Course Syllabus

Math 80 - Intermediate Algebra - Summer 2020

Instructor:  Ilva Mariani
Email: imariani@cerritos.edu

Textbook:
Great news! your textbook for this class is available for free online!
Intermediate Algebra from OpenStax, ISBN 1-947172-03-4 

You have several options to obtain this book:

Course Software: Knewton Alta that you will have to purchase for a small fee, when you access your first Knewton Alta assignment

Materials Needed:

  • a scienific or graphing calculator, though not a physical one if you are comfortable with using online tools. If you are buying a calculator, make sure that it has a two- or multi-line display.
  • A notebook of your own choosing to take notes in, as you are working online. It is important to write notes , as you are working, to organize your thoughts and to notice details you may miss in your reading. And of course, problem solving involves pencil and paper. All these things should be done in a notebook and the notebook (bound or loose leaf) needs to be kept organized, with information well -labled.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • simplify expressions and solve equations involving absolute values, polynomials, rational expressions, radicals, exponentials, and logarithms.
  • solve systems of equations and solve linear, polynomial, rational, and absolute value inequalities.
  • demonstrate an understanding of the definition of a function and use function notation, including the algebra of functions, composite functions, and inverse functions.
  • sketch the graphs of basic functions, quadratic functions, transformations of these functions, and conic sections.
  • apply algebraic methods when solving word problems.

Grading:

Your grade will be based on the following categories

Practice/Problem Solving/Study Skills/Group Work              40%

Online practice assignments
Discussions
Otherassignments submitted through Canvas

Assessment                                                                                                     40%

Quizzes,   50 pts each & Exams, 150 pts each  on alternate weeks
Quizzes, covering material from the previous week: June 29,  July 13,  July 27
Exams,coveringmaterial from the previous two  weeks:  July 7,  July  21

The dates are when the quiz or exam is available; you will have a three day window to complete each  assessment

Final Exam                                                                                                        20%

The final exam, 200 pts,  is comprehensive, and it will cover the topics from the whole 6 week course.

The final exam will be available for 3 days: July 29 - 31.