Syllabus
Math 1050-005 College Algebra
Fall 2014
Class meeting information: Class meets 2 times per week:
T, H (in JFB 103) 6:00-8:00 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/fall_2014.html
Office Hours: T, H 5:00-6:00 p.m.
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/textbook1050.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 Wednesday at 11:59
p.m., except during fall break. First assignment is due on Sept. 3rd. 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, quizzes and the final exam. You can find instructions
on using WeBWorK at http://www.math.utah.edu/~babenko/html/homework_1050-5fall_2014.html. There is also a link to login page.
Tests: We will have 4 Tests (60 min each, and if you are late no additional time will be given).
Here is tentative schedule of them: Test 1 – Sep. 25th; Test 2 – Oct. 28th; Test 3 – Nov. 13th; Test
4 - Dec. 4th. 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 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 exam
Tuesday, December 16, 2014 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Grading Plan: Homework - 12 points (each set – 1 point, so 13 points totally, but I’ll drop the
lowest one), quizzes – 1 point each (10 points totally), 4 tests – 12 points each (48 points
totally), final exam–30 points.
So, 12+10+4*12+30=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 (93-100), A- (90-92), B+ (87-89), B(83-86), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C(70-72), D+ (67-69), D (63-66), D- (60-62), E (0-59)
Important Dates:
Last day to drop (delete) classes
Last day to add, elect CR/NC, or audit classes
Last day to withdraw from classes
Wednesday, Sept. 3
Monday, Sept. 8
Friday, Oct. 24
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, September 2nd 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.
TU
Date
08/26/14
Lecture
1
TH
08/28/14
2
TU
09/02/14
3
TH
09/04/14
4
TU
09/09/14
5
TH
TU
TH
TU
09/11/14
09/16/14
09/18/14
09/23/14
6
7
8
9
TH
09/25/14
10
TU
09/30/14
11
TH
10/02/14
12
Topic
Introduction & Sets and Numbers
Rules for Numbers
Solving Some Simple Equations & Functions
Sequences
Sums and Series
Counting I
Counting I
Counting II
Counting II
More on Functions
Intro to Graphs
Graph Transformations
Inverse Functions
n-th Roots
Review
Review
Test 1
Sol. Of Test 1
Basics of Polynomials
Division
Assignment
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Quiz 3
Quiz 4
TU
TH
10/07/14
10/09/14
13
14
TU
TH
TU
TH
10/14/14
10/16/14
10/21/14
10/23/14
15
16
TU
10/28/14
17
TH
10/30/14
18
TU
11/04/14
19
TH
11/06/14
20
TU
TH
11/11/14
11/13/14
21
22
TU
11/18/14
23
TH
11/20/14
24
TU
11/25/14
25
TH
TU
11/27/14
12/02/14
26
TH
12/04/14
27
TU
12/09/14
28
TH
TU
12/11/14
12/16/14
29
Roots and Factors
Constant and Linear Polynomials
Quadratic Polynomials
NO CLASS
NO CLASS
Factoring Polynomials
Graphing Polynomials
Rational Functions
Review
Test 2
Sol. Of Test 2
Exponential Functions
Logarithms
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
Piecewise Defined Functions
Review
Review
Test 3
Sol. of Test 3
Linear Equations in Two Variables
Substitution
Linear Equations in Three Variables
Rows and Columns
Vectors and Scalars
2x2 Matrices
3x3 Matrices
Determinants and Inverse Matrices
NO CLASS
Matrix Equations
Review for Final
Review
Test 4
Sol. of Test 4
Final Review
Final Review
FINAL EXAM
Quiz 5
Quiz 6
Quiz 7
Quiz 8
Quiz 9
Quiz 10
All information on this syllabus is subject to change. Any changes will be announced in class.
GOOD LUCK!!!