Course Information
College Algebra, Math 143 - Section 1
MWF 9:00-9:50am in PS 307, Spring, 2008

You should use office hours or appointments (for all your classes) as the first source of assistance whenever you have questions or difficulties.  Knowing your professor is great motivation and a good way to get advice on courses and other education and career related decisions.

A second source of help is free tutoring available from the Math Center in the Center for Teaching and Learning, Museum 433 in Pocatello from 9 am to 7 pm M-Th and 9 am to 2 pm Friday, CHE Room 220 in Idaho Falls from 9 am to 4 pm M-Th.  More information at www.isu.edu/ctl/math.  Also available if you want additional help to succeed are the 1 credit course ACAD 103 (College Learning Strategies for Math) or ACAD 101 (College Learning Strategies).

Questions: How can we describe the relationship between different physical quantities?  What is the relationship for example between the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales, the height of a ball thrown and the time since it was thrown, the volume of a can and the radius of its base, the balance in your bank account and the time since an amount was deposited, or the sound level of an MP3 player in decibels and the intensity of the sound it produces?   All of these relationships can be described by mathematical functions and these examples, all of which we will consider, represent a wide variety of different relationships that can occur.  How can we use properties of functions to better understand these relationships?

Goals: At the core of mathematics and many of its applications is the notion of function, the main topic in Math 143.  In this course you will learn about functions, both in general and specific types.  You will learn to work with functions and determine their properties using algebraic formulas, graphs, tables, and words.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

• Work with and find properties of polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions from algebraic, graphical, numerical, and verbal perspectives.
• Effectively graph and analyze functions by hand and using a graphing calculator.
• Formulate mathematical questions, solve problems, and present the solutions clearly.
• Apply learning and study skills to succeed in this course and beyond.

Prerequisites: Math 108 with a grade of C- or better, or demonstrated equivalent proficiency in Intermediate Algebra is required.  Math 143 assumes the material in Chapters 1 and 2 of the required text; in particular, that you can accurately solve basic equations and inequalities.  Review as needed.

Purpose: Math 143 with a grade of C- or better serves as a prerequisite for Calculus (Math 160 or Trigonometry, Math 144 and then Math 170).  The 5 credit course Precalculus (Math 147) covers the same material as Math 143 and 144.  Math 143 will not fulfill General Education Goal 3 by itself.

Accommodations: Idaho State University is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students.  If you have a diagnosed disability or if you believe you have a disability that might require reasonable accommodation in this course, please contact the ADA & Disability Resource Center, Room 123 Graveley Hall (282-3599) as soon as possible.

Format and Evaluation
Class time will include a mixture of lectures and cooperative group work on either worksheets or in-class problems that will be collected for credit.  You are responsible for material covered in all class sessions regardless of whether you have reason to be absent.  Material covered in class lectures and group activities will assume that you have read and thought about the material ahead of time.  To fully succeed in accomplishing the goals above, you will need to take responsibility for and participate actively in your own learning, both inside and outside of class. Things that will help are to read the book both before and after material is presented in class, review class notes and make your own notes, work odd numbered problems for practice, complete and turn in assigned homework, and learn from comments and corrections on returned work.

Homework will be assigned and collected or there will be a quiz over definitions and problems similar to homework.  Show all work and include complete, clear explanations.  Organize and present your work neatly.  Papers should be stapled with no ragged edges.  Any changes to the calendar, lists of homework problems, and due dates will be posted on the class web page, http://www.isu.edu/~krilcath/m143Spr08.html.  Your lowest homework and quiz score will not be included in calculating your grade, so no late homework will be accepted and no make-up quizzes will be given.  Some homework and quiz problems may be scored with no partial credit to prepare for exams and the final.

Understanding and being able to do mathematics requires consistently working on problems yourself.  But in addition to doing so you are encouraged to study together and discuss problems with others since this can be a very effective and rewarding way to learn mathematics.  You must write up solutions yourself and give written credit for ideas obtained from other sources.  Violations of ISU's plagiarism policy will not be tolerated and will be addressed according to ISU policy (see the Student Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook, http://www.isu.edu/studenta/handbook.pdf and the section of the Faculty Staff Handbook referenced there, http://www.isu.edu/fs-handbook/part6/6_9/6_9a.html).

Exams will be given in class, tentatively on the dates shown below, and will be written by me.  All exams will be closed book with no notes allowed and assume use of a graphing calculator.  Each will include some questions that involve applying familiar concepts in new situations.  If an emergency requires you to miss an exam, you must contact me or have someone else contact me before the exam if at all possible and no later than the next class meeting and must provide documentation.  The cumulative final will be uniform for all sections, written by the course coordinator, and graded by all instructors of 143 sections.  One double-sided 3"x5" note card will be allowed.  Make a note now of the special date and time of the final.  Links to old final exams and review questions written by different professors are available on the course web page.

Grades of A, B, C, D will be guaranteed by earning overall percentages of 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%.  Cutoffs for +/- will be these values +/- 3 percentage points.  The grades and comments on assignments and exams are intended to provide you with feedback and to help you assess your current state of learning.   The final course grade will reflect to what extent you have accomplished the first three goals above on what you should be able to do at the end of the course.

Philosophy: All of you have the potential to succeed in this course and hard work helps dramatically.  Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to reach the top of Mount Everest and who just recently passed away, said it this way: "I think it all comes down to motivation. If you really want to do something, you will work hard for it."  I continue to learn by expanding my knowledge of mathematics and its connections with other subjects, by doing original research, and by understanding more about learning and teaching.  I expect that you will also deepen your knowledge of mathematics and its applications, will learn to formulate questions that lead you to construct your own understanding of mathematics, and will know more about the process of learning and solving problems after you complete this course.  The most important skill you gain during a college education is the ability to learn independently.