Fall 2014
MATH 1090 Sec. 002
MWF 8:35 a.m. - 9:25 a.m.
Room: WEB 2230
Instructor: Pinches Dirnfeld
Office: LCB LOFT (located on the top floor)
Email: dirnfeld@math.utah.edu
Web Page: www.math.utah.edu/∼dirnfeld/
Office Hours: Monday 10:00-11:00 AM in LCB LOFT, Thursday 10:00-11:00 AM in SFEBB
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Textbook: we will be using an e-book, Business Algebra by Kelly MacArthur. You will NOT
be able to purchase the book through the campus store. You will need to go to
http://www.kendallhunt.com/macarthur/ (ISBN 9781465208699) to purchase the book
Course Web Page: www.math.utah.edu/∼dirnfeld/math1090
All course information and announcements will be posted on this website and on Canvas. It also
contains material that may help you succeed in this course. I shall assume that you are keeping
up to date with its contents.
Prerequisites: 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.
Course Description: Upon successful completion of this course, a student should be able to:
• Understand what a mathematical function is and know how to use linear, quadratic, logarithmic and exponential functions to model real world examples.
• Know how to solve a system of linear equations that arise in business applications.
• Distinguish between simple and compound interest situations.
• Calculate future and present value of annuities, and know when to use which formula for
the life application.
• Compute an amortization schedule and loan payments, such as automobile or mortgage
payments.
Grading: Your course grade will be computed using the following schedule.
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Weekly Homework
5%
Weekly Quizzes
15%
Midterm
20%
Midterm
20%
Midterm
10%
Final
30%
I will drop the 2 lowest scores of the quizzes. Your 2 highest scoring midterms will count for 20%
of your grade and the lowest will count as 10% with one exception as stipulated in the academic
dishonesty clause.
Homework: There will be weekly problem sets assigned each Friday and it will be due the
following Wednesday. The homework will not be graded but recorded whether it was completed.
I will randomly review a handful of homeworks each week to gauge the class’ understanding of
the material.
I encourage students to work together, however, you must write up the solutions yourself. You
should understand how the do every problem and show your work. No one can learn math by
reading a book or watching someone solve a problem. The only way to learn math is to work
out problems. If you are just copying solutions from your friends you will not do well on quizzes
and exams.
if you have trouble doing a problem you should come to my office hours, go to the tutoring lab,
or bring your problem to class.
Quizzes: There will be a 15-minute quiz every Friday. The weekly quiz will cover the material
on which we already had a problem set due. Quiz questions will be taken from text examples,
class examples, assigned problems or problems very much like those problems. There will be no
make up quizzes under any circumstances as I’m already dropping 2 of them already.
Midterms:There will be 3 midterms. You can find the schedule under Important Dates on the
last page. Note: I will post the grades for the second midterm by Friday, Oct 24 which is the
last day to withdraw from class.
Final: The final exam for this class is comprehensive it will cover all subjects we learn throughout
the semester. The final exam for this course is a department-wide exam and it will occur Tuesday,
December 16 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
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
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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.
Grading Scale: The grade scale will be the usual: 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). If I do need to curve the grades, I will use a Gaussian distribution (bell shaped curve.)
ADA: 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
Exam policies:
• All exams and quizzes will be closed book. This means that you are NOT allowed to look
into your book or notes nor are you allowed to have them out on your desk or anywhere
easily accessible.
• You won’t be allowed to bring your own scrap paper, if you need scrap paper you have to
use the ones I will supply you.
• Cellphone, computers, digital watches and other electronics are disallowed during exams
and quizzes.
• Cellphone must be turned OFF (silencing is NOT turned off) for all exams.
• You will be allowed to bring pens, pencils, erasers and a scientific calculator to quizzes and
exams and you should. Graphing or programmable calculators will not be allowed. If in
doubt, please come see me ahead of time.
• A week before the exam I will hand out blank note cards on which you can write down
formulas for the exam. In order to be fair to everyone (and consistent with the departmental
wide final policy for this course) I will only allow you to use the card I hand out (and only
one.)
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• Obviously, there is no talking during quizzes and exams. If you have a question you should
come ask me.
Academic Dishonesty: Failure to comply to the exam policies will result in an automatic zero
for that quiz or exam. If you are given an zero for a quiz or exam due to cheating it will NOT
count towards your lowest score. i.e if you get a zero because of cheating on any midterm it will
still count as 20% of your grade. I will then use your next lowest score for the 10% midterm.
Please note: if you break any of the exam policies, for example you have notes on
your desk, I need NOT see you looking into them. Just having them on the desk
will count as cheating.
I understand that sometimes students are overwhelmed. If you feel you are lagging behind
please come see me. I am here to help you learn. If you have extenuating circumstances please
see me or email me BEFORE the exam if possible and I will do my best, in accordance to
department policies to accommodate you. Please, do not resort to dishonesty, there is no excuse
for that. If you come talk to me before the exam I will do my best to help you. If
you were caught breaking the rules I will accept no excuse.
Extra Help: Dot not hesitate to come to my office during office hours or by appointment to
discuss a homework problem or any aspect of the course. The T. Benny Rushing Mathematics
Tutoring Center offers free tutoring. Beginning the second week of classes, tutoring will be
available from 8am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 8am to 6pm on Friday. If you
want to hire an outsider tutor (for a fee), you can find a list of such people through the math
department.
Additional Policies:
• During class all cellphones must be silenced. If you need to take a call do it outside.
• I will allow the use of computers in the classroom as long it doesn’t become a distraction.
If I suspect students watch movies or play games I will ban computers for everyone.
• No exam retakes. If you have extenuating circumstances I will replace your missed exam
with that of the final (since the final is comprehensive.) Needing to work, babysitting your
siblings, oversleeping, or needing more time to study do not pass as acceptable reasons.
Getting in a car crash or a death in the family is sufficient reason to request to replace a
missed midterm with the final. It is your responsibility to communicate with me as soon
as is possible, before the exam occurs (or as soon as possible). I may ask you to provide
proof, if I do the burden of proof is on you.
• You need to have a valid email address registered with Campus Information System. I
will regularly send emails to the class and expect you to be responsible for receiving that
information.
• If you have questions about any exam grade, or you want to appeal the grading of the
exam, you must contact me within one week of when the exam was returned. After that,
you will have to live with whatever grade you got.
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This syllabus can change: Depending by many factor during the semester, I reserve the right
to change the class structure and this syllabus. If they occur, you will be notified by email,
announcement on canvas and in class.
Important Dates:
Labor Day Holiday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monday September 1
Drop Deadline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, September 3
First Midterm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friday, September 26
Fall break . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 12-19
Second Midterm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monday, October 20
Withdraw Deadline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friday, October 24
Third Midterm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friday, November 21
Course Final . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuesday, December 16
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