Faculty FrontDoor

Resources

• Your instructor is interested in your success in this class.  Please ask questions regularly!
• Many students of algebra find it extremely helpful to form study groups with their classmates.  This practice is highly recommended.
• The West Campus Math Center is in building 7, room 240.  It is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, and from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.  There you will find Valencia math division staff, peer tutors, study rooms and other comfortable work areas for study group meetings, computer-based tools as available for your text, and support materials for checkout with your VCC identification card.
• Peer tutors in the Math Center are available for walk-in assistance, no appointment necessary.  Peer tutors are available for individual appointments as scheduling and funding permit.  Ask for details at the Welcome Desk in the Math Center.  Tutors have been trained to use techniques that help you become an independent learner.  They have been instructed to guide you through the problem solving process and utilize the materials you have available through your course.  They may help you by asking open ended questions, walking you through examples in your text, or (hopefully on rare occasions) using pencil and paper to show you how to solve a problem similar to one you are working on.  Since the tutors’ goal is to help you become an independent learner, they will let you do the work as much as possible.  The learning process requires a regular investment of your time, and patience is the key.
• If you purchased a new text, you received a Student Access Kit for the MyMathLab/WebCT software with it.  It is also possible to purchase a student access kit for MyMathLab from the bookstore or online.  Please take your MyMathLab/ WebCT Student Access Kit with you to your Open Lab orientation.  You will use the software as part of your lab experience.

• You are expected to attend every class meeting, unless an illness or emergency makes it impossible for you to do so.

• Absences are excused solely at the discretion of the instructor, who may require that you prove the existence of extenuating circumstances before excusing any absence(s).

• You are responsible for any information and/or assignments given during class, whether you are present or not.  

• In-class activities can’t be “made up.”  If you are absent on a day that an in-class activity occurs for credit or extra credit, your grade is likely to be adversely affected.

• You are expected to be in class on time, and to remain in class for the entire period unless permission to leave early has been granted by the instructor.  It is disruptive to arrive or depart while class is in session.

• You are encouraged to actively participate and ask pertinent questions during class.  Courtesy will be observed at all times.

• Your attitude will greatly affect your ability to succeed in this course.  It will also affect your classmates’ attitudes should you choose to participate in class discussions.  Always consider this carefully before you speak or act.

• Cell phones, pagers, or other devices that are audible are not permitted to be on during class.  Unplug yourself and make the most of class time!  Personal electronic devices disrupt your learning as well as the learning of other students.

• To create a good environment for learning, avoid sidebar conversations with other students while work is being done at the board, rude comments or remarks, raised voices or confrontational comments.  Follow instructions given by your instructor, who serves as your classroom manager.

• If your actions in class are deemed by your instructor to be disruptive, you will be asked to leave class immediately.  If you are ever asked to leave class, you may be permitted to return to future class meetings after consultation with your instructor outside of class.  You may also be required to arrange a conference with another college official before attending class again.

• Honesty and integrity reward you in many ways, including avoidance of the grade of zero that is assigned to any student who cheats on any test or assignment.

• Partial credit on tests and assignments is sometimes given, when appropriate, solely at the discretion of the instructor.

• Grades will not be disclosed over the telephone or via e-mail, except through your Atlas account.  

• You must meet with the instructor if you wish to discuss your grade.

• Completion of homework on a regular basis is crucial to your success in this course.

• All of your homework is to be done on the MyMathLab (http://www.coursecompass.com).  You are encouraged to seek assistance from the instructor if you encounter difficulties with the assigned problems, or visit the Math Center in 7-240.

• You must complete each test within the time allotted during the class period.  

• Your lowest test grade will be dropped.

• If you have excused absences for more than one progress test, you will be given make-up tests according to a schedule specified by your instructor for all but the first progress test missed.  

• It is your responsibility to make a timely request for an excused absence should you miss a test.  If you do not request an excused absence for a missed test, or your request for an excused absence is denied, you will receive a zero on that test.

• All materials in your work area during testing, including electronic memory, are subject to thorough and unannounced inspection by the instructor.

• This class has a required lab component that will count for 15% of your course grade.  Visit the Math Center’s Open Lab in 7-240 for a minimum of 50 minutes per week for Fall Full Term classes, document your time properly on an in-lab computer, and work with Lab Instructors as directed to earn your lab grade.  

• The Open Lab hours are:  

• Per Valencia Policy 4-07 (Academic Progress, Course Attendance and Grades, and Withdrawals), a student who withdraws from class before the withdrawal deadline of November 5, 2010 for Fall Full Term classes (November 19, 2010 for Fall TWK Term or Flex Term classes) will receive a grade of “W.”  A student is not permitted to withdraw after the withdrawal deadline.  A faculty member MAY withdraw a student up to the beginning of the final exam period for violation of the class attendance policy. A student who is withdrawn by faculty for violation of the class attendance policy will receive a grade of “W.”  Any student who withdraws or is withdrawn from a class during a third or subsequent attempt in the same course will be assigned a grade of “F.”  For a complete policy and procedure overview on Valencia Policy 4-07 please go to: http://valenciacc.edu/generalcounsel/policydetail.cfm?RecordID=75.

I. The student will be able to understand the properties of exponents, and work with real life applications such as scientific notation, and formulas like compound interest.

• Apply rules of exponents to simplify an exponential expression.
• Apply exponents to real life situations, such as scientific notation and compound interest problems, and state the solutions in the context of the problem.

II. The student will recognize the mathematical function concept and describe relationships between variables in real world situations. The student will also be able to use functions expressed verbally, numerically, graphically, and symbolically.

• Determine if a relation is a function using different representations.
• Evaluate and solve a function expressed verbally, numerically, and graphically.
• Determine the domain and range of a given function including any restrictions.
• Recognize various families of functions including linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, and radical.

III. The student will be able to recognize, model, and analyze linear equations in the real world.

• Solve a linear equation symbolically, graphically, and numerically.
• Determine the slope of a line under various conditions and use slopes to determine relationships between pairs of lines i.e.parallel, perpendicular, or neither.
• Determine the slope intercept form of a linear equation given various data such as: slope and y-intercept, a coordinate and slope, 2 coordinates, a coordinate and another linear equation that is parallel or perpendicular to the desired linear equation, and a graph.
• Solve a formula for a specified variable.
• Construct and apply linear equations to real world situations, develop solutions to those situations, and interpret the solution in the context of the problem.

IV. The student will be able to recognize, model, and analyze linear inequalities in real world situations.

• Solve a linear inequality symbolically, graphically, and numerically.
• Express the solution of a linear inequality symbolically, graphically, and interval notation.
• Construct and apply linear inequalities to real world situations, develop solutions to those situations, and interpret the solution in the context of the problem.
• Graphically solve a system of linear inequalities.

V. The student will be able to recognize, model, and analyze systems of linear equations in real world situations.

• Solve a system of linear equations graphically, numerically, and through symbolic methods including substitution and elimination.
• Recognize inconsistent and dependent system of equations.
• Construct and apply systems of linear equations to real world situations, develop solutions to those situations, and interpret the solution in the context of the problem.

VI. The student will be able to recognize and analyze polynomials in real world situations.

• Identify the various features of a polynomial such as its type and degree.
• Perform all arithmetic operations on polynomials.
• Solve a polynomial equation symbolically (using factoring), graphically, and numerically.
• Apply polynomials to real world situations, develop solutions to those situations, and interpret the solution(s) in the context of the problem.

VII. The student will be able to recognize, model, and analyze rational expressions in real world situations

• Perform all arithmetic operations on rational expressions.
• Recognize and determine vertical asymptotes of rational expressions.
• Solve an equation containing rational expressions symbolically, graphically, and numerically while excluding any extraneous solutions.
• Construct and apply equations containing rational expressions to real world situations, develop solutions to those situations, and interpret the solution in the context of the problem.

VIII. The student will be able to recognize and analyze radical expressions in real world situations

• Simplify radical expressions of various indices and perform any arithmetic operations involving radicals.
• Apply rules of exponents to simplify a radical expression.
• Apply to real life situation and state the solution in the context of the problem.
• Recognize, interpret, and perform all arithmetic operations on complex numbers, including problems that result in complex number solutions.

IX. The student will be able to recognize, model, and analyze quadratics in real world situations.

• Solve quadratic equations symbolically (using factoring, property of roots, and quadratic formula), graphically, and numerically.
• Determine the concavity, vertex, axis of symmetry, x and y-intercepts (if they exist), and use this information to produce a graph of a quadratic.
• Apply to real life situation and state the solution in the context of the problem.

X. The student will be able to use the graphing calculator to enhance and visualize mathematical concepts.

• Perform all arithmetic operations using the graphing calculator.
• Graph any given function or equation using an appropriate window.
• Generate a table of a given function or equation.
• Demonstrate knowledge of a variety of graphing utility features.

XI. The student will demonstrate an increased understanding of learning skills appropriate for Intermediate Algebra.

1. Think clearly, critically and creatively.

2. Communicate with others in written and verbal form.

3. Make reasoned value judgments and responsible commitments.

4. Act purposefully, reflectively and responsibly.