Math 111 College Algebra
Course Information
Meeting Times: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 1:00 - 1:50 pm
Location: Hirt 214
Office Hours: Monday 2-3:30, Tuesday 1-3, Wednesday 9-10, Thursday 8-9:30
Location: Hirt 214
Office Hours: Monday 2-3:30, Tuesday 1-3, Wednesday 9-10, Thursday 8-9:30
Course Description
This is a course in algebra, similar to high school courses in algebra except that the pace will be faster. We will begin with some review of real-number concepts, and proceed into linear equations in one variable, mathematical modeling, polynomials, rational expressions, functions, lines, exponents, and radicals, equations, inequalities, and polynomial and rational functions.
Objectives
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Identify, distinguish, perform algebraic operations and find solutions to equations using the integer, rational, real and complex number systems.
- Use common algebraic methods to solve linear, quadratic, polynomial, radical, and absolute value equations and inequalities.
- Translate the written problem and create algebraic models to solve real-life problems.
- Use and create algebraic functions.
- Demonstrate your understanding of introductory language of mathematics through the use of proper mathematics notation.
Required Materials
Textbook
Intermediate Algebra for College Students by Blitzer, 7th Edition. No other supplies are required for the course. No other supplies are required for the course. You do NOT need to purchase any subscriptions to MyMathLab or workbooks related to this textbook.
You will not be expected to bring your textbook to class. If you prefer to purchase or rent an electronic version of the text, you’re welcome to do so.
You will not be expected to bring your textbook to class. If you prefer to purchase or rent an electronic version of the text, you’re welcome to do so.
Calculators
You are not required to purchase a calculator for this course. You are strongly encouraged to avoid using a calculator while working on homework.
Quizzes
Keeping up with the homework will ensure that you are prepared for the quizzes, which will feature problems very similar to those in the homework. Quizzes will be completed online via Moodle, and you will have a window outside of class time to complete each quiz. Quizzes must be completed during this time; you will not be permitted to take a quiz after the due date without making prior arrangements.
Your lowest quiz grade, including a missed quiz, will be dropped when calculating your final grade.
Your lowest quiz grade, including a missed quiz, will be dropped when calculating your final grade.
Exams
There will be four midterm exams given throughout the semester, in addition to the final exam. The material on the exams will be similar to topics covered on quizzes and homework. The midterm exams will also be delivered via Moodle.
Your lowest exam grade (including a missed exam) will be replaced by your final exam grade, if your fi- nal exam grade is better. A grade of 0 on an exam due to academic dishonesty will not be replaced by the final exam grade.
If you will be unable to complete an exam before the availability window on Moodle closes for an excused reason (medical issue with note, University athletics or other event, etc), please let me know as soon as possible to arrange an alternative test.
Midterm exams will be available on Moodle during the following dates and times:
Your lowest exam grade (including a missed exam) will be replaced by your final exam grade, if your fi- nal exam grade is better. A grade of 0 on an exam due to academic dishonesty will not be replaced by the final exam grade.
If you will be unable to complete an exam before the availability window on Moodle closes for an excused reason (medical issue with note, University athletics or other event, etc), please let me know as soon as possible to arrange an alternative test.
Midterm exams will be available on Moodle during the following dates and times:
- Tuesday, February 11, 9 am - 9 pm
- Thursday, March 12, 9 am - 9 pm
- Tuesday, April 7, 9 am - 9 pm
- Friday, May 1, 9 am - 9 pm
Final Grades
Basis of Final Grade
Up to 700 points are available to earn throughout the semester, as follows:
| 400 points | Midterm Exams |
| Four exams, 100 points each | |
| Lowest exam grade replaced by final exam, if better | |
| 100 points | Quizzes |
| Eleven quizzes, lowest quiz grade dropped | |
| 200 points | Final Exam |
Grading Scale
| Grade | F | D | D+ | C | C+ | B | B+ | A |
| Percentage | 0-59 | 60-66 | 67-69 | 70-76 | 77-79 | 80-86 | 87-89 | 90-100 |
| Points | 0 | 420 | 469 | 490 | 539 | 560 | 609 | 630 |
Tutoring
Mercyhurst University offers free tutoring for Calculus II students. For more information or to arrange a tutor, please click here. You are free to ask tutors questions on any assigned homework and exam review sheets.
Learning Differences
Mercyhurst University is committed to making reasonable accommodations to assist individuals with disabilities in reaching their academic potential. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations should consult with the Learning Differences Office to discuss eligibility for services or submit the online accommodation request to the Director of Equal Opportunity Programs (DEOP) at ada@mercyhurst.edu.
For students requiring accommodations for learning differences, it is the policy of Mercyhurst University that it is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation of his/her disability to the DEOP.
Students are advised to request accommodations at the time of acceptance or prior to the start of the semester. Students may request accommodations at any time throughout the program, however accommodations are not retroactive.
For students requiring accommodations for learning differences, it is the policy of Mercyhurst University that it is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation of his/her disability to the DEOP.
Students are advised to request accommodations at the time of acceptance or prior to the start of the semester. Students may request accommodations at any time throughout the program, however accommodations are not retroactive.
Academic Honesty
Students are required to uphold academic integrity throughout the course. In particular, plagiarism of any sort, unauthorized collaboration on exams, quizzes and other assignments, and other incidences of academic dishonesty will be handled according to the policies set forth in the Student Handbook.
In this course, academic honesty means submitting quizzes and exams that are genuine reflections of your understanding of the material. A first attempt to unfairly increase your grade on a quiz or exam (by using restricted notes, calculators or any other electronic devices, by copying work from a classmate, etc) will result in a grade of 0 for that quiz or exam. This grade will not be dropped or replaced when determining your final grade. A second attempt will result in an Academic Dishonesty report and may affect your enrollment in the course and the University.
In this course, academic honesty means submitting quizzes and exams that are genuine reflections of your understanding of the material. A first attempt to unfairly increase your grade on a quiz or exam (by using restricted notes, calculators or any other electronic devices, by copying work from a classmate, etc) will result in a grade of 0 for that quiz or exam. This grade will not be dropped or replaced when determining your final grade. A second attempt will result in an Academic Dishonesty report and may affect your enrollment in the course and the University.
Mercy Mission
This course supports the mission of Mercyhurst University by creating students who are intellectually creative. Students will foster this creativity by: applying critical thinking and qualitative reasoning techniques to new disciplines; developing, analyzing, and synthesizing scientific ideas; and engaging in innovative problem solving strategies.
Course Evaluations
Near the end of the semester, you will be asked to complete an online course evaluation. The evaluation will be completed in class during the last two weeks of the semester using any laptop, tablet, or mobile device. The response tool allows you to note aspects of the course that helped you learn, as well as aspects that might be modified to help future students learn more effectively. You will receive an email letting you know when the evaluation window for our class is open. Please note that these course evaluations are anonymous and instructors do not see the results until after the grades for the course are submitted.
Homework
When we finish a section in the book, you should immediately begin working on the homework problems from the list below.
Your work will not be collected. However, actually working through these problems is the key to your success in this class. Attending every class is not enough; mathematics can only be learned through practice. You should plan to spend a significant amount of time on the homework. It is expected that you spend approximately 6-9 hours per week studying the material outside our class meetings, according the the typical 2-3 hour per credit rule of thumb.
Stay up to date with homework, and get help if you cannot understand a problem after trying it on your own. Do not ignore a problem that you are struggling with. If you are having trouble with a topic, please come talk to me during office hours, ask questions in class, seek help from a classmate, or go to the department tutors for assistance. You are expected to try to work on all problems on your own first; when coming to my office, be prepared to show me what you've already tried.
Your work will not be collected. However, actually working through these problems is the key to your success in this class. Attending every class is not enough; mathematics can only be learned through practice. You should plan to spend a significant amount of time on the homework. It is expected that you spend approximately 6-9 hours per week studying the material outside our class meetings, according the the typical 2-3 hour per credit rule of thumb.
Stay up to date with homework, and get help if you cannot understand a problem after trying it on your own. Do not ignore a problem that you are struggling with. If you are having trouble with a topic, please come talk to me during office hours, ask questions in class, seek help from a classmate, or go to the department tutors for assistance. You are expected to try to work on all problems on your own first; when coming to my office, be prepared to show me what you've already tried.
| Section | Problems | |
| Unit 1 | ||
| 1.1 | 17, 25, 49, 63, 65, 69, 73 | |
| 1.2 | 1, 13, 19, 21, 37, 41, 49, 55, 59, 61, 85, 89, 91, 95, 99, 113, 123, 127, 129 | |
| 1.3 | 3-9, 31, 43, 57-60, 61, 64 | |
| 1.4 | 3, 11, 17, 19, 23, 25, 29, 31, 33, 37, 59, 65 | |
| 1.5 | 7, 9, 35, 37, 41, 45, 61, 63, 71, 73 | |
| 1.6 | 17, 21, 23, 27, 35, 37, 39, 47, 49, 55, 61, 65, 71, 81, 87, 97, 103, 107, 109, 111, 119, 121, 123 | |
| 2.1 | 3, 15, 19, 21, 25, 31 | |
| 2.2 | 3, 5, 11 - 18, 19, 23, 25, 29, 31, 37, 64 - 67 | |
| 2.3 | 9, 13, 15, 31, 37, 39, 43, 49, 51, 52, 53, 59 | |
| 2.4 | 1, 9, 17, 19, 23, 27, 31, 33, 37, 47, 51, 61, 62, 67, 75 | |
| 2.5 | 3, 7, 11, 19, 21, 22, 23, 27, 33, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57 | |
| 3.1 | 1, 3, 7, 17, 31, 39, 45, 49, 55, 63, 65, 69, 75, 81, 83 | |
| Unit 2 | ||
| 4.1 | 3, 7, 15, 19, 21, 25, 29, 33, 35, 43 | |
| 4.2 | 1, 7, 9, 11, 13, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29, 31, 33, 41, 47, 49, 53, 55 | |
| 4.3 | 3, 7, 15, 17, 21, 27, 41, 43, 45, 51, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 72, 73, 79, 81 | |
| 5.1 | 1, 5, 11, 17, 19, 21-24, 25-28, 29, 39, 41, 49, 71, 105 | |
| 5.2 | 3, 5, 7, 15, 19, 21, 22, 25, 29, 43, 49, 53, 55, 71, 81, 99, 101, 105 | |
| 5.3 | 3, 7, 9, 21, 23, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, 49, 55, 59, 61, 65, 67, 71, 73, 81 | |
| 5.4 | 5, 9, 15, 21, 35, 37, 39, 49, 55, 57, 69, 73, 81 | |
| 5.5 | 1, 3, 7, 13, 19, 21, 23, 29, 33, 35, 39, 41, 45, 47, 49, 55, 65, 75, 81, 85, 103 | |
| 5.6 | 7, 11, 15, 17, 21, 37, 39, 47, 61, 63, 67, 69, 79 | |
| Unit 3 | ||
| 5.7 | 5, 11, 13, 15, 21, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 37, 43, 45 | |
| 7.7 | 1, 7, 15, 19, 23, 39, 63, 67, 73, 81 | |
| 8.1 | 1, 5, 35, 51, 55 | |
| 8.2 | 3, 9, 13, 17, 37, 38, 41, 42, 45, 46, 47, 49 | |
| 6.1 | 1, 9, 13, 31, 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 65, 67, 79, 81, 83, 89 | |
| 6.2 | 3, 7, 9, 11, 19, 23, 25, 29, 31, 39, 41, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 69, 71 | |
| 6.3 | 3, 7, 9, 13, 15, 19, 23, 27, 29, 33, 39, 41, 43, 47, 49 | |
| 6.4 | 3, 15, 25, 27, 33, 35, 45, 47 | |
| 6.6 | 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 29, 35, 39, 41, 47 | |
| Unit 4 | ||
| 7.1 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 15, 17, 19, 33-53(odd), 61, 73, 77, 79, 81, 87 | |
| 7.2 | 3, 5, 13, 15, 17, 27, 29, 31, 33, 37, 45, 47, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 65, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 81, 87, 95, 96, 99, 101, 103, 104, 113, 114, 115, 116, 121, 122, 123, 124 | |
| 7.3 | 1, 7, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27, 29, 33, 43, 49, 61, 65, 67, 69, 71, 75 | |
| 7.4 | 5, 7, 11, 13, 15, 21, 23, 31, 37, 45, 49, 53, 57, 67, 71 | |
| 7.5 | 3, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 23, 29, 31, 39, 47, 49, 65, 81, 83, 87, 101 | |
| 7.6 | 7, 10, 11, 14, 17, 19, 21, 23, 31, 32, 34, 39, 43, 45 | |
| 8.4 | 1, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 25, 27 | |
Schedule
The exact topic covered on a particular date is subject to change. Exams and quizzes will be given on the day they are scheduled, though the sections appearing on a quiz may differ. Announcements will be made in class regarding any schedule changes.
| Date | Topic | Notes |