Intermediate Algebra.
4
In person
TR 3:30p–5:10p
Wachman Hall 213
Wachman Hall 1029
contact via email
TR 11a–11:30a
TR 1:30p–2:30p
Textbook: College Algebra with Intermediate Algebra, A Blended Course, by Beecher, Penna, Johnson, and Bittinger; Students can buy access to the book from the campus bookstore or have the following options for purchasing access to the text directly from the publisher https://www.pearson.com/en-us/subject-catalog/p/college-algebra-with-intermediate-algebra-a-blended-course/P200000006098/9780137417445
- 1) Standalone eText, a monthly subscription $9.99 per month or a one-time price of $59.94 ISBN: 9780137417445.
- 2) Standalone eText, lifetime access. $89.941 ISBN: 9780137417445.
- 3) Package: MyLab Math with Pearson eText (18 Weeks) for College Algebra with Intermediate Algebra: A Blended Course. $94.99 IBSN: 9780135960714
- 4) Package: MyLab Math with Pearson eText (24 months) for College Algebra with Intermediate Algebra: A Blended Course. $154.99 IBSN: 9780134555829
- 5) Standalone looseleaf option $175.99: ISBN-13: 9780134556055
Lecture Notes: Students are also required to get the lecture notes and bring them to every class. You can purchase a printed copy of the complete lecture notes from the bookstore for approximately $6.25. Alternatively, you can download and print the PDF version which is made available to you for free on the Math 702 Course Information canvas site and on your course web page. Important: If you choose to use the digital file instead of printing, you must be able to write directly on the file via a writable tablet. It is not an option to have the digital file only for viewing while writing in a separate notebook. After the first week, students who attend class without the lecture notes in an accepted format will be marked as absent.
Tests 1-3 (Each worth 17% of your final grade), Quizzes (15%), Exponents Quiz (5%), Written Assignments (4%), Final Exam (25%).
Numeric-To-Letter-Grade Scale: 93-100 A, 90-92 A-, 87-89 B+, 83-86 B, 80-82 B-, 77-79 C+, 73-76 C, 70-72 C-, 65-69 D+, 55-64 D, 50-54 D-, 0-49 F.
Knowledge of Introductory Algebra is expected. Placement is based on the Placement Test score or a grade of C- or better in Math 0701 to Math 1021.
The overall goal of this course is to provide students with foundational skills necessary for precalculus mathematics. By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Develop a set of mathematical tools used to address a variety of non-calculus-based tasks.
- Understand the concept of isolating a variable using various strategies and be able to identify the underlying goal of the problem and interpret the reasonableness of the solution.
- Identify the appropriate mathematical skills to solve a variety of equations and inequalities.
- Recognize the different operations as they apply to exponential and polynomial expressions and be able to accurately simplify these.
- Explain the difference between a relation that is a function and one that is not, and identify various properties of relations, including domain, range, and values.
- Generate, analyze, and interpret linear graphs given varying initial pieces of information.
- Apply appropriate strategies to factor polynomials with two, three, or four terms.
- Appreciate mathematical processes by focusing on why strategies work, rather than simply what to do in each problem.
This course covers these topics:
- Solving linear equations and inequalities
- Compound inequalities
- Absolute value equations
- Solving word problems
- An introduction to functions
- Graphing linear equations
- Finding equations of lines
- Solving systems of two linear equations in two variables
- Properties and definitions of exponents
- Operations with polynomials
- Factoring polynomials
- Solving polynomial equations.
The techniques learned for solving equations will be applied to solving application problems involving projectile motion and more.
Test 1 - Tuesday, September 16; Test 2 - Tuesday, October 14; Exponents Quiz - Tuesday, October 28; Test 3 - Tuesday, November 18; Cumulative Final - Wednesday, December 10, 3:30 - 5:30 pm.
Attendance is required. Unexcused absences will affect your final grade according to the schedule given in the Student Guidelines. In addition, nine unexcused absences will result in a failure for the course.
Permission to take a make-up exam may be granted if it is missed as the result of a DOCUMENTED EMERGENCY, like an illness or accident. The documents confirming the emergency (from a healthcare professional, hospital, or police, for example) must be provided. If you miss an exam, you must contact your instructor AND the Math 0702 Course Coordinator, Dr. Pinches Dirnfeld (pinches.dirnfeld@temple.edu), by email right away, ideally before the exam. Requests for makeups will not be honored if they come more than 48 hours after the time of the exam.
Regular written assignments of problems from the textbook will be given by your instructor. This is the content of the course for which you are responsible. The exercises for these assignments will be sourced from the problems listed in enlarged, bold type on the Assignment List. You will be making two submissions of written work for each assignment and can earn up to 5 points credit. For more information, please consult the homework section of the Student Guidelines. Late homework will not be accepted.
A quiz will be given approximately every week. Make-ups will not be allowed. Your lowest one or two quiz scores will be dropped.
The final exam is scheduled for Wednesday, December 10, 3:30 - 5:30 pm. Do not miss it. If a student misses the final exam, he or she will not be allowed to take a make-up exam unless there is a documented emergency.
The properties and definitions of exponents will be taught after completing Unit 2. A quiz on this material alone will be given in class on Tuesday October 28.
To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to the course requirements. However, if you have tested positive for or are experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness, you should not come to campus or attend in-person classes or activities. It is the student’s responsibility to contact me to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as you are able to do so, and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion.
It is important to foster a respectful and productive learning environment that includes all students in our diverse community of learners. Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University's nondiscrimination statement, will add richness to this learning experience. Therefore, all opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse.
Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) in Howard Gittis Student Center South, Rm 420 (drs@temple.edu; 215-204-1280) to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential.
Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here (opens in new tab/window).
Students will be charged for a course unless dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date. Check the University calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates.
During the Drop/Add period, students may drop a course with no record of the class appearing on their transcript. Students are not financially responsible for any courses dropped during this period. In the following weeks prior to or on the withdrawal date students may withdraw from a course with the grade of "W" appearing on their transcript. After the withdrawal date students may not withdraw from courses. Check the University Calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).
The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, etc.) is not permitted in this class unless specifically announced for a particular assignment; therefore, any use of AI tools for work in this class may be considered a violation of Temple University's Academic Honesty policy and Student Conduct Code, since the work is not your own. The use of unauthorized AI tools will result in a grade of zero on the assignment; a second offense will be reported to the Student Conduct Board.
The grade "I" (an "incomplete") is only given if students cannot complete the course work due to circumstances beyond their control. It is necessary for the student to have completed the majority of the course work with a passing average and to sign an incomplete contract which clearly states what is left for the student to do and the deadline by which the work must be completed. The incomplete contract must also include a default grade that will be used in case the "I" grade is not resolved by the agreed deadline. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).
The following academic support services are available to students (all links open in a new tab/window):
The Math Consulting Center
Student Success Center
University Libraries
Undergraduate Research Support
Career Center
Tuttleman Counseling Services
Disability Resources and Services
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry and the Temple University Emergency Student Aid Program are in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.
The Student Success Center (SSC) at Temple offers Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) and STEM tutoring for this course. During weekly PASS sessions, you can work with a trained peer leader and your fellow classmates to practice and explore course content together. During STEM tutoring sessions, a tutor will work with you one-on-one to review and understand the concepts in this course. Both programs are free and open to all students enrolled in this course. More information about PASS and STEM tutoring, as well as other services offered by the SSC, is available at studentsuccess.temple.edu, by emailing sscdesk@temple.edu, or by calling 215-204-0702.