Prerequisites: A student should have some algebra background. Minimum requirements are either a score greater than or equal to 15 on the placement exam and high school Algebra II, or passing Intermediate Algebra (Math 099). Recommended: a grade of C or better in Intermediate Algebra (Math 099). Poor arithmetic and basic algebra skills are among the major reasons students how problems with this course.

Instructor: Timothy Peil
Text: Algebra and Trigonometry by Swokowski and Cole, 11th Edition
Office: Basement of the Science Lab Building
Phone: 218-477-2454
Office Hrs: MWF 10:00–10:50;  TH 9:30–10:50;  MTHF 1:00–1:50
E-mail: peil@mnstate.edu
Web homepage: http://web.mnstate.edu/peil/classweb.html

General Information follows the tentative class schedule.
 

Date		Section		Assignment
Oct. 30		3.1, 3.2, 3.3		p. 141 #5, 9, 21, 23; p. 156 #1, 7, 15, 17, 25, 35, 47, 51, 61, 70; p. 172 #1, 3, 5, 13
Nov. 1		3.3		p. 141 #13; p. 156 #11, 19, 39, 49, 63; p. 173 #17, 21, 23, 27, 29, 31, 33, 37, 45, 51, 57, 59
Nov. 3		3.4		p. 173 #25, 35, 38, 61, 63; p. 190 #1, 3, 5, 9, 15, 17, 19, 21, 27, 39, 47, 51, 53, 65, 67
Nov. 6		3.7		p. 190 #7, 20, 23, 29, 33, 41, 49, 54, 71; p. 236 #1, 3, 9, 13, 15, 21, 29, 35, 37, 47, 53
Nov. 8		5.1		p. 236 #7, 11, 17, 23, 38, 57; p. 328 #1, 3, 5, 7, 17, 25, 29, 31, 33, 43, 45, 47, 59
Nov. 10		Review		p. 239 #3–7, 9, 11–25, 27–37, 39, 55–56, 58, 65–78; p. 328 #2, 15, 19, 27, 46
Nov. 13		Exam		Read Sections 5.2 and 5.3
Nov. 15		5.2, 5.3		p. 339 #1–9 odd, 13, 19, 25–31 odd, 33, 37, 41 p. 351 #1, 5, 7, 21
Nov. 17		5.4		p. 365 #1–57 (every 4th)
Nov. 20		5.4, 5.5		p. 365 #3–55 (every 4th) p. 376 #1, 5, 9, 13, 51
Nov. 27		5.5		p. 376 #3, 7, 11, 15, 17–35 odd, 45, 47, 49, 55
Nov. 29		5.6		p. 388 #1–57 (every 4th)
Dec. 1		5.6		p. 388 #3–59 (every 4th)
Dec. 4		9.1, 9.2		p. 642 #1, 7, 9, 11, 15, 21, 27, 29 p. 652 #7, 15, 19, 21, 29, 35
Dec. 6		Review
Dec. 8		Exam
Dec. 11		Review		Comprehensive Review

FINAL EXAM: 9:00 a.m., December 18^th.

General Comments.
(1)   You are expected to reason out problems from basic principles that you should have memorized or need to memorize after we cover them in class.
(2)  For this unit, I assume you know the basic principles of the Cartesian coordinate system, e.g., basic terms (quadrant, origin, coordinate, etc.), plotting points and equations, distance formula, midpoint formula, and slope formula.
(3)  No calculators will be permitted for this unit (Chapter 3), but you must have a calculator for the next unit (Chapter 5).
(4)  You are expected to attend all classes. You are responsible for learning the material; I cannot learn it for you. My responsibility is to help you learn the material.
(5)  You are expected to participate in class by asking questions and suggesting approaches to solving problems.
(6)  You are expected to work all assigned problems. If you have problems with the exercises, come to my office for help, go to the tutor room for help, get help from a friend who understands the material, or ask during the limited time in class.

GENERAL INFORMATION: College Algebra is partly a review of high school Algebra II and, an introduction to matrices and their applications. It is not open to mathematics majors. The focus of the class will be algebraic skills.

Prerequisites: A student should have a good basic algebra background. Minimum requirements are listed at the beginning of the syllabus. Poor arithmetic and basic algebra skills are among the major reasons students have problems with this course. Other reasons for poor performance are not doing the homework, poor class attendance, not asking questions, and minimal study time. It is expected that you spend at least 2 - 4 hours for every hour in class working assigned problems and reading the text. Get help and ask for help if you have questions or problems. Note: my office hours; other hours may be arranged if there is a time conflict.

Read the text and be able to work any of the exercises. You will need to work more problems than the assigned exercises, since the assigned exercises will be just a small sample of the types of problems you need to be able to work. The schedule is a basic guide—we may at times be ahead or behind the given schedule.

Exam solution keys from past exams are posted at my web homepage. http://web.mnstate.edu/peil .

If you have any questions or problems, come in for help. If my office hours do not match your schedule, see me about arranging another time to meet. Also, you may e-mail me questions. A tutor room will be available in Lommen 90.

When used in an appropriate manner, calculators and computers are excellent tools. I want to emphasize the idea of tool, please use the appropriate tool for the appropriate task. For example: simple computations such as single digit arithmetic and estimations should be done mentally, use a calculator for several digit arithmetic, and use a computer in situations involving repetitive operations such as multiplying several values by the same number. The key analogy is you would not use a pile driver or a sledge hammer to put a thumb tack into a bulletin board. Or,

You may use a graphing calculator, but be prepared to justify all steps and provide exact solutions.  

No makeup exams will be given!!!—except in cases of extreme illness, family emergency, or university-approved activity, in which case exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. For me to even consider an exception, you must notify me (not the department secretary) before the exam takes place, and provide documentation (such as a receipt from the doctor) before taking the makeup exam.

Grades will be assigned as on syllabus given out by Dr. Stockrahm.