Spring 2011 Syllabus
MA110 Intermediate Algebra
3 Credit Hours
Intermediate Algebra with Applications
Seventh Edition
Aufmann, Barker, Lockwood
Division of Mathematics and Applied Sciences
Instructor: Dave Shirkey
The learning outcomes and competencies detailed in this syllabus meet, or exceed, the learning outcomes and
competencies specified by the Kansas Core Outcomes Project for this course, as sanctioned by the Kansas
Board of Regents.
Intermediate Algebra
SPRING 2011
Course Number:
MA110 (3 credits)
Time/Day/Location: MA110 A - MWF 8:00 PM - 8:55 PM, Room 301
MA110 B - TR 9:30 AM - 10:55 AM, Room 301
Instructor:
Dave Shirkey
Office:
F-15
Phone:
243-1435 ext. 219
Email:
dshirkey@cloud.edu
Required
Materials:
Intermediate Algebra with Applications, 7th ed., by Aufmann, Barker, Lockwood;
Houghton-Mifflin Publishing, 2008. TI-84+ calculator is recommended, however
TI-83's may also be used. Calculators with built-in CAS (such as TI 89's) may not
be used.
Note: calculators may not be borrowed/passed around during tests, quizzes, or the final
exam, so make sure you have one of your own in good working order.
Office Hours:
Posted on office door.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed for students who have only one year of high school
algebra, are inadequately prepared for College Algebra, or score in the prescribed range on the
ASSET/Compass exams. Topics covered will include Number Systems, Linear Equations and Inequalities,
Lines, Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities, Polynomials, Exponents, Rational Expressions and
Quadratic Equations. You need a C or higher in this course to move on to College Algebra.
PREREQUISITE: Two years of high school algebra with a grade of C or better AND appropriate test scores
or Elementary Algebra with a grade of C or better.
SEQUENCING:
Offered Fall and Spring
METHOD OF EVALUATION/GRADING:
There will be 3 multiple-choice tests making up 60% of your final grade. You will have 2 days to make
up 1 (one) missed test. After that, the grade will be recorded as a zero. YOU MAY ONLY MAKE UP
ONE MISSED TEST. If you miss more than one test (for other than a school-sponsored activity), you
will get a zero (0) on the additional test(s), and will be unable to make it/them up. Tests may not be taken
early. Tests are multiple-choice, and may include questions from recommended homework problems.
There will be approximately 4 quizzes making up 20% of your final grade. You will have 2 days to make
up 1 (one) missed quiz. After that, the grade will be recorded as a zero. YOU MAY ONLY MAKE UP
ONE MISSED QUIZ. If you miss more than one quiz (for other than a school-sponsored activity), you
will get a zero (0) on the additional quiz(zes), and will be unable to make it/them up. Quizzes may not be
taken early. Quizzes may contain some problems from the recommended homework problems.
There will be a cumulative, multiple-choice final exam making up the remaining 20% of your final grade.
Date and time TBA.
The grading scale is:
90% to 100% = A
80% to 89% = B
70% to 79% = C
60% to 69% = D
Below 60% is failing
COURSE POLICIES
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
It is imperative that each student does his/her own work. The following policy will apply to all students in
class.
Infractions of academic integrity (honesty) shall include:
 Using another student’s work without giving the student credit for the work. In other words, taking
someone else’s file and placing your name on it and claiming it is yours, using another student’s quiz, or
help on a quiz/exam.
 Giving another student your file(s) knowing that he/she intends to turn it in as his/her own creation,
giving another student your quiz, or help on a quiz/exam.
It is not an infraction of the policy to help another student understand how to do an assignment if he/she does
the work himself/herself with your assistance.
Cheating:
“Cheating means getting unauthorized help on an assignment, quiz or examination.”
1. You must not receive from any other students or give to any other students any information, answers, or
help during an exam.
2. You must not use unauthorized sources for answers during an exam. You must not take notes or books
to the exam when such aids are forbidden, and you must not refer to any book or notes while you are
taking the exam unless the instructor indicates it is an “open book” exam.
3. You must not obtain exam questions illegally before an exam or tamper with an exam after it has been
corrected.
Materials taken from “Academic Dishonesty in Our Classrooms.” Instructional Exchange, 1990, 2 (2), 1-4 (Newsletter available from the Office of
University Assessment and Intellectual Skills Program, Western Michigan University)
Plagiarism:
“Plagiarism” means submitting work as your own that is someone else’s. For example, copying material from a
book, the Internet, or another source without acknowledging that the words or ideas are someone else’s and not
your own is plagiarism. If you copy an author’s words exactly, treat the passage as a direct quotation and
supply the appropriate citation. If you use someone else’s ideas, even if you paraphrase the wording,
appropriate credit should be given. You have committed plagiarism if you purchase a term paper or submit a
paper as your own that you did not write.
PENALTIES FOR INFRACTIONS: ZERO ON ASSIGNMENT
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Perfect attendance and punctuality is highly recommended. As you may only
make up 1 missed test and 1 missed quiz, you will want to attend accordingly.
INCOMPLETE POLICY:
Students will not be given an incomplete grade in the course without sound reason and documented as described
in the Student Handbook. The incomplete must be made up with the instructor assigning the incomplete and
must be completed the semester immediately following the semester in which the class was taken. Refer to the
Student Handbook for a complete explanation.
ACADEMIC COMPLAINTS:
Cloud County Community College has an Academic Due Process Policy to address any student academic
complaints. For any unresolved complaints, the policy can be obtained from the Academic Affairs Office.
GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS: (If applicable)
DEPARTMENT GOALS: STUDENTS WILL DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY IN
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
1. Solve equations and inequalities of various types.
2. Factor a wide variety of expressions.
3. Perform arithmetic operations and simplify a wide variety of expressions, including but not limited to rational
expressions, radical expressions, and complex numbers.
4. Develop and solve basic mathematical models.
5. Perform basic tasks with functions, such as evaluation and identifying domain and range.
6. Graph linear equations, inequalities, and quadratic functions, as well as find the distance between two points
in the plane and their midpoint.
7. Write equations of lines, including parallel or perpendicular lines, given sufficient information.
8. Solve systems of linear equations using various methods.
ASSESSMENT OF COURSE OUTCOMES:
Student learning is assessed every semester based on course outcomes. Each instructor measures student
performance on all course outcomes for each course section every semester. The instructor fills out an
electronic form, which populates a database. This information is reviewed by the Assessment Coordinator and
the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Team. It is due to be completed by February 15th for the fall
semester and June 15th for the spring semester.
COURSE GOALS: It is assumed that students entering an Intermediate Algebra course will have
competencies from prerequisite courses. Students will be expected to use appropriate technology as one tool to
achieve the outcomes listed below:
I. Arithmetic and Algebraic Manipulation
A. Factor quadratic expressions, expressions of quadratic form, special forms, and by grouping.
B. Perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division on rational expressions.
C. Simplify complex fractions.
D. Apply the laws of exponents to simplify expressions containing rational exponents.
E. Apply the laws of radicals to perform addition, subtraction, and multiplication on expressions involving
radicals.
F. Rationalize denominators containing radicals.
G. Simplify radicals containing negative radicands.
H. Perform arithmetic operations on complex numbers.
I. Evaluate functions using function notation.
II. Equations and Inequalities
A. Solve linear inequalities in one variable showing solutions both on the real number line and in interval
notation.
B. Solve literal equations, including those that require factoring.
C. Solve systems of linear equations in two variables.
D. Solve equations by factoring and quadratic formula.
E. Solve equations containing rational expressions.
F. Solve equations involving radicals.
G. Solve linear absolute value equations and inequalities in one variable.
H. Develop and solve mathematical models including variation, mixture, motion, work, and geometrical
applications.
III. Graphs on a coordinate plane.
A. Graph linear inequalities.
B. Graph quadratic functions.
IV. Analysis of Equations and Graphs.
A. Determine an equation of a line given either sufficient information (such as two points on the line) or a
particular condition (such as parallel or perpendicular to a given line, through a particular point with a particular
slope, etc.)
B. Calculate the distance between two points.
C. Distinguish between functions and relations using the Vertical Line Test.
D. Identify the domain and range of a function given its graph.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES:
1. Prepare students for future courses and for the mathematical requirements encountered in other disciplines
and future careers.
2. Define arithmetic, algebraic, geometric, spatial and statistical concepts.
3. Calculate arithmetic, algebraic, geometric, spatial and statistical quantities using appropriate technology.
4. Estimate arithmetic, algebraic, geometric, spatial and statistical quantities.
5. Simplify and/or solve arithmetic, algebraic, geometric, spatial and statistical expressions, equations and
problems using appropriate technology.
6. Represent mathematical information numerically, symbolically, graphically and verbally using appropriate
technology.
7. Develop mathematical and statistical models such as formulas, functions, graphs and tables using appropriate
technology.
8. Interpret mathematical and statistical models such as formulas, functions, graphs and tables using appropriate
technology.
ASSESSMENT OF PROGRAM OUTCOMES:
Student learning is also assessed each semester based on program outcomes. Program outcomes
accomplishment is measured through performance on course outcomes. Each program uses a matrix to match
course outcomes of individual courses to overarching program outcomes. The program outcomes are calculated
as an average of all the relevant course outcomes. This information is processed after each semester and then
immediately reviewed by the Assessment Coordinator and the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Team.
ACCOMMODATION FOR DISABILITY:
If you need academic adjustments for any type of disability, see your instructor during office hours or make an
appointment. Students also may contact the Director of Advisement and Counseling, located in the Advisement
Center.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY:
In case of extremely severe weather, the college may close. The following radio and TV stations will be
notified:
KNCK
1390 AM
Concordia
KCLY
100.9 FM
Clay Center
KREP
92.1 FM
Belleville
KHCD
89.5 FM
Hutchinson
KVSV
1190 AM
Beloit
KSAL
1150 AM
Salina
WIBW (TV) Chan. 13
Topeka
KWCH (TV) Chan. 12
Wichita
KOLN (TV) Chan. 10
Lincoln, NE
Notification will also be placed on the internet at www.cancellations.com. A text message will also be sent out
on the Emergency Text Messaging System for the students who have signed up for it.
Students should call the switchboard at 800-729-5101 or 785-243-1435 if they are unable to attend class due to
hazardous conditions. Night class and off campus class cancellations are left to the discretion of the instructor.
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
When alarms are sounded or crisis conditions arise, you will be instructed to move to a designated safe area or
to remain in the classroom until the crisis has passed. If you are informed to leave the room, take as many of
your personal belongings as time permits. Cell phones and other electronic devices are only to be used once
you arrive in the safe area outside the building. Students requiring special assistance will be the responsibility
of the instructor or staff person.
Systems of alert for tornado or bomb threat: PA system, phone, or staff interruption of class. In case of fire, the
alarm will sound.
If directed to leave the building, evacuate to the soccer field unless an alternate safe location has been
designated.
*IMPORTANT*
- Cell phones, head phones, mp3 players, and any other devices which disrupt the
academic atmosphere of the class are not permitted. Make sure such devices are
turned off and stored away for the entire duration of class. Failure to do this will
result in the student’s removal from class.