Math 115 Syllabus
Spring 2010
INSTRUCTOR: Aurora Ponta
SECTION: 001
COURSE TITLE: Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry
CREDIT: 3 semester hours
PREREQUISITE: Minimum of 380 on the math placement test or a grade of “A+” in MATH 100.
TEXTBOOK AND ACCESS CODE: “Algebra and Trigonometry”, 3rd ed. by Robert Blitzer, published by Prentice Hall. This
textbook will come in a package which includes the student access code to the publisher’s website. An access code is required to
complete all assignments and tests for this course. It allows the student to access the publisher’s website for the course, where all
assignments and tests must be completed and where the entire textbook may be viewed online . Access codes can be purchased with or
without a hard copy of the textbook at a bookstore or online from the publisher.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES: This is an accelerated combination of MATH 112 and MATH 113 (Algebra and
Trigonometry) and is a fast track to MATH 125. This course is intended for students with a very strong background in college
preparatory mathematics. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: perform operations with exponents, radicals, and
algebraic expressions; understand functions and operations on functions; graph polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic
functions; solve linear, quadratic, absolute value, rational, exponential, and logarithmic equations and inequalities; solve linear and
nonlinear systems of equations; graph the circle, parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola; understand trigonometric functions and their
inverses; graph trigonometric functions; verify trigonometric identities; solve trigonometric equations; understand polar graphs;
understand complex numbers in polar form, their powers, and roots; perform vector operations. Evaluation will be based on online
homework, quizzes, four tests, and a comprehensive final exam.
GENERAL LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR 100-200 LEVEL COURSES:
 Students will be able to discriminate between reliable and less reliable information in their decision-making.
 Students will be able to recognize and explain the scientific method, and evaluate scientific information.
LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THIS COURSE:
 Students will be able to understand and graph polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions and
their inverses.
 Students will be able to solve linear, quadratic, absolute value, rational, exponential, logarithmic equations and inequalities and
trigonometric equations.
 Students will be able to graph the circle, parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola.
 Students will be able understand polar graphs, and complex numbers in polar form, their powers, and roots.
 Students will be able perform vector operations.
 Students will be able to solve systems of equations.
GRADE: The course grading is under the “A, B, C, NC” policy, +/- grades will be given. The final grade will be based on your total
points for the semester. Your total points will be a number between 0 and 1002 determined by the following
4 Tests
Final Exam
Quizzes
Homework
Class Participation
Survey
Total
440 points (110 points each)
300 points
120 points (30 points each test period)
100 points (25 points each test period)
40 points (1 point for each class)
2 points
1002 points
COURSE GRADE SCALE
A+ 980 – 1002, A 920 – 979, A- 900 – 919
B+ 880 – 899, B 820 – 879, B- 800 – 819
C+ 780 – 799, C 720 – 779, C- 700 – 719
NC < 700
Students must earn at least 700 points (C-) to successfully pass this course.
Note: The last day to drop this course is March 24, 2010. No withdrawals from this course after this date.
TEST DEADLINES:
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
Test 4
Final Exam
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Mon., Tue., Wed., Thur., or Fri
ONLINE REGISTRATION PERIOD:
February 9
March 2
March 30
April 20
May 3, 4,5,6,7
8am Friday 1/29 – 5pm Friday 2/5
8am Friday 2/19 – 5pm Friday 2/26
8am Friday 3/19 – 5pm Friday 3/26
8am Friday 4/9 – 5pm Friday 4/16
8am Friday 4/23 – 5pm Friday 4/30
Test times available: To be announced
Final Exam times: 8:00 am, 11:30 am, 3:30 pm, and 7:00 pm (all times may not be available each day)
MTLC INFORMATION:
LOCATION: B1 Tutwiler
HOURS:
Sunday: 4:00pm – 10:00pm
Monday - Thursday: 8:00am – 10:00pm
Friday: 8:00am – 5:00pm.
MTLC phone: 348-2592
MTLC website: www.mtlc.ua.edu
LAB CLOSINGS: Sunday 1/17 and Monday 1/18 for MLK Holiday
Sunday 3/14 – Sunday 3/21 for Spring Break
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM: Every student must submit an acknowledgement form, found in the software, acknowledging
that he or she has read the syllabus and understands all the policies for this course. No one will be allowed to complete any
assignments until this form has been completed.
EMAIL REQUIREMENT: All correspondence for this course will be made through your crimson email account. If you do not
have a crimson account, then you can get one activated at the Seebeck help desk located in 125 Gordon Palmer. You can reach your
instructor by emailing at ma115mtl@bama.ua.edu. Please put your instructor’s name (Ponta) in the subject box. Replies to automated
emails cannot be answered.
DISABILITY ACCESS STATEMENT: For those students wishing to request disability accommodations, please contact the Office
of Disability Services at 348-4285. After initial arrangements are made with that office, then contact your instructor. Your instructor
will be glad to work with you to make sure your needs are properly met.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance for this course is mandatory. You are expected to attend all of your scheduled classes. Class meets
each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless noted. Each class counts 1 point toward your class participation grade. Each class will
consist of a lecture for the material assigned. The MTLC in B1 Tutwiler is available for you to do homework and quizzes.
QUIZZES and HOMEWORK: A graded homework will be assigned on each section covered and approximately one quiz every one
or two sections. They must be completed before each expiration date and time. For each test period we will drop two homeworks and
two quizzes grades. The homework grade for each test period will be calculated by taking the average of all the grades on the
assigned homework sections (dropping the lowest two) and converting this to the 25 points given for each test period. The quiz grade
for each test period will be calculated by taking the average of all the grades on the assigned quizzes (dropping the lowest two) and
converting this to the 30 points allowed for each test period. Material covered after test 4 will be calculated into the test 4 periods.
You have only one try for each quiz. All deadlines are MWF at 8:00 am, 9:00 am. NOTE: You will not be given help on your
quizzes or tests. Tests must be taken in the MTLC.
CALCULATOR: Only the calculator on the computer may be used in this course. Be sure to practice using it.
MAKE-UP POLICY: If homework or quizzes are missed due to a serious, verifiable circumstance, then make-up work may be
allowed. Any student requesting to make up work must fill out a petition request form in 345 Gordon Palmer with an excuse and
supporting documents attached. If a test is missed due to a serious verifiable circumstance, the zero test grade will be replaced with
the final exam grade (see Replacement Policy). Students who miss work due to official University business must make other
arrangements beforehand.
REPLACEMENT POLICY: Students with three or less unexcused absences will be allowed to replace the lowest test grade with the
grade made on the final exam. However, zeros due to an unexcused absence or academic misconduct will not be replaced. Students
who miss a test and have an excuse can have the missed test replaced if a petition request form is filled and supporting documents is
attached, at the math department office (345 Gordon Palmer) within two days of missed work. The missed test will be replaced if
the petition request panel approves the excuse.
WORKING FROM HOME: The Math 115 course work can be done on your personal computer. Internet access is required in order
to reach the website where the notes, homework, and exercises are found. The website is http://ua.mylabsplus.com. If this page ever
fails to load, try typing the website rather than choosing it from the dropdown menu. There are plugins to be downloaded in order for a
successful operation from home. To get these, you will login to the website with your own personal login and password as given by
the MTLC. Next, click on your course section. Select the INSTALLATION WIZARD from the link that appears on the screen. Then
follow the instructions on the screen. Students doing graded work from home risk grades not being properly saved. If scores are
not successfully sent from home and the deadline passes, you will NOT be able to make up the work.
CODE OF ACADEMIC CONDUCT: All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to
observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of
conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically
related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student. The Academic
Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.
MTLC RULES
1. The MTLC is a math classroom. Please be quiet during your visit to the MTLC.
2. Cell phones, food, drinks (including water), tobacco products, and companions are NOT allowed in the Center. A cell phone
violation will cause your cell phone to be detained until you leave the MTLC. Your cell phone needs to be out of sight and
turned off.
3. Other than mathematics, no activities such as talking, surfing the Internet, playing computer games, typing a paper, sleeping, etc.
is allowed in the MTLC, you will be asked to leave the MTLC.
4. The use of a computer in the MTLC is on a first-come first-serve basis; no reservation can be made for normal course work.
5. Take notes. Record all homework and quiz scores on the record sheet provided for you.
6. Please do not hesitate to ask questions in the MTLC. Staff members in the MTLC are there to help you.
TEST RULES
1. There are four 75-minute tests and a 150-minute comprehensive final exam. Test dates are listed on the front page of the syllabus.
2. You are encouraged to take your tests early: “Early” means before the close of online registration for that exam. No
registration is needed and no penalties will apply for early tests. However, no tests will be given at all on Sundays. You may not
begin a test if the MTLC is scheduled to close before the end of your full allotted time: usually you must begin by 8pm (7pm for a
final exam), or on Fridays by 3pm (2pm for a final exam).
3. You must reserve a time in order to take an exam on a test deadline day. Test weeks are a logistical challenge; you must tell
MTLC when you will come, and you must do what you say. The front page of the syllabus lists beginning and ending dates/times
for online registration for each exam. To register online, go to the MTLC website (www.mtlc.ua.edu), select link Test Registration,
log in as instructed, select link Register, then choose an available date and time. You may freely cancel or change your test time
while online registration is active. Be sure to verify your registration: log back in to the test registration site or check your
confirmation email message.
4. After online registration closes (at 5pm on Friday before the deadline week), you must come in person to the MTLC to register
or to change your test time. You must sign up manually with the instructor on duty; no phone calls or email arrangements can be
accepted. In this case, points will be deducted from your test grade as follows:
10 points if you did not register online
5 points if you change your test time after online registration closes but before your scheduled test time
10 points if you miss your test time and reschedule, or if no open seats remain when you come to register
These penalties are CUMULATIVE. You may fill out a petition request form to have the penalty waived if you have a valid excuse.
5. If you miss a test and your course’s testing period has NOT ended, come to the MTLC to reschedule. If the testing period is
over, see REPLACEMENT POLICY above.
6. Arrive on time for your test. Tardiness will cost you working time on the test. Bring your ID and pencils with you. Follow signs
to the back hallway. Staff will check your ID and give you a personalized test paper (which is your initial scratch paper), then
direct you to your seat.
7. Absolutely NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES may be active in the testing area. All cell phones, texting devices, iPods, MP3
players, etc must be turned off and put away before you pick up your test paper. Use of any electronic device during a test will be
treated as academic misconduct.
8. Place all belongings on the floor. Once you enter the testing area, all review material must be put away. As soon as you are
seated, you may begin your exam. The MTLC will give you additional scratch paper as needed; no other paper is allowed. When
you are finished, staff will collect all papers. Warning: do NOT touch the browser’s BACK button, your test will close and you
will have to start over.
9. ONLY THE CALCULATOR ON THE COMPUTER MAY BE USED ON TESTS. The only webpage that may be opened
during a test is the testing page. Opening any other website during testing will be treated as academic misconduct.
10. An MTLC staff member must be present when your test is submitted for a grade: if it does not store correctly it is at risk for
getting LOST.
11. You will be allowed to review your test before you leave the lab. You may not write down any information pertaining to test
questions to take with you when you leave the MTLC after an exam. You may not share any test information with anyone who
hasn’t taken the test. Violators will be charged with academic misconduct.
MATH SOFTWARE LOGIN INFORMATION: (The MTLC sets up the login information for each student. If you cannot
login with this following information, then please come to the MTLC for assistance.)
Your username: U of A email address
Your password: personal CWID
example: jksmith@crimson.ua.edu
example: 12345678
*You will find your current course under the University of Alabama Spring 2010 Term.