Math 1090
College Algebra for Business and Social Science
Spring 2012
Instructior: Sarah Cobb
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Web Page:
Office Hours:
JWB 115
(801) 581-3901
cobb@math.utah.edu
http://www.math.utah.edu/∼cobb/Spring12/ma1090.html
Tuesday 10:30–11:30 AM
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30–10:00 AM
by appointment
Tutoring Center hours: TBA
Course:
Lecture: MWF 8:35 –9:25 AM
Final Exam: Friday, April 27 3:30–5:30 PM
Prerequisites: “C” or better in MATH 1010, or equivalent test score. If you do not meet
this requirement, you should not be in this class.
You should also know that though this class fulfills a general education requirement and a
requirement for the business school, it will not qualify you to take any math course other
than business calculus. If there is any chance you may want to take a serious calculus course
(to major in a physical scince, for example) you should take 1050.
Text: Business Algebra , Kelly MacArthur, Second edition.
Material to be Covered: Functions and graphs, linear and quadratic functions, matrices,
Gaussian elimination, exponential and logarithmic functions, growth, periodic and continuously compounded interest, arithmetic and geometric series, annuities and loans.
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Grading: Your grade will be computed based on homework, quizzes, and exams:
Homework and Quizzes: 25%
Exam 1
15%
Exam 2
15%
Exam 3
15%
Final Exam
30%
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)
Homework and Quizzes: Homework will be assigned and collected daily. With each
homework, there will be a short take-home quiz. I recommend you do the quiz as though
it were an in-class quiz: no books, notes, help from others, or graphing calculators. I have
no way to enforce this, of course, so technically you’re allowed to do whatever you want,
but I recommend against it. You should turn in your homework with the quiz stapled to
the front. The homework will be graded on completion and worth ten points; the quiz will
also be worth ten points, but it will be graded on your understanding of the material. I will
grade based on work shown, not on final answers, so make sure your work is clear. Your six
lowest scores will be dropped and not counted towards your grade. These are intended to
cover cases of illness or other unavoidable absence. I will not accept any late work, so plan
accordingly. Homework is due at the beginning of class. If you must miss class, you may put
your homework in my box in the faculty lounge in JWB. I will pick it up immediately after
class, and if it isn’t there it will be considered late and not graded. Quizzes will be available
on the course website.
Exams: There will be three exams and a final. The midterm exams will be February 13,
March 23, and April 20. You are expected to take these exams in class at the scheduled
time. If it is absolutely 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). If something truly unavoidable comes up at
the last minute, I still need to hear from you before the beginning of the test. If I have not
heard from you by 8:35 on the day of the test, you will not be allowed to take it. The final is
Friday, April 27 at 3:30 PM and cannot be taken early or late for anything but the most
dire emergencies.
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Calculator: You may use a scientific calculator on exams, but no calculators with graphing
or programming abilities. Financial calculators are also not allowed. You may not use the
calculator built into your phone or computer. If you aren’t sure whether your calculator
is allowed, ask me before the test so that you can find an allowable one if it is not. 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.
Working Together: Collaborating on homework is allowed and 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 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. If this policy is a serious problem for you, please
talk to me.
Classroom Behavior: Please be respectful in the classroom. Don’t sleep, talk to each
other, do homework, eat noisy food, text your friends, use a computer, or anything else that
might distract your fellow students. Anyone disrupting class will be asked to leave.
Cheating: Don’t cheat. It’s not worth it. If you cheat on 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.
Office hours: Working with individual students is the best part of teaching. I hope that
you will come to my office hours. I have scheduled office hours each week. If your schedule
conflicts with these, send me an email and we can set up another time.
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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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