, 68, 84 
U-Feb 6 1.3 Linear Word Problems 1.3  18, 30, 40, 46, 54, 56, 58, 70  HW4
T-Feb 11 Review TEST 1, 7:30-8:30pm    Sections P.1-1.3  
U-Feb 13 1.4 Quadratic Eqns. 1.4  6, 10, 14, 28, 38, 58, 64, 72, 74, 84, 102, 114, 116, 134  HW5  T-Feb18
T-Feb 18 1.5 Complex Numbers 1.5  6, 8, 10, 14, 18, 22, 32, 40, 50, 54, 64, 68, 80 82   HW6  T-Feb25
U-Feb 20 1.6 Misc. Equations 1.6  2, 8, 10, 14, 22, 24, 32, 34, 40, 44, 48, 64, 66, 70  HW6
T-Feb 25 1.7 Linear Inequalities 1.7  2, 6, 12, 16, 22, 24, 28, 30, 38, 53, 54, 60  HW7  T-Mar4
1.8 Other Inequalities 1.8  8, 16, 22, 26, 40, 44, 54  
U-Feb 27 2.1 Equations of  Lines 2.1  4, 8, 14, 28, 30, 44, 48, 62, 74, 98, 100  HW7
T- Mar 4* 2.2 Functions 2.2   6, 16, 28, 36, 58, 62, 68  HW8  T-Mar11
2.3 Graphs of Functions 2.3  4, 8, 14, 28, 38a, 42a, 54, 75, 96  
U-Mar 6 2.4 Shifts and Reflections 2.4  6, 10, 24, 32, 42  HW8
2.5 Combining Functions 2.5  6, 18, 38, 42, 50, 54, 60  
T-Mar 11 Review TEST 2, 7:30-8:30pm   Sections 1.4-2.5
U-Mar 13* 2.6 Inverse Functions 2.6  4, 10, 24, 32, 42, 50, 52, 56, 68  HW9 T-Mar25
Spring Break, Mar 17-21
T-Mar 25 3.1 Quadratic Functions 3.1  6, 12, 18, 20, 24, 26, 36, 38, 48, 78, 80, 82  HW10 T-Apr1
U-Mar 27* 3.2 Polynomial Functions 3.2  8, 10, 22, 36, 40, 60, 68, 74, 76  HW10
T-April 1 3.3 Long Div./Factor Thm. 3.3  8, 12, 18, 24, 32, 60, 62, 74, 86  HW11 T-Apr8
U-Apr 3* 3.4 Zeros of Polynomials 3.4  4, 10, 14, 20, 28, 30, 46, 48, 64, 70  HW11
T-Apr 8 Review TEST 3, 7:30-8:30pm Sections 2.6-3.4
U-Apr 10* 4.1 Rational Functions 4.1  6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 20  HW12 T-Apr15
4.2 Graphs with Asymptotes 4.2  4, 24, 28, 30, 46, 50 
T-Apr 15* 5.1 Exponential Functions 5.1  4, 6, 14, 18, 22, 48, 58, 64, 72ab  HW13 T-Apr22
5.2 Logarithmic Functions 5.2  4, 6, 10, 18, 20, 22, 28, 30, 48, 60
U-Apr 17 5.3 Properties of Logarithms 5.3  6, 16, 20, 30, 32, 38, 42, 46, 52, 54, 58, 68, 72, 74, 78  HW13
  5.4 Exp/Log Equations 5.4  10, 12, 18, 22, 24, 30, 40, 50, 62, 88, 92, 100, 104
T-Apr 22 5.5  Exp/Log Models 5.5  2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 18, 28, 38, 42   HW14 T-Apr29
U-Apr 24* 6.1 Systems of Equations 6.1  2, 10, 14, 18, 26, C5 (below), 46, 54, 74  HW14
  6.2 2 by 2 Linear Systems  6.2  4, 6, 16, 20, 32, 34, 44, 48, 50
T-Apr 29 6.3 3 by 3 Linear Systems 6.3  2, 6, 14, 16, 24, 30, 54  HW15 T-May6
U-May 1* 7.1 Matrices: Gaussian Elim. 7.1  6, 10, 16, 22, 30, 40, 54, 60, 64, 72, 74, 76  HW15
T-May 6 Review Review  
U-May 8 Review Review
W-May 14   FINAL  7:00-9:00 p.m. Sections P1-7.1

*  Bring your graphing calculator to lecture on these days.

Calculator Problems for HW3 & HW14:
Round numerical answers to 3 decimal places.

C.1  Graphing  y=2x3 - 8x2 - 190x  +200
At each stage sketch the graph you obtain. Always label your axes to show the scale (typing [WINDOW] will show you the x and y ranges).
a) Plot the graph using the standard scale.  (Press [Y=] and input the expression Y1=2x3 - 8x2 - 190x+200 then press [GRAPH], if you have changed the scale you can return to the standard scale using [ZOOM] [6:ZSTANDARD]).
b) Type [ZOOM], and move the cursor up or down until you find [0:ZoomFit], then type [ENTER]; a shortcut is just to type 0 after hitting [ZOOM]. ZoomFit automatically adjusts the y-scale so that the graph fits on the screen.
c) Plot the graph from x=-5 to x=13  (Type [WINDOW], then input Xmin = -5, Xmax=13, the other settings can be left alone, but make sure that Xres =1. Use [ZOOM][0:ZOOMFIT] again as necessary to adjust the y range).
d) Adjust the x range until all three x-intercepts are nicely visible on the screen.

C.2  Finding Values
Find the values of y corresponding to x=3.2 and to x=-1.6 on the graph plotted in C1.
a) Type [TRACE] 3.2 [ENTER] and obtain the value of y at the bottom of the screen.
b) Type [2nd], [CALC], [1:value]. In the lower left corner you will see x= .  Type [(-)]1.6  [ENTER].

C.3  Finding x-Intercepts
a) Plot the graph of x4 - 2x2 + 5x -3 from x=-3 to x=3 (you should have two x intercepts visible)
b) Use [2nd][CALC][2:ZERO] to find the value of the right most intercept.  (Use [TRACE] to move cursor to a value of x near to the intercept. Type [2nd][CALC], [2:ZERO]. The calculator will ask you for a Left Bound. Move cursor to the left of the intercept and type [ENTER]. The calculator will next ask you for a Right Bound. Move cursor to the right of the zero and type [ENTER]. Finally, the calculator will ask you for a Guess. Move cursor as close as you can to the zero and type [ENTER]. You should see x=0.7657... , y=0 on the screen. Thus the value of the intercept is (0.766,0) to 3 decimal places.
c) Repeat the process to find the other intercept.

C.4  Zooming In
Plot the graph of y=6x2 - 5x +1
a) Use [ZOOM] [2:ZOOM IN] to blow up the region near to the origin where the graph just crosses (appears to touch) the x-axis (move the cursor to the region to be blown up and press [ENTER]).  Repeat several times until you can clearly see the two x-intercepts. Sketch the graph (include the window settings to show the scale).
b) Use [2nd][CALC], [2:ZERO] to find the two x-intercepts.
c) Repeat part (a) using [ZOOM][1:ZBOX] (move the cursor to the position of one of the corners, press [ENTER], use the cursor to make the sides of the box around the region you want to blow up, press [ENTER]).

C5. Sketch the graphs of y=6+x - x 2 and y=2ex-3 -3 on a standard scale, and find all points of intersection using [2nd-CALC], [5:Intersect]. One point of intersection is (-2.540,-2.992).