Math 1090
College Algebra for Business and Social Sciences
Fall 2010
Instructior: Sarah Cobb
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Web Page:
Office Hours:
JWB 311
(801) 581-8823
cobb@math.utah.edu
http://www.math.utah.edu/∼cobb/ma1090
Tuesday 1:30–2:30 PM
Friday 10:30–11:30 AM
by appointment
Tutoring Center hours: TBA
Course:
Lecture: MWF 9:40 –10:30 AM
FInal Exam: Wednesday, December 15 3:30–5:30 PM
(Note that this is a department-wide final for the course and so does not match
the University-wide finals schedule.)
Prerequisites: ”C” or better in MATH 1010 OR Math ACT score of at least 23 OR Math
SAT score of at least 540. If you don’t have these prerequisites, you should not be in this
class.
Text: Business Algebra, Kelly MacArthur, Prepublication edition.
Material to be Covered: Functions and graphs, linear and quadratic functions, matrices,
Gaussian elimination, Leontief models, exponential and logarithmic functions, growth, periodic and continuously compounded interest, arithmetic and geometric series, annuities and
loans.
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Homework: Homework will be assigned daily and collected weekly on Mondays. I will
announce assigned problems in class and post them on the course web page. Assignments
should be turned in in class; anything turned in later will be considered late. I will accept up
to four late assignments no more than one week late. These late assignments are intended
to cover occasions of illness and emergency, so plan accordingly. Further late homework will
not be accepted.
Quizzes: Every Wednesday, we will have a ten to fifteen minute quiz at the beginning of
class. These will be very similar to the homework. I will drop your two lowest quiz scores
from the semester. Again, these two quizzes are intended to cover illness or emergency, so
no make-up quizzes or retakes will be given.
Exams: There will be two exams and a final. The two in-class exams will be October
6 and November 19. If it is unavoidable that you miss class on one of these days, you
will need to speak with me at least two weeks in advance and take the test ahead of time.
Make-up tests after the exam will be allowed only in the most extreme of circumstances
(death in your immediate family, grave illness, and such).
Calculator: You may use a scientific calculator on quizzes and exams, but no calculators
with graphing or programming abilities. You may not, or course, use the calculator built
into your phone or computer. On your homework, I have no way of knowing what kind of
calculator you use, but I strongly recommend that you use a scientific rather than a graphing
calculator.
Grading:
Your grade will be computed based on homework, quizzes, and exams:
Homework 20%
Quizzes
20%
Exam 1
20%
Exam 2
20%
Final Exam 20%
Your grade will be based on the percentage attained: 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)
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Working Together: Collaborating on homework is allowed and even encouraged. By
turning in a homework assignment, you certify that you understand everything you have
written down and could do a similar problem on your own. Working together on quizzes or
exams, of course, is not allowed.
Tutoring: The math department offers free tutoring in the tutoring center in the basement
of LCB. I will be there one hour each week (to be scheduled); other tutors will be available 8
AM to 8 PM Monday–Thursday and 8 AM to 6 PM on Fridays. You can find a private tutor
through University Tutoring Services; the main office of the math department also maintains
a list of private tutors.
Computers: I do not allow the use of computers in the classroom. Even with the best of
intentions, it is far too easy to shift from taking notes to playing Solitaire. Not bringing
your computer spares you the temptation.
Classroom Behavior: My expectations for classroom behavior is that you will behave like
adults, with respect for your peers and your instructor. Please don’t sleep, talk to each
other, do homework, throw things, eat noisy food, text on your phone, use a computer, or
anything else that shows disrespect. Anyone disrupting class will be asked to leave.
Cheating: Don’t cheat. It’s not worth it. If you cheat on a quiz or an exam, you will
receive no credit for that exam. Repeated incidents may be cause for more serious action.
Changes: Parts of this syllabus may alter in the course of the semester. Whenever possible,
I will both announce this in class and send an email. You are responsible for knowing
everything I email to your university mailing address as well as everything I say in class. If
it is unavoidable that you miss class, make sure you talk to someone who was there.
ADA statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that reasonable accommodations be provided for students with physical, cognitive, systemic learning, and psychiatric
disabilities. Students need to contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to
discuss any such accommodations that they may require for this course.
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