MAT 102 – Intermediate Algebra

                                                                          Mathematics Department

Semester: Spring & Fall

Catalog Course Description: This course includes the following topics: properties of numbers; fundamental operations with algebraic expressions; polynomials; systems of equations; ratio and proportion; factoring; functions; graphs; solutions of linear inequalities; and linear and quadratic equations.

Prerequisite(s):                      MAT 101, RDG 032 or Appropriate Assessment Score

Credit Hours:                             3.0 Credit Hours

Departmental Website:         http://midlandstech.edu/mathdepartment

Instructor:                              Jason Wetzel

Office:                                     Airport Campus     RO 203 

Telephone:                             (803) 822-3074

Email Address:                      WetzelJ@midlandstech.edu

Campus Mailbox:                  Airport Campus   RO 105

Personal Website:                  http://www.midlandstech.edu/math/wetzel

Departmental Assistant:       Mitzi Trigg – TriggM@MidlandsTech.edu – 738-7689

Department Chair:                 Rick Bailey – BaileyR@MidlandsTech.edu – 738-7618

Program Coordinator:            Rose Jenkins – JenkinsR@MidlandsTech.edu – 822-3351       

Class Schedule[s]:                 Please see my website        http://www.midlandstech.edu/math/wetzel

Office Hours:                         Please see my website        http://www.midlandstech.edu/math/wetzel

Textbook(s):                           Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, by George Woodbury Addison Wesley, 2^nd Edition, 2009

Equipment:                             Graphing Calculator, TI-84 or TI-84+

General Education Core Competency Statement:  Students should be able to solve mathematical problems by identifying what information is available and relevant to the problem; by selecting or developing appropriate procedures and relationships; by correctly applying the methods selected to the information available; and by verifying the validity and appropriateness of the solution.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. Solve systems of linear equations involving two or three variables and use the techniques developed to solve problems.

2. Solve various types of equations and inequalities (including but not limited to linear, absolute value, and quadratic).

3. Use interval notation to write the solution of an inequality.

4. Use function notation to evaluate various types of functions (including but not limited to polynomial, quadratic, and radical).

Course Outcomes and Competencies:

Intended Course Outcome: Students should be able to understand and apply computational skills, quantitative reasoning and symbolic reasoning to evaluate and solve problems systematically.

            Course Competency: Students should be able to solve mathematical problems by identifying what information is available and relevant to the problem; by selecting or developing appropriate procedures and relationships; by correctly applying the methods selected to the information available; and by verifying the validity and appropriateness of the solution.

            Performance Measurement Instrument: Students will be given four applied mathematical problems to solve selected by the Mathematics Department to measure successful attainment of the competency.  These problems will be embedded within student quizzes and tests.  A student correctly solving 3 out of 4 of the problems will be considered to have successfully attained the competency.  The goal is for 75% of the students completing the assessment to successfully attain the competency.

Course Attendance:  

ABSENCE -          Failure to be present for a scheduled meeting of the class or arriving for the class more than ten minutes after the scheduled time for the class to begin.

TARDY ---             Arrival to class after the instructor has called the roll and before ten minutes past the time scheduled for the class to begin.

I.                     Absences are counted from the first day of classes.

II.                   Five absences are allowed for a class that meets three times per week, and three absences are allowed for a class that meets two times per week.

III.                 Three tardies are considered as one absence.  The student must meet with the instructor at the end of the class to which he has been late to have the absence changed to a tardy.

IV.                 There are no "excused" absences; all absences are counted, regardless of the reason for the absence.

V.                   A student missing class time by leaving early will also be counted absent.

 Please note the following: You are responsible for all material and announcements presented, whether you are present or absent. 

Withdrawal:  Should the maximum allowable absences be exceeded prior to midterm, a "W" will be submitted to the registrar to be recorded on the student's transcript.  Should the maximum allowable absences be exceeded after midterm, a "W" will be submitted to the registrar if the student was passing the course at the time of withdrawal OR a "WF" will be submitted if the student was failing the course at the time of withdrawal.

Course Requirements:  This is a hybrid course.  Students will be required to have a MyMathLab-CourseCompass account.  This software will be used for all homework and quizzes. 

                                                                MyMathLab-CourseCompass:     http://www.coursecompass.com/

                                                        For each section we cover in the book, there will be a corresponding homework assignment on MyMathLab-CourseCompass.   The first homework assignment will become available online when we begin a chapter.  A grade of at least 70% must be earned in order to proceed to the next assignment  One or two quizzes will be given on MyMathLab-CourseCompass in each chapter.  All assignments will have a deadline the night before the chapter test at midnight.  Tests must be taken in the Testing Center on campus.  There schedule can be found at the following link:  http://www.midlandstech.edu/testcenter/dleihour.html

                                                There will be NO make-ups!  If you do not complete an assignment or test by the scheduled deadline, you will receive a zero.

Course Grading:        There will be 800 possible points for the course.

                                                                    100  homework

                                                                    100  quizzes

                                                                    500  five unit tests (100 pts. each)

                                                                    100  final exam

Grading Scale:                       90-100                     A                             Superior Work

                                                                  80-89                     B                             Good Work

                                                                  70-79                     C                             Average Work

                                                  60-69                     D                             Below Average Work

                                                                   0- 59                     F                              Unsatisfactory Work

Special Procedures:   Extra Credit:  An electronic course evaluation will become available to you through MTC Online.  It is important for MTC to get your feedback from this course.  At the end of the semester, the class with the highest response rate will earn 3 bonus points on the final exam.

Classroom Rules/Other:       

·         Come to class each day ON TIME,  prepared with your book, paper, pencil, and calculator (you will NOT be allowed to share a calculator).

·         Keep up with your homework and have questions ready to ask at the beginning of each class.

·         Maintain a positive learning environment in the classroom (nobody has the right to interfere with the learning of people around you).

·         Take notes and follow along in class.

·         Turn cell phones off.  No headphones, earphones, or laptops are allowed to be used in class.  If I see you texting you will be given one warning, then you will be asked to leave the class and counted absent.  If you leave class to use your cell phone, you will not be allowed back in class and you will be counted absent unless you get my permission ahead of time.

·         If I see or hear a cell phone while you are taking a test, you will get a ZERO.

Course Topic Outline/Course Calendar with Assignments:

                                                                                    College Policies

Students are expected to read the student handbook and abide by its policies. Copies of the

handbook may be obtained at various locations on campus and is located on the web: http://www.midlandstech.edu/planner/

Academic Dishonesty: The Student Code addresses what constitutes academic dishonesty. All forms of dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating on tests, plagiarism, collusion and falsification, will call for discipline.

                CHEATING ON TESTS includes:

§         Copying from another student’s paper.

§         Using materials during a test not authorized by the person giving the test.

§         Collaborating with any other person during a test without permission.

§         Knowingly obtaining, using, buying, selling, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents of any un-administered test.

§         Bribing any other person to obtain information about tests.

§         Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for oneself.

                PLAGIARISM is the appropriation of any other person’s work and unacknowledged

                incorporation of that work in one’s own work offered for credit.

Campus Emergency Protocol: Students and employees are asked to report safety concerns or suspicious activities to Campus Security at 7199 (on campus) or 738-7199 (cell phone or off campus). In the event of an emergency, employees and/or students should immediately call Campus Security or local 911.  If an emergency occurs, the college will use a variety of methods to communicate additional information and instructions including the MTC Information Centers, campus loud speakers, MTC Alerts! (http://www.midlandstech.edu/Phone_Alert.

htm),voice mail, email, college Intranet, and the MTC website homepage.

Inclement Weather Policy: In the event weather conditions or other emergencies cause the closing or a delayed start of Midlands Technical College, announcements will be made over local radio and TV stations, on the MTC Web site, and on the college’s information line (803-738-8234).  Notices will be sent to students via Campus Cruiser Mail when applicable.  Separate announcements may be made for day and evening classes as weather conditions change during the day.

If the college closing or reopening means that there is at least 30 minutes of a class remaining, plan to attend that class. For example, if the college opens at 10:00 a.m. in TTH, classes that normally meet at 8:00 a.m. will not meet, but classes beginning at 9:30 a.m.will meet. If the college closes at 8:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. classes will meet for their regular time, but 7:35 p.m. classes will not meet since there are fewer than 30 minutes remaining in class.

Student E-Mail Accounts: All MTC students are assigned a college e-mail account upon admission to the college.  This account is called “Campus Cruiser Mail.”  Campus Cruiser Mail is the primary mode by which the college communicates with students.  Students are responsible for checking their college e-mail on a regular basis for important information and announcements about registration, financial aid, cancelled classes, emergency announcements and other notices.  Students can use their college e-mail accounts to communicate with faculty, staff, fellow students, and others, in support of their educational pursuits.  In addition to e-mail, students will also have access to maintaining personal calendars and “tasks lists” through their Campus Cruiser e-mail account.

Student Evaluation of Instruction: Students have the opportunity to evaluate this course. The confidential evaluation process is conducted through MTC Online using the individual student’s username and password. Announcements will be made during the term concerning how and when to complete the online evaluation. Students are encouraged to participate in this process.

Students Requiring Special Accommodations: If special accommodations are needed for a student with a disability, the student should go to Counseling Services on Beltline or Airport Campus for assistance. Documentation regarding a specific disability is required in order for special arrangements to be made. Confidentiality of information received will be maintained.