Dr. Yi Wang's Teaching-Math 112 Sylabus

MATH 1112: COLLEGE ALGEBRA, FALL 2003
Section 03: HHH 305, MWF 12-12:50   
Section 04: HHH 305, TR 1:30-2:45

INSTRUCTOR
Yi Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Department of Mathematics and Sciences
Room 315, HHH, Fairmont State College
Email: [email protected]       
Homepage: http://www.fscwv.edu/users/ywang/
Phone: 304-367-4612     
Office Hours: 10-11am M,W,F       12pm-1pm T  12:30-1:30 R  or   by appointment

            Welcome to Math 112, my name is Yi Wang, and I will be your instructor for this course. I wish by our joint effort, all of you will succeed this course. We will extensively use WEB CT in this course. Another good resource for this course is my homepage, which can be found at  http://www.fscwv.edu/users/ywang/. In general, you may consider my office an “open door”, and I strongly recommend that you come and see me if you are having any trouble in class (or if you find that you are not being challenged enough). Come by…I enjoy seeing my students.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course includes a review of real numbers, algebraic expressions, equations and inequalities, graphing, systems of equations, exponents and radicals, binomial expansion, sequences and related topics.

3 Cretdits (3 lect/pres, 0 lab, 0 other).

PREREQUISITES: HS Algebra I and II and a Math ACT of at least 21; OR Math 111

GOALS: To give students an understanding of an appreciation for the theory and many applications of basic college algebra. Both computational and conceptual skills will be developed. The students will be exposed to both theoretical and applied points of view and applications to other disciplines will be stressed. This course also develops student capabilities related to several of FSC’s General Education Objectives, including:

· The ability to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts and formats.
· Comprehend the concepts and perspectives needed to function in national and international societies.
· Integrate knowledge and ideas in a coherent and meaningful manner.

 TEXTBOOK: M. Sullivan, College Algebra (6th edition).  Prentice Hall.

 ATTENDANCE is critical in this class and will be taken for each class and used to determine borderline grades.

 WEB CT: This course will use WEB CT at http://webct.fscwv.edu. Class announcements, homework assignments and update grades will be posted on WEB CT. It is the students’ responsibility to check the information posted at WEB CT. (Note this is different from your emails. You have to log in your personal account at Web CT).

 HOMEWORK/QUIZZES/WORKSHEET:  It is imperative that you do the homework. If you have trouble with the assigned problems (or any others in your book) then see me ASAP. Please work as many problems as you can (even beyond the assigned list if possible). The bottom line is that if you want to learn some mathematics, the only way to do this is by “getting your hands dirty” working problems. There will be a worksheet for each week. The Homework/Quizzes/worksheet will be averaged for part of your final grade.

 EXAMS: There will be four in-class mid-term tests and one final. The final exam is comprehensive and is scheduled on December 10, Wednesday at 10:00 for Section 03, and  December 9, Tuesday  at 1:30 for Section 04.  The mid-term tests’ time will be announced later.  All the make-up exams will be arranged in the dead week. Only one make-up is allowed.  Remark: A solution to any problem without showing the work receives 0 credits.

 GRADES: Here is a breakdown of the quizzes/tests/final:

         Homework/Quiz/Worksheet Average….20%
        Test 1…………15%
        Test 2…………15%
        Test 3…………15%
        Test 4. …….… 15%
        Final………..…20%

            If you get the following scores (out of 100) you will receive:
90-100………A
80-89………..B
70-79………..C
60-69………..D

Grades in the course will reflect students’ demonstrated attainment of course objectives. I reserve the right to adjust these ranges downward if necessary because of excessive difficulty of assignments or tests. Borderline cases will be considered according to the attendance.

SPECIAL NEEDS: Any students with disabilities or other special needs, who need special accommodations in the course, are invited to share these concerns or requests with the instructor as soon as possible.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: All work in this course must be completed in a manner consistent with Fairmont State College Policy Series 60, Section 2:  Academic Rights and Responsibility of Students, West Virginia Code §18-16-8. I wish you the best of luck in this course, please stop by and keep me posted on how you are doing.     

COURSE CONTENTS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS NEEDED DURING THE TERM):
Chapter Review
Chapter 1: Equations and Inequalities
Chapter 2: Graphs (*Section 2.5 )
Chapter 3: Functions and Their Graphs (*Section 3.6)
Chapter 4: Polynomial and Rational Functions
Chapter 5: The Zeros of a Polynomial Function (*Section 5.4)
Section 6.1: One-to-One Functions; Inverse Functions
Section 8.1  System of Linear Equations: Two Equations Containing Two Variables
Section 8.4, System of Linear Equations: Determinants

 * These sections are optional.