MATH 1314 College Algebra (3-3-0). A course designed for students who need College Algebra but do not need to take Precalculus (MATH 2412) or Calculus (MATH 2413). In-depth study and applications of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations using matrices. This course does not meet the prerequisite for Precalculus (MATH 2412).

MATD 0414 – Developmental Algebra (4-4-0). A course designed to develop the skills and understanding contained in secondary school algebra. Topics include review of operations and properties of real numbers, negative exponents, functions, graphing linear equations, solving linear and quadratic equations and systems of linear equations, solving linear inequalities, operations on polynomials and factoring, and introduction to rational, radical, and exponential functions.

Prerequisites: NCBM 0270 with a grade of C or higher. Or appropriate score on math TSI Assessment test. Corequisite(s): MATH 1314.

Paired Course Policy: This is a paired course.  Students who withdraw from MATD 0414 will automatically be withdrawn from MATH 1314.

Instructional Methodology: Classroom Section: This course is taught in the classroom primarily as a lecture/discussion course.

Making Time to Learn

We learn math by thinking about and working on mathematical problems, which takes time. Practice is crucial in a math course. To ensure that you have adequate time, set aside 12-15 hours per week outside of class time to practice and study for this course.  Ask for help immediately when something isn’t clear. 

Grades

Grade Components

There will be 7 exams and a comprehensive final during the term, each of which will count equally towards your grade. Points will be assigned as follows for your grade:

Tests: 85%

Written Homework/Quizzes: 15%

Grading Scale

A: 90 - 100

B: 80 – 89

C: 70 – 79

D: 60 – 69

F: < 60

Where can I find my grades?

Grades will be posted in Blackboard.

MATD 0414 and MATH 1314 Grades

Students receive the same grade for both MATD 0414 and MATH 1314, with the following exceptions:

• If a student’s grade average on tests 1-5 is higher than the overall grade average, the student may be assigned the letter grade based on tests 1-5 for MATD 0414 only. This grade calculation is independent of homework and quiz scores.
• A student who does not have a passing average on tests 1-5 and has chosen not to attempt to successfully complete MATH 1314 may make arrangements with the instructors to work on Independent Study for developmental content. The student may then take an alternate MATD 0414 final exam covering only the content supporting tests 1-5 instead of the MATH 1314 final exam. A grade for MATD 0414 may be given at the instructor’s discretion solely on the basis of this final exam.

A grade of C or higher in MATD 0414 is sufficient for a student to be declared TSI complete (college ready) in math and satisfies the prerequisite for College Algebra. That means that a student who earns a C in MATD 0414 but does not successfully complete College Algebra may register for College Algebra the next semester without a co-requisite.

What will we do in this class?

Tests: 7 exams and a comprehensive Final, as noted in the calendar.

Written Homework Assignments:  Written homework assignments, in the form of worksheets, correspond to each topic. Practice problems mostly reference questions in the two textbooks. Here is the process to follow with written homework:

1. Complete the practice problems on a separate sheet of paper, and check your answers. It is important to get this feedback before going on to the graded problems, for which there are no answers provided.
2. Complete the graded problems directly on the worksheet. Try to come up with a way of checking your answers without having solutions provided.

It is recommended that you complete all of the practice problems and check your answers before starting on the graded problems. The assignments are set up in such a way that the practice problems increase in difficulty as you go, and the graded problems are mostly at the highest difficulty level.

Written homework is graded by completion and correctness. In order to get a perfect score, you must show all of your work for both practice and graded problems, following an appropriate process, and get a correct answer. If you are uncertain about your answers, it is worth seeking help before turning in the assignment.

Group work: You should expect group work on a daily basis.

What happens if I miss something?

Dropped Grade Policy: Five homework grades will be dropped at the end of the semester.

Late Work Policy: No late work will be accepted.  Your homework is due by 6:00 pm on the day that it is due.

Missed Exam Policy: Missed exams will be assigned a grade of zero, but one exam grade may be replaced by the grade on the Final Exam.

Attendance Policy: Daily attendance is mandatory. This corequisite option covers material from three courses, and involves group activities on a daily basis. Your partners depend on you for group work, and your own success in the course depends on your full commitment.

There is no such thing as an “excused absence”. The end result of missing a class is the same regardless of the reason. You miss instruction. Your partners are let down. You miss an opportunity to turn in homework. The goal is to minimize these disruptions, and to take personal responsibility to make up for any missed class on your own time.

Expectations:

1. Attend every class
2. Arrive on time and stay for the duration of the class.
3. Participate during that time and spend time outside of class working on homework.
4. Make sure to raise your hand, so we are not all speaking at once.
5. Keep cell phones, pagers, air pods, or any electronic devices turned off and put away during class.
6. Eat before or after class, not during class.  Keep food/snacks put away during class.

Class Participation Policy:  The course works best for you if you make a commitment to attend and actively participate in the activities, and keep yourself focused on the task at hand.  Don’t allow yourself excuses.

Importance of Completing Developmental Course Requirements:  The first steps to achieving any college academic goal are completing developmental course requirements and TSI requirements. The first priority for students who are required to take developmental courses must be the developmental courses. TSI rules state that students are allowed to take college credit courses, if they are fulfilling their developmental requirements. Because successful completion of developmental courses is so important, ACC will intervene with any student who is not successfully completing developmental requirements. This intervention can mean a hold on records, requiring developmental lab classes, working with the Instructional Associate, and monitoring during the semester.

Withdrawal Policy: It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date (April 29, 2024). The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records.

Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall 2002 may be charged a higher tuition rate for that course.  State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit. Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.

Required Materials 

This is a First Day™ class. The cost of required course materials, including an online version of the textbook and software access, has been added to your tuition and fees bill.  

Textbooks:

College Algebra with Modeling & Visualization, 6th Edition by Rockswold. Pearson Publishing (MyLab software) ISBN: 9780134763828

Intermediate Algebra, OpenStax publication by Lynn Marecek at Santa Ana College. Available free for download as pdf. See your instructor’s Blackboard course for a link.

MyLab Math is an optional interactive online course that accompanies the Math for Business and Economics textbook. There is no MyLab Math course to accompany the Intermediate Algebra textbook. Access to MyLab Math is included in the cost of your First Day Access.

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 a graphing calculator will help you in some sections.  Graphing calculators are also available in the library.  Most ACC faculty are familiar with the TI family of graphing calculators. Hence, TI calculators are highly recommended for student use.  Other calculator brands can also be used.  Your instructor will determine the extent of calculator use in your class section.

You do not have to purchase any textbook. You will have access to the electronic textbooks through Blackboard.

Course Calendar

Note: Any changes will be announced in class and/or posted as a Blackboard Announcement.

MATH 1314: 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.

MATH 1314 Course Objectives

Functions:

• Use and interpret function notation.
• Find the domain of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
• Find a symbolic representation of the sum, difference, product, quotient, and composition of two functions.
• Evaluate the sum, difference, product, quotient, and composition of two functions at a given value of the respective domain for functions represented symbolically, graphically, and numerically.
• Find the inverse of a function represented symbolically, graphically, or numerically.
• Interpret the graphs of functions.

Graphing functions:

• Sketch the graphs of the following functions: Lines, x2, ax, and logax
• Identify and sketch transformations of the graphs of the following functions: x2, x3, x1/2, 1/x, 1/x2, |x|.
• Describe the end behavior of polynomial functions.
• Approximate the zeros of a function from its graph.
• Solve an inequality involving a function from its graph.
• Graph a piece-wise defined function.

Symbolic Adeptness:

• Solve polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic equations symbolically.
• Use the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
• Find the vertex of a parabola written in standard form by using the formula  h = -b/2a.
• Convert an exponential equation to logarithmic form, and a logarithmic equation to exponential form.
• Evaluate exponential and logarithmic functions using the change of base formula and a calculator.
• Use the properties of logarithms to expand a logarithmic expression, and to write an expanded logarithmic expression as a single logarithm.
• Solve a system of linear equations using Gaussian elimination.
• Evaluate the sum, difference and scalar multiplication of matrices.

Applications

• Recognize and use applications of linear functions.
• Recognize and use applications of quadratic functions, including falling object problems and extrema problems.
• Recognize and use applications of rational functions. 
• Recognize and use applications of exponential and logarithmic functions, including exponential growth and decay, doubling time, and half-life problems.
• Recognize and use applications of systems of linear equations.

MATH 1314 Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of properties of functions, which include domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses.
2. Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and solve related equations.
3. Apply graphical, symbolic and numeric techniques.
4. Evaluate all roots of higher degree polynomial and rational functions.
5. Recognize, solve and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.

MATD 0414 Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course a student will be able to:

1. Perform operations involving integers, fractions, decimals, percents, signed exponents, scientific notation, ratios and proportions.
2. Evaluate and perform basic operations on functions, find the domain and range of functions, and solve equations involving functions.
3. Solve problems involving geometric figures.
4. Identify slope and intercepts from linear equations and graphs of lines. Find linear equations from given points and graphs of lines.
5. Graph linear equations and inequalities, systems of linear equations, and quadratic functions.
6. Simplify, factor, and perform basic operations on algebraic expressions, including polynomials, rational and radical expressions, and complex fractions.
7. Solve linear equations, linear inequalities, and quadratic equations. Solve introductory absolute value, rational, and radical equations.
8. Solve basic application problems using linear and quadratic models, direct and inverse variation, and 2x2 systems of linear equations.
9. Use mathematical language, symbols, and notation to communicate mathematical concepts, demonstrate reasoning, and solve problems.

General Education Competencies

1. Critical Thinking: gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information is covered in every SLO.
2. Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning: applying mathematical, logical, and scientific principles and methods is covered in every SLO.
3. Technology Skills: using appropriate technology to retrieve, manage, analyze, and present information is covered in SLOs # 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
4. Written, Oral and Visual Communication: communicating effectively adapting to purpose, structure, audience and medium is covered in every SLO.