Calendar/Syllabus: 16-week, 12-week, 8-week, 11-week, 6-week
Alternatives to College Algebra
TEXT: College Algebra, Concepts and Models, 2nd edition, by Larson, Hostetler, & Hodgkins
Optional Supplement: Study and Solution Guide (step-by-step solutions to selected odd-numbered exercises and review problems and step-by-step solutions to all tests in text)
Optional Supplement: Graphing Technology Keystroke Guide
Calculator: Students need either a scientific or business calculator. (Has log or ln key.) If a student cannot purchase one, calculators are available from the library. Graphing calculators are NOT required, but you will use graphing technology in some sections.
Course Purpose: This course is designed to teach students the functional approach to mathematical relationships that they will need for the business calculus sequence. For students who did not take, or were weak in, Intermediate Algebra (DVM 1193), College Algebra is a good preparation for Trigonometry (MTH 1753). Other courses, such as MTH 1513, or MTH 1563 are more appropriate to meet a general mathematics requirement, if calculus is not required.
Course Prerequisite: Students should have current knowledge of two years of high school algebra or Intermediate Algebra (DVM 1193). The sections marked (*) in the syllabus/calendar cover material from the prerequisite course. All the techniques and at least 80% of the problems in them should be review. The rest of the problems use familiar techniques in more sophisticated ways than before. Students who have a great deal of difficulty with the material in chapters P and 1 and have not had Intermediate Algebra or its equivalent recently should consider withdrawing and taking Intermediate Algebra.
Videotapes: There is a set of videotapes keyed to the text by section in the Learning Resource Center of each campus. Students who miss class or who need extra review may find these useful.
Testing, Grading, and Homework: The testing scheme given with the syllabus and calendar is only one possible scheme. Your instructor may use a different one. Your instructor will give you an additional handout with details about testing, grading, and homework for your section of this course.
Withdrawals and Incompletes: After the withdrawal date each semester, neither the student nor the instructor may initiate a withdrawal. It is the student's responsibility to initiate all withdrawals in this course. The instructor may withdraw students for excessive absences (4) or failure to meet course objectives but makes no commitment to do this for the student. Attendance is important in this course and expected. Incomplete grades (I) will be given only in rare circumstances. Generally, to receive a grade of I, a student must have taken all examinations, be passing, and have a personal tragedy occur after the last date to withdraw which prevents course completion.
Calendar (16-week):
| Week 1: Review Chapter P* Week 2: Review 1.1*-1.4* Week 3: 1.5, 1.6*, 1.7 Week 4: Test 1 (P.3-1.7), 2.1*, 2.2 Week 5: 2.3, 2.4*, 2.5 Week 6: 3.1, 3.2 Week 7: TEST 2 (2.1-3.2), 3.3, 3.4 Week 8: 3.5, 3.6 | Week 9: 3.7, 4.1 Week 10: Test 3 (3.3-4.1), 4.4, 4.5 Week 11: 5.1, 5.2 Week 12: 5.3, 5.4 Week 13: 5.5 Test 4 (4.4-5.5) Week 14: 6.1, 6.2*, 6.3 Week 15: 7.1, 7.2, 7.4 and supplement Week 16: Review, Test 5 (6.1-7.4) or Final |
| Week 1: Review Chapter P* Week 2: Review 1.1*-1.4*, 1.5 Week 3: 1.6*, 1.7, Test 1 (P.3-1.7), 2.1* Week 4: 22, 2.3, 2.4*, 2.5 Week 5: 3.1, 3.2, Test 2 (2.1-3.2), 3.3 Week 6: 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 | Week 7: 3.7, 4.1, Test 3 (3.3-4.1) Week 8: 4.4, 4.5, 5.1, 5.2 Week 9: 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 Week 10: Test 4 (4.4-5.5), 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 Week 11: 7.1, 7.2, 7.4, supplement Week 12: Review and Test 5 (6.1-7.4) or Final |
Week 1: Review Chapter P*, 1.1*-1.4*
Week 2: 1.5,1.6*,1.7, Test 1 (P.3-1.7), 2.1*, 2.2
Week 3: 2.3, 2.4*, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2
Week 4: TEST 2 (2.1-3.2), 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6
Week 5: 3.7, 4.1, Test 3 (3.3-4.1), 4.4, 4.5
Week 6: 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4
Week 7: 5.5, Test 4 (4.4-5.5), 6.1, 6.2*, 6.3
Week 8: 7.1, 7.2, 7.4 and supplement, Test 5 (6.1-7.4) or Final
| Week 1: Review Chapter P*, 1.1* Week 2: Review 1.2*-1.4*, 1.5, 1.6* Week 3: 1.7, Test 1 (P.3-1.7), 2.1*, 2.2 Week 4: 2.3, 2.4*, 2.5, 3.1 Week 5: 3.2, Test 2 (2.1-3.2), 3.3, 3.4 Week 6: 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 | Week 7: 4.1 Test 3 (3.3-4.1), 4.4, 4.5 Week 8: 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 Week 9: 5.4, 5.5 Test 4 (4.4-5.5) Week 10: 6.1, 6.2*, 6.3, 7.1 Week 11: 7.2, 7.4, supplement, Test 5 (6.1-7.4) or Final |
Week 1: Review P.3* - P.7* and 1.1* - 1.4*
Week 2: 1.5, 1.6*, 1.7, Test 1 (P.3-1.7), 2.1*, 2.2
Week 3: 2.3, 2.4*, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, Test 2 (2.1-3.2), 3.3, 3.4
Week 4: 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 4.1, Test 3 (3.3-4.1), 4.4, 4.5
Week 5: 5.1, 5.2,.5.3, 5.4, 5.5, Test 4 (4.4-5.5)
Week 6: 6.1, 6.2*, 6.3, 7.1,7.2, 7.4, supplement, Test 5 (6.1-7.4)
or Final
Mathematics: Its Spirit & Use (ACC's MTH 1513) (UT's M302) **
Goal: To broaden the students' repertoire of mathematical problem-solving techniques past algebraic techniques.
This course covers a variety of mathematical topics such as set
theory, logic, and probability. Students learn basic college-level
techniques in a variety of mathematical areas and learn what types
of problems can be solved with each technique. The algebra prerequisite
for the course reflects the need for the students to have an understanding
of the conceptual aspects of mathematics rather than a need for
them to remember the details of how to solve all the types of
algebra problems encountered in high school algebra. Students
with weaker algebraic manipulative skills should still be able
to complete this course successfully.
Elementary Statistics (ACC's MTH 1563) (UT's M316 or UT's STA309) **
Goal: To teach the student to do basic statistical analyses and to enable the student to be an "intelligent user" of standard statistical arguments.
The focus of this course is on using conceptual mathematical skills
to solve a particular type of applications problems. Algebraic
manipulation is not a major part of this course; however, students
will be required to use formulas extensively. (A "pretest"
indicating the level of skill expected is available from the mathematics
department.) Enough explanation will be given that students who
once learned algebra, but have forgotten many of the details,
will be handle the algebraic aspects of the course easily.
Math for Business & Economics (ACC's MTH 1643) (UT's M303D, SWTSU's M 1319) **
Goal: To teach the student some applications of algebra to business and economics problems and to provide a minimal level of algebraic foundation for the first semester of business calculus.
The focus of this course is on the applications problems, with
algebra skills from the first two years of high school algebra
used as necessary. Students who completed their last algebra course
more than a year ago, or made less than a B, will probably find
this course very difficult.
College Algebra (ACC's MTH 1743) (UT's M301, SWTSU's M 1315) **
Goal: To provide the student with the algebraic foundation for calculus.
The student is expected to be currently confident and skilled
in all topics from the first two years of high school algebra
or from PAR 1193, Intermediate Algebra, and the new material will
build on that foundation with little or no review. Students who
completed their last algebra course more than a year ago, or made
less than a B, will probably find this course very difficult.
UT = University of Texas at Austin SWTSU = Southwest Texas State
University at San Marcos
** It is the student's responsibility to determine if these courses are applicable to a specific degree plan at ACC or at another institution.