WAYCROSS COLLEGE

Syllabus for Math 1101 Math Modeling

Fall Semester 2007

 

INSTRUCTOR:  Roberta S. Lacefield                                                              PHONE:  285-6139/6140

                                                                                                                                   Home: 283-8243 before 8:30 PM ONLY

EMAIL:   rslace@waycross.edu                                                                        OFFICE:  143A                                                                    

 

TEXTBOOK:  Functions and Change:  A Modeling Approach to College Algebra, 3rd edition, by Crauder, Evans & Noell

 

CALCULATOR REQUIRED: TI-82, TI-83, or TI-84

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

This course is an introduction to mathematical modeling using graphical, numerical, symbolic, and verbal techniques to describe and explore real-world data and phenomena. Emphasis is on the use of elementary functions to investigate and analyze applied problems and questions, supported by the use of appropriate technology, and on effective communication of quantitative concepts and results.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1.      To introduce participants to topics in algebra through real-world models.

2.      To use mathematics to model real-world data, to analyze problems, and to apply appropriate methods to solve those problems.

3.      To learn to use the graphing calculator to generate models and investigate those models as they arise from a set of data.

4.      To increase awareness of the applications of mathematics through the use of real data and real-world needs analysis.

 

After completing this course the learner will:

· Understand the concept and basic properties of functions given by formulas, tables, graphs, words or regression and understand the notions of input, output, domain and range.   Understand average rate of change, concavity, increasing-decreasing, intercepts.   Be able to analyze real world data and identify mean, median, and mode.

· Understand how to generate hand-drawn graphs as well as graphs using the calculator.  Understand the features of the calculator and solve optimization problems.

· Understand the concept and basic properties of linear, quadratic, power, exponential and logarithmic models.  Be able to create, interpret, and identify scatterplots of these models.  Be able to perform regression with the calculator and use the resulting model to analyze real world applications.    

· Understand the notation and basic properties of matrices including dimensions, rows and columns.  Be familiar with the basic algebraic manipulations of matrices including addition, scalar multiplication and matrix multiplication.  Be able to enter and perform the basic algebraic manipulations of matrices on the graphing calculator.  Be familiar with the representation of a system of equations as a matrix equation.   Be able to solve a system of equations on the TI-83 calculator.  Be able to interpret the solution to a system of equations for an application. 

· Understand the concept and basic properties of piecewise-defined functions.  Understand the notation of piecewise-defined functions.  Be able to set up piecewise-defined functions that model various physical situations.

 

GRADING PROCEDURES:

A= (90 - 100)         Excellent progress, few or no errors                  WF= Withdrawal of student by faculty for absences beyond 20%

B = (80 -  89)          Above average progress                                                             of class meetings.

C = (70 -  79)          Acceptable progress                                           W = Voluntary withdrawal by the student.

D = (60 -  69)          Course may need to be repeated                       WF = Withdrawal by student after midterm (See catalog)

F = below 60         Incomplete understanding, course

       needs to be repeated  

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1.             Complete all homework assignments.

2.             Attend and participate in class.

3.                    Quizzes and homework……………………………..................................................10%

4.             Major tests (4).............................................................................................................70%

5.             Final examination (comprehensive)........................................................................…20%    

 

Because of time constraints, some tests may need to be taken in the testing lab and must be finished by the date specified by the instructor. Be sure not to wait until the last minute to take these tests. The lab may be full of students and you will be unable to take these tests.

 

TESTS: Tests will consist of a take-home portion and an in-class “Project” portion. The combined score will be your test score for the unit. There are four such units in this course.

 

MAKE-UP TEST: If you know in advance that you will be absent the day of a test, you may make arrangements to take the test early if you make arrangements. If a test is missed, a single, cumulative make-up test will be given at the end of the term in the ASC from April 23rd through April 27th.  If you do not miss any tests but are unsatisfied with one of your test grades, you may take the make-up test to replace that test grade.  If you elect to take the make-up exam to replace your lowest test grade, the make-up test will count regardless of the grade.

 

PROJECTS: See WebCT for more information.

 

HOMEWORK AND QUIZZES:  Your homework and quizzes will consist of take home assignments/quizzes.  If you miss class and can get a copy of the assignment or quiz from me or another student, then I will grade it given that it is turned in on time.  There will be no make-ups on the assignments/quizzes.  You can miss two homework/quizzes or drop the two lowest grades, if you take all of them, without affecting your grade in the class.  If you miss more than two quizzes, then these will become zeros and averaged as such. See WebCT for more information.

 

TI-82/83/84 GRAPHING CALCULATOR: We will be using the calculator extensively in this course. You will be expected to be able to operate your TI-82/83/84 calculator competently in order to work through the exercises in the mathematics textbook. Regular attendance in class should provide you with the training you need. However, additional resources are the textbook, a tutorial video on using the TI-82 Graphing Calculator which is found in the Academic Support Center, tutors in the ASC, the instructor, and/or reference to the manual that came with the calculator.

 

WEB SITE: This textbook has a website that contains additional student resources: http://wiley.com/college/mat/kime371947/wave_s.html  In addition, course information is found in GAView Vista Webct http://waycross.view.usg.edu .

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY: You are responsible for attending class and for the material presented in all classes. At Waycross College, an instructor may drop a student from any class with a grade of “WF” when he/she has missed twenty percent or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings. If such excessive absences are the result of extenuating personal hardship, the withdrawal grade will be either a “W” or “WF”, depending on the students’ status at the time the drop occurred.

 

CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS: I expect that you will attend to the material at hand and NOT text, surf, chat, or use the phone while in class. If it is important for you to do these things, I expect you to leave the classroom to do them. I expect you to respect your classmates by not disrupting them by being off-task.  I expect that if you must miss a class, you will find someone from whom to get the notes and will take responsibility for learning the missed material. I expect that you will use me as a resource to aid your efforts to learn this material.

 

DROPPING A COURSE WITHOUT PENALTY: In order to officially drop a course without academic penalty, a student must obtain and fill out a Drop/Add form from the Registrar's office, acquire appropriate signatures, and return the completed form to the Registrar's office before the designated date published in the Academic Calendar on the Waycross College website.

 

PLAGIARISM:  Plagiarism is prohibited. Plagiarism is defined by Webster as the stealing and passing off of the ideas or words of another as one's own. Further, the MLA Handbook states, "Plagiarism may take the form of repeating another's sentences as your own, adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own, or even presenting someone else's line of thinking in the development of a thesis as though it were your own."  To be sure that you aren’t stealing someone else’s ideas, be sure that your answers reflect your understanding and take responsibility for personally understanding the material. Alleged violations involving plagiarism and other academic misconduct will be handled according to the procedures outlined in the Waycross College Student Handbook.

            

ADA STATEMENT: "The College is committed to providing accessibility to all students in accordance to ADA/504 guidelines. Students should contact the Director of Student Life regarding accessibility."

 

ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER (ASC): The Academic Support Center (ASC) was created to offer supplemental assistance to students enrolled in all courses at the College. The ASC offers a variety of services at all levels, ranging from personal tutoring in math, reading, and composition skills to providing handouts and supplementary materials on writing research papers and critiques, taking essay and objective tests, and developing effective study techniques. Through audiovisual, computerized, self-paced, and one-to-one tutorial work, the ASC assists students in developing strengths and eliminating deficiencies. Students may be referred by instructors or may independently seek additional help.