Miami Dade College – North Campus
Department of Mathematics
Course Title: College Algebra (MAC 1105)
Text: Algebra & Trigonometry, eighth edition ,by Michael Sullivan – Prentice Hall Publishers
Instructor: Mr. Randy Smith
Telephone: 305-237-1261
Math Dept: 305-237-1358
Office hours: MW: 6:00 am – 7:00 am and 2:40 pm – 4:40 pm
TR: 11:15 am – 2:15 pm
E-mail: rsmith5@mdc.edu
Course Credits: 3
office: 7336
Prerequisite: MAT 1033 with grade of C or better or equivalent.
Course Description: A survey of college algebra from an operational rather than theoretical
viewpoint.
Evaluation: There will be five in-class exams, each of them will worth 100 points. The final
exam will worth 100 points. If you are absent on an exam day, you will earn a zero grade on that
exam. There are no makeup exams (no exceptions). Absence on an exam day may be
documented with a letter from a doctor or health center, a letter from the dean or student’s
advisor, or with a police report of the student’s accident or incident. All original documentation
must be submitted to the instruction upon return to class (no photocopies will be accepted). The
information contained in the documentation is subject to verification. If the information cannot
be verified, the student will earn a zero grade on every exam associated with such information.
Finally, absence on the final exam day without valid documentation will result in a failure grade
in this course. All students must take the final examination and their final grade will be
calculated based on the grading scale below with their lowest in-class exam grade dropped. .
Grades: The grading policy is as follows:
 A 90  x  100
 B 80  x  90

f x   C 70  x  80
 D 60  x  70

 F 0  x  60
Withdrawal: If you (the student) must withdraw from this class, it is important that you drop by
the college’s “drop date” (March 16, 2011) established by the registrar’s office. Remember that it
is your responsibility (not the instructor’s) to drop a class and follow all official procedures
through the Registrar’s office. You will receive a grade of F if you stop attending the class
without formerly dropping the class.
Homework: Homework will be assigned at the end of each class. I expect students to do all of
the assigned homework. Please note that these problems will serve as examples of test and quiz
questions. If you do not do your homework, you will get a very poor grade, so DO your
homework.
Assistance: The tutorial services of the Math Resource Center (Room 2222) are available to
students registered in this course. Services include course-related videotapes, computer software,
and tutors. These services might help you to successfully complete this course.
Attendance: I will take attendance during every lecture. I strongly recommend that students
attend all scheduled class meetings. Attendance definitely helps to perform well in this course.
You, the student, are responsible for all material discussed in class, as well as announcement
made, handouts, and homework assignments, whether or not you (the student) attend class on a
particular day. If you must be absent some day, please find out what took place in class during
your absence prior to returning to class.
Academic Dishonesty: The use of your textbook, class notes, cheat sheets, talking to a
classmate, looking at your classmates’ papers during examinations or quizzes are all considered
acts of cheating. Cheating is not permitted. Students caught in any act of cheating will be
charged with academic dishonesty.
Registration:
It is the student’s responsibility (not the instructor’s) to make sure that you
(the student) are officially registered for this course. Please be sure to obtain a copy of your
schedule to verify the reference number and that you do not owe any fees. If your name does not
appear on the third class roll as being registered and having paid for the class, you will not
receive a grade for this course and you will have to retake it next term, regardless of whether you
sat in class the entire term.
Note: Please keep your cellular phones off during lectures and examinations.
MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Purpose: Through the academic disciplines and co-curricular activities, General
Education provides multiple, varied, and intentional learning experiences to facilitate the
acquisition of fundamental knowledge and skills and the development of attitudes that
foster effective citizenship and life-long learning.
As graduates of Miami Dade College, students will be able to:
1.
Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
Professor will address this outcome trough all assessments described in the syllabus.
2.
Use quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and process numerical data. In this
course students will need to read and identify data from graphs and charts. Students will also
learn to develop quantitative skills to interpret data from graphs. Also, students will solve
algebraic equations and inequalities and manipulate data through unit analysis.
3.
Solve problems using critical and creative thinking and scientific reasoning. In the
process of solving mathematical problems, students will need to use critical thinking skills to
interpret solutions. Creativity in solving problems is constantly encouraged in this course and
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
viewed as an important skill in mathematics. Critical skills are heavily emphasized in this
course.
Formulate strategies to locate, evaluate, and apply information.
In this course students will often need to solve real-life word problems which apply the
mathematical concepts presented. Students will work to solve these problems and identify
relevant information in the problems in order to be able to solve them.
Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures, including global and historical
perspectives.
In this course, whenever possible, students will be introduced to the use of mathematics
through diverse cultures as well as historical notes on the mathematical concepts you learn.
Create strategies that can be used to fulfill personal, civic, and social
responsibilities. This outcome is not reinforced in this course.
Demonstrate knowledge of ethical thinking and its application to issues in society.
This outcome is not reinforced in this course.
Use computer and emerging technologies effectively. In this course students will be
frequently informed about their progress in the course via email.
Demonstrate an appreciation for aesthetics and creative activities.
This outcome is not reinforced in this course.
Describe how natural systems function and recognize the impact of humans on the
environment. This outcome is not reinforced in this course.
MAC 1105 (Algebra & Trigonometry), 8th edition, by Michael Sullivan
Sections
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.6
1.7
Test # 1
2.1
2.2
2.4
3.1
3.2
Test # 2
3.3
3.4
3.5
4.3
4.5
Test # 3
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
6.1
Test # 4
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
12.3
Test # 5
Final Exam
Course competencies:
1)
Solve linear equations and inequalities involving absolute value.
2)
Solve equations involving rational expressions.
3)
Solve word problems involving rational expressions.
4)
Solve radical expressions.
5)
Solve quadratic and cubic inequalities in one variable.
6)
Solve inequalities involving rational expressions.
7)
Find the distance between two points on a number line.
8)
Use the distance formula to find the distance between two points in the plane.
9)
10)
Determine the standard form of a circle, and graph the circle.
Determine the standard form of a line given certain conditions pertaining to
the
line.
11) Determine the standard form for the equation of a vertical parabola.
12) Graph a vertical parabola.
13) Define the terms ‘relation’ and ‘function’.
14) Define the terms ‘domain’ and ‘range’.
15) Find the domain and range of certain functions.
16) Use function notation and simplify the difference quotient for certain functions.
17)
Graph linear, quadratic, radical, absolute value, and root functions.
18)
Graph piecewise-defined functions
19) Solve certain maximum and minimum problems by finding the vertex of a
parabola.
20) Find the sum, difference, product, quotient, and composition of two functions.
21) Show that a function is one-to-one by using the definition or the horizontal line
test.
22) Find the inverse of a one-to-one function.
23) For a simple function f, graph both f and
on the same coordinate system.
24) Graph a polynomial function.
25)
26)
Graph a rational function.
Solve certain exponential equations using the property :If a = a , then x = y,
a > 0 and a = 1 .
27) Graph both increasing and decreasing exponential functions.
28) Define the statement ‘ y = log x ’.
29)
Know the properties of logarithms and solve certain problems which
require
Their use.
30) Graph a logarithmic and its inverse exponential function on the same
coordinate
system.
31) Solve exponential equations using logarithms.
32) Use the change- of- base formula to evaluate logarithms with base other than 10
or e.
33) Graph linear systems and solve these systems by substitution and elimination.
34) Evaluate 2 x 2 determinants.
35) Evaluate 3 x 3 determinants using expansions by minors.
36) Use Cramer’s Rule to solve 2 x 2 and 3 x 3 linear systems.