Math 1050 College algebra, section 2
Class time:
Instructor:
Contact info:
Oce hour:
Text:
Intended for..:
M, T, W, F from 8:35am{ 9:25am in JWB 335.
Alastair Craw.
email craw@math.utah.edu (best way to contact me).
oce JWB 124, phone 581 4063.
Thursday 8:35am{ 9:25am in JWB 124.
\Precalculus (5th Edition)" by Larson and Hostetler.
....those continuing on to calculus.
Prerequisites: A working knowledge of Math 1010 (elementary algebra; exponents and radicals; linear functions, equations, inequalities; complex numbers;
quadratic functions and equations.) We begin this class by rapidly reviewing
these topics.
Objectives
Functions and graphs, systems of linear equations and matrices, exponential
and logarithm functions, arithmetic and geometric sequences.
Extremely tentative schedule
Week beginning.. Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Friday
August 20
P1
Pretest
27 P2, P3
P4
P5
Quiz 1, P6
September 3 Holiday 1.1-1.3
1.3-1.5 Quiz 2, 1.6-1.7
2.1
2.2
2.3
Quiz 3, 2.4
10
17
2.5
2.5
Review
Exam I
24
2.6
2.6
2.7
Quiz 4, 2.7
7.1
7.2
Holiday
October 1 Recap
8
7.3
8.1
8.1
Quiz 5, 8.2
8.2
8.3
Review
Exam II
15
22 Recap
8.4
8.5
Quiz 6, 7.4
29
7.4
7.5
3.1
Quiz 7, 3.2
November 5
3.2
3.3
3.3
Quiz 8, 3.4
3.4
3.5
Review
Exam III
12
19 Recap
9.1
9.2
Holiday
9.3
9.4
9.4
Quiz 9, 9.5
26
9.5
9.6
Review
Review
December 3
1
Grading System
There is a test on each Friday of the course. They come in three avours:
0% There will be a 30 minute \pretest" on Friday 24th August. This will not
count towards a nal grade (unless you wish it to; see below), but should
give you an idea of whether your current knowledge of math is suitable
for this course.
2.5% There will be nine \testlets" (a.k.a. quizzes), each lasting approximately
ten minutes. You may drop your lowest score, and your best eight scores
each count 2.5% toward your overall grade. There will be no makeups,
but if you wish your pretest score may count instead of a quiz score.
20% There will be three midterms, each lasting one hour. You may drop your
lowest score, and your best two scores each count 20% toward your overall
grade. There will be no makeups!
The fully comprehensive Final exam will take place on Thursday December the
13th from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. It is worth 40% of your course grade. In summary,
your grade will be calculated as folows:
Best 8 testlets (20%) + best 2 midterms (40%) + nal (40%).
Graphing Calculators and Mobile phones
You may use graphic calculators if you wish. However the exams will be written
in such a way that they'll provide little if any advantage. Do not rely too heavily
on a graphing calculator! Please switch o cellphones before coming to class. I
rserve the right to telephone my mother in Scotland if I hear a phone going o
{ you have been warned.
Advice From Those Who've Gone Before
The last question on the Final exam of the Calculus class which I taught here
a few years ago was: \What advice would you have liked to receive at the start
of the course ? (If you write \do the homework regularly" I'll strangle you!)"
Here are a few of the responses:
\Do homework regularly! (only kidding)"
\Regular attendence is a must."
\Attend as many help sessions as humanly possible."
\The chapters build on each other so don't fall behind."
\Midterms will help boost the grade before a hard nal."
\Pull your head out before the rst exam!"
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\You were right about the hard nal: it's busting my ass!!"
My advice to you is, if you have a \Solutions Guide", please burn it (preferably when you get home).
Homework policy and help
At the end of each lecture I will assign 10 to 20 homework problems. You should
do these before the next lecture. You should feel free to work in groups. You
learn a great deal by discussing maths with other people. If your entire group
is stuck then:
1. You should seek supplementary instruction from Cori Givan on Monday
9:40-10:30am, Tuesday 9:40am-10:30am or Wednesday 2:00pm-2:50pm.
Contact her via cgivan@math.utah.edu.
2. The Mathematics Tutoring Centre, located in Mines 210, will be open
from 8:00am - 8:00pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:00am - 2:00pm
Friday.
3. You may also ask me for help. My oce hours are Thursday 8:35am 9:25am and for half an hour after class on Wednesdays and Fridays.
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