MATH 112 Section 024: Precalculus Algebra

This is a course in Precalculus mathematics.  The course is computer-assisted, which means students will use the computer (along with the instructor) to complete the course.  Evaluation will be based on online homework, quizzes, four tests, and a comprehensive final exam.

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to

• Perform operations on polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
• Graph polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions using techniques and information gathered about the functions.
• Solve linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, absolute value, and inequality equations.
• Recognize and manipulate complex numbers.
• Solve systems of equations in two or more variables.

TEST RULES

1. There are four 75-minute tests and a 150-minute comprehensive final exam. Test dates are listed on the front page of the syllabus.
2. You are encouraged to take your tests early:  “Early” means before the close of online registration for that exam.  No registration is needed and no penalties will apply for early tests.  However, no tests will be given at all on Sundays. You may not begin a test if the MTLC is scheduled to close before the end of your full allotted time: usually you must begin by 8pm (7pm for a final exam), or on Fridays by 3pm (2pm for a final exam).
3. You must reserve a time in order to take an exam on a test deadline day.  Test weeks are a logistical challenge; you must tell MTLC when you will come, and you must do what you say. The front page of the syllabus lists beginning and ending dates/times for online registration for each exam.  To register online, go to the MTLC website (www.mtlc.ua.edu), select link Test Registration, log in as instructed, select link Register, then choose an available date and time.  You may freely cancel or change your test time while online registration is active.  Be sure to verify your registration: log back in to the test registration site or check your confirmation email message.
4. After online registration closes (at 5pm on Friday before the deadline week), you must come in person to the MTLC to register or to change your test time.  You must sign up manually with the instructor on duty; no phone calls or email arrangements can be accepted.  In this case, points will be deducted from your test grade as follows:

10 points if you did not register online

5 points if you change your test time after online registration closes but before your scheduled test time

10 points if you miss your test time and reschedule, or if no open seats remain when you come to register

These penalties are CUMULATIVE.  You may fill out a petition request form to have the penalty waived if you have

a valid excuse.                                                  

5. If you miss a test and your course’s testing period has NOT ended, come to the MTLC to reschedule.  If the testing period is over, see REPLACEMENT POLICY above.
6. Arrive on time for your test.  Tardiness will cost you working time on the test.  Bring your ID and pencils with you.  Follow signs to the back hallway.  Staff will check your ID and give you a personalized test paper (which is your initial scratch paper), then direct you to your seat.
7. Absolutely NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES may be active in the testing area.  All cell phones, texting devices, iPods, MP3 players, etc must be turned off and put away before you pick up your test paper.  Use of any electronic device during a test will be treated as academic misconduct. 
8. Place all belongings on the floor.  Once you enter the testing area, all review material must be put away. As soon as you are seated, you may begin your exam.  The MTLC will give you additional scratch paper as needed; no other paper is allowed. When you are finished, staff will collect all papers. Warning: do NOT touch the browser’s BACK button, your test will close and you will have to start over.
9. ONLY THE CALCULATOR ON THE COMPUTER MAY BE USED ON TESTS.  The only webpage that may be opened during a test is the testing page.  Opening any other website during testing will be academic misconduct.
10. An MTLC staff member must be present when your test is submitted for a grade: if it does not store correctly it is at risk for getting LOST.
11. You will be allowed to review your test before you leave the lab.  You may not write down any information pertaining to test questions to take with you when you leave the MTLC after an exam.  You may not share any test information with anyone who hasn’t taken the test.  Violators will be charged with academic misconduct.

12.    During test weeks, the MTLC will be available for studying, reviewing, and or working assignments only as follows:
     Sunday – normal hours (4-10pm)
     Monday-Wednesday – only between 8:15pm and 10pm
     Thursday – closed all day except for testing
     Friday – normal hours (8am-5pm)
The lab will be closed except for testing during final exam week.

13. No one may leave during a test without permission.  This includes getting water and using the restroom.

Quizzes and Homework have expiration dates.  These dates will not be extended for any reason. Note that the homework deadline is 8 pm and the quiz deadline is 9:30 pm for each section!

Test 1 Material:   Test 1 is Tuesday 9/20
Meeting	Section	Title	Completion Deadline
8/25 Thur.		Orientation/ Prep Work	Thursday  9/1
		Syllabus Quiz – Must be taken in the MTLC	Thursday  9/1
8/30 Tue.	1.3	Models and Applications	Thursday  9/1
	1.4	Complex Numbers	Tuesday  9/6
9/1 Thur.	1.5	Quadratic Equations	Wednesday  9/7
	1.6	Other Types of Equations	Thursday  9/8
	1.7	Linear Inequalities and Absolute Value Inequalities	Tuesday  9/12
9/8 Thur.	2.2	More on Functions and Their Graphs	Wednesday  9/14
		Test Rules Quiz	Thursday  9/15
9/15 Thur.		Review for Test 1 & cover 2.5

Test 2 Material: Test 2 is Tuesday 10/11
Meeting	Section	Title	Completion Deadline
9/15 Thur.	2.5	Transformations of Functions	Thursday  9/22
9/22 Thur.	2.6	Combinations of Functions; Composite Functions	Monday  9/26
	2.7	Inverse Functions	Wednesday  9/28
9/29 Thur.	3.1	Quadratic Functions	Monday  10/3
	3.2	Polynomial Functions and Their Graphs	Wednesday  10/5
10/6 Thur.		Review for Test 2 & cover 3.3

Test 3 Material: Test 3 is Tuesday 11/1
Meeting	Section		Completion Deadline
10/6 Thur.	3.3	Dividing Polynomials; Remainder and Factor Theorems	Thursday  10/13
10/13 Thur.	3.4	Zeros of Polynomial Functions	Monday  10/17
	3.5	Rational Functions and Their Graphs	Wednesday  10/19
10/20 Thur.	3.6	Polynomial and Rational Inequalities	Monday  10/24
	4.1	Exponential Functions	Wednesday  10/26
10/25 Tue.		Review for Test 3

Test 4 Material: Test 4 is Tuesday 11/29
Meeting	Section	Title	Completion Deadline
11/3 Thur.	4.2	Logarithmic Functions	Monday 11/7
	4.3	Properties of Logarithms	Wednesday  11/9
11/10 Thur.	4.4	Exponential and Logarithmic Equations	Monday  11/14
	4.5	Exponential Growth and Decay; Modeling Data	Wednesday  11/16
11/17 Thur.	8.2	Systems of Linear Equations in Three Variables	Monday  11/21
	8.4	Systems of Nonlinear Equations in Two Variables	Monday  11/28
11/22 Tue.		Review for Test 4

Extra Material
12/1 Thur.	8.3	Partial Fractions/Final Review	Monday  12/5
12/8 Thur.		Review for the Final Exam

Comprehensive Final Exam is Sunday 12/11 – Friday 12/16.

This course is under the “A, B, C, NC” policy, +/- grades will be given.  The course grade is determined by points earned as follows:

4 Tests              400 points (100 points each)                                      COURSE GRADE SCALE

Final Exam        300 points

Quizzes              152 points (38 points each test period)             A+    980 – 1003,   A   920 – 979, A-  900 - 919

Homework          76 points (19 points each test period)              B+    880 – 899,   B   820 – 879, B-  800 - 819

Class Attendance          30 points                                                    C+    780 – 799,   C   720 – 779, C-  700 - 719

Lab Attendance              42points                                                      NC – Below 700*

Survey                               2 points

Total                                  1002 points                                                                                

  *Students must earn a minimum of 700 points (C-) to get credit for this course.

MAKE-UP POLICY:  If homework or quizzes are missed due to a serious, verifiable circumstance, then make-up work may be allowed. Any student requesting to make up work must fill out a petition request form as soon as possible in 345 Gordon Palmer with an excuse and supporting documents attached.  If a test is missed due to a serious verifiable circumstance, the zero test grade will be replaced with the final exam grade (see Replacement Policy).  Students who miss work due to official University business must make other arrangements beforehand.

REPLACEMENT POLICY:  Everyone will be allowed to replace his/her lowest test grade with the grade made on the final exam.  However, zeros due to an unexcused absence or academic misconduct will not be replaced.  Students who miss a test and have an excuse can have the missed test replaced if a petition request form is filed as soon as possible, and if the petition request panel approves the excuse. Petitions may be filed in Gordon Palmer, room 345.  Please attach supporting documents..

• Every student is required to come to the classroom at the scheduled class time for Thursday, August 25 and Tuesday, August 30.
• Class Meetings: Each student is required to attend and actively participate in a class meeting every week in the classroom listed on the schedule. Class attendance is worth 2 points each week. The class meetings will be on Thursday during your scheduled class time starting September 1. The time for the class meeting is not counted towards your 2 hour lab work requirement.
• WORK POINTS/LAB ATTENDANCE:  Time spent working on math shows a strong correlation with success in the course.  In addition to class attendance, each student is expected to spend sufficient time outside of class to successfully complete each assignment.  Students are not required to be in the MTLC during the scheduled class times on Thursdays, but may use the MTLC any time it is open to work on math assignments.  The MTLC is typically open 71 hours each week and has plenty of computers as well as a staff of instructors and tutors to help individuals as needed.  To encourage and to help ensure success, every student who does not score a minimum of 75% on any assignment (homework, quiz, or test) due in a particular week will be required to work in the MTLC for a minimum of 2 hours during the following week.  Lab attendance is counted from Sunday to Friday each week.   The first assignments are due the week of August 29, so the lab attendance requirement will begin the week of September 6.  For each week that lab attendance might be required, you will receive 3 points, for a total of 42  points possible for the semester.  If you score 75% or better on each assignment due in a particular week, you automatically earn your work points and are not required to spend time in the MTLC the following week.

MTLC RULES

1. The MTLC is a math classroom. Please be quiet during your visit to the MTLC.
2. The monitor will swipe your ACT card when you enter the MTLC and swipe it when you leave, even for a short break. Do not present an ACT card other than your own. Violators will be charged with academic misconduct and reported to the dean’s office.
3. Cell phones, food, drinks (including water), tobacco products, and companions are NOT allowed in the Center. A cell phone violation will cause your cell phone to be detained until you leave the MTLC.   Your cell phone needs to be out of sight and turned off.
4. Other than mathematics, no activities such as talking, surfing the Internet, playing computer games, typing a paper, sleeping, etc. are allowed in the MTLC. Any violation will cause your attendance credit to be 0 for that day and you will be asked to leave the MTLC.
5. The use of a computer in the MTLC is on a first-come first-serve basis; no reservation can be made for normal course work. (Reservations are required for tests.  See Test Rules below.)
6. No attendance credit will be given to students who do not have their ACT cards.
7. Take notes.  Record each homework score and quiz score once you finish it on the record sheet that is provided for you.
8. Please do not hesitate to ask questions in the MTLC.  Staff members in the MTLC are there to help you

  Note:  The last day to drop this course is November 2, 2011.  No withdrawals from this course after this date..

TEST DEADLINES:                                                                                   ONLINE REGISTRATION PERIOD: Test 1            Tuesday                   September 20                             8am Friday   9/9 –   5pm Friday 9/16 Test 2            Tuesday                   October 11                                   8am Friday 10/30 – 5pm Friday 10/7 Test 3            Tuesday                   November 1                                 8am Friday 10/21 – 5pm Friday 10/28 Test 4            Tuesday                  November 29                                8am Friday 11/18 – 5pm Friday 11/25 Final Exam        Sunday-Friday           Dec. 11-16                               8am Friday 12/2 – 5pm Friday 12/9  Test times available:  Times to be announced in class and through email. Final Exam times available: 8 am, 11:30 am, 3:30 pm, 7 pm   (all times may not be available each day) Please read Test Rules of this syllabus for detailed information.

 MTLC INFO:  LOCATION: B1 Tutwiler       PHONE:  348-2592       WEBSITE:  www.mtlc.ua.edu

  HOURS:  Sunday:  4pm – 10pm                            CLOSINGS: Labor Day Holiday: Sun. 9/4 & Mon. 9/5

Monday - Thursday:  8am – 10pm                                   Fall Break: 10pm Wed.10/27 – 4 pm Sun. 10/30

                  Friday:  8am – 4:45pm                        Thanksgiving Break: 5pm Tue. 11/22  – 4pm Sun. 11/27

                                                                         NOTE:  Last day for help in MTLC is Sunday 12/11 (4-6:30pm)

 

Lab hours are counted Sunday – Friday.  You must swipe your ACT card and sign in to receive credit for attendance.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

MATH SOFTWARE LOGIN INFORMATION:  (The MTLC sets up the login information for each student.  If you cannot login with this following information, then please come to the MTLC for assistance.)

                                Website:      http://ua.mylabsplus.com

                                Your username:  crimson email address     example:  jksmith@crimson.ua.edu

                                 Your password:     CWID                             example:  12345678

*You will find your current course under the University of Alabama Fall 2011 Term.

WORKING FROM HOME:  The Math 112 course work can be done on your personal computer.  However, there is a risk when working outside the MTLC.  Internet access is required in order to reach the website where the notes, homework, and exercises are found.  The website is http://ua.mylabsplus.com.  If this page ever fails to load, try typing the website rather than choosing it from the dropdown menu. There are plug ins to be downloaded in order for a successful operation from home.  To get these, you will login to the website with your own personal login and password as given by the MTLC.  Next, click on your course section.  Select the INSTALLATION WIZARD from the link that appears on the screen on the right. Then follow the instructions on the screen. Students doing graded work from home risk grades not being properly saved.  If scores are not successfully sent from home and the deadline passes, you will NOT be able to make up the work.  Tests must be taken in the MTLC.

EARLY COURSE COMPLETION:  You are encouraged to work ahead of the syllabus deadlines, and to take tests and the final exam early.  Once you have taken the final, you do not need to continue coming to the MTLC to work.  All the remaining attendance requirements are automatically counted for full credit.  

All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.

The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.

If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary. If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call 348-4285 or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.

In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar, sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.

UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.

When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take. The Office of Public Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:

• Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
• Weather advisory sent out through Connect-ED--faculty, staff and students (sign up at myBama)
• Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
• Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
• Weather advisories are broadcast via WUOA/WVUA-TV, which can be viewed across Central Alabama. Also, visit wvuatv.com for up-to-the-minute weather information. A mobile Web site is also available for your convenience.