Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education

Representing the Alabama Community College System

Central Alabama Community College

MTH 100 Intermediate Algebra

Prerequisite: MTH 092 or MTH 098 or appropriate mathematics placement score.

This course provides a study of algebraic techniques such as linear equations and inequalities, quadratic equations, systems of equations, and operations with exponents and radicals. Functions and relations are introduced and graphed with special emphasis on linear and quadratic functions. This course does not apply toward the general core requirement for mathematics.

3 Semester hours credit

Textbook: Beginning and Intermediate Algebra for Central Alabama CC, 6th edition

by Gustafson | Karr | Massey 2011

Cengage Learning/Brooks and Cole

Course Objectives:

1. Solve linear equations and inequalities in one variable.

2. Simplify expressions using rules for exponents.

3. Perform operations on polynomials.

4. Evaluate polynomials.

5. Define a function and evaluate it using function notation.

6. Factor polynomials using various techniques.

7. Solve polynomial equations by factoring.

8. Simplify rational expressions.

9. Perform operations on rational expressions.

10. Solve equations containing rational expressions.

11. Solve ratios and proportions.

12. Graph linear equations using various methods.

13. Write equations of lines.

14. Solve systems of equations in two variables using various methods.

15. Simplify radical expressions.

16. Perform operations on radical expressions.

17. Apply the Pythagorean Theorem and Distance Formula.

18. Solve equations containing radicals.

19. Solve quadratic equations by completing the square and using the quadratic formula.

Course Calendar:

The pacing guide for this course is posted on Moodle in the first box underneath the name of the

course. In the Moodle topic boxes, all test dates are posted. This schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

Assessment of Student Achievement:

1. Grade weight: Quizzes 20% completed on Moodle

Online exams 20% completed on Moodle

Written Activities 10% as assigned by instructor

Midterm exam 25% in-class

Final Exam 25% in-class, comprehensive

2. Grade Challenge Policy:

The assignment of grades is the sole responsibility of the course instructor. The grade assigned will stand unless (1.) the instructor agrees to change the grade, or (2.) the instructor is proven to have violated the grading standards set forth in the syllabus for that course. With the exception of the grade of “I”, if a student wishes to challenge the final grade assigned in a course, he/she must follow the steps outlined in the College Catalog.

3. Grading Scale: 90-100 A

80 – 89 B

70 – 79 C

60 – 69 D

0 – 59 F

Attendance:

By enrolling in a course, a student accepts the responsibility of participating in the classroom

educational experience. Therefore, students are expected to attend all classes for which they are

registered. Students who are unable to attend class regularly, regardless of the reason or circumstance, should withdraw from that class before poor attendance interferes with the student's ability to achieve the objectives required in the course. Withdrawal from class can affect eligibility for federal financial aid. A student who stops attending class(es) without formally completing an official withdrawal is considered absent. Since the instructor cannot administratively withdraw a student, he/she will receive the grade earned in the course(s) at the end of the semester. Students are responsible for material covered when they are absent. It is the student's responsibility to withdraw from the class if they have excessive absences. Each student should be punctual. It is considered rude and an interruption to the class for students to arrive late or leave early.

Quizzes:

It is the student's responsibility to attend class or access the website and obtain the assignments. An opening and closing date will be assigned for each Moodle quiz and a due date will be assigned for each paper/pencil assignment as it is assigned.

Each online homework assignment (quiz) has 10 questions. The questions are multiple choice

and fill in the blank. It is recommended that you print out each assignment or work each problem on notebook paper and keep this paper as an aid in studying for a test. A student will have two chances to take each quiz. The highest grade is the grade that will count toward the student's average. The lowest three quiz grades will be dropped at the end of the semester.

There are two ways to approach submitting the answers to each question; the student may submit each answer as the problem is worked or may wait until all ten problems have been worked and submit the entire quiz at once. It is recommended that the student submit after each question, since you can receive partial credit on each question. For each incorrect submission, you will be penalized .4 points. If you get the question wrong the first time, keep trying until you get the correct answer. It is important to remember that if a student does not submit the problems individually and then leaves the computer, the answers will be lost. There are no time limits on the quizzes. If you begin a quiz and wish to exit without submitting the quiz, you must click “save without submitting”. However, you must return to the quiz and officially submit it before it closes out. Otherwise, you will lose all information in the quiz and you will receive no grade for the quiz.

Exams:

Four online exams, a midterm exam, and a final exam will be given in this class. The lowest of the four online exam grades will be dropped at the end of the semester. If a student is unable to take an online exam, the student will be assigned a grade of 0 for that exam, and that will be the grade that is dropped. A student will have only one attempt at each exam, with only one attempt on each question. If a student misses a question on the first try, he or she will receive no credit for that question. There is a time limit on the online exams. Once you enter the exam, the clock starts, and will continue even if you exit the exam. You must submit the exam to receive any credit for the exam! When you submit the exam, you will see your score, but you will not be able to see the results until the exam has officially closed. Deadlines are firm and will not be extended due to personal internet problems. If a student is unable to take the midterm or the final exam, it is required that he or she call or email the instructor with a legitimate excuse on or before the test date. If a student misses a scheduled exam without notifying the instructor, he or she will be assigned a grade of 0. It is stated in the college that there is no requirement that the instructor provide the opportunity for a makeup. If a student misses an exam and has informed the instructor prior to the exam, the instructor will designate the time of the makeup for each exam. The makeup exam will NOT be the same test as originally given.

Written Activities:

10% of a student's grade will come from additional classwork/homework to be assigned by the instructor. This can include, but is not limited to: in-class quizzes, homework assignments, projects, forum postings, etc. There will be a minimum of 5 of these such assignments per semester.

Discrimination/Harassment: The college and the Alabama State Board of Education are committed to providing both employment and educational environments free of harassment or discrimination related to an individual's race, color, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Such harassment is a violation of State Board of Education policy. Any practice or behavior that constitutes harassment or discrimination will not be tolerated. Americans with Disabilities – The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 state that qualified students with disabilities who meet the essential functions and academic requirements are entitled to reasonable accommodations. It is the student’s responsibility

to provide appropriate disability documentation to the College. If you have a disability that may prevent you from meeting the course requirements, contact the instructor before the end of the first week of classes to file a student disability request and to discuss a reasonable accommodation plan. Course requirements will not be waived but accommodations may be made to assist you in meeting the requirements, provided you work with the instructor in a timely fashion to develop a reasonable accommodation plan. Please check the College Catalog for more information.

Academic Honesty:

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Plagiarism can be defined as unintentionally or deliberately using another person’s writing orideas as though they are one’s own. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, copying another individual’s work and taking credit for it, paraphrasing information from a source without proper documentation, mixing one’s own words with those of another author without attribution, and buying or downloading a paper from the Internet.

Academic dishonesty does include, but is not limited to, having another person take a quiz or an online test, and helping another student take his/her quiz or online test.

Any student involved in an incident such as, but not limited to, unsatisfactory clinical performance; a proven form of academic dishonesty, for example blatant plagiarism; etc. will receive the grade of “F” in the course where the incident occurred. The “F” will be assigned in the instructor’s grade book/grade sheet on the day the incident occurred, but will not be posted until the end of the semester to the student’s transcript. The student will not be allowed to withdraw anytime after the incident even if the incident occurs prior to the College’s published withdrawal date. This policy supersedes the College’s withdrawal policy if such an incident occurs.

Resources Available to Support Course:

1. Tutoring – Student Support Services provides this free service for qualifying students. All appointments with the math tutor must be scheduled outside of class time.

Al Watkins – Childersburg campus – Bill Nichols Building

Mrs. Margaret Fuller and Dr. Larry Parks – Alex City campus – BS #233

2. Computer Lab – The computer lab on each campus will be available during college hours. Check the schedule that is printed on the door of the lab. If class is being held in the computer lab, you may need to use the computers in the library.

Childersburg campus – Building E, Room 2

Alex City campus – BS #110, BS #102

Talladega Center – Room 114

3. A calculator may be used in this course, provided that it is not a graphing calculator. But, if you require a calculator to add, subtract, multiply or divide single digit positive or negative numbers, you will not be able to follow, much less engage mentally in even the most elementary discussion in this or any other math course. That is a solvable problem you should attack today, immediately! Need help, holler.