Syllabus
Math 1050-005 College Algebra
Spring 2014
Class meeting information: Class meets 4 times per week:
M, W, F (in BEH S 112) and T (in LCB 219) 11:50-12:40 p.m.
Instructor : Vira Babenko, office LCB 306
e-mail: babenko@math.utah.edu
web-page: http://www.math.utah.edu/~babenko/
Home page for our course: http://www.math.utah.edu/~babenko/html/1050-5.html
Office Hours: TBA
Question&Answer Sessions: I will run not only office hours but also a Questions and
Answers session as well. There we can get together for additional review, for answering
more questions and doing more examples. Note: even though it will be helpful for
everybody to attend, regardless to whether or not you have specific questions, to make
this work most efficient and helpful I strongly suggest that you bring your specific
questions to discuss. I’ll announce time and place for Q&A sessions at the end of the
first week of classes.
Prerequisites: "C" or better in (MATH 1010 OR MATH 1060 OR MATH 1080 OR MATH 1090) OR
Accuplacer CLM score of 60 or better OR ACT Math score of 23 or better OR SAT Math score of
540 or better.
Required Textbook: “A Streamlined course on the fundamentals of precalculus” by Kevin
Wortman. Available for free at http://www.math.utah.edu/~babenko/html/textbook.html
Class Notes: I will put scanned copies of my notes online. You can view them before class, or
print them and bring them to class. I may also deviate from them during class. The sole purpose
of making these notes available online is to make it easier for you to follow during class, to take
notes yourself, and to review the subject.
Course Description: MATH 1050 will help you become fluent with algebra manipulations,
theory of matrices, and accrual of interest. Goals: To improve mathematical reasoning, and to
prepare for future math learning in calculus, linear algebra, and discrete mathematics. During
this class we will study: Functions, inverses and graphs; polynomial, rational, radical,
exponential and logarithmic functions; systems of equations and matrices; applications;
arithmetic and geometric sequences and series. This will help you solve a wide variety of
problems in your respective fields.
Assignments: Homework is to be completed on WeBWorK. It is due every Thursday at midnight
and next one will be open at 1 a.m. each Friday, except during spring break. First assignment is
slightly different: it’s open on Jan 6th and due Thursday Jan 16th. Late submission will not be
allowed. You are welcome to work together, or get help from me or tutors at the tutoring
center. However, it is your responsibility to know how to do the problems on your own, as very
similar problems will appear on the tests and the final exam. You can find instructions on using
WeBWorK at http://www.math.utah.edu/~babenko/html/homework_1050-5.html . There is
also a link to login page.
Tests: We will have 4 Tests (50 min, and if you are late no additional time will be given). Here is
tentative schedule of them: Test 1 – Feb. 7th; Test 2 – Mar. 4th; Test 3 – Mar. 26th; Test 4 - Apr.
16th. I will post solutions for the tests a few days after each test.
Make ups: You should make every effort to participate in all tests. If you have to miss a test,
talk to me, before the test. If you missed a test for a legitimate (documented! documents
should be provided no later than 2 weeks after missed test!) reason, I will use the weight of the
final exam as a grade for the missed exam. Thus, if you get x percent on the final, you will also
get x percent on your missed test. You may exercise this option only ONCE a semester and with
my prior approval.
Final Exam: The final exam for this course is a COMPREHENSIVE exam
Friday, April 25, 2014 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Grading Plan: All Homework - 26 points (each set – 2 points, so 2*13=26), 4 tests – 12 points
each (48 points totally), 1 point you can earn if you bring to me interesting (fun or logical) math
problem (NOT from textbook) with solution (ask me if you can't find one), final exam–25
points.
So, 13*2+4*12+25+1=100 – you can get 100 points
Extra credit: Keep in mind that “EXTRA credit” makes sense only after the actual CREDIT has
being earned for the core material. However, to encourage your exploring a variety of
mathematical topics I offer the following extra credit opportunity:
o The Department of Mathematics hosts a wide variety of talks on mathematics and its
applications. The schedule of events is available on the departmental calendar page:
http://www.math.utah.edu/seminars/ . And in particular Undergraduate Colloquium
web page is: http://www.math.utah.edu/ugrad/colloquia.html. Attending a talk and
bringing me (no later than 2 classes after the talk) a write-up (at least one page, typed
up, single spaced, focusing on mathematics presented at the talk) will earn you an extra
credit (.5 pts for each up to 3 pts total).
Maximum total number of possible extra credits during semester is 3.
Grading Scale: A (90-100), A- (85-89), B+ (80-84), B(75-79), B- (70-74), C+ (65-69), C (60-64), C(55-59), D+ (50-54), D (45-49), D- (40-44), E (0-39)
Important Dates:
Last day to drop (delete) classes
Last day to add, elect CR/NC, or audit classes
Last day to withdraw from classes
Wed., January 15
Tuesday, January 21
Friday, February 28
Tutoring Center: Free tutoring is available in the T. Benny Rushing Mathematics Center, located
between LCB and JWB, Room 155. The tutoring center will open Monday, January 13th and will
be open through finals and the hours are: M-Th: 8am - 8pm, F: 8am - 6pm. The tutoring center
is closed during semester breaks, weekends, and University holidays. Also, the Math Center has
four group study rooms that may be reserved by groups of students from math classes.
Reservations are made through office 155A in the math center. Along the wall adjoining the
math library are study desks that you can use as well.
Calculators: Are not allowed on tests or exam.
ADA Statement: The American with Disabilities Act requires that reasonable accommodations
be proved for students with physical, cognitive, systemic learning, and psychiatric disabilities.
The student needs to have such a disability approved by the Disability Service Office (162
UNION, 581-5020) in order to have the accommodations provided. The instructor need to be
informed about such a disability and approved accommodations at the beginning of the
semester.
Academic integrity: I will not tolerate cheating in any form. All suspected cases will
immediately result in 0 for the assignment, and will be taken to the Chair of the Department
and the Dean of Students.
Other Rules:
o Students are encouraged to attend every class and participate actively by asking questions
both in and out of class.
o If you have questions about any exam grade, or you want to appeal the grading of the
exam, you must bring it within one week of the exam. After that, no such request will be
entertained.
o Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conductive
to learning. Students are to treat instructors and other students with respect. Students are
to turn all cell phones on silent and put away while in the classroom.
o Students are expected to arrive on time and stay for the whole duration of the class. Do not
leave classroom early without okaying it first with me.
This is a tentative schedule. It may be modified depending on the progress of the class.
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
Date
01/06/14
01/07/14
01/08/14
01/09/14
01/10/14
01/13/14
01/14/14
01/15/14
01/16/14
01/17/14
01/20/14
01/21/14
01/22/14
01/23/14
01/24/14
01/27/14
01/28/14
01/29/14
01/30/14
01/31/14
02/03/14
02/04/14
02/05/14
02/06/14
02/07/14
02/10/14
02/11/14
02/12/14
02/13/14
02/14/14
02/17/14
02/18/14
02/19/14
02/20/14
02/21/14
02/24/14
02/25/14
02/26/14
02/27/14
02/28/14
03/03/14
03/04/14
03/05/14
03/06/14
03/07/14
03/10/14
03/11/14
03/12/14
03/13/14
Lecture
1
2
3
Topic
Introduction & Sets and Numbers
Rules for Numbers
Solving Some Simple Equations & Functions
4
5
6
7
Sequences
Sums and Series
Counting I
Counting I
8
Counting II
NO CLASS
Counting II
More on Functions
9
10
11
12
13
14
Intro to Graphs
Intro to Graphs
Graph Transformations
Graph Transformations & Inverse Functions
15
16
17
18
Inverse Functions
n-th Roots
n-th Roots
Review
19
20
21
22
Test 1
Basics of Polynomials
Division
Division & Roots and Factors
23
24
Roots and Factors
NO CLASS
Constant and Linear Polynomials
Quadratic Polynomials
25
26
27
28
Factoring Polynomials
Factoring Polynomials
Graphing Polynomials
Graphing Polynomials
29
30
Rational Functions
Review
Test 2
Sol. Of Test 2
31
Exponential Functions
NO CLASS
NO CLASS
NO CLASS
NO CLASS
Assignment
HW 1 Open
HW 1 DUE
HW 2 Open
HW 2 DUE
HW 3 Open
HW 3 DUE
HW 4 Open
HW 4 DUE
HW 5 Open
HW 5 DUE
HW 6 Open
HW 6 DUE
HW 7 Open
HW 7 DUE
HW 8 Open
HW 8 DUE
HW 9 Open
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
03/14/14
03/17/14
03/18/14
03/19/14
03/20/14
03/21/14
03/24/14
03/25/14
03/26/14
03/27/14
03/28/14
03/31/14
04/01/14
04/02/14
04/03/14
04/04/14
04/07/14
04/08/14
04/09/14
04/10/14
04/11/14
04/14/14
04/15/14
04/16/14
04/17/14
04/18/14
04/21/14
04/22/14
04/23/14
04/24/14
04/25/14
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
NO CLASS
Logarithms
Logarithms
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
Piecewise Defined Functions
Piecewise Defined Functions
Review
Test 3
Sol. of Test 3
Linear Equations in Two Variables
Substitution
Linear Equations in Three Variables
41
42
43
44
Rows and Columns
Vectors and Scalars
2x2 Matrices
3x3 Matrices
45
46
47
Determinants and Inverse Matrices
Matrix Equations
Review
Test 4
HW 9 DUE
HW 10 Open
HW 10 DUE
HW 11 Open
HW 11 DUE
HW 12 Open
HW 12 DUE
HW 13 Open
HW 13 DUE
48
49
50
Sol. of Test 4
Final Review
Final Review
Final Review
FINAL EXAM
All information on this syllabus is subject to change. Any changes will be announced in class.
GOOD LUCK!!!