Math 1010 - Intermediate Algebra (4 cr)
Fall 2015 Syllabus
Instructor: Rebecca Noonan Heale
Class meetings: MTWF, 7:30-8:20am, JFB 103
Office Hours: Tuesdays 9-10am, Fridays 10-11am
Office Location: JWB 213
E-mail address: Rebecca Noonan Heale
Website: Canvas
Required Materials:
• Turning Technologies QT Response Card
• Math 1010 Workbook, available at the Bookstore or Kinko’s
• Intermediate Algebra by David Arnold available at
http://www.redwoods.edu/Departments/Mathematics/IntAlgText/
Course Description: In the year 2015, computational efficiency is no longer a priority in basic mathematics
courses. Rather, we now need creative problem-solvers to lead the next generation. We focus on conceptual
understanding and thorough written communication, in the context of problem-solving. You are expected to understand why one mathematical statement follows from another and how to represent mathematical concepts in
various ways, effectively communicating your arguments within the culture of mathematics. We take a problemsolving approach to foster creativity. It is expected that you embrace confusion as wonder: an opportunity to be
creative and logical. Successfully completing this course means having the ability to ponder about a problem you
encounter, make a plan for solving the problem, execute the plan, and then reflect. We will describe, represent
and analyze patterns throughout the course. We will model the problems we encounter using linear, quadratic
and exponential functions and are going to investigate properties of those functions that allow us to predict
future behavior.
Course objectives: At the end of the course, the student will be
1. Willing to engage with problems which are unfamiliar to them and to which the solutions or paths to
solutions are not immediately obvious.
2. Extract relationships between quantities and describe them in different ways: tables, expressions, graphs,
words, and can translate between these representations in order to answer questions most efficiently.
3. Answer questions about quantities given relationships between two or more by solving equations, algebraically, using tables, graphs or approximating.
4. Understand the connections between solving equations and inverse functions.
5. Understand how different growth patterns influence shape of the graph.
6. Recognize linear, exponential and polynomial from verbal descriptions, tables, and graphs.
Teaching and Learning Methods:
• In class: The course packet contains questions that will motivate the content for this course. You can
expect to:
– work with your partner(s) on the problems in class,
– have whole class discussion and short lectures on pertinent material,
– respond individually or as a working group to clicker questions,
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– engage in problem solving sessions. During these sessions you will work together in groups of 2 or 3.
The instructor or TAs will be available during each session to help you as necessary. Turn in your
worksheet along with the names of your group members at the end of the period even if you don’t
finish. The worksheet and discussion forums will be posted at the end of the week so that you can
keep working on the assignment. It is highly recommended that you finish each assignment. Each
of these exercises will be worth 5 points. Scoring for the worksheet will be as follows: 5 points for
making a reasonable effort, 1 point for making a really weak effort, and zero points for not turning in
the worksheet.
These activities are organized for your benefit. Work in class is meant to train you to become better
problem solvers, inform you of how well you are understanding the material, and to inform me what we
need to focus on. You are required to be in class and engage actively to maximize the benefits of class work.
If you prefer to work in your own time, we recommend taking an online class that allows this flexibility.
• After Class: There will be three types of homework:
– Class preparation: You will be required to engage with the assigned sections in the Workbook ahead
of class which will facilitate the work in class. To ensure that you have prepared for the work, frequent
clicker questions will be asked that relate to the work you have done prior to class. A total of 4 points
will be awarded for a correct answer. A total of 3 points will be awarded for an incorrect answer. A
total of zero points will be awarded if no answer at all is entered. Therefore, it is in your best interest
to try to answer each question correctly, but enter your best guess regardless. At the end of the
semester, those students who have accumulated 85% of the total clicker points will get the maximum
points added to their overall score at the end of the semester. Those falling below the 85% threshold
will receive a proportional amount of the maximum points. The clicker questions will be posted to
Canvas at the end of each week. Clicker questions begin counting on Monday, August 31st.
– Approximately biweekly written homework will be assigned and collected. In these homeworks the
emphasis is on communication and application. You will be asked to treat these homeworks as you
would a paper in your English class.
– You should spend time reviewing material from class and clearing up any misconceptions, working on
problems we did not answer as a group, and coming up with your own questions. In addition, there
is an opportunity to take time to practice your skills in an online environment which supports our
textbook. Recommended practice problems will be assigned every week and links posted to Canvas.
They will not be collected, but our quizzes might resemble those questions rather closely.
Evaluation Methods and Criteria: Semester grades will be calculated as follows:
In class work
Quizzes
Written Homework
Midterms
Final Exam
10%
10%
10%
40%
30%
Daily
Every Thursday
Biweekly
Three total
You have to take the final to pass the course!
Additional support: This course is designed to challenge students. You may require additional support:
• Come to my office hours. This time is scheduled for you to come and ask questions on any of the material
covered in class/homework/exams or any mathematical inquiry you may have.
• There will be TA sessions on off days at the same time as the regular class in the rooms TBA. This is
where you can work on the questions from the workbook or handouts we didn’t get to, or where you can
ask questions about the online homework. Please visit.
• There is a supplemental instruction associated with this class. Dallas Foster will be your SI leader and the
meeting times will be arranged through a survey during the first week of class once your schedules have
been stabilized.
• The math department offers free drop-in tutoring for students enrolled in this class. The center is located
underneath the walkway between LCB and JWB and can be accessed by entering either building. They are
open Monday - Thursday 8 AM - 8 PM and Friday 8 AM - 6 PM starting the second week of the semester.
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• A list of private tutors is available from the Math Department office.
Schedule of Topics
Drop Date
Exam 1
Exam 2
Withdraw Date
Exam 3
Final Exam
and Due Dates:
September 4
September 18
October 9
October 23
November 20
December 18, 3:30-5:30
Sequences
Functions
Linear Functions
Quadratic Functions
Exponential Functions
Review
August 24 - September 11
September 14 - October 2
October 5 - 30
November 2 - 20
November 23 - December 10
December 11-17
Accommodations: 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, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS
will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All information in this
course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.
(www.hr.utah.edu/oeo/ada/guide/faculty/)
Faculty and Student Responsibilities:
1. It is your responsibility to be ready for class. This means you will have your clicker and the workbook with
you at all times. No make ups will be allowed, and no written, hand-in clicker question responses will be
accepted.
2. You will receive regular communication from me about the assignments and other information. I expect
you will read those in a timely manner. I am happy to respond to any questions you have. Unless they
have already been answered in my previous communication.
3. The lowest of your quiz scores will be dropped which means you can miss one. Otherwise, no quizzes can
be made up.
4. You may take an alternate exam if you talk to me about it first and explain the extenuating circumstances
that make it necessary. It is your responsibility to communicate with me as soon as is possible, before the
exam occurs. Talking to me after the exam is too late.
5. In an effort to create a vibrant learning community, extraneous use of cell phones and other electronic
devices will not be allowed. Turn them off, and put them away. Use of electronic devices is distracting to
you, those around you, and me. You will be asked to leave if you choose to use them.
6. You will be allowed a scientific calculator on all exams. A graphing calculator will not be allowed on exams.
Your cell phones are not calculators.
7. The syllabus is not a legally binding contract. The instructor reserves the right to change any portion of
the syllabus provided you are given enough notice.
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