Gateway: Math Component

Page Status: Archived August 11, 2008
Last Update: Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Page Author & Instructor: Barry McQuarrie

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Session: Summer 2008		Instructor: Barry McQuarrie		Office Hours:
MTWThF 9:05-10:20pm		Office: Science 1380
Location: Sci 3650		Phone: 589-6302 (I do not use voicemail)
		mcquarrb@morris.umn.edu		drop in (if my door is open we can talk, if it is closed I am not available)
		http://cda.morris.umn.edu/~mcquarrb/		other times via email appointment

Course Prerequisites & Goals

Students taking this course will have a diverse background of mathematical experience. The course is designed to give you an introduction to how mathematics is taught in university, drawing topics from basic algebra (Units 1--3) and precalculus (Unit 4). Please talk with me if you find you would benefit from more advanced material, since I can provide material at a variety of levels if needed.

Textbook

Larson, Hostetler, and Hodgkins College Algebra 3rd Ed. The textbook will be provided for you. The sections that we will cover are listed below in the Course Calender.

Time Commitment

The math component of this course is about 1 credit.

University policy says ''one credit is defined as equivalent to an average of three hours of learning effort per week (over a full semester) necessary for an average student to achieve an average grade in the course''.

This means 1 credit requires a total of 3 hours X 15 weeks = 45 hours of effort over the course of a full semester. So you should put in about 45 hours of learning effort for the math component of Gateway.

Learning effort includes class-time, so 18 classes X 1.25 hours = 22.5 hours of learning effort is in class.

Thus, you are expected to spend the other 22.5 hours working outside of class, reading the textbook and working problems. This means you should spend about a little over an hour each day on your math homework.

To get the most out of the course you should

• do homework every day,
• allot time to think about what it is we are doing,
• discuss the techniques we are studying and their implementation with your classmates,
• discuss any difficulties with me during class or office hours.

Course Components

Class. I will lecture for a portion of each class, to give you an opportunity to develop your note-taking skills. I will ask you to work on problems during class, sometimes in the middle of the lecture. I will also provide time at the end of class for you to work in groups on homework. You should feel free to ask questions at any point during the lecture. To get the most out of lectures, it helps to have a preview of the material I will be lecturing on. I highly recommend that you read the section before the lecture, and if possible work a few problems.

Homework. Falling behind in this course, as in any university course, can lead to disaster, so it is important that you keep up with the homework.

Tests and Quizzes. The tests and quizzes will be closed book, but you will be allowed to use a calculator. The goal of having tests and quizzes in Gateway is NOT to assign a grade, but to give you practice taking tests at the university level and to give you feedback on your mastery of the subject.

You will be allowed to use calculators on the homework and tests, but you should realize that a calculator alone cannot give you the algebraic mastery that you need to succeed in future courses. Focus on doing problems by hand and use the calculator sparingly.

There are often different ways to solve mathematical problems. If you are proficient in a technique that is different than the one described in the text for a particular type of problem, talk with me about it. As long as you can answer the questions correctly and using correct mathematics, that will be sufficient. Also, if you are comparing one of your solutions to someone else`s and think they are both right--they might be! You should be able to understand each step in two correct solutions that look different. Check with me or one of the TA if you have any questions about the correctness of your solutions.

Grading

Gateway is graded on an S/N (pass or fail) basis. For the math component, you will be graded solely on attendance and participation, NOT your mastery of the material.

Expectations

• Be in class on time. Neither I nor your fellow classmates enjoy the disruption late arrival causes. I know that situations crop up that will entail late arrival (please come even if you are late!) but try to ensure it is the exception and not the rule.
• Cooperation is vital to your future success, whichever path you take. I encourage cooperation amongst students wherever possible, but the act of copying or other forms of cheating will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for a course is grounds for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course. Any act of plagiarism that is detected will result in a mark of zero on the entire test for both parties. Please come and talk to me if you have any questions about what constitutes academic dishonesty. UMM's Academic Integrity policy and procedures can be found at the following website:
  Academic Integrity www.morris.umn.edu/Scholastic/AcademicIntegrity/.
• If you have any special needs or requirements to help you succeed in the class, come and talk to me as soon as possible, or visit the appropriate University service yourself. Some UMM resources include:
  The Academic Assistance Center www.morris.umn.edu/services/dsoaac/aac/
  Student Counseling www.morris.umn.edu/services/counseling/
  Disability Services www.morris.umn.edu/services/dsoaac/dso/
  Multi-Ethnic Student Program www.morris.umn.edu/services/msp/
  and of course, your academic advisor!

Course Calendar

Date	Unit	Resources	Homework
W July 16	Course Introduction 1: Fundamental Concepts of Algebra Number Line and Inequalities Rules of Algebra	How to Succeed in My Courses fractions	A.1: 15--18,25--28, 35--38 A.2: 26--37,52 Examples
Th July 17	1: Fundamental Concepts of Algebra Rules of Exponents	exponents	A.3: 1,3,5,9,21,25,33 A.4: 15,19,23,27 Examples
F July 18	1: Fundamental Concepts of Algebra Polynomial Operations	Pascal`s Triangle (Mathematica file) polynomials multiplying polynomials	A.5: 5--8,13,15,17,19,29,33,51,53 Examples
M July 21	1: Fundamental Concepts of Algebra Factoring	factoring quadratics special factoring	A.6: 3,7,13,17,21,27,35,41,47 Examples
T July 22	Quiz on Fundamental Concepts 2: Linear & Quadratic Equations Solving Linear Equations	solving linear equations	1.1: 5,6,12,19,27,45,51,52,69 Examples
W July 23	2: Linear & Quadratic Equations Modeling with Linear Equations	ratio and proportion	1.2: 5,9,15,31,33,36,38,45,65 Notes & Examples
Th July 24	2: Linear & Quadratic Equations Solving Quadratic Equations	solving quadratic equations completing the square Chemistry Example	1.3: 11,19,29,55,57,62,71,77 Examples
F July 25	2: Linear & Quadratic Equations The Quadratic Formula	the quadratic formula explained	1.4: 5,13,17,18,27,37,41,46,58 Examples
M July 28	Test on Linear & Quadratic Equations
T July 29	3: Graphs of Linear & Quadratic Equations Sketching Lines in the Plane	slope and y-intercept straight line equations	2.1: 18,21,39 2.4: 41,43,57,59,65,69 Examples
W July 30	3: Graphs of Linear & Quadratic Equations Quadratic Functions and Models	function notation graphing quadratic functions	4.1: 1--8,21,27,33,37,45 Notes & Examples
Th July 31	3: Graphs of Linear & Quadratic Equations Systems of Equations	systems of nonlinear equations	6.1: 1,5,7,8,9,12,39,55 Examples
F Aug 1	3: Graphs of Linear & Quadratic Equations Linear Systems in Two Variables	systems of linear equations	6.2: 4,6,8,13,21,31,33,35 Examples Extra Examples
M Aug 4	3: Graphs of Linear & Quadratic Equations Exponentials & Logarithms	logarithms log rules	Notes & Examples Text talks more about logarithmic functions and exponential functions. Check it out if you understand functions.
T Aug 5	Test on Graphs of Linear & Quadratic Equations
W Aug 6	Final Evaluation (registration day)
Th Aug 7	Functions Indeterminant Forms	function notation functions	3.1: 15,16,21,33,55,56,57,58,63 3.2: 1,3,17,25,27,39,44 Indeterminant Forms Notes & Examples Animation
F Aug 8	The Story of 1	People in the Story of 1: Pythagoras Al-Khwarizmi Leibniz	Overview of History of Math

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Modified by Barry McQuarrie on Tuesday, August 12, 2008. Feedback is welcome: mcquarrb@morris.umn.edu. The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.