Course Syllabus for College Algebra

Textbook:
Essentials of College Algebra. Lial, Hornsby, and Schneider. Pearson/Addison-Wesley: Boston,
2008.

Catalog Description:
Topics include quadratics, polynomial, rational, logarithmic, and exponential functions; systems of
equations; matrices; and determinants. A departmental final examination will be given in this course.

Prerequisites:
Math 0312 or MATH 0112: Pass with “C” or better
Or
Acceptable placement test score.

Credits: 3 credit hours (3 lecture).

Course Intent & Audience:
This course is designed as a review of advanced topics in algebra for science and engineering students
who plan to take the calculus sequence in preparation for their various degree programs. It is also
intended for non-technical students who need college mathematics credits to fulfill requirements for
graduation and prerequisites for other courses. It is generally transferable to other disciplines as math
credit for non-science majors.

Policy on Late Assignments and Make–Up Exams: All homework assignments will be due on the
day of each exam. Also, there will be NO makeup exams. If you miss an exam, the final exam will
count twice. It will count once for the missed exam and again for the final exam itself. If you know in
advance that you will be absent on an exam day, please let me know as soon as possible.

Academic dishonesty:
All students are required to exercise academic honesty in completion of all tests and assignments.
Cheating involves deception for the purpose of violating testing rules. Students who improperly assist
other students are just as guilty as students who receive assistance. A student guilty of a first offense
will receive a grade of “F” on the quiz or test involved. For a second offense, the student will receive
a grade of “F” for the course. The use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape
recorders, is prohibited in all locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Students with
disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable accommodation should contact the
Disability Services Office for information.

Resources and supplemental instruction:
Any student enrolled in Math 1314 at HCC has access to the math tutoring labs which are staffed with
student assistants who can aid students with math problems and offer help with MyMathLab. In
addition, free online tutoring is provided. One other resource is the student solutions manual that may
be obtained from the bookstore.

Students with Disabilities:
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.)
who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Services Office
at this college at the beginning of the semester. To make an appointment, please call 713.718.8420.
Professors are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support
Office.

Course Schedule

Chapter 1: Equations and Inequalities
1.4 Quadratic Equations (Omit Example 8.)
1.5 Applications and Modeling with Quadratic Equations (Pythagorean
Theorem and simple area problems ONLY)
1.6 Other Types of Equations (Omit Example 5 and Example 8.)
1.7 Inequalities
1.8 Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities

Chapter 2: Graphs and Functions
2.1 Graphs of Equations
2.2 Functions
2.3 Linear Functions
2.4 Equations of Lines; Curve Fitting
2.5 Graphs of Basic Functions (Omit Greatest Integer Function.)
2.6 Graphing Techniques
2.7 Function Operations and Composition

Chapter 3: Polynomial and Rational Functions
3.1 Quadratic Functions and Models (Include applications like
problems 51 & 63.)
3.2 Synthetic Division
3.3 Zeros of Polynomial Functions (In Example 6, use an
imaginary zero with 1 term.)
3.4 Polynomial Functions: Graphs, Applications, and Models
(Omit Intermediate Value and Boundedness Theorems.)
3.5 Rational Functions: Graphs, Applications, and Models
3.6 Variation

Chapter 4: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
4.1 Inverse Functions
4.2 Exponential Functions
4.3 Logarithmic Functions
4.4 Evaluating Logarithms and the Change-of-Base Theorem (Omit
application problems.)
4.5 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations (Omit application problems.)
4.6 Applications & Models of Exponential Growth & Decay
(Doubling time type problems ONLY)

Chapter 5: Systems and Matrices
5.1 Systems of Linear Equations (two variables only)
5.5 Nonlinear Systems of Equations
5.7 Properties of Matrices
5.3 Determinant Solution of Linear Systems (Omit Cramer’s Rule.)

MyMathLab Course ID: Hatton54305
Campus Zip Code: 77022

Test Schedule:

Course Objectives:
At the completion of this course, a student should be able to:

1. Solve quadratic equations in one variable by factoring , using the square root property, completing
the square , and using the quadratic formula.
2. Find the distance and midpoint between two points in the Cartesian plane.
3. Solve radical equations , fractional equations , and equations of quadratic form.
4. Recognize the equation of a straight line, graph the equation of a straight line, find the slope and
intercepts of a line , know the relationship between the slopes of parallel and perpendicular lines,
and be able to determine the equation of a line from information such as two points on the line, or
one point on the line and the slope of the line.
5. Know the definition of a function, determine the domain and range of a function, evaluate
expressions involving functional notation, simplify expressions involving the algebra of functions,
graph functions by plotting points , know the definition of inverse functions, and given a function
find its inverse.
6. Graph linear functions, quadratic functions, piecewise-defined functions, absolute value functions,
polynomial functions, rational functions, exponential functions, and logarithmic functions.
7. Solve linear inequalities and linear equations involving absolute value, state the solution in interval
notation, and graph the solution.
8. Solve non-linear (quadratic and rational) inequalities, state the solution in interval notation, and
graph the solution.
9. Understand vertical and horizontal shifts, stretching, shrinking, and reflections of graphs of
functions.
10. Recognize the equation of a circle , sketch the graph of a circle, and find the equation of a circle.
11. Determine the rational zeros of a polynomial.
12. Understand the inverse relationship between the exponential and logarithmic functions.
13. Solve exponential and logarithmic equations.
14. Solve problems involving variation.
15. Perform operations with matrices, and find the determinants of matrices