| Instructor
Information |
| Name: |
Michael
Greenwich |
| Biography: |
BS. in Mathematics (1983),
MS. in Statistics (1984), and Ph. D. in Mathematical Statistics (1987),
all from University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Teaching at Talladega College, Talladega, Alabama (1987-1988), at Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, Indiana (1988-2003),
and at the College of Southern Nevada since Fall of
2003.
Statistical consulting in industries since
1989. |
| Home
Page: |
http://www.nevada.edu/~greenwic/ |
Emergency
E-Mail: |
michael.greenwich@csn.edu
Note: Due to the
wealth of computer viruses spread through e-mail and the daily barrage of
unsolicited junk mail (SPAM), any current student wanting to send the
instructor a course-related message must do so using the course e-mail on
WebCT (now, Blackboard). The instructor's emergency e-mail address is to
be used ONLY if the course e-mail system on WebCT is unavailable.
Non-Emergency e-mail sent to this regular e-mail will, most likely, be
ignored. |
| Phones |
Use the
course e-mail system (Course Mail) provided within WebCT. Do not use phone
to contact the instructor. |
| Fax: |
(702) 651-5881
|
| Office: |
CSN Charleston Campus, Building H, Room
101-A |
| Office
Hours: |
Online (In Chat Room):
10:30 -11:00 on T and R
In Office: 12:30 to 1:30 on M and 10:00 to 11:00 on W in H 101-A
Note: These office
hours are in effect from August 25 to December 4, 2008
Additional
Hours: By Appointment |
| |
|
| Course
Information |
| Title/Number: |
Intermediate
Algebra, Math 096 |
| Section(s): |
DED05 (51200), & DED06 (51202) |
| Dates: |
Monday, August 25 through
Saturday, December 13, 2008 |
| Description: |
Topics
include functions and graphs, systems of linear equations, linear
equations and inequalities, radicals, absolute value equations and
inequalities, and quadratic equations. Prerequisite:
Placement test, Math 95 with C or higer, or equivalent. |
| Method of
Instruction: |
Students will
be expected to read the textbook, do the suggested homework problems, and
study the indicated website materials such as the Course
Notes.
Note: Technical difficulties and any difficulties
(beyond your control or not) will not be an acceptable excuse for missing
deadlines or neglecting to complete the assigned work (Quizzes &
Exams). |
| Location(s): |
Internet Only - WebCT Access: http://vconline.csn.edu
| IMPORTANT: The WebCT program requires you to
use one of the following web browsers or their newer
versions: |
- AOL 7.0
(PC)
- AOL 8.0
(PC)
- AOL OSX
(OSX)
- Microsoft
Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0 (PC)
- Microsoft
Internet Explorer 5.1 (OS9, OSX.1)
- Microsoft
Internet Explorer 5.2 (OSX.2)
- Netscape 6.2.x
(PC and Mac)
- Netscape 7.0
(PC & OSX)
|
| If you
have any questions, contact your instructor
immediately. | |
Note:
Various features in this course, including the required online
quizzes, make use of pop-up windows. Thus, to be able to participate in
this course, you should disable any "Pop-Up Blocker" software installed on
your computer. |
WebCT
Access: |
Where: Go tohttp://vconline.csn.edu.
WebCT
ID (User Name): Last 8 digits of your CSN Student ID
Note: This is NOT your Social Security Number. (Example: If your CSN
Student ID # is C012345678, then your User Name is
12345678)
Password: 4-digit number, MMYY, corresponding to your
birth month and year (Example: If you were born in May of 1975, your
Password is 0575) |
|
Special Note to AOL users:
|
AOL users
have reported many difficulties with the class management system. If you
are intending to use AOL to access the course materials, you will either
want to use the latest Version of AOL, or a different browser. Nearly
every computer sold in the last three years contains a copy of Internet
Explorer. After you log onto AOL, you can simply open Internet Explorer
and use it instead of AOL's browser. By the way, all those free AOL CD's
you get in the mail make great coasters. |
| Required Items & Such: |
Students are
required to have Internet access. If a student does not have Internet
access from home, he/she may use any of CSN's computer labs. To use a lab,
students must provide identification and proof of enrollment in a course
at CSN. You can also find Internet access at a local public library. It is
students' responsibility to access this course on WebCT. You are also
required to take all the quizzes and exams on line. |
| CSN
Computer Labs: |
|
Most of
you will probably do your assignments/quizzes/exams at home or at
work. Technical problems will NOT serve as a valid excuse
for missing deadlines. If you are having problems with your
computer or do not have the required software, feel free to use any
of the on-campus Computer Labs. Do not wait till the last day to
take a quiz/exam. |
Charleston
Interactive Learning Center - 702-651-5731
Cheyenne Interactive
Learning Center - 702-651-4592
Henderson Interactive Learning
Center - 702-651-3002
Summerlin High-Tech Center -
702-651-4900
Western High-Tech Center - 702-651-4898
Green
Valley High-Tech Center -
702-651-2650
| |
| |
| Textbook |
| Required: |
Beginning and
Intermediate Algebra, 4th Edition, Lial, Hornsby &
McGinnis
ISBN
0-321-44233-4 |
Purchase
Information: |
In Person:
Available at any CSN Bookstore
Order Online:
E-Follett.com, Half.com. | |
| |
|
| Course
Objectives |
| Goals: |
| Upon
completion of this course, students should be able to: |
- Graph linear
equations in two variables.
- Work with Work with
functions and functional notation.
- Graph functions.
- Solve systems of
linear equations.
- Solve linear
inequalities.
- Perform arithmetic
on irrational and complex numbers.
- Solve non-linear
equations.
- Be able to apply and
extend the concepts.
| |
| |
|
| Special Notations Used In
This Course |
| Exponents: |
When typing
an exponential expression, it will not be possible to superscript
exponents. Instead, use the ^ symbol (shift-6 on most
keyboards) to indicate exponents. Thus, to indicate the expression
x5, type x^5. As with all exponential expressions, be very
careful with the inclusion or exclusion of parentheses.
7y^3 = 7 · y · y · y, and
(7y)^3 = 7 ·7 ·7 · y · y · y = 343y^3. |
Fractions
& Rational
Expressions: |
For every
fraction, put the numerator in a set of brackets, and put the denominator
in another set of brackets. That is, type it as
[numerator]/[denominator], WITHOUT using spaces. Be
careful; use brackets [ ], not parentheses ( ) or braces
{ }, and DO NOT type a fraction as [numerator/denominator]. For
example, to write the fraction three-fifths, type [3]/[5] but not
[3/5].
To indicate the rational
expression  , you must type
[x+2]/[x-3]. If you type x+2/x-3, you are actually indicating  , which is not the same as the intended
expression. Once
again, be sure to use brackets, not parentheses or braces. The expressions
(x+2)/(x-3) and {x+2}/{x-3} will be marked as incorrect.
If the numerator or
denominator contains several terms, parentheses are allowed, just be sure
to put brackets around the entire numerator and the entire denominator.
For example, a valid response may look like:
[(x+3)(x-2)]/[(x-5)(x+4)]. |
| Radicals: |
Since it is
impossible to type a  symbol, we
will indicate square roots using sqrt( ) notation. For example, to
indicate  with the sqrt( )
notation, type sqrt(5). Also, to indicate a cube root, use cbrt( ). |
| Example: |
It is
possible to have to type an expression containing some or all of the above
notations. For example, to indicate the expression  , you need to type [2sqrt(xy^5)]/[3].
|
| General
Instructions: |
Your answers
to the questions in Quizzes and Exams must be in the simplest form unless
otherwise instructed. Do not use spaces when you type your answers. It is
required to type your answers in WebCT using the notations for fractions
and exponents (regardless of whether or not a question instructs to use
the WebCT notations, if fraction and/or exponents are involved in the
answer) unless otherwise instructed. |
| |
|
| Policies |
| Calculators: |
Calculators are
allowed in this course (you are required to learn how to use it yourself)
but not required. |
| ADA
Notice: |
Any student who
qualifies for "reasonable accommodations" in accordance with the American
with Disabilities Act must notify the instructor in writing of such by the
end of the first week of class. If you have a documented disability that
may require assistance, you will need to contact the Disability Resource
Center located in the Student Service Center on each campus. Their phone
numbers are (702) 651-4700 at Cheyenne, (702) 651-3086 at Henderson, and
(702) 651-5089 at West Charleston. Please visit
http://www.csn.nevada.edu/drc/ for more information. |
| Dishonesty: |
Academic
dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. It is a serious offence. Any
incident of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Vice President of
Academic Affairs, and the most serious course of action will be
recommended. |
| Missed
Quizzes & Exams: |
There are no
acceptable excuses for missing (or failing to complete) a Quiz or Exam.
This includes technical difficulties (or other computer problems),
children, illness, deaths in the family, traffic court, vacations, or any
other legitimate (or imaginary) problems. Quizzes and Exams are available
for an extended period of time so that students can make appropriate
arrangements to complete the required work. Thus, any missed Quiz or Exam
will be scored as a zero, and no deadline extension, no retake, or no
make-up work of any kind will be offered. Stay ahead of the deadline
schedule for Quizzes and Exams. Do not wait till the last day to take a
Quiz or Exam. |
Religious
Holidays: |
(From the CSN
Student Handbook) CSN is sensitive to the religious obligations of its
students. Any student missing class, quizzes, examinations or any other
class work because of an observance of religious holidays shall, whenever
possible, be given an opportunity to make up the missed work. You must
notify the instructor in writing of such an event before the date of
occurrence. This policy shall not apply in the event that administering
the assignment at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship on the
instructor or the College which could not have been reasonably
avoided. |
| Withdrawals: |
If you stop
logging into the course or quit completing the required quizzes, you will
NOT be assigned an automatic "W" or "Withdrawal" grade. If you wish to
withdraw from this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop
the course by the drop date listed in the college catalog. The instructor
does not assign a "W" to the students under any
circumstance, no exception. |
| Incomplete: |
An Incomplete
is issued only when the requirements for Incomplete are completely
satisfied; see the CSN Student Handbook/Planner for the requirements. A
student must request and substantiate the satisfaction of the
requirements, in writing, for incomplete to receive the
incomplete. |
| No
Exception: |
All the
policies and such given in this syllabus and anywhere else apply to
everyone of you as a student of this course without any exception. Please
do not think you are special or exampt, for any reason. Every student is
treated equally in this course, no discrimination and no special
treatment. You will be evaluated by nothing but your performances on the
Quizzes and Exams as described in this syllabus. |
| Dates
& Hours: |
All the hours
(time) and dates used in this course and by CSN are local to Las Vegas,
NV, USA. |
| Language: |
English is the
instructional language of this course. |
| Changes: |
The
instructor reserves the rights to change and not change anything in this
course syllabus as necessary. If any change, it will apply to all the
students in the course. |
| |
| Grading
|
| Homework: |
A list of
suggested homework assignments is provided in the Course Schedule. These
assignments are there for your benefit. No textbook assignment will be
submitted for grading. |
| Syllabus
Quiz: |
You will
begin the course by taking a quiz over the information and policies laid
out in this syllabus. Instructions on how to access the Syllabus Quiz will
be provided by following the "Start Here" icon found on the course
homepage within WebCT. Although the score on the Syllabus Quiz will not
count toward your overall course grade, you MUST get a perfect score on it
before any of the remaining quizzes in the course will be made available
to you. If you do not get a perfect score, review your answers and the
Syllabus, and then retake the Syllabus Quiz. Any Quiz/Exam missed due to a
failure to take or get a perfect score on the Syllabus Quiz will be scored
as a zero, and no make-up work will be allowed or
offered. |
| Graded Quizzes: |
There will be
eleven, 10-point online Quizzes (numbered Q1-Q11) to be taken on line, only once
each, before the dates listed in the Course Schedule. Any Quiz not taken
by these specified deadline will be scored as a zero. Absolutely no
make-up quiz, no deadline extension, and no retake quiz will be offered
for any reason (beyond your control or not), no exception. Each Quiz must
be completed within the posted time limit. Answers saved after time has
expired will not be accepted. At the end of the semester, one Quiz score
(the lowest one) will be dropped, and the ten remaining Quiz scores will
be added together, and this Quiz Total (QT) will be included in the course
grade calculation as listed below. |
| Exams: |
There will be
one Mitd-Term Exam (ME) and one comprehensive Final Exam (FN) of 100-point
each. These Exams will be taken on line, only once each, before the
deadlines listed in the Course Schedule. Any Exam not taken by the
specified deadline will be scored as a zero. Absolutely no make-up exam,
no deadline extension, and no retake exam will be offered for any reason
(beyond your control or not), no exception. Each Exam must be completed
within the posted time limit. Answers saved after time has expired will
not be accepted. At the end of the semester, each of these Exams will be
included in the course grade calculation as listed below. No exam scores
will be dropped. |
| Computer
Grading: |
You are
required to enter all responses (such as answers to questions in the
Quizzes and Exams) using the specified formatting notation indicated in
this syllabus and at the top of the page listing the quizzes in the
course. Additional required notation may also be listed in the
instructions for individual questions. Quizzes and Exams will be
automatically graded by the computer, which, unfortunately, sometimes
fails to recognize alternate forms of correct answers. Although you are
required to enter all responses using any specified formatting notations,
it will be in your best interests to review every Quiz and Exam after it
has been graded. If you have an answer you believe was incorrectly marked
wrong, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor for a possible
adjustment to your score within one week of the deadline. However, the correct notations are part of this
course. You will lose points for incorrect or lack of use of
notations. Also, you will lose points if you fail to follow instructions. |
| Extra
Credit: |
Absolutely no
extra credit will be offered in this course. |
| Calculation: |
Course Grade
= QT + ME + FN.
Course Grade point totals will be rounded to the
nearest whole number. |
| Grade Scale: |
There are a total of 300
possible points.
A: 270 to 300 Points
B:
240 to fewer than 270 Points
C: 210 to fewer than 240 Points
D: 180
to fewer than 210 Points
F: Below 180 Points
No +/- grades
will be issued. Any student who has points fewer than 180, but has not
officially withdrawn from the course, at the end of the semester will
receive an F for the course. |
| |
|
| Tips For Success
|
| Study: |
You should
read the textbook and the Course Notes repeatedly untill you understand
everything in them and attempt the assigned and suggested work in both the
textbook and the Course Notes. For each hour of class time, you should
spend an additional two hours studying each week. Since this is a 3-credit
hour course, you should be spending approximately 9 hours per week
studying the materials for this course. Study to understand, not to
memorize, the materials in this course. Memorization (as opposed to
understanding) is the worst thing that anyone can do in a mathematics
course and in life as well. |
| Don't
Procrastinate: |
Don't wait
until the last minute to take a quiz or exam. You are strongly advised to
complete each quiz and exam at least a day or two before the deadline.
That way, if you experience a technical or any kind of problem, there
would be enough time to resolve the problem before the actual deadline.
Remember, no make-up work will be offered, for any reason. Generally, you
will be better off if you stay ahead of the schedule. All the quizzes and
exams are available from the first day of the semester/session (with the
perfect socre on the Syllabus Quiz). Stay ahead of the course schedule and
the Quiz/Exam deadline schedulue. |
| Ask
for Help: |
If you find yourself falling
behind or become even the slightest bit confused, seek help immediately!
Feel free to e-mail your instructor at any time. You should receive a
response within 24-48 hours. Each student receives 12 free hours of
tutoring for each class in which they are registered. The Tutorial Center
on the Charleston Campus is located in the lobby of the D Building. Also,
there is an open Math Lab on each of the Charleston, Cheyenne, and
Henderson Campuses. These Math & Science Resource Centers are staffed
with tutors and math instructors, and their use is free of
charge.
Visit http://www.csn.edu/pages/1558.asp for more information.
|
Rework
Examples: |
Pay close
attention to the examples found in the textbook and the Course Notes.
After reading through them, write down the problem and try to work it
without looking at the textbook, the Course Notes or anything
else. |
| Connections: |
When doing
homework problems, try to identify the process and point of doing the
problem. If all you do is crunch out numeric answers, you won't get very
much from them. Many homework exercises are intended to enforce the
understanding of concepts. If you can see the intended connections, you
may find that you need only work a few problems before you understand
them. |
| Instructions &
Notatins: |
First, please read the
questions in the Quizzes/Exams very carefully and understand what they are
asking for the answers. If you do not give what is required for the
answer, you do not receive any points for your answer. Many questions come
with instructions and you are required to follow the instructions. Your
answers that do not follow instructions would not receive any points even
if otherwise correct. Also, you are required to give you answers in the
simplest forms unless otherwise instructed.
Notations are very important part of
mathematics. It is not just a notation. It is mathematics. Please pay your
close attention to notations in this course. You are required to learn,
know, and use notations correctly. |
Check
Answers: |
Use the book
wisely. After completing an exercise, compare your result with the answer
in the book. If the results are different, try to solve the exercise
again. If you believe your answer to be correct, feel free to ask your
instructor, a tutor, a classmate or a friend.
Also, check all your
answers thoroughly before you finish a Quiz/Exam. It is your
responsibility to give correct answers as instructed in the appropriate
notations.
|
| Affirmations: |
Stop saying
"I am not good at math." The more you say it, the more likely you are to
fail. Instead, start telling yourself "I can do this." |
| Study Together: |
Studying with
other students could be very beneficial. Often, another student can relate
to a simple problem and offer advice. If you can clearly explain how to
work a problem to another student, your own understanding will be greatly
reinforced. Also, if you cannot explain how to correctly work a problem,
you may find you may need to work a little harder on some topics. You can
communicate and study with other students. However, no discussions on
specific questions in quizzes and exams before their deadlines are
prohibited on or off WebCT. All the correspondences and activities on
WebCT are recorded and monitored. Check your e-mail and Announcements
regularly for messages from your instructor. |
Make
Mistakes: |
Don't be
afraid to make mistakes. Everyone, including your instructor, makes a few
careless or other mistakes. Mistakes are part of the natural learning
process. Don't get discouraged by them; profit by them. Always take the
time to review your work and graded quizzes. The best way to start
reducing the number of careless mistakes you make is to identify the kind
of mistakes you are prone to making. That way, you know what to watch out
for when working future problems. However, always, check your answers to
catch your mistakes and incorrect answers in every quiz/exam before you
submit it. Checking your answers improves your grade. |
| |
|
| Important Dates as
Listed in the College Class Schedule |
| August 25
|
First day of the
2008 fall semester. |
| August 29 |
Final date to
drop a course without a grade or W. |
| August 31 |
Final date to
receive a 75% refund. |
| October 30 |
Final date to
officially switch between audit and credit. |
| October 30 |
Final date to
drop a course (grade will be W). You cannot receive a W after this
date. |
| December 13 |
Final day of the
2008 fall semester. |
| |
|
| MATH 096 Course Schedule & Assignments |