PROPOSED SYLLABUS FOR COLLEGE ALGEBRA

Textbook: M. Sullivan, College Algebra

Catalog description
Prerequisite: students must meet the ELM requirement. Equations and inequalities; rectangular
coordinates; systems of equations and inequalities ; polynomial, rational, exponential,
and logarithmic functions and their graphs; complex numbers.

Course objectives
Upon completion of this course, students should know:
• basic properties of real numbers
• properties of polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions
• basic properties of complex numbers
• how to translate various applications into mathematical problems

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
• simplify rational expressions and expressions with radicals
• solve systems of equations and inequalities
• find the roots of a polynomial function
• sketch graphs of polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions
• formulate the mathematical equation or system of equations that model an application
and solve such problem

Attendance
It is important to attend every class because every lecture is based on previous material.
Attendance will be taken, and occasionally, a quiz will be given.

If you miss a class, you should contact one of your classmates or the instructor to find out
what was done in class and whether important announcements were made or homework was
assigned, and read the appropriate sections of the book.

Homework
There will be weekly homework. No late homework will be accepted except in the case
of an illness or a serious family emergency. Working with your classmates is allowed and
encouraged, but every student must write his or her own papers. If you work with someone,
please indicate that on your paper.

Tests
There will be 3 hour tests and a comprehensive final exam. Make-up exams will be given
only in case of an illness or a serious family emergency. No notes, books, or calculators will
be allowed.

Extra help
It is important not to fall behind. If you need extra help, you are encouraged to
• ask your instructor in class
• come to the instructor's office hours or make an appointment
• work with your classmates
• go to the Mathematics tutor lab in EE 167.

Grading procedures
Your grade will be based on your performance on quizzes, tests, and homework according to
the following tables.

Classroom behavior
Any disruptive behavior in class that interferes with the learning environment will not be
tolerated. University policies on disruptive behavior are followed and enforced in every
instance.

Academic honesty
Cheating in this class will not be tolerated. University policies on plagiarism and cheating
are followed and enforced in every instance.

Students with disabilities
University student disability policies are followed. Contact the Disabled Student Services
office (located in the Madden Library) for specific arrangements and information.

Computers
At California State University, Fresno, computers and communications links to remote resources
are recognized as being integral to the education and research experience. Every
student is required to have his/her own computer or have other personal access to a workstation
(including a modem and a printer) with all the recommended software. The minimum
and recommended standards for the workstations and software, which may vary by academic
major, are updated periodically and are available from Information Technology Services or
the University Bookstore. In the curriculum and class assignments, students are presumed
to have 24-hour access to a computer workstation and the necessary communication links to
the University's information resources.

Syllabus is subject to change
This syllabus and schedule below are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.
If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to check on announcements
made while you were absent.

Copyright policy
Copyright laws and fair use policies protect the rights of those who have produced the material.
The copy in this course has been provided for private study, scholarship, or research.
Other uses may require permission from the copyright holder. The user of this work is
responsible for adhering to copyright law of the U.S. (Title 17, U.S. Code). To help you familiarize
yourself with copyright and fair use policies, the University encourages you to visit
its copyright web page.

Digital Campus course web sites contains material protected by copyrights held by the instructor,
other individuals or institutions. Such material is used for educational purposes in
accord with copyright law and/or with permission given by the owners of the original material.
You may download one copy of the materials on any single computer for non-commercial,
personal, or educational purposes only, provided that you (1) do not modify it, (2) use it
only for the duration of this course, and (3) include both this notice and any copyright notice
originally included with the material. Beyond this use, no material from the course web site
may be copied, reproduced, re-published, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in
any way without the permission of the original copyright holder. The instructor assumes
no responsibility for individuals who improperly use copyrighted material placed on the web
site.

Tentative schedule