AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

This course is designed to teach students the functional approach to mathematical relationships that they will need for a business calculus sequence. Other courses, such as MATH 1332, or MATH 1342 are more appropriate to meet a general mathematics requirement.  Check with your degree plan as to what math course your college requires.

Common Course Objectives

• Use and interpret function notation.
• Find the domain of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
• Use composition of functions.
• Find inverses of functions algebraically (where possible), graphically, and numerically.
• Interpret the graphs of functions.

Graphing functions:

• Recognize the equations and sketch the graphs of the following: Lines, x², x³, x^1/3, x^1/2, 1/x, 1/x², |x|, semi-circles, circles, factored polynomials of degree 3 or more, a^x, log_ax, and their linear transformations.
• Find inverses of functions graphically.
• Find and sketch asymptotes of rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
• Describe the end behavior of all the above functions.
• Determine when it is appropriate to use a calculator or graphing technology.
• Approximate zeros of a function.

Symbolic Adeptness:

• Solve equations including quadratic, rational, literal, quadratic types, exponential, logarithmic, and equations with radicals.
• Solve polynomial and rational inequalities.
• Solve non-linear systems of equations.
• Use long division and the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra to find zeros of polynomials of degree three or more.
• Simplify fractions with terms having negative exponents.
• Rationalize numerators as well as denominators.
• Simplify complex fractions.
• Use completing the square to find the vertices of parabolas and centers and radii of circles.
• Evaluate exponential and logarithmic expressions with calculators.
• Use the rules for logarithms.
• Solve systems of linear equations using Gauss-Jordan Elimination and Cramer's Rule.

Applications

• Recognize and use applications of linear functions including linear models.
• Recognize and use quadratic applications, including falling object, maximum, and minimum problems.
• Recognize and use rational expression applications such as animal populations in parks.
• Recognize and use exponential and logarithmic applications, including exponential growth and decay, doubling time, and half-life.
• Recognize and use applications of systems of linear equations.

http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/text/ 

The password is:

acc1314

MyMathLab includes:

▫          Online access to all pages of the textbook

▫          Multimedia learning aids (videos & animations) for select examples and exercises in the text

▫          Practice tests and quizzes linked to sections of the textbook

▫          Personalized study guide based on performance on practice tests and quizzes

Visit www.mymathlab.com for more information. To use MyMathLab, you'll need:

▫          Course ID*: wright62003

▫          Student access number: provided with purchase of MyMathLab access.

* If your instructor has set up a different course ID for your class, he or she will let you know.  If so, use the course ID provided by your instructor.

Optional Materials: A graphics calculator such as a TI-82, 83, 85, or 86 is highly recommended, especially for those students going on to the calculus sequence. If you do not want to invest in one of these, a scientific calculator will suffice for all of the areas that we will explore.

Prerequisite sheet for the calculus sequence. This sheet gives you a list and sequence of courses required as prerequisites before you can enroll in calculus.

Week to week schedule:

Grade Policy: Four unit exams will represent 60% of the grade for the course.  A homework grade will represent 15% of the grade for the course. This homework grade will consist of homework assignments to turn in for grading and feedback and in class one or two problem quizzes from the homework. Late homework does not exist. If you are not present for the in class quizzes, there are no make-ups. When a homework assignment  is collected, it is due on the day of collection.  The  final exam will represent the remaining 25%. It will consist of an optional cumulative part (15%) and a mandatory non-cumulative part (10%) covering the material after the fourth unit exam until the end of the course. The cumulative part may be used to replace any one of the four unit exams. If you do not wish to replace one of the four unit exams, your unit exam average will be rolled into this part of your final exam grade. Some of the unit exams and the cumulative part of the final exam will be given in the Testing Center. The non-cumulative part of the final exam will be given in class on the last day, June 29th.

Class Participation and Etiquette: You should be present and on time for all classes. All cell phones should be turned off. If your cell phone goes off during an exam, you lose 10 points. To be fair, if mine goes off at any time, everyone will receive a 100 on the next exam! Asking questions in class is a great thing to do. Not only will it help in your understanding of the material, it may help a classmate or even help me explain things a little differently to get my point across. So, ask questions. If you must leave early for some reason, please let me know before class begins and sit near the door so you can slip out without much disturbance. Every teacher has their pet peeves and one of mine is a student getting up and sauntering out through the front of the room between a class listening and taking notes and me explaining some topic. That and carrying on conversations while the rest of us are trying to learn something are my two biggest pet peeves. Remind me to tell you some funny and true stories of other professors' pet peeves and how they dealt with them.

Homework: Homework will be assigned for practice at each class meeting. See Suggested Exercises.

In Class Handouts to be posted periodically on the website.

Attendance: Although attendance is not required, if you are absent more than two times during the semester without prior arrangements, you may be withdrawn from the course. If you decide to stop attending class, do not assume that I will withdraw you. In any case, if you decide to withdraw, I would appreciate a phone call, email, or a visit.

Last Day of Semester: Wednesday 29 June 2011

Final exam: Wednesday 29 June 2011

Last Day to Withdraw: Wednesday 22 June 2011

Reinstatement Policy: Students who withdrew or were withdrawn generally will not be reinstated unless they have completed all course work, projects, and tests necessary to place them at the same level of course completion as the rest of the class.

Incomplete grades (I) are given only in very rare circumstances. Generally, to qualify for a grade of  "I ", a student must have completed at least 80% of the course, including all exams, homework, and assignments, have a passing grade, and have a personal tragedy occur within the final 20% of the course which prevents course completion. This usually occurs after the last day to withdraw from this course.

Labs: We have a wonderful learning labs here at ACC with many fine tutors. The tutoring is absolutely free on a walk-in basis and you should take advantage of it.  A schedule of hours of operation and tutor availability can be found at their website.. Learning Labs.

*Additional information about ACC's mathematics curriculum and faculty is available on the Internet at http://www2.austincc.edu/math/

Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty

Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, work, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to, tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations; and homework.

Scholastic Dishonesty Penalty

Students who violate the rules concerning scholastic dishonesty will be assessed an academic penalty which the instructor determines is in keeping with the seriousness of the offense. This academic penalty may range from a grade penalty on the particular assignment to an overall grade penalty in the course, including possibly an F in the course. ACC's policy can be found in the Student Handbook page 33 or on the web at: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook

Student Discipline

Classroom behavior should support and enhance learning. Behavior that disrupts the learning process will be dealt with appropriately, which may include having the student leave class for the rest of that day. In serious cases, disruptive behavior may lead to a student being withdrawn from the class. ACC's policy on student discipline can be found in the Student Handbook page 32 or on the web at: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook

Students with Disabilities

Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office of Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.

Students who are requesting accommodation must provide the instructor with a letter of accommodation from the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD) at the beginning of the semester. Accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the letter of accommodation from OSD.

Academic Freedom

Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good. The common good depends upon a search for truth and upon free expression. In this course the professor and students shall strive to protect free inquiry and the open exchange of facts, ideas, and opinions. Students are free to take exception to views offered in this course and to reserve judgment about debatable issues. Grades will not be affected by personal views. With this freedom comes the responsibility of civility and a respect for a diversity of ideas and opinions. This means that students must take turns speaking, listen to others speak without interruption, and refrain from name-calling or other personal attacks.

TESTING CENTER POLICY

ACC Testing Center policies can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/

STUDENT SERVICES

The ACC student handbook can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook

INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES

The web address is: http://www.austincc.edu/faculty/newsemester/.

then click on "Campus Based Student Support Overview".

Do not miss a single day of classes.

Ask questions. Some people are embarrassed to ask questions in class or to visit with the instructor during office hours. Try one question one day in class or come by for two minutes to just say hello. I regret that I didn't take advantage of my instructor's office hours when I was in school as a student.

Make a "date" with yourself to study- set aside a specific time each week and put it on your calendar.

Review your learning strategies and study habits - what works for you.

Find someone in the class that you can study with and set a time each week to meet.

Create your own study notes of tips or important facts

Do extra (unassigned) exercises or assignments.

Refer to other math books if the textbook is unclear.

If you get behind, don't try to catch up all at once... add another hour a day.

E-mail me your tips and I will add them to this page.

Final Notes: As a final note to my students, I enjoy teaching mathematics and I am available to help you at any time in addition to the office hours listed on this handout. I want you to feel that I am approachable and available for your needs. I sincerely mean this and look forward to a wonderful semester.