MATH 94 Intermediate Algebra
Napa Valley College Fall 2016 - Section 69223
8:00 - 10:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Room 831
Instructor: Karen Walters
Webpage: http://www.napavalley.edu/people/kwalters
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Monday – 8:30 – 9:30, 11:00 – 12:00;
Wednesday – 11:00 – 12:00;
Office: 1031-J (back hall)
Phone: 707-256-7739
Tuesday – 1:30 – 2:30;
Thursday – 1:30 – 2:30
Course Materials
 Calculator: Any non-graphing scientific calculator will be fine. Calculators may be used in
class, on homework, and on most tests. (There will be “no-calculator” sections on most
tests!) Please note that you will NOT be able to use your cell phone as a calculator, and you
may not share calculators on exams.
 Online Homework System Access Code: walters97767. The student version of
MyMathLab (an online homework, tutorial, and assessment system that is correlated to the
textbook) is REQUIRED course material. Please enroll in MyMathLab prior to the second
class meeting.
 Homework assignment and Quiz due dates and class announcements will be posted to
MyMathLab, so I recommend that you check it regularly!
 Textbook: Elementary & Intemediate Algebra Concepts & Applications 6th edition published
by Pearson with MyMathLab access. There is an online version of the textbook available via
MyMathLab, so if money is an issue, you don’t have to buy the physical textbook. There is a
paperback version of the book bundled with MyMathLab available at the bookstore.
Description: MATH 94 is the second course in the MATH 90-94 sequence. It is a prerequisite for
MATH 106, MATH 232 and MATH 235 and is equivalent to both MATH 98 and MATH 99.
Content includes introduction to functions, systems of equations, absolute value equations and
inequalities, complex numbers, simplifying radicals, graphing quadratic and exponential
functions, solving equations involving radicals, quadratics, exponentials, or logarithms, and
applications.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Given an input, find the corresponding output of a function.
2. Solve systems of equations with 2 equations and 2 variables including application problems.
3. Solve absolute value equations and inequalities.
4. Simplify radical expressions and solve radical equations.
5. Simplify expressions involving complex numbers.
6. Use the quadratic formula to solve quadratic equations.
7. Graph quadratic functions.
8. Solve exponential and logarithmic equations including application problems.
9. Graph exponential functions.
Student Learning Outcomes:
 Solve quadratic, logarithmic, exponential, absolute value, radical, and systems of
equations.
 Graph quadratic and exponential functions.
Attendance: Daily attendance is essential. You may be dropped from this course if you have
more than three absences. Arriving late, leaving early, using a cell phone, or not paying attention
in class each count as an absence. You may also be dropped if you are not enrolled in the
MyMathLab section with the Week 1 homework complete by Friday, September 2nd, or if you
are not completing the assignments online on a weekly basis.
Resources: Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a
learning disability should contact Learning Services in the Library and Learning Resource Center
(LLRC), room 1766, phone (707) 256-7442. A Learning Disability Specialist will review your
needs and determine appropriate accommodations. If you need accommodations for physical or
other types of disabilities, schedule an appointment with DSPS Counselor, Sheryl Fernandez, in
the Counseling Department located in the 1300 building, phone (707) 256-7234 for appointment.
All information and documentation is confidential. Please feel encouraged to make an
appointment with me privately to discuss your specific learning needs in my class.
Math Success Center: Drop-in and individual tutoring are available for FREE in the Math
Success Center, located on the main floor of the 800 building.
Grading
3 Chapter Tests (worth 15% each) ..................................
Final Exam .........................................................................
Homework ..........................................................................
Quizzes ...............................................................................
EOCs ...................................................................................
I use the following scale when assigning course grades:
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 70-79
45%
20%
15%
15%
5%
D: 60-69
F: 0-59
Tests and Final Exam
THREE Chapter Tests and a comprehensive (cumulative!) Final Exam will be given during the
semester. No make-up exams are allowed for any reason. If you miss a test, your final exam
score will replace your missed test score. In addition, if your online homework score is at least
85% at the end of the semester, you may drop your lowest test score (1-3) and replace it with
your final exam score. Use of a cell phone for any reason (e.g, texting) during a test will result in
a 10% penalty on the test in progress. A second violation will result in a 0 on that test.
You must take the final exam at the scheduled time for your class. Our Final Exam is scheduled
for the following day/time:
Tuesday, December 13, 8:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Homework Guidelines
1. You may rework problems on the homework assignments as many times as you’d like in
order to get as high a score as possible. And yes, you can do late homework. However, I will
deduct 30% from your score on problems that are done after the due date. (Any problems
done correctly before the due date will receive full credit.)
2. Important Homework Note: If you wish to review a homework assignment (without
accidentally lowering your score!), click on the Gradebook button, then click on the word
Review next to the assignment you wish to study.
Quizzes
Quizzes will be given regularly in class. They will be announced in class a week prior. You may
not make up a quiz but I will drop your lowest quiz score at the end of the semester. You will be
allowed to use your notes and often will be allowed to use your calculator but no other electronic
device will be allowed.
EOC: End of Class Question(s)
Most classes will end with a/an “End Of Class” question(s). It will not be graded based on
correctness. You will get credit for it if you complete the question(s) without any help from
anyone else. You can use your notes on this.
Electronic Devices
Please turn off and put away your entertainment devices. Do not wear headsets in the classroom.
Cell Phones
Please silence cell phones. Do not interrupt this class with your personal phone calls.
Dropping
If you need to drop this course, remember that it is your responsibility to do so.
Dates to Remember:
September 22 –
November 1 –
December 6 –
December 13 –
Midterm Exam #1
Midterm Exam #2
Midterm Exam #3
Final Exam (Cumulative)
Math 94
Intermediate Algebra Calendar
Walters
Fall 2016
Lecture Tuesday 8 – 10:15 a.m.
7.1 Introduction to functions
7.2 Domain and Range
7.5 Formulas, Applications, Variation
THURS
Aug 18
8.4 Systems of Equations in three
variables
8.6 Elimination Using Matrices
Sep 1
Sep 15
Oct 4
9.2 Intersections, Unions, compd inequals
9.3 Absolute Val Equat and inequalities
10.1 Radical Expressions and Functions
Chapter 7 and 8 Review
10.2 Rational Numbers as Exponents
10.3 Multiplying Radical Expressions
10.6 Solving Radical Equations
Oct 11
11.1 Quadratic Equations
Oct 13
Oct 18
11.4 Applications of Quadratic Equas
Oct 20
Oct 25
11.7 More Graphing Quadratics
Oct 27
10.4 Dividing Radical Expressions
10.5 Expressions Containing several rad terms
10.7 Distance and midpoint formulas
10.8 Complex Numbers
11.2 The Quadratic Formula
11.3 Solutions of Quadratic Equations
11.5 Equations reducible to quadratic
11.6 Quadratic Functions and Graphs
Review Chapters 10 & 11
Nov 1
Midterm Exam #2 Chapter 10 & 11
Nov 3
12.1 Composite and Inverse Functions
Nov 8
Nov 10
12.4 Properties of Log Functions
12.5 Common and Natural Logs
12.7 Applications of Exponential and Log Funcs.
Dec 6
12.2 Exponential Functions
12.3 Logarithmic Functions
12.6 Solving Exponential and Log
Functions
13.1 Parabolas and Circles
13.2 Ellipses
13.2 Ellipses
13.3 Hyperbolas
Midterm Exam #3 Chapter 12 & 13
Dec 13
Final Exam 8am – 10am
Dec 15
TUES
Aug 16
Aug 23
Aug 30
Sep 6
Sep 13
Sep 20
Sep 27
Nov 15
Nov 22
Nov 29
Aug 25
Sep 8
Sep 22
Sep 29
Oct 6
Nov 17
Nov 24
Lecture Thursday 8 – 10:15 a.m.
7.3 Graphs of Functions
7.4 Algebra of Functions
8.1 Systems of Equations in two
Variables
8.5 Solving Applications: 3 Variables
8.6 Elimination Using Matrices
9.1 Inequalities and Domain
9.2 Intersections, Unions, compound inequalities
9.4 Inequalities in Two Variables
Chapter 9 Review
Midterm Exam #1 Chapter 7, 8 & 9
Dec 1
Thanksgiving
No Classes
Review Chapters 12 and 13
Dec 8
Final Review