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.  

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

Calculator: A handheld scientific calculator is recommended for this course. You will be allowed to use handheld scientific calculators on exams (not graphical). You will also need a graphing calculator for some of the homework but will not need to purchase one. There are many free graphing calculators online, www.desmos.com/graphing is a good option. 

Other Technology:  Eligible students can check out required technology such as calculators at https://www.austincc.edu/students/student-technology-services.

Course Calendar 

Note: Schedule changes may occur during the semester. Any changes will be announced in class and posted as a Blackboard Announcement.

Important Dates

Last day to withdraw: April 27

Holidays: Monday, March 16 - Sunday, March 22: Spring Break

    Sunday, April 5: Easter

(Please note these are the ONLY holidays this semester.)

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 8-12 hours per week outside of class time to practice and study for this course.  Ask for help immediately when something isn’t clear.  

Getting Help

ACC provides several free resources for students who need help; descriptions and links are below:  

Office hours: Another name for office hours is “student hours.” This is the time your instructor has set aside to answer student questions, so feel free to drop by if you have questions. Office hours may be virtual or on campus; see information above. 

Instructional Associates: Instructional Associates specific to the course you are taking are available for tutoring. To make an appointment, go to https://sites.google.com/a/austincc.edu/math-students/meet/list and then click on your course. 

Learning Labs: The ACC Learning Labs provide tutoring in math and other subjects. To schedule an appointment, go to https://www.austincc.edu/students/learning-lab. This site includes information about in person and virtual tutoring options.

Academic Coaching: Academic coaches offer extra support to students with study strategies; they want to help you learn to be an active participant in your own learning process. For more information or to make an appointment with an academic coach, go to https://www.austincc.edu/students/academic-coaching. 

ACC Student Services: Services are offered in many areas, including Academic, Financial, Personal, and Technology Support.  For more information, go to https://www.austincc.edu/student-support.

Grades

Grade Components

Exams: 70%

Exam 1: 12%

Exam 2: 12%

Exam 3: 12%

Exam 4: 12%

Final: 22%

MyLab Homework: 15%

Quizzes: 15%

Where can I find my grades? 

Grades will be posted on Blackboard. 

Grading Scale

A: 90 - 100

B: 80 – 89

C: 70 – 79

D: 60 – 69

F: < 60

What will we do in this class? 

Exams: There will be four exams and a cumulative final exam. Each exam is worth 12% of your final course grade while the final is worth 22%. There are no retakes or makeup exams. A missed exam will receive a zero.

All exams will be administered in class. Exams will be closed book and closed note. You are allowed to use a simple scientific calculator for your exams (phones, laptops, or graphical calculators will not be allowed).

When you take an exam, you must ensure that your entire work area is visible. If I see phones being used during the exam I will suspect academic dishonesty and give an exam a grade of zero.

MyLab Homework: Online Homework assignments are required, and are available from the Pearson MyLab Math links in Blackboard. The first 

time that you click on “Course Materials Fall 2025,” “Access textbook and MyLab here,” and “Launch Courseware” from Blackboard, it will prompt you to sign in the first time (no course ID required). If you do not already have a MyLab Math account you will need to “Register Now” as a student. Since this course uses first day access, the fees for MyLab Math are already covered in your course fees. Once you have logged into MyLab Math from Blackboard, you will not have to log in to MyLab Math again when accessing MyLab Math through Blackboard. Please note that if you register your MyLab Math with a different email than your ACCmail account, you are granting permission for the instructor to discuss grades with that email account via the email system in MyLab Math.

When reading the online version of the textbook in MyLab Math, more videos can be accessed by clicking on the video icon in the online textbook as you are reading. These video icons may not be available in the pdf version or mobile app version of the textbook. If you are stuck on a homework problem, first try using the tools available in MyLab Math, such as Help me solve this, View an Example, or Animation, if available. Also, try following an example from the textbook or the videos (mine, MyLab Math, Khan Academy, etc.). If you are unable to figure out the problem from these tools, seek help. You may use the Ask My Instructor button to send me an email with a link to the problem you are working on. Please see the policy below on the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) to help you learn (remember, learning is the goal, not just completing problems).

It is recommended that you print each assignment before working on it, and do all of your work on paper. Get used to showing the important steps. Keep your work, with the correct answers and all of your work, organized in a binder for later reference. When preparing for tests or the final exam, many students find it helpful to have these pages to study with. 

Typically, students who get behind, stay behind, so be sure to get homework done early!

MyLab Math Homework can be worked on after the due date, at a 20% penalty for all problems that are not completed on time. The penalty applies only to individual problems that are completed after the due date. MyLab Math assignments are typically due on Thursdays and Sundays, so keep up with the due dates in MyLab Math

Quizzes: 5 written quizzes will be administered in class on random dates throughout the semester, each quiz will be equally weighted at 3% for a total of 15% of the final grade. The quizzes typically will be very short (1-2 questions), and will align with the current class material. Paper will be provided and calculators will not be required. You must show all work and answers in the space provided to get full credit. Written quizzes are graded by completion and correctness. A minimum grade of 50% will be given if the student is in class, if the student is not present then the grade will be 0% for that quiz.

What happens if I miss something? 

Dropped Grade Policy: No grades will be dropped.

Late Work Policy: Late MyLab Math assignments receive an automatic 20 percentage point penalty for problems completed after the due date. Late written assignments are also subject to a 20 percentage point penalty.

Missed Exam Policy: If you miss an exam, you will receive a zero for that grade.

Attendance/Class Participation Expectations and Policy: Prior to the withdrawal deadline, if you fall two weeks behind in course work (MyLab Math Homework, Written assignments) or miss two tests, I may withdraw you from the course, but I make no promises to do so. You must initiate all withdrawals yourself if you wish to be withdrawn. Contact must be made with your instructor in order to be reinstated and reinstatement will be on a case by case basis. Class attendance is required and expected.

Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 3

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).

Course Rationale

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.

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.

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.