College Algebra

Instructor: Tom LaGatta
Classroom: M LNG 304
Office: MATH 219
Office Hours: M 1-2 and Th 9-10, or by appointment.
My Tutoring Hours: Tu 11-12
Office Phone: 520-621-6883
Email: lagatta@math.arizona.edu

Section: 054
Semester: Fall 2004
Book: College Algebra 2^nd Edition, by Gary Rockswold, or MyMathLab software (comes with .pdf file of the textbook; use course ID clark26007)

Information page for all MATH 110 students

Tentative Syllabus

Spring 2004 Study Guide (PDF)

This page

Announcements
Homework Policy
Homework Assignments
Test Solutions
Other Information

Announcements

You would do well to check this section frequently.

Tu 11/23
W 11/10
Th 10/28
Sa 10/25
F 10/24
Th 10/14
Tu 10/5
F 10/1
Su 9/26
Tu 9/21
Th 9/16
M 9/13
Th 9/9
M 9/6
F 9/3
T 8/31
M 8/30
W 8/25
M 8/23

Homework Policy

Class Information

Homework is assigned to practice the skills learned in class, and to give both you and me feedback on your progress. Coming in for office hours is strongly encouraged, and will probably help significantly on the homework.
Quizzes will be given as necessary, but always with notification at least one day in advance. There will also be in-class assignments. Both of these will be part of your homework grade.
Class participation is a must. Be prepared to answer questions in class, and to occasionally go to the board.
After 3 unexcused absences, I reserve the right to drop you from the class. If you plan to be absent more than three times, please email me so we can work something out.
Group work is strongly encouraged. Ultimately you must submit your own copy of the homework, but you can and should discuss your work, answers, and thought processes with your classmates.
I recommend you trade phone numbers and email addresses with your classmates, then meet frequently outside of class.

Homework Specifics

The first homework assignment is due at my office hours. If you cannot make it at this time, email me and we'll make an appointment.
All subsequent homework is due at the beginning of the class period, within five minutes of the starting bell. No exceptions.
Because the lowest homework scores will be dropped (probably about 3), late homework will not be accepted under any circumstances. If you have any scheduling conflicts that would prevent you from turning in the homework on a given day (or days), I will gladly accept the homework ahead of schedule.
Each homework assignment will be graded on a 15 point scale, with 5 points given for completion, good effort, correct spelling and grammar, et cetera. I will select some problems at random from each assignment to grade, and the remaining 10 points will be given on these.
Each problem should be neatly written, with all intermediate steps included and the problem number clearly marked. Written explanations should be included wherever appropriate. Include units on answers. Graphs should be labeled, with the window clearly marked.
The work is more important than the answer. Right answers which are not accompanied by coherent back-up work or sentence explanations will be worth 0 (zero) points in all cases.
Do your homework on regular 8.5" x 11" non-fringed notebook paper. You may write on both sides of the paper. Your name and the textbook section number should be written at the top of every page, with multiple pages stapled together. This makes grading easy for me, and reexamining your work easy for you.
You will not be given credit for problems that are not legible. If your handwriting is illegible, you will be given a warning, after which I will no longer accept your assignments unless they are legible.
Many of your homework problems will involve writing. That is, sentences and paragraphs. This means I will check for spelling, grammar, et cetera. Good mathematics isn't just about symbolic manipulation, it's about communication skills. If you have a fear of writing, I encourage you to get over it, otherwise college will not be a pleasant experience.
Even on symbolic problems, don't be afraid to write your thoughts. Again, communication is the key. If you get stuck on a problem, but have an idea you just can't execute, write this down. I will factor this very favorably into your grade.
In-class assignments are due at the beginning of the next class period (within the first five minutes). I will not mention them outside of class, so if you are absent for any reason, get the assignment from a classmate. If you are missing class due to an excused absense, I will accept the assignment the day you return. I will also drop the lowest few in-class assignments (probably 3).
Not only is it important to do the homework, it is important to do it right. As an incentive for going over and correcting your homework, I give you an opportunity to make up lost points. You may turn in your homework the class period after it is returned (within the first five minutes), with any wrong answers neatly rewritten in a different color ink. If you scored between 12 and 14 points on the assignment, I will give you up to 1 bonus point. Between 9 and 11, up to 2. Between 6 and 8, up to 3. Under 6, up to 4.
You may email everybody in the class by emailing the class listserv at lagattalist@listserv.arizona.edu. Only people registered for the class can send or receive email from it, so you needn't worry about spam. Feel free to exchange contact information and thoughts on the homework, though I would prefer you not just give answers.

Homework Assignments

These are tentative, and will probably change.
I will mark particularly important problems in bold.
Make sure to write full sentences where appropriate, and always give plenty of reasoning.
Any problems assigned from the workbook should be submitted on notebook paper.
These problems are meant to be hard and numerous. Work in groups.
You will definitely be assigned the italicized problems. As the assignment gets closer, however, I may add more problems to the list.

HW1 due Th 8/26 (during office hours at 9 AM, or by appt.): -§1.3: 4, 10, 17, 21, 24, 25, 29, 34, 35, 46, 56, 59, 60, 70, 72, 74, 76 (read about relations on your own), 77, 80, 82
-WB page 6, number 4
HW2 due Tu 8/31 (at the beginning of class): -§1.4: 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, 22, 30, 34, 38, 50 & 53 (explain), 57, 62, 64, 66, 75, 78 (give two examples)
-What is the slope of f(x) = mx + b?
-§1.2- 35, 40, 43, 44, 45, 46 (Calculator Skills)
HW3 due F 9/3: -§2.1: 3, 6, 10, 15, 24, 27, 32 (see below), 34, 37
-WB p. 19 and 20, all 14 problems. Also give the domain for each function.
-On #32, answer: Is the line you came up with the only line that fits this data? Why or why not? Are there non-linear functions that would fit it as well?
HW4 due Tu 9/7 in class, or W 9/8 in my office before 2:00: -§2.2: 1-6, 8, 9, 15, 20, 22, 32, 38, 40, 45, 52, 54 (give all answers in the context of the problem), 60, 85, 87, 88 (look up "direct variance" first)
-§2.3- 16, 19, 25, 32, 37, 38
HW5 due F 9/10: §2.3: 46, 55, 62, 67, 68, 70, 71, 77, 79, 87
-On #68, the longer side may be the 2x side or the 5x-1 side. Also find the area of the rectangle.
-§2.5- 2, 3, 6, 15-18, 24ab, 27, 64, 79
HW6 due Tu 9/21: -§3.4: 2, 8, 16, 27, 32, 35, 37, 43, 46, 51, 55, 56
-For #2, #8, #27, #32 - What is the domain of the function?
-On #37, write the equations for both f_x(x) and f_y(x), the reflections across the x-axis and y-axis, respectively.
-§3.1- 14, 20, 27
-What does the expression x > 3/2 mean?
HW7 due F 9/24: -§3.1: 36, 40, 43, 46, 51-54, 61, 64, 65, 66, 73, 74
-§3.2: 4
-A. What happens to the domain and range of a function under: a horizontal translation? a horizontal scaling? a vertical translation? a vertical scaling? (answer all)
-WB p. 63-64, #1-3, #6-8
HW8 due W 9/29: -§3.2: 13, 30, 38, 41, 44, 47, 53
-§4.1: 13, 20, 26, 34
-A. We talked about three different forms for quadratic equations. Name them and give an example for each. For each of the three forms, can an arbitrary quadratic be put into that form? Explain why or why not, and give a good argument.
-B. What are you majoring in (or considering majoring in), and why?
HW9 due F 10/1: -§4.1: 41, 43, 50, 52, 55, 64, 67, 71, 72
-§4.2: 8, 15
-A. Give an example of a non-even quadratic polynomial, and of a non-odd cubic polynomial. (It is not enough just to give the examples--you must explain why).
-B. Can a function be both even and odd? Why or why not? If so, give an example of one.
-C. Give an example of a non-continuous piecewise function. (Your answer should be in the form: f(x) = ... is a non-continuous piecewise function, because...)
HW10 due Tu 10/5: -WB pp. 85-94.
On p. 85, under "graph," sketch the graph.
On p. 85, under "end behavior," you can write something like "+ e.b. is ±∞, - e.b. is $plusmn;∞" (depending on ±).
As always, write complete sentences.
HW11 due F 10/8: -§4.3: 10, 30, 33, 100
-State the Factor Theorem, and explain what it mean (You'll have to look this up).
-A. Write a polynomial f(x) (with leading coeffecient 2) in complete factored form:
A1. Degree 5; zeros: -2 with multiplicity 2, and 4 with multiplicity 3.
A2. Degree 7; zeros: -2 with multiplicity 2, and 4 with multiplicity 3.
-Test Review. WB pp. 178-188, #46-66, skip 52. Show all work.
HW12 due M 10/11: Test Review. WB pp. #67-92. Show all work.
HW12.5 due Tu 10/19: Test Correction. I want you to correct your test on a seperate sheet of paper (attach it with your test). Every incorrect problem must be solved perfectly; correct problems may be omitted. This homework assignment will be worth 50 points. Get the answers from friends, enemies, deities, teachers, tutors, or whomever else might know this stuff (including me).
HW13 due W 10/20 (by 3:30): -§4.5: 1, 7-14, 18-20, 98
-WB p. 95
-WB p. 99: 1a, 2ac
-WB p. 101: 1abcd
HW14 due F 10/22 (by 3:30): -§4.5: 97
-WB p. 97 (matching graphs-to-equations is more important, but still try matching the situations)
-WB p. 101: 2abc, 3abc, 5, 6 (see below if you turned in this page):
   2. Create an equation for each:
      a) Shift the graph of y = ¹/_{(x² + 1)} two units to the right.
      b) Shift the graph of y = ¹/_x three units down, then reflect across the x-axis.
      c) A rational function with asymptotes y = 0, x = 2, x = -3.
   3. Suppose y = f(x) is a rational function with a horizontal asymptote of y = 3 and a vertical asymptote of x = 5.;       a) What is the domain of f(x)?
      b) What are the asymptotes of the transformed function y = f(x + 1)?
      c) What are the asymptotes of the transformed function y = f(x) + 2?
   5. Create an equation for a rational function (NOT a polynomial) with no vertical asymptotes. Sketch its graph.
   6. Create an equation for a rational function with a slant asymptote and one vertical asymptote. What are the asymptotes for this function?
-A. Show non-calculator work for this one. Find the domain, vertical asymptotes, holes, horizontal asymptotes, and slant asymptotes of:
   A1. g(x) = (x³ - 3x - 2)/(x² - 2x + 1)
HW15 due W 10/27 (by 3:30): -§5.2: 14, 21, 28, 31, 32, 38, 53, 62, 68
-WB p. 107-8: 1-2, 4-7 (also give the domain), 8-10
-WB p. 109: 1, 2, 3 (do these three on a seperate sheet)
-WB p. 113-114, 117-118.
-A. Why can't you divide by 0? (Hint: What would happen if 1/0 was equal to 0? To 1? To ∞? Generalize this.)
-B. Show non-calculator work for this one. Find the domain, vertical asymptotes, holes, horizontal asymptotes, and slant asymptotes of:
B1. H(y) = (3y² + 2y + 1)/(2y³ - 6y² + 8 )
HW16 due F 10/29: -§5.2: 74, 75, 78, 81, 87, 90, 97, 102
-§5.3: 4, 10, 21, 32, 46, 60
-WB p. 119-128.
HW17 due T 11/2: -Vote responsibly.
-§5.3: 67, 79, 88, 90, 93, 94
-§5.4: 10, 14, 22, 25, 36, 42, 50, 55, 60, 62, 67-70, 72, 83, 85, 88, 90
-WB p. 131
Suggested Test 3 Review: -Test 3 is on §4.5, §5.1, §5.2, §5.3, §5.4.
-WB p. 188 #93 through p. 198 #157
-Spring 2004 Study Guide #62 - 103
-Writing in Mathematics problems for §4.5 - §5.4.
HW18 due F 11/12: -WB pp. 133-143
-S04SG, 100-110 (show work)
HW19 due T 11/16: -WB pp. 144-157
-S04SG, 111-120 (show work)
HW20 due F 11/19: -WB pp. 159-160
-S04SG, 126-9, 132-4, 136-7 (show work)
-§8.1, odd problems: 1-11, 15-23, 31-37 (just give an explicit formula for the sequence)
-A. If a Math 110 student earns 120/150 homework points and 300/400 test points, what grade will she need on the final exam to earn a B in the course? (Use the grade breakdown below).
HW21 due Tu 11/23: -WB pp. 161
-S04SG, 121-122, 125, 139-140, 1-30 (show work)
-A. If a Math 110 student earns 125/150 homework points and 265/400 test points, what grade will he need on the final exam to earn a C in the course? (Use the grade breakdown below).
HW22 due T 11/30: -WB pp. 162-166
-S04SG, 31-60, 123-124, 130-131, 135, 138, 141-142
HW23 due Th 12/2: -S04SG, 92-142 EVEN problems only, you must show work, or you will get 0/15.
HW24 due T 12/7: -Fall04SG, every other odd problem. 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, etc. You must show work.
Final exam study guide (not for submitting): -1. Do problems 1, 5, 9, 13, etc, and circle any you have any trouble with. Even if you recognize a problem, still go through and do it again. Trust me, you need the practice.
-2. Do the same with 2, 6, 10, 14, etc.
-3. Do the same with 3, 7, 11, 15, etc.
-4. Do the same with 4, 8, 12, 16, etc.
-5. Now go back and redo the ones with circles.
-6. Most important step: Repeat steps 1-5; go through the ENTIRE study guide again, in the same staggered manner. The extra practice of doing the later problems will help you with the earlier problems.

Test Solutions

Other Information

Exam Dates

Exam 1: Tu 9/14
Exam 2: Tu 10/12
Exam 3: F 11/5
Exam 4: F 12/3
The Final Exam will be on Monday December 13th from 8-10 am.
- Arrive by 7:40 am.
- Final Exam will NOT be in our usual room. The exam will be in Chemistry 111.
- The new Final Exam Study Guide is here.
  - You can buy a copy at the bookstore. It's under $2.
- Read this very important information.
- Bring the following:
  - your UA student ID (CatCard)
  - #2 lead pencils
  - an eraser
  - your calculator

Grade Breakdown

20% - Homework, Quizzes, In-Class Assignments, and Practice Tests
53% - Tests
27% - Final Exam (40-45 hard multiple choice questions)

Tutoring

Tutoring is available in the Math East building, room 149.
Hours:

11:00 to 4:00 Monday - Thursday
11:00 to 2:00 Friday