Saddleback College                             Syllabus                                              Spring 2012

Math 253 Intermediate Algebra           Instructor Hoa Nguyen

Ticket 15430                                       Office SM 362

TTh  1:30pm- 3:50                              Class Location – SM 304

Office number: 949-582-4725           

Office Hours: TTh 9-10:30am,  Fri 8-9, 12-1pm

Email: hnguyen95@saddleback.edu

Website: www.saddleback.edu/faculty/hnguyen95

 

Course Objectives: This course covers linear and quadratic equations, exponents, radicals, exponentials, logarithms, series and sequences.   

 

Students who successfully complete Math 253 will be able to:

  1. demonstrate mastery of the computational skills necessary for them to succeed in a transfer-level math class.
  2. demonstrate the critical thinking skills necessary to set up and solve word problems at the appropriate difficulty level.
  3. demonstrate proficiency in graphing.

 

Required Textbook:  Intermediate Algebra with applications, 7th edition by Aufmann, Barker and Lockwood.

 

Homework:  Homework will be assigned each class period and will not be collected.

Do the homework to prepare for the exams and weekly quizzes. 

 

Exams: There will be 4 exams each worth 120 points and a cumulative final.

4 Exams X 120 points = 480 points

10 Quizzes X 10 points = 100 points

1 Final = 160 points

 

Grade: Your grade will be given according to the following breakdown.

 

90-100%  A

80-89%    B

70-79%    C

60-69%    D

0-59%      F

 

To pass the class with a C grade or better, you must get 518 points or higher out of 740.

 

Make-up Exams. You will be allowed only one make-up exam during this semester, but you will receive only 90% of the test score.  The make-up exam must be taken within one week of the in-class exam date. If you want a make-up test, you must make arrangements with me, in person, no later than the day of the test. If you do not make arrangements with me, then you will receive a zero for the exam. The make-up exam is usually more difficult than the in-class exam. There are no make-up quizzes or make-up final.

 

I have a zero tolerance for cheating.   Any student caught cheating will receive a minimum of zero on that exam or quiz and may be subject to further administrative action such as suspension or expulsion from the college.   You will not be allowed to drop a quiz if you receive a zero by cheating.

 

Attendance will be taken every day. A student that misses more than 6 hours

of class time may be dropped from the class.  It is the student’s responsibility to drop from

the class.  The last day to drop without a W is February 14th, 2012.  The last day to drop with a W is April 6th, 2012.

 

Only scientific calculators are allowed. No graphing calculators are allowed. Cell phones and palm pilots are not allowed in the class and will not be allowed as calculators. You will not be allowed to share a calculator during an exam. 

 

Absolutely no food or drinks in the classroom.

 

Notice: Students from Special Services with a verified learning disability may be entitled to appropriate academic accommodations.  Please notify me immediately. Students need to set up dates for the four exams and the final in the first week of the semester and return all envelopes to me. 

 

 

Week Starts Monday

Tuesday

Thursday

#1            Jan 9

1.1, 2.1

2.2, 2.3

#2            Jan 16

2.4, 2.5

2.6. 3.1

#3            Jan 23

3.2, 3.3

3.4, 3.5

#4            Jan 30

3.6,  5.1

Exam 1, 5.2

#5            Feb 6

5.3, 5.4

5.5, 5.6,

#6            Feb 13

5.7, 9.1

9.2, 9.3

#7            Feb 20

9.3, 10.1

10.2, 10.3

#8            Feb 27

Exam2,  10.4

10.4, 6.1

#9            Mar 5

6.2

6.3, 6.4

#10          Mar 12

Spring

Break

#11          Mar 19

6.4, 6.5

6.6, 7.1

#12          Mar 26

Exam 3

7.2

7.2, 7.3

#13          April 2

8.1, 8.2

8.3, 8.5

#14          April 9

8.6, 8.7

No class

#15          April 16

 4.1, 4.2

4.4, 3.7

#16          April 23

Exam 4

3.7, 4.5

#17          April 30

11.1

11.4

#18          May 7

FinalsReview

No Class

#19           May 14

Final Exam

 

 

Exam 1 covers 1.1, 2.1-2.6, 3.1-3.6

Exam 2 covers  5.1-5.7, 9.1-9.3

Exam 3 covers 10.1-10.5, 6.1-6.6

Exam 4 covers 7.1-7.5, 8.1-8.3, 8.5-8.7

Final covers 3.7, 4.1-4.2, 4.4-4.5,  11.1, 11.4 and selected review topics

 

Your Final is Tuesday, May 15th  at 3-5 pm