MATH 1110-010 College Algebra
Fall 2011 SYLLABUS
Class Sessions:
Instructor:
Joe Bilello’s Office:
Help Sessions:
Note: These times are
subject to change. See
my web page for the
most current times.
E-mail:
Web Pages
M/W 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM in King Classroom Building 201
Joe Bilello
CU-Denver Bldg., Rm. 652 (6th floor CU Building – 1250 14 th Street)
I will hold open help sessions in the MERC lab (NC 4015) during the following times. Feel free to drop in with your questions!
Mondays & Wednesdays: 1:00 – 1:50 PM.
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 2:30 – 3:20 PM.
Other times are available by appointment - call or e-mail first! joseph.bilello@ucdenver.edu Note: e-mail is frequently the best way to reach me.
The syllabus & homework assignments are posted on my web page at: http://math.ucdenver.edu/~bilello/
Grades are updated regularly and posted at: http://blackboard.cuonline.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp
Teaching Assistant Lauren Peloso
E-mail: lauren.peloso@ucdenver.edu
Math Dept. Office
Math 1110 Course Captain Joe Bilello: Office CU-Bldg., Rm. 652
Phone: 303-556-4809; email: joseph.bilello@ucdenver.edu
Dept Associate Chair
CU-Denver Bldg., 6th Floor (1250 14th Street) phone: 303-556-8442 (main line)
Lynn Bennethum: Office CU-Bldg., Rm. 638
Phone: 303-556-4810
Description: Topics in algebra designed for students who intend to take the calculus sequence. Functions, domains, ranges, graphs, data scatter plots and curve fitting, solving equations and systems of equations, polynomial functions, rational functions, and selected other topics. Graphics calculators are used extensively. Applications are emphasized.
Prerequisites:
It must be assumed that every student has a good understanding of the mathematical concepts found in a college
Intermediate Algebra course or a good Advanced Algebra course in high school. An assignment will be administered during the first week of the course to help you gauge your readiness for the rigor of the mathematics content. While this assignment will not determine mandatory placement it should be used as a guide to help you determine whether this class is the right fit for your current mathematical abilities.
Required Materials:
Text: Algebra and Trigonometry Enhanced with Graphing Utilities (5 th Edition) by Sullivan and Sullivan. An eBook is available and recommended for purchase since we will be utilizing the associated MyMathLab software.
Software: MyMathLab
A hard copy of the text is not absolutely required since an eBook comes with the purchase of the software. The total cost for the software and eBook is approximately $75.00. You can purchase the software and the eBook by going to www.coursecompass.com
. Under the STUDENTS tab click on REGISTER. Unless you are retaking this course, you will want to “Get Access to a New Course”. You will need your university email address (which you check regularly), the
COURSE ID which is _bilello92925_ and either a student access code or a valid credit card. If you purchase a hard copy of the text then we recommend that you purchase it new bundled with the student access code that gives you access to the MyMathLab software. Note that a used text will not usually come with an unused access code. Each access code can only be used once!!! If you purchase a used text then you will probably still need to purchase the software and eBook online. If you don’t mind using the eBook instead of a hard copy of the text then the MyMathLab software is all you need.

Graphing Calculator:
All students will need a graphics calculator for this class which will be utilized in class, on the homework assignments, and on portions of the exam. The recommended calculator is one of the TI-83/84 Calculators. The TI-89 is also a sufficient calculator but the syntax of the 89 will not be discussed in class. The TI-85, TI-82, and the TI-81 are not sufficient since they are outdated and do not handle data collection and data analysis. You should bring your calculator to class every day, as it will be an integral part in our instruction.
Exam Schedule and Grading Policy:
Tests: There will be three in-class exams worth 150 points each plus a comprehensive uniform common final exam worth 250 points. The final exam is cumulative and will include topics from throughout the semester. There will be parts of every test that require a graphing calculator, including the final exam. Students are required to bring A Student ID to class on the day of each exam. The dates of the tests and final exam are as follows:
Exam #1: Wednesday, September 21 st
Exam #2:
Exam #3:
Wednesday, October 26 th
Wednesday, November 30
Final Exam: Saturday, December 10 th th
(9:00 AM – Noon)
Written Homework Assignments: Homework problems will be given over each section covered and collected each week. Approximately 11 assignments will be graded and will be worth a total of 100 points after your lowest homework grade is dropped at the end of the semester. Please follow these guidelines when turning in homework assignments:
1.
Assignments are to be done on green engineering paper. Engineering paper can be purchased at the bookstore.
2.
Assignments should be done in pencil.
3.
Show all work neatly since messy papers may not be graded.
Include graphs where appropriate. Your graphs should always have important information (axes, scale, 4.
intercepts, and important points) identified.
5.
Staple your papers together.
6.
Make sure that you do the assigned problems. No credit can be given for work on an incorrect problem.
7.
Please circle or box your answers.
You are able to work together in doing homework assignments; however, copying another student’s work will not be tolerated. If this occurs, all students involved will receive zero credit on the assignment.
MyMathLab Homework
nline homework will count for a total of 70 points. This homework will be assigned over each section covered. You will use MyMathLab to do the online homework. It is recommended that you do the online homework for each section before doing the written homework for the section. You get immediate feedback while doing the online homework since the problems are graded as you do them. You can also get various forms of help on a problem if necessary and you have multiple attempts to get each problem correct. If you want to improve your score on a particular assignment you can return and try individual problems again, up until the due date of the assignment.
Recitation Attendance/Participation or Exam Averages: Please refer to your Recitation Syllabus.
Algebra Application Problems: Four problems will be assigned during the semester that will be an extension to the homework assignments. These problems will require the use of a graphing calculator. You will have approximately two weeks to complete each problem and they will account for a total of 40 points.
Points Summary: You will be accumulating a possible 1000 points during the semester.
In-class Exams 450 points
Final Exam
Written Homework
MyMathLab Homework
Recitation
Application Problems
250 points
100 points
70 points
90 points
40 points
Total 1000 points

Grading Scale: Your final grade will be determined by the percentage of these points you have actually received
A 92.0 – 100% A- 90.0 – 91.9%
B+ 88.0 – 89.9% B 82.0 – 87.9% B- 80.0 – 81.9%
C+ 78.0 – 79.9% C 70.0 – 77.9%
D 60.0 – 69.9%
F below 60.0%
Late Work and Exam Makeup Policy:
Makeup Tests: I expect you to take all of the tests. If some emergency arises that causes you to miss a test, we will deal with it in such a way that you are not penalized. We will discuss the details if this happens. If at all possible, you must make arrangements with me beforehand, and I will ask for details regarding the emergency. If you miss a test without making prior arrangements, you will in all likelihood receive a zero. No makeup will be offered after the test has been passed back to the class.
Final Exam: The final exam will be Saturday December 10 th (9:00 AM - Noon). Attendance at the final exam is mandatory. Having the final rescheduled is extremely rare and is not permitted for reasons such as a plane ticket that was purchased earlier, attendance at weddings or accommodation of your work schedule.
Late Homework Assignments: Homework will be assigned on Wednesday and it will be due the following
Wednesday. If assignments are turned in after their due date there is a huge penalty. Unless you make prior arrangements, expect a 50% reduction in grade for any item turned in late. No late assignments will be accepted after the assignment has been graded and returned to the rest of the class.
Late Application Problems: Unless you make prior arrangements, expect a 50% reduction in grade if these problems are turned in late. No late application problems will be accepted after the problem has been graded and returned to the rest of the class.
Late Online Homework: If you do not do an online homework assignment by its due date you will receive a zero on that assignment. Technical difficulties are always possible when working with computers so plan ahead and get your online homework and quizzes done early!
Frequently Asked Question: How much time should I be spending on my Math 1110 each week?
A “full-time job” is considered to be 40 hours per week and a “full-time student” is considered to have a schedule of 15 hours per week. If you subtract 15 hours of class time from the 40 hours, that leaves 25 hours of studying per week.
3/15 = 1/5 of 25 hours is 5 hours of studying Math 1110, outside of class time per week. Warning: If your last math class was several years ago or if your prerequisite math skills are weak then you are not well prepared and you will need to spend considerably more time on this class in order to be successful!
Attendance: Regular attendance and participation are important to your success in any college course but particularly in mathematics. You are expected to attend class faithfully and to take responsibility for your own learning.
Cheating: Examples of cheating include (but are not limited to): using unauthorized references (e.g. another individual, notes, texts...) during an exam, using a calculator on an exam where a calculator is not allowed, altering a graded exam and coming back to request more points, turning in duplicate homework assignments, and plagiarism. The penalty for cheating will depend on the evidence and the intent of the student.
At a minimum, the penalty for deliberate cheating on an exam will be a zero on the exam. A letter will also be sent to the department Chair and the CLAS associate Dean and it is likely that depending on the circumstances, cheating of this kind may result in a course grade of F as well as possible expulsion from the university.
It isn't worth it, so don't do it.
I encourage students to work together on homework. However, it is expected that you turn in your own work expressed in your own words. Never copy someone else’s work and do not allow someone else to copy your work. If there are duplications of portions of homework where it is obvious that copying has occurred, then both parties will receive a zero on the assignment.

Cell Phone Policy: Although cell phones are now an integral part of our daily lives, in the math classroom they can be at best a distraction and at worst a tool for academic dishonesty. In order to assist students to realize their academic potential, the cell phone policy in this class will be:
During class, cell phones may be on silent or vibrate mode, but should not be used during class. If a situation arises where you need to answer or make an emergency call, please leave the room so that you do not disrupt the learning environment.
During quizzes and exams, cell phones are prohibited. If I see a cell phone during these times, your assessment will be taken and a grade of zero will be received. If there is an emergency situation (life or death) where you must be able to answer your phone, you must tell me before the exam starts.
Student Code of Conduct: As members of the University community, students are expected to uphold university standards, which include abiding by state civil and criminal laws and all University policies and standards of conduct. These standards are outlined in the student code of conduct which can be found at: http://www.ucdenver.edu/life/services/standards/Documents/UC Denver Code of Conduct [Compatibility Mode].pdf
Incomplete Grades: Incomplete grades (I) are not granted for low academic performance. To be eligible for an
Incomplete grade, students must (1) successfully complete at least 75 percent of the course, (2) have special circumstances (verification may be required) that preclude the student from attending class and completing graded assignments, and (3) make arrangements to complete missing assignments with the original instructor using a CLAS
Course Completion agreement.
Where to Get Additional Help: There are Teaching Assistants available to answer your questions in the MERC lab in the North Classroom Building (NC) room 4015. This is an excellent resource! Check with the lab to see their schedule. Try to form a study group to study and learn with; it really works for some people! Realize that there are many ways of learning and a study group may be helpful for you. Listening to a lecture and asking questions may work for someone else. The Learning Resource Center (see below) may be able to assist you in setting up a study group. And don’t forget about me! Please, don’t be afraid to ask me questions. Don’t think, “I must be the only one who doesn’t understand.” Feel free to ask questions before, during, or after class. You are always welcome to drop in and see me during my open office hours held in the MERC lab (see page 1), or you can ask questions by email. If your email contains math symbols, just type them as you would on your calculator.
Other Resources for this course:
The Learning Resource Center is designed to promote student success, retention, and graduation in the academic setting.
Services which are available to UC Denver students include tutoring, and study groups, study strategies seminars, peer advocacy, a test file and minority resource library.
Tutoring Services – North Classroom Building (NC) Room 2004. Phone: (303) 556-2802
Disability Accommodations The University of Colorado Denver is committed to providing reasonable accommodation and access to programs and services to students with disabilities. To be eligible for accommodations, students must be registered with the UC Denver Office of Disability Resources and Services (DRS) – North Classroom 2514; 303-556-3450,
303-556-4766 (TTY). The DRS staff has experience to assist faculty in determining reasonable accommodations, and to coordinate these accommodations. If a student is given accommodations, they must be followed. If a student chooses not to accept the accommodations set forth by the DRS, they MUST complete all assignments and do all course work in the same manner as all other students. No exceptions or alternate forms of evaluation can be used except those mandated by the DRS. Faculty cannot arbitrarily decide to give a student extra time, extra assistance or other forms of aid unless it is formally mandated by the DRS.
The University of Colorado Denver provides many other services, resources and association memberships to support and enhance your education. For a complete list of these resources see: http://www.ucdenver.edu/life/services/Pages/index.aspx

Fall 2011 CLAS Academic Policies
The following policies pertain to all degree students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS).
 Schedule verification: It is each student’s responsibility to verify online that his/her official registration is correct: verify before classes begin and prior to the drop/add deadline. Failure to verify schedule accuracy is not sufficient reason to justify a late add or drop.
 E-mail: Students must activate and regularly check their official student e-mail account for CU
Denver business: http://www.ucdenver.edu/student-services/Pages/WebMail.aspx. Those who forward email to a private account are still responsible for checking their official student e-mail account for messages not automatically forwarded.
 Waitlists:
 Students are not automatically notified if they are added to a class from a waitlist. Students are not automatically dropped from a class if they never attended, stopped attending, or do not make tuition payments.
 Waitlists are purged after the 1st week of classes, after which a paper Schedule Adjustment
Form (drop/add form) is required. It is the student's responsibility to get the form (online or at the Advising Office, NC 4002), have it signed, deliver it to the Registrar (Annex 100) or the
Student Services Center (NC 1003), and verify her/his schedule online.
 Late adds (after 7 September) will be approved only when circumstances surrounding the late add are beyond the student’s control. This will require a written petition and verifiable documentation. Petition forms are available in NC 4002. The signature of a faculty member on a
Schedule Adjustment Form does not guarantee that a late add petition will be approved.
 Late drops (after 14 November) will be approved only when circumstances surrounding the late drop have arisen after the published drop deadline and are beyond the student’s control.
This will require a written petition and verifiable documentation. The signature of a faculty member does not guarantee that a late drop petition will be approved.
 Tuition: Students are responsible for completing arrangements with financial aid, family, scholarships, etc. (depending on tuition plan selected) to pay their tuition prior to Census Date
(7 September). Students who drop after that date are (1) financially responsible for tuition and fees, (2) academically responsible and will receive a "W" grade, and (3) are ineligible for a refund of COF hours or tuition.
 Graduation:
 Undergraduate students wishing to graduate in fall 2011 must complete the online Intent to
Graduate Form and meet with their academic advisor to obtain a graduation application.
This application must be submitted by Census Date (7 September). You can obtain an application only after meeting with your advisor. There are no exceptions to this policy.
 Graduate students wishing to graduate in fall semester 2011 must complete the online Intent to Graduate form and have a Request for Admissions to Candidacy on file with the CU Denver
Graduate School (Lawrence Street Center) no later than 5 PM, September 7, 2011.
Important Dates and Deadlines
 August 22, 2011: First day of classes.
 August 28, 2011: Last day to add a class or be added to a waitlist using the UCD Access student portal. After this date, you must use a Schedule Adjustment Form to change, add, or drop.
 August 29, 2011: LAST DAY TO DROP WITHOUT DROP CHARGE – THIS INCLUDES SECTION
CHANGES.
 August 29, 2011: Waitlists are dropped. Any student not added to a course automatically from the waitlist by this date MUST complete a Schedule Adjustment Form to be added.
Students are NOT automatically added to the class from the waitlist after this date and time. If your name is not on the official student roster, you are not registered for the course.

 August 30-September 7, 2011: Students are responsible for verifying an accurate fall 2011 course schedule via the UCDAccess student portal. Students are NOT notified of their waitlist status by the University. All students must check their schedule prior to 9/7 for accuracy.
 August 30, 2011: First day instructor may approve request to add a student to a course with a
Schedule Adjustment Form.
 September 7, 2011: Census date.
 9/7/11, 5 PM: Last day to add structured courses without a written petition for a late add.
This is an absolute deadline and is treated as such. This deadline does not apply to independent studies, internships, project hours, thesis hours, dissertation hours, and latestarting modular courses.
 9/7/11, 5 PM: Last day to drop a fall 2011 course or completely withdraw from all fall 2011 courses using a Schedule Adjustment Form and still receive a tuition refund, minus the drop fee. After this date, tuition is forfeited and a "W" will appear on the transcript. This includes section changes. This is an absolute deadline and is treated as such.
 9/7/11, 5 PM: Last day to request pass/fail or no-credit option for a course.
 9/7/11, 5 PM: Last day for a graduate student to register for a Candidate for Degree.
 9/7/11, 5 PM: Last day for a Ph.D. student to petition for a reduction in hours.
 9/7/11, 5 PM: Last day to apply for fall 2011 graduation. You must make an appointment and see your academic advisor before this date to apply for graduation if you are an undergraduate; you must complete the Intent to Graduate and Candidate for Degree forms if you are a graduate student.
 September 19-28, 2011: Faculty can use the Early Alert system.
 October 31, 2011, 5 PM: Last day for non-CLAS students to drop or withdraw without a petition and special approval from the academic dean. After this date, a dean’s signature is required.
 November 14, 2011, 5 PM: Last day for CLAS students to drop or withdraw with signatures from the faculty and dean but without a full petition. After this date, all schedule changes require a full petition. Petitions are available in NC 4002 for undergraduates and in the CU Denver
Graduate School offices for graduate students.
 November 21-27, 2011: Fall break (no classes; campus closed). Be thankful.
 December 12-17, 2011: Finals Week. No schedule changes will be granted once finals week has started. There are NO exceptions to this policy.
 December 27, 2011: Fall final grades available on UCD Access (tentative).

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