Math 104Q: 
                                        
Introductory College Algebra and
                                       Mathematical Modeling

                                                                    Fall 2007


I would advise you Sir, to study algebra, if you are not already                                      Coping with Math anxiety           
an adept in it: your head will be less muddy, and  you will leave                                 -- a great article for you        
off tormenting your neighbors about paper  and packthread....
 
              
                                                        Samuel Johnson                                         Math Links for Information and Fun
                                                                                                                                    
--  find out the links between math and everything
                                   
 
teaching   Instructor's Resources                                                                      panther Student's  Handouts 
          --  Group Projects, Handouts, Sample Exams, etc.                                          --  take with you for your next Q course

 
Name
Section
Office
Office Hours

Sarah Glaz               
glaz@math.uconn.edux
(click on link and remove end x)


Course Coordinator
MSB 202
(860) 486 9153
T, Th 11:00 - 12:00
and by appointment


Su Liang
liang@math.uconn.edux
(click on link and remove end x)

001
T, Th 11:00 - 12:15 MSB 411
& M  2:00 - 3:30 GENT 325
(+ a 2 hour review class before Final Exam)
MSB 331
(860) 486 1284
TBA
(+ additional office hours 
before tests)


Deivid Faulin
faulin@math.uconn.edux
(click on link and remove end x)

002
T, Th 8:00 - 9:15 MSB 307
& M 8 - 9:30 FS 220
MSB 229
(860) 486 1280
TBA
(+ additional office hours 
before tests)

Elizabeth Glatt
glatt@math.uconn.edux
(click on link and remove end x)

003
T, Th 2 - 3:15 MSB 211
& M  12:00 - 1:50 TLS 301
MSB 119
(860) 486 6453
M 1:30 - 2:30, T 10 - 11
(+ additional office hours 
before tests)
                                                                         
General Information:

Math 104Q is a course designed to serve as preparation for all the other Q courses offered at UConn. It emphasizes two components, the mastery
of each is equally important for success in any course employing mathematics. The first component is made up of  the collection  of fundamental
algebraic concepts and their manipulations. Most of this material is taught in High Schools and Community Colleges under the name Intermediate
Algebra or Algebra II. Math 104Q covers this material using a college algebra approach. The second component consists of using these algebraic
concepts for solving multi-step problems from other disciplines. This practice is called Mathematical Modeling, and is the part of the course that gives
Math 104Q its unique interesting flavor, liveliness and usefulness beyond a usual Intermediate Algebra course. Students work on mathematical
modeling projects in small groups. Math 104Q was offered last year as an experimental course under the number Math 195Q. Math 104Q became
a permanent course this year, and is intended to eventually replacement of Math 101. Math 104Q earns students 3 Q credits which count
towards graduation.

Who Should Take Math Math 104Q?


All students whose high school algebra needs reinforcement. In particular, students who did not take a course in Intermediate
Algebra prior to enrollment at UConn, or had taken such a course and obtained a grade of C or lower, or had not taken a course
in mathematics for a number of years, are strongly advised to take Math 104Q, before attempting to enroll in any other Q Course.
It is a small investment of your time, that earns you 3 Q credits which count towards graduation, and repays you with a successful
completion of your other Q courses at UConn.

Textbook:  

Intermediate Algebra, by K. Elayn Martin-Gay, 4th edition
Available at UConn's bookstore in a package which includes a Student Solution Manual and supplementary CDs of selected lessons

Other Requirements: 

A simple Scientific Calculator, for example TI-30Xa.

Expectations:

You are expected to attend all classes. To encourage attendance there are occasional assignments due at the end of the class, or one-question quizzes
at the beginning of the class. You are responsible for everything that happens in class. If you miss a class, you are expected to find out what happened
either from your Instructor or from your classmates. You are also expected to work outside of class about 4 hours per week. Most of all, I hope that as
the course progresses you will get excited about what you are learning and delight in your own, perhaps unexpected, ability to solve mathematical problems.

Homework:

Individual homework assignments are assigned after every section, collected every Tuesday, and returned the following class. These appear in the Syllabus
table below. In addition there are weekly assignments of  group projects provided as handouts in class. Group assignments are graded, individual assignments
carry exam points (this will be explained in class). The majority of homework assignments are done outside of class, but we devote 30 to 50 minutes every
week, usually on Mondays, to questions related to difficulties in the homework. You are encouraged to work with other students in this class on all your
homework assignments.

Calculator Policy:

No calculators are allowed during exams or quizzes. All calculations required in these instances can reasonably be done by hand. Calculators will be
used for mathematical modeling group projects using real data, and other in-class and homework assignments where hand calculations may be
too time consuming.

Tutoring Options:

You are welcome and encouraged to come to your instructor with any difficulties arising in this class. If you have difficulties coming to the scheduled office hours,
talk with your instructor about finding another time when you can meet. If you feel you need additional help, there are a variety of other tutoring options:

The UConn Q Center:             Free drop-in tutoring available at the Q Center, in the CUE Building, Sunday - Thursday, 2 - 10.

Private Tutoring:                      A list of private tutors maintained by the Q Center.
                                                          
Prentice Hall Tutoring Center:  Free text-specific online and phone tutoring Sunday - Thursday. Access Code in your textbook package.

Online Helpful Websites:         Websites providing help in the form of explanations, examples, sample exams, and online answers to questions:
                                               Ask Dr. Math:  At the Math Forum @Drexel University.                            
                                               Math for morons like us:  From the ThinkQuest Library.

Exams Schedule:

There will be three in-semester, in-class exams and a Final Exam. None is strictly cumulative, but there is overlap of material between the exams.
NO MAKE-UP EXAMS unless there is a very serious emergency for which you provide proof.

Exam 1: Thursday, September 20, in class
Exam 2: Thursday, October 18, in class
Exam 3: Thursday, November 15, in class
Final Exam: TBA

For help with location of the Final Exam Building click on The Campus Map.

Grading Policy:

Homework, Quizzes, and Group Projects: about 12%.  Each Exam (including the Final Exam): about 22%.

Syllabus:

Expect the course to cover every week, 2 to 4 sections from the textbook, and 1 or 2 Group Projects selected from the table below. The table below
provides a list of individual homework assignments for each section of the book. The actual homework assignments may vary according to progress in class.
In addition, a number of fun and interesting group projects highlighting applications of the material will be handed out in class every week-- usually on Mondays.
Those will be selected from the activities labeled Group Projects in the table below. You will work on them together in small groups during class time, and
complete them as out-of-classroom homework projects. Instructors of  Math 104Q may find the Group Projects by clicking on the Instructor's Resources icon
at the top of the page. If you forgot the password send an e-mail to Sarah Glaz.

                                   Two Hour Review Session Before Final Exam (attendance optional):  TBA
                                                            Before-Final Office Hours: TBA

Section
Topic
 Individual Homework Assignments
Introduction

Math-autobio
Chapter 1

1.2
Algebraic expressions and sets of numbers
page 15-17: 1,5,7,31-36,59,61,67,77,82-84,87
1.3
Operations with real numbers
page 27-30: 1,3,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,23,25,27,28,33,35,37,43,51,61,67,71
Review
Fractions, percentages, unit conversion (Chapter 1 handouts)
1. Calculate 15% of 723.
2. If 9.8 is 12% of your grade, find your grade.
3. Find the height in meters of a person 5'6" tall.
1.4
Properties of real numbers
page 40-42: 1-6,7,15,45,51,53,61,83,87,89.97
Group Project
Are irrationals rational?

Group Project
Calculate your BMI

Group Project
Analyze newspaper circulation

Chapter 2


2.1
Linear equations in one variable
page 60-61: 1,7,13,15,23,26,31,33
2.2
Introduction to problem solving
page 68-73: 1,5,9,11
2.3
Formulas and problem solving
page 79-81: 1,5,49
2.4 Linear Inequalities and problem solving page 92-94: 1,3,7,17,57,61,71
2.6
Absolute value equations
page 108-109: 5,9,15,21,53,61
Group Project
Algebraic poetry -- Lilavati's swarm

Group Project
Algebraic poetry  -- The rose-red city

Group Project
Calculate your income

Exam  1


Chapter 3


3.1
Graphing equations (include material from 3.3)
page 140-141: 1,3,5,7,9,17,19,27,33,37
3.2
Introduction to functions
page 151-156: 1,3,11,23,25,29,35,37,55,57,59,61
3.4
The slope of a line
page 177-180: 5,19-25,27,37,39,61,63,67,83
3.5
Equations of lines
page 189-192: 1,13,25,40,41,42,47
Group Project
Hurricane season  (and Tracking Chart)

Group Project
Three swimmers

Group Project
Cigarette ads

Group Project
Life expectancy

Chapter 4


4.1
Linear equations in two variables page 225-227: 1,3,7,13,17,21
Group Project
Which Honda should you buy?

Group Project
Photos of all sizes

Exam 2


Chapter 5


5.1
Exponents
page 282-284: 1,5,13,19,25,37,39
5.2
More exponents
page 289-291: 1,7,9,19,39,55
5.3
Polynomials and polynomial functions
page 300-303: 17,23,37,39,43
5.4
Multiplying polynomials
page 311-313: 1,5,19,25,27
5.5
The greatest common factor
page 318-320: 3,9,11,13
5.6
Factoring trinomials (use quadratic formula for roots from 8.2) page 327-329: 17,27,29,57
5.7
Factoring special products
page 334-335: 1,9,39,53
5.8  (partial)
Solving quadratic equations (via quadratic formula and roots)
page 350-353: 5,9,13
Group Project
The largest box
A Special Largest Box (Spring 2006)
Group Project
Factoring trinomials completely

Group Project
Free falling from bridges

Chapter 6


6.1
Multiplying and dividing rational expressions
page 372-375: 1,19,25,41,47,49
6.2
Adding and subtracting rational expressions
page 381-383:  3,17,30,31,33
Group Project
Calculate your lottery winning

Group Project
Modeling electricity

Exam 3


Chapter 7


7.1
Radicals and radical functions
page 453-454: 3,9,19,25,39,43,45,53,75
7.2
Rational exponents
page 462-463: 1,11,19,29,39,43,49,53,57,61
7.6 (partial)
Radical equations
page 492-492: 1,9,11,13 (with 7.2),53,59 (with 7.1)
Group Project
Skid marks

Group Project
The period of a pendulum

Chapter 9


9.3
Exponential functions
page 611: 1,5,19,20,21,27,35,37
9.4
Logarithmic functions
page 620: 25,27,39,41,47,53
9.5
Properties of  logarithms page 626: 1,7,13,17,33,41,51,53,55
9.7 (partial)
Exponential and logarithmic equations
page 640: 13,14,15,27 (with 9.4),31,32,33 (with 9.5)
Group Project
The black bear population

Group Project
Puzzled by Logs?

Optional Topics


5.1
Scientific notation
page 282-284: 73,79,81,91
5.2
More scientific notation
page 289-291: 57,61
Group Project
Very large and very small numbers

4.2
Linear Equations in Three variables
page 233-234: 5,7,9,13
Group Project
Tacos anyone?

9.6
Logarithms and Change of  Base
page 633: 17,23,29,41,47,49
Group Project
How long it takes to double your money?

Final Exam





This page is maintained by Sarah Glaz   
Last modified: Fall 2007