Dr. Richard St.Andre
University Email Address: Richard.St_Andre@cmich.edu
Web pages: http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/Stand1rj/
Office: IT 200 (Phone: 774-1870, Fax: 774-1874)
Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9-10am; also by appointment. It is recommended that you call ahead; the staff has access to my calendar; if I am not scheduled for something I will be happy to see you.

1. Text: "College Algebra, 4^th Edition", David Cohen, West Publishing, 1996.

2. Graphing Calculator: You will need access to a "graphing calculator". I prefer that you have, and will give demonstrations on, a Texas Instruments TI-83 (available in bookstores, K-Mart, …). Other models of TI machines and other calculators brands are acceptable, but note that I might not be very helpful if you ask me about a make or model with which I am not familiar.

Course Objectives

1. Use real and complex numbers to solve equations, inequalities, and find zeros of functions.
2. Use rectangular coordinate systems to graph various functions, lines and curves.
3. Utilize college algebra as a tool to solve applications of mathematics.
4. Use graphing calculator technology to explore, investigate and solve problems.

Final letter grades will be determined by computing the percent obtained by dividing your points earned by the total maximum possible points and then applying the following scale. The scale will not be raised, but may be lowered if that seems appropriate.

100 ³ A ³ 92.5 > A- ³ 90
90 > B+ ³ 87.5 > B ³ 82.5 > B- ³ 80
80 > C+ ³ 77.5 > C ³ 72.5 > C- ³ 70
70 > D+ ³ 67.5 > D ³ 62.5 > D- ³ 60
60 > E ³ 0

The total maximum number of points depends on the number (x) of collected homework assignments and number (y) of quizzes. Your grade is determined as a final percent of these point values:

Exams 1, 2, 3, 4 (100 pt. each)         400 points
Final Exam (see below)                      50 points
Collected homework (5 pt. each)    5x points
Quizzes (10 pt. each)                        10y points
Total maximum 450 + 5(x-2) + 10y points

I will base the maximum on two fewer than the number of collected homework assignments; thus, the 5(x-2) in the total maximum. (This is a better deal than simply saying that I will drop the lowest two homework scores.)

Exams

Exams 1, 2, 3 and 4 are in class, 8:00-8:50am, according to the attached tentative schedule; we will not use the CLAS test center to take tests. The final exam is 8:00-10:00am, Monday, December 13, in class, and will consist of 25 multiple choice questions. The final is worth 50 points; however, if you choose, you may drop one of your first four exams and have the final exam count 150 points. You must inform me whether you select this option before you take the final exam.

In-class Quizzes

We will not have any in-class quizzes unless attendance seems to be becoming a problem. If this is so, the quizzes will be unannounced.

Outside Class Work

There will be a small set of collected homework questions due almost every class day. Some work may involve teams of two or three; other work is individual. Individual grades for group work will be the same for each member of the group unless there is evidence that participation was not equal. The assignments will be due at the beginning of class and will be graded as follows:

Perfect                                         5 points
Essentially correct, minor errors     4 points
Some, correctable errors                 3 points
Something turned in on time        2 points
Not turned in                                     0 points

There will be practice homework assigned before collected homework. Collected homework will be assigned the day after a topic is covered. So, for example, if a topic is covered on a Monday, I will assign practice problems to be discussed Wednesday. On that Wednesday, we will discuss the practice problems and I will assign collected homework on that topic due Friday. If there are no questions about the practice problems, I will assume that everyone has understood the work and is ready for a collected assignment.

Other Information About The Course.

1. Academic Dishonesty

All work submitted for a grade must be the product of your own efforts. Discussion with other students of the general way to approach an assignment is encouraged but the work submitted must be your own creation. Academic dishonesty of any form, such as cheating on tests or copying another student's assignment, will result in a minimum penalty of zero points for the item and may result in a failing grade in the course.

2. Absences; Lateness

The only excused absences are for documented medical or personal reasons or authorized participation in a university sponsored event. If you miss an exam, you will have to make it up. Homework assignments cannot be made up. There will be no such thing as a collected homework assignment.

3. Grade Changes, Work Not Picked Up

All requests for adjustments to graded work must be made within three (3) class days from the day the item was returned to the class. Graded items that are not picked up when returned to the class will be put alphabetically in a file drawer in my office, where you may pick them up anytime that I am there.

4. ADA Compliance

CMU provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in educational programs, activities or services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in class activities or meet course requirements should contact the instructor as early as possible.

5. Ownership