Syllabus
Math 1090-005 Business Algebra
Spring 2016
Class meeting information: Class meets 2 times per week (3-credit semester course):
T, H (in WEB L114) 9:10-10:30 a.m.
Instructor : Vira (Vera) Babenko, office JWB 129
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/1090-52016.html
Office Hours: T 10:30-11:30am (in JWB 129); H (TBA), and of course, by appointment.
Question&Answer Sessions: H 10:30-11:30am. 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.
Prerequisites: "C" or better in (MATH 1010 OR MATH 1050 OR MATH 1080) OR Accuplacer
CLM score of 60 or better OR ACT Math score of 23 or better OR SAT Math score of 540 or
better.
Course Description: Functions and graphs, polynomial and rational functions, matrices,
Gaussian elimination, exponential and logarithmic functions, growth, periodic and continuously
compounded interest, arithmetic and geometric series, annuities and loans.
Expected Learning Outcomes: upon successful completion of this course, a student should be
able to:
1. Graph and analyze quadratic, exponential and logarithmic functions; solve quadratic, exponential and
logarithmic equations.
2. Understand what a mathematical function is and know how to use linear, quadratic, logarithmic and
exponential functions to model real world examples.
3. Know how to solve a system of linear or quadratic equations that arise in business applications.
4. Find solutions to linear programming problems, to maximize a function over a geometric region.
5. Perform simple matrix algebra computations.
6. Use matrices to solve systems of linear equations.
7. Understand what an inverse function is and be able to find the inverse function, when it exists.
8. Distinguish between simple and compound interest situations.
9. Calculate future and present value of annuities, and know when to use which formula for the life
application.
10. Compute an amortization schedule and loan payments, such as automobile or mortgage payments.
Required Textbook: Business Algebra, 2nd edition, published by Kendall Hunt, ISBN
9781465240989. You can find more information about Textbook on our class web page.
Assignments: I will collect homework in class on Tuesdays of each week. This is the only time
and location that I will accept homework. The homework set MUST be stapled together (Please
do not come to class hoping that I or someone else will have a stapler.) I will NOT be grading for
correctness for the HW grade, so it is your responsibility to make sure you understand the
problems and their solutions. 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 similar problems will appear on tests and the final exam.
Quizzes: We will have 11 quizzes based on your homework (about 15 min each, and if you are
late no extra time will be given). No make up Quiz will be given, but I will drop your lowest quiz
grade.
Tests: We will have 3 Tests (60 min each, and if you are late no additional time will be given).
Here is tentative schedule of them: Test 1 – Feb. 2nd; Test 2 – Mar. 3rd; Test 3 – Apr. 7th. Please
bring University ID to all tests. I will post solutions for 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 in person no later than 1 week 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 (departmental!!) exam
Thursday, April 28, 2015 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Grading Plan: Homework - 10 points (each set – 1 point, and I’ll drop 2 lowest), quizzes – 10
points (I’ll drop lowest), 3 tests – your lowest midterm score will count for 10 points and your
top two midterm scores will each count for 20 points. Final exam is 30 points.
Grading Scale: Although I'm not philosophically opposed to curving grades, I find it's rarely
necessary. The grade scale will be the usual: A (93-100), A- (90-92), B+ (87-89), B (83-86), B- (8082), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C- (70-72), D+ (67-69), D (63-66), D- (60-62), E (0-59). If I do need to
curve the grades, I will simply shift everything down by a few points (whatever is necessary).
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:

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.
Important Dates:
Last day to drop (delete) classes
Last day to add, elect CR/NC, or audit classes
Last day to withdraw from classes
Friday, January 22
Friday, January 22
Friday, March 4
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 Tuesday, January 19th, and the hours
are: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Monday - Thursday and 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM on Friday. 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. For students who need more attention than our tutoring center can offer, the ASUU
Tutoring Center, 330 SSB, offers inexpensive private tutoring ($7 an hour). A list of private tutors is also
available from the math department office or the desk in the tutoring center.
Online Grades: I will put your grades online on Canvas. You can get there easily from the main
University of Utah website www.utah.edu. To log in, you use the same student id and password that you
use for Campus Information System. I do my best to update the grades on a regular basis and keep
everything accurate. However, I would advise you to check your grades often to make sure there were
no data entry mistakes. I'm always happy to correct any mistakes I've made. You just need to let me
know about them.
Calculators: You may find it helpful to have a graphing calculator for your own personal use. However, if
I allow calculators on exams or quizzes, I will only allow scientific calculators (no graphing or
programmable calculators will be allowed ever). A cell phone cannot replace the calculator for this
course. You are responsible to learn how to use your calculator and to assure that you are not
depending on it as a replacement for understanding the mathematics. Most of the time, you will not
have use of a calculator on exams and quizzes. This will be discussed more in class with each quiz and
test.
ADA Statement: The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and
activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior
notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services (CDS), 162 Olpin Union Building, 581- 5020
(V/TDD). CDS will work with you and me to make arrangements for accommodations. All information in
this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to CDS.
Student Responsibilities: All students are expected to maintain professional behavior in the classroom
setting, according to the Student Code, spelled out in the Student Handbook. You have specific rights in
the classroom as detailed in Article III of the Code. The Code also specifies proscribed conduct (Article
XI) that involves cheating on tests, collusion, fraud, theft, etc. Students should read the Code carefully
and know you are responsible for the content. According to Faculty Rules and Regulations, it is the
faculty responsibility to enforce responsible classroom behaviors, beginning with verbal warnings and
progressing to dismissal from class and a failing grade. Students have the right to appeal such action to
the Student Behavior Committee. http://regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-400.php
Other Rules:
o
o
o
Students are encouraged to attend every class and participate actively by asking questions both in
and out of class.
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.
Students are expected to arrive on time and stay for the whole duration of the class.
This is a tentative schedule. It may be modified depending on the progress of the class.
TU
TH
TU
TH
TU
TH
TU
TH
TU
TH
TU
TH
TU
TH
TU
TH
TU
TH
TU
TH
TU
TH
TU
TH
TU
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TU
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TU
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TU
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Date
01/12/16
01/14/16
01/19/16
01/21/16
01/26/16
01/28/16
02/02/16
02/04/16
02/09/16
02/11/16
02/16/16
02/18/16
02/23/16
02/25/16
03/01/16
03/03/16
03/08/16
03/10/16
03/15/16
03/17/16
03/22/16
03/24/16
03/29/16
03/31/16
04/05/16
04/07/16
04/12/16
04/14/16
04/19/16
04/21/16
04/26/16
04/28/16
Lecture
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Topic
Review, 1.1
1.2, 1.3
1.4, 1.5 Quiz 1
1.6
1.7, 1.8 Quiz 2
Review
Test 1
2.1
2.2
Quiz 3
2.3
2.4, 2.5
Quiz 4
3.1
3.2, 3.3
Quiz 5
3.4, 3.5
Review
Quiz 6
Test 2
3.6
3.7
NO CLASS
NO CLASS
4.1
Quiz 7
4.2, 4.3
4.4, 4.5
Quiz 8
4.6
Review
Quiz 9
Test 3
5.1
5.2
5.3, 5.4
Quiz 10
5.5
Final Review Quiz 11
FINAL EXAM (3:30-5:30p.m.)
Assignment
HW 1 due
HW 2 due
HW 3 due
HW 4 due
HW 5 due
HW 6 due
HW 7 due
HW 8 due
HW 9 due
HW 10 due
HW 11 due
HW 12 due
All information on this syllabus is subject to change. Any changes will be announced in class.
GOOD LUCK!!!