MATH1090.008 College Algebra for Business and Social Sciences
Instructor: Laura Strube
Course Description:
In this course we will cover the following topics: functions and graphs, linear and quadratic functions, matrices, Gaussian elimination, exponential and logarithmic functions, growth, periodic and continuously compounded interest, arithmetic and geometric series, annuities and loans.
Reminder: Quiz #3 is Tuesday 4 December. This quiz will cover chapter 4.6 and 5.2-5.5. Each student will be allowed to use a double-sided 4x6 notecard on the quiz. You will absolutely need a scientific calculator on the Quiz. Graphing calculators, cell phone calculators, or any calculator with a memory will not be allowed.
If you are planning to purchase a calculator I would recommend the TI-30XIIS which is available at WalMart for ~$13.
You will be graded on the accuracy of your answers, so it is vital that you are comfortable with your calculator and are able to do the calculations without rounding intermediate answers.
I have posted the Chapter 5 Handouts from class as well as the solutions to the 'Determine the Formula' Handout. The online version of this handout has some additional chapter 4 review questions for your benefit.
Quiz #2 will be Tuesday 6 November. It will be ~ 30 min long maybe a bit longer - You should prepare for it as if it were an exam. (It will be harder than quiz #1). This quiz will cover all of chapter 3 except section 3.6 (graph transformations).
Also, after the quiz is over you will be given a few minutes to do a 'make up problem'. This problem will be like one of the problems given in Homework 13B - You should prepare for this by studying chapter 1.6 and the relevant topics from chapter 1.3 and 1.4.
If you get this problem perfectly correct you half the points you lost on Exam #1 question #3 will be added back to your exam.
i.e. if you make an 80% on this problem and you lost 4 points on the exam I will add (.5)(4)(.8) = 1.6 points back onto your exam. Since the exam was worth 50 points total this will improve your grade on the exam by 3.2%.
If you lost all the points on #3 you have the opportunity to improve your exam grade by 5 percentage points!
Friday 21 September 2012 --
Some of you expressed concern last night over the length of the worksheets I provided for homework 9A.
These worksheets were intended to make your lives easier; I provided ample space to allow for variations in handwriting size. However, I do understand your preference to use less paper so I will leave it up to you.
If you find the worksheets helpful you may use them - or - If you would prefer, you may hand write them. I don't care which you choose - PROVIDED - you label each step clearly.
If you have any other questions or concerns about the assignment feel free to send me an email.
Announcement 1
Quiz #1 is Thursday 20 September 2012!
The quiz will be ~30 minutes long and will cover all of the concepts in chapter 1. You should prepare for this as if it is a 'mini' exam.
Study Tips:
(1) Start by going over the 'Homework B' assignments - solutions are posted online
(2) Then go over your completion assignments and your notes
(3) Work thorough the 'Chapter 1 Review' on pages 85 - 88 in your text
If you would like Extra Credit for doing the Chapter 1 Review, you may turn it in as a completion assignment by 6:00pm on Thursday 4 October (Midterm Exam). Your grade on this assignment will replace your lowest homework grade at the end of the semester
Points will be assigned as follows:
0 - 32 problems completed = 0 points (you must complete at least half of the assignment to receive EC)
33 - 43 problems completed = 10 points
44 - 55 problems completed = 15 points
56 - 63 problems completed = 19 points
63 - 66 problems completed = 20 points
Failure to follow the homework guidelines is a sufficient reason to receive a zero on the assignment.
(4) If you would like even more problems to look at you can find 'short' quizzes and their solutions on my previous course pages.
Also note that Homework #8 is due on the day of the quiz - It is a short assignment and I have posted it online early so you can get it out of the way early if you would like.
Announcement 2
It has come to my attention that Midterm #1 was scheduled the same night (Thursday 4 Oct) as a home football game.
You have two options:
1. You can choose to take the exam early on Tuesday 2 October from 6:00 - 7:30 pm in LCB 323
2. You can attend a review session on Tuesday 2 October during our regular class period and in our regular class room - and then take the exam on Thursday 4 October from 6:00 - 7:30 in WEB L110
The choice is yours. I will not be giving any other make ups so if you choose to take the exam on Thursday 4 October be sure that you come in plenty of time to find a parking spot.
Wednesday 5 September 2012 -- Thanks Seth for catching the typo in homework 4B! Equation 3 of problem #1 should have been: x + 2y + z = 16. The worksheet has been corrected.
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Wednesday 29 August 2012 -- To avoid parking conflicts with the football game, our Thursday 30 August class will be held in WEB L110. If you need directions they can be found at: Campus Map.
Also - I will not have office hours/problem session on Thursday due to a previously scheduled meeting. If you have a homework question I will be available from 5 - 6 tonight in my office (LCB 326).
Tuesday, 28 August 2012 -- TYPO ALERT:
Homework #1 is the ENTIRE Review Assignment i.e. Problems 1 - 10 on pages xi - xiii.
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Monday, 27 August 2012 -- Hardcopies of the textbook are available for use in the Tutoring Center (LCB basement) and the Marriott Library. Note: Checkout is for a couple of hours only at each location - you will still need to purchase a textbook for long term use.
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Friday, 24 August 2012 -- Homework 2 is now posted online. Remember you must follow the Homework Guidelines to receive full credit.
Part A is a completion assignment and will receive a grade of 0,5,or 10 depending on the quantity of problems completed. (You must complete a minimum of 1/2 of the problems to receive credit)
Part B is a 'correctness' assignment and will be graded on a scale of 0 - 10 - Read the instructions carefullly.
A couple of the problems may be challenging, but you have learned all the necessary tools to figure them out - put on those thinking caps and get those study groups going; Remember we will have a problem session before class on Tuesday from 4:30 - 5:30!
Tuesday, 21 August 2012 -- Welcome to MATH 1090!
If you picked up a syllabus in class, remember there were a few typos:
(1) The course number is MATH 1090.008 (not 1090.003)
(2) The classroom is LCB 225 (not LCB 219)
(3) Midterm #2 will be Tuesday (not Thursday) 20 November 2012
Also, the canvas page for this course has been published and I have created a Doodle Poll, and discussion thread on canvas to help you all form study groups.
Feel free to use this thread to organize groups as well.
If you are interested in reserving a study room downstairs in the tutoring center, information on how to do this can be found on the "Math Center" document located on my web page.