Math 1050-003: College Algebra, Fall 2008
(Syllabus is subject to change!)
Location: JFB 101
Time: MW 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Instructor: Erica Graham (You can just call me Erica.)
Email: graham@math.utah.edu (Please write Math 1050 in the subject line.)
Class website: www.math.utah.edu/∼graham/math1050.html
Office: LCB 326
Phone: 801.585.1646
Office hours: MW 4:30 - 5:30 p.m., and by appointment
Note: Any class announcements will be sent to your registered University of Utah email address. Please be sure to
check this frequently so as not to miss potentially important information.
Important Dates:
Exam 1: Monday, September 29th
Exam 2: Wednesday, October 29th
Exam 3: Monday, November 24th
Comprehensive Final: Monday, December 15th , 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Prerequisites:
Math ACT score of 23 or better, or a grade of C or better in Math 1010. This means that you should already know how to
manipulate variable expressions, work with simple linear equations, graphs, fractions, exponents, and know the basic properties of
geometric shapes. The first few class meetings will be review of this material. If you find you are struggling with the review, you
may want to take Math 1010 over again.
Required Materials:
• Textbook: Precalculus, Larson/Hostetler (7th edition)
• You may use a scientific calculator for your homework. HOWEVER, I will not allow the use of calculators on quizzes, exams
or the final.
Contents:
We will cover the material in Appendix A, Chapters 1-3 and Chapters 7-9.
These chapters cover the following topics: functions, inverses and graphs; polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic
functions; systems of equations and matrices; arithmetic and geometric sequences and series; probability.
Homework Policy:
Expect to spend at least 2 hours on homework per one hour of class time. This means that you should be spending at least 8
hours per week on homework, especially if you struggle with mathematics. Late homework will not be accepted for any reason.
Homework problems will be assigned from each section and a non-predetermined subset will be graded. I will have a grader for the
homework and I will instruct this person to give a grade of zero if the following homework instructions are not followed:
• The homework solutions you submit should be written neatly and in an organized manner. As you present a solution, it
should be easy for a reader to follow how one step leads to another. The examples in the text are good guides to follow in this
regard, as are any examples I may work in class. Some problems may be difficult and require multiple attempts before finding
a successful strategy. Use scratch paper for preliminary work, and only include the successful attempt on your submitted
homework.
• Your homework must be written up in pencil. Homework written in pen will not be graded.
• Your solutions should be clearly labeled and in order. If multiple sheets are required to complete an assignment, label each
sheet with the name of the assignment and the section you are currently working on and STAPLE them together. Finally,
please write your name, the date, and the assignment number on the front page.
• Your written solutions should contain enough explanation so that a grader is convinced that you know what you are doing.
Generally, it is inadequate to merely write down a final answer.
• You are encouraged to work together on homework assignments. However, each of you must submit your own assignment.
Everything you submit should be in your own words and you should thoroughly understand everything you write down.
You will need to come and see me, email me, or go to the tutoring center if you have questions about homework. I will allow time
for questions before and after each class in addition to office hours.
Quiz Policy:
There will be quizzes given at the beginning of the Wednesday class, except during the first week of class and during test weeks.
The problems will be similar to the homework and examples done in class. No make-up quizzes will be given; however, the lowest
two quiz grades will be dropped at the end of the semester. Please write neatly in pencil, show all of your steps, and circle your
answers on any quiz. No calculators will be allowed.
Exam Policy:
Four exams, including the final, will be given. Students must bring a valid ID to the exam. There will be no make-up exams,
UNLESS a student can provide verifiable evidence that he/she has a significant illness or serious family crisis that will prevent
him/her from attending. Except under extremely unusual circumstances (i.e. jail or car accident), you must inform me in advance
of the missed test. In the event this happens, you are expected to promptly make arrangements with me to make up the test.
Please write neatly in pencil, show all of your steps, and circle your answers on any exam. No calculators will be allowed.
Grading:
Your grade will be based on the following:
Homework
10%
Quizzes
15%
3 Exams
15% each
Final Exam 30%
Expectations:
• Show up to class on time. There will be weekly quizzes and no make-ups are allowed for any reason. If you are late, then
you will have less time to work on the quiz.
• Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. If you are caught cheating during a test or quiz, then your test or quiz will be
taken from you and you will receive a grade of 0% for that particular test/quiz and possibly the course.
• Calculators, cell phones, ipods, laptops, etc. will not be allowed during exams or class. Please turn these devices off during
all classes.
• I insist on the use of a pencil for all mathematical work. In Math, mistakes happen, but I expect you to be able to erase
these mistakes on a quiz or an exam. Please practice writing neatly in your homework and boxing your anwers. This will
help the quality of your work on a quiz or exam. I expect you to present your work in a legible fashion. If it is not, then I
will be unable to read it and therefore unable to grade it.
• Be proactive about your education. After all, you or someone else is paying a lot of money for you to learn valuable skills.
So, ask questions when you do not understand; either in class, after class, in office hours, by email, or at the tutoring lab.
• If you know you are going to be absent for any part of the semester, make arrangements with me before, not after.
Withdrawals
You may withdraw from the class without consulting anyone and without a tuition penalty until Wednesday, September 3rd . The
last day to withdraw from this class with tuition penalty is Friday, October 24th .
Mathematics Tutoring Center:
The Mathematics Tutoring Center offers free, drop-in tutoring to students enrolled in Math 1050, amongst others. The tutoring
center and adjoining computer lab will be open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Monday - Thursday and 8:00 am - 6:00 pm Friday. The tutoring
center is closed on the weekends and University holidays. The tutoring center also offers weekly group tutoring sessions for 5 or
more students (by request) to serve students more effectively. If you are interested in this, you can schedule a meeting time at the
tutoring center.
ADA Statement
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that reasonable accommodations be provided for students with physical, cognitive, systemic, learning, and psychiatric disabilities. Please contact me at the beginning of the semester to discuss any such accommodation
you may require for this course.