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Home Page For On-Campus Intermediate Algebra |
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NOTE: Students enrolling
for next semester's class may read through all information below and buy their
materials accordingly. The only changes expected for next semester will be very
minor and will be in the Syllabus and Weekly Schedule when they are posted at
the course handouts web
page. Required course materials are not changing. The main changes will be
that the Weekly Schedule will change, and dates and deadlines will change to
align with the new semester. There may also be minor changes in the grading
policy, but you may get your supplies now.
This class meets at Pinnacle campus on the 6th floor in Room 606.
Students should report to class beginning on the first day of class to get all
information about the class. Please be aware that this class is a
computer-mediated math class that uses the MyMathLab computer program to
enhance your math learning experience.
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The textbook for MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra is Intermediate Algebra, 2nd edition, by Sullivan and Struve. Please note that if you are repeating this SAME course using the SAME book and have already registered in MyMathLab for this SAME course within the last year, you will NOT need to buy new MyMathLab access, and it is highly recommended that you enroll in an on-campus section of this course. In addition to enrolling in this course, please consider simultaneously enrolling in a one-hour math lab course MATD 0011 Developmental Mathematics Lab, which will provide regular help with this course. For more information about how to register in MyMathLab for a different section of this SAME course, please refer to http://www.austincc.edu/jbickham/ChangingCoursesInMML.pdf. If you
have NOT already registered in MyMathLab for this course, the following
information applies to Janet Bickham's distance learning and
computer-mediated sections of this course: The MyMathLab
access kit (software) may be purchased alone and is required
in all Distance Learning and Computer-Mediated classes. Purchasing that
access (kit or code) by itself costs about $80 plus tax, and includes an
online copy of the book with solutions.
If you prefer a printed copy of the book, be sure to buy a NEW book
that says that it comes with MyMathLab access inside. You may buy this NEW book with MyMathLab
access from either an ACC bookstore or from the book's publisher (Pearson),
but be sure that it comes with MyMathLab access. A used copy of
the book and/or an e-book will NOT include the access to MyMathLab, which is
required in this course. It is also
more expensive to buy the MyMathLab access kit (software) with a separate
used book than to buy a NEW book that is already packaged with MyMathLab
access inside. Inquire carefully
before you purchase your textbook, if you choose to buy a book and not just
the MyMathLab access kit alone (that comes with the book and solutions
online). Do NOT buy an e-book, and ONLY buy a used book if you already have
MyMathLab access for this course and decide you now also want a printed copy
of the book. If you choose to
purchase a NEW book, you may buy either the bound version, which can be sold
back to ACC bookstores at the end of the semester, or the loose-leaf version,
which CANNOT be sold back and which requires a 2-inch, 3-ring binder to hold
the loose pages. Both NEW versions of the book, bought at an ACC bookstore or
from the publisher (Pearson), must say that they have MyMathLab access
because some NEW versions of the textbook do not. For more information about purchasing and registering for MyMathLab, see the Information about MyMathLab handout at http://www.austincc.edu/jbickham/handouts. If you are registering for a new additional course in MyMathLab, please follow the instructions at http://www.austincc.edu/jbickham/ChangingCoursesInMML.pdf. In order to
complete this course successfully, you will also need the following supplies:
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Do you really need to take
MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra?
YES, if
you are going to take MATH 1314 College Algebra or MATH 1324 Math for Business
and Economics. MATD 0390 Intermediate
Algebra is a prerequisite for both College Algebra and Math for Business and
Economics, so you must take MATD 0390 before taking MATH 1314 or MATH 1324 or
any courses that these are prerequisites for.
If you have passed MATD 0370
Elementary Algebra with an A, B, or C, and your degree program does NOT
require MATH 1314 College Algebra or MATH 1324 Math for Business and Economics
or any of the courses that these are prerequisites for, and if you want to try
to be TSI-Complete in math, take the COMPASS test. If you pass the COMPASS test with a score of
at least 39 so that you are TSI-Complete in math, then you will be eligible to take MATH 1332 College
Mathematics, MATH 1342 Elementary Statistics, or MATH 1333 Math for Measurement. However, be aware that if you will need MATH 1314 College Algebra
or MATH 1324 Math for Business and Economics or any course that has either of
these as a prerequisite, ACC's Math Department requires that you take MATD 0390
Intermediate Algebra after passing Elementary Algebra with a C or better, even
if you pass the Compass test. This is to prepare you for
your next course because passing Intermediate Algebra with an A, B, or C is a
prerequisite for both College Algebra and Math for Business and Economics. Also, if you think you may change your degree
program so that it requires College Algebra, Math for Business and Economics,
or any courses that require these courses as prerequisites, then you should
probably take Intermediate Algebra since it is a prerequisite for these.
Unless this will be your first math course at ACC, being TSI-Complete in math does NOT qualify you to take MATH 1314 College Algebra, MATH 1324 Math for Business and Economics, or any courses that these are prerequisites for. To qualify for MATH 1314 College Algebra or MATH 1324 Math for Business and Economics, you must still take and pass MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra with an A, B, or C.
If you do not score at least 39 on the
COMPASS test, you could still attempt one of the other state approved tests –
THEA, ASSET or ACCUPLACER. ACC's Advisors and Counselors can give you additional
information about these tests and how to take them. If you do not pass any of
these tests, then you need to take another developmental (MATD) course. Which
course you take may depend on the college-level math course that you ultimately
need to take. (See below).
Which
math course do you take after passing MATD 0370 Elementary Algebra with a C or
better?
The answer depends on your situation:
a. If your degree program requires MATH 1314 College
Algebra, MATH 1324 Math for Business and Economics, or any courses that these
are prerequisites for, then you are required to take MATD 0390 Intermediate
Algebra – whether or not you are TSI-Complete.
b. If your degree program allows you to take MATH 1332
College Mathematics, MATH 1342 Elementary Statistics, or MATH 1333 Math for
Measurement then:
– if you pass the
COMPASS (or one of the other state approved tests – THEA, ASSET or ACCUPLACER)
– then you will be TSI-Complete in math and you can enroll in any one of the
latter three MATH courses.
– if you are not TSI-Complete because you do
not take or do not pass the COMPASS (or one of the other state-approved exams)
you may take either MATD 0385 Developing Mathematical Thinking or MATD
0390 Intermediate Algebra. Completion of
either course with a C or better will make you TSI-Complete and qualify you to
take any one of the three MATH courses in item b above. Students who struggled in MATD 0370 (made a C or low B)
would be particularly well-advised to take MATD 0385 if they do not need
College Algebra or Math for Business and Economics and do not plan to change to
a degree program which will require these.
What
is this new course MATD 0385 Developing Mathematical Thinking?
MATD 0385 is an alternative to Intermediate
Algebra for students who will take only MATH 1332 College Math, MATH 1333 Math
for Measurement, or MATH 1342 Elementary Statistics. It is a 3-hour contact
course that will develop the thinking skills students need in MATH 1332, 1333
and 1342. It is not algebra intensive like MATD 0390. Students who pass
either MATD 0385 or MATD 0390 with an A, B, or C will automatically become
TSI-Complete in math.
Remember: Students who need MATH
1314 College Algebra or MATH 1324 Math for Business & Economics MUST take
MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra.
All sections of MATD 0385 are listed in the course schedule right after MATD
0370 Elementary Algebra and before MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra.
What
if you are now sure that you are planning to take MATD 0390 Intermediate
Algebra?
The
prerequisite for Intermediate Algebra (MATD 0390) is a grade of C or better in
Elementary Algebra (MATD 0370), or its equivalent knowledge. If you want to
verify ahead of time that Intermediate Algebra is the correct level class for
you, please complete the Review for the Intermediate Algebra Pretest. This review
will help you prepare for the Intermediate Algebra Pretest, which you will be
taking at the beginning of the semester in order to verify that this is the
correct level math class for you. I
realize that you may have taken a placement test which indicated that this is
the correct level for you, but the Math Department has determined that these
placement tests do not always place students into the correct math class, which
is one reason we give these Pretests.
The Pretest covers math topics you are expected to know when you begin
this class. You should score at least
70% correct on it, or else you probably should enroll in one of the two
previous math courses, MATD 0370 Elementary Algebra or MATD 0330 Basic Math
Skills. If you are able to understand and work correctly at least 43 out of the
61 problems on this review, then you are probably ready to take Intermediate
Algebra. If you cannot work correctly and understand at least 43 of these 61
problems, then you should complete the Review for the Elementary Algebra Pretest. If you are
able to understand and work correctly at least 30 of the 42 problems on this
review, then you are probably ready to enroll in Elementary Algebra (MATD
0370), but you will have to pass the Elementary Algebra Pretest to verify this.
If you cannot work correctly and understand at least 30 of these 42 problems on
the Review for the Elementary Algebra Pretest, then you
should probably enroll in Basic Math Skills (MATD 0330). If you have any
questions about which course is the correct level course for you, please contact me.
Intermediate
Algebra is designed to prepare you for MATH 1314 College Algebra and MATH 1324
Math for Business and Economics, as well as several courses in science and
various technical areas such as General College Physics, General Chemistry,
Magnetism and DC Circuits, and AC Circuits. All students who pass Intermediate
Algebra must now first pass College Algebra before enrolling in Trigonometry.
Intermediate Algebra covers topics normally covered in the second year of
algebra in high school.
If you
would like to view or print the handouts for this course, they will all be
posted at http://www.austincc.edu/jbickham/handouts as soon as they
are ready. Just click on "MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra" and scroll
down the page to find them all. Be careful not to scroll into the Basic Math
and/or Elementary Algebra sections. The sections are clearly divided. Until the handouts for your semester are
posted, you may go to this website and view the current semester handouts to
get a good idea about how the class will be conducted. Almost everything (such as the MyMathLab
access with or without a book) will be the same. The main changes will be the dates and
deadlines. Some handouts may be changing
slightly and there may be some minor changes in grading policies.
You may
complete the Intermediate Algebra Pretest in Blackboard at http://acconline.austincc.edu/ before
the course begins, but only after you
have completed the Review for the Intermediate Algebra Pretest, which has all answers
provided so that you may check your work.
Best wishes on passing this Pretest with at least 70% correct.
See you
in class on the first day of class. Until then, enjoy your break!
Return to Janet Bickham's Home Page
Visit other ACC websites: ACC Home Page or ACC Math Dept Home Page
Last Updated August,
2011
Copyright © 2011, Austin Community College
Send comments and questions to Janet Bickham: jbickham@austincc.edu