College Algebra

MATH 115 Spring 2002 course information

Instructor: André Kündgen
Email: akundgen@csusm.edu
Office: University Hall 202
Office phone: (760) 750-8070
Office Hours: Mondays 16:00-17:00, Tuesdays 10:00-11:00 and Wednesdays 16:00-17:00 (when classes are in session), or by appointment.

The easiest way to arrange an appointment, or to get a hold of me in general, is by e-mail.

Lecture (01): Monday, Wednesday 8:30-9:45 (ACD 308).
Lecture (02): Monday, Wednesday 10:00-11:15 (ACD 308).
Webpage: http://courses.csusm.edu/math115ak

The webpage contains useful information, like the homework assignments, general announcements, and clarifications regarding the homework and you should check it at least once a week.

Course Material

Larsen and Hostetler, College Algebra (Fifth edition). You may also use a graphing calculator for your homework. If you don't already own one, but want to purchase one, then you may want to consider the TI-83 (this calculator is used in Math 132).

Prerequisites

Completion of the ELM requirement (Math 051, or ELM score of over 540). Math 115 does NOT serve as a prerequisite for Math 160. If you need Math 160 for your major (for example Math or CS), then you should be enrolled in Math 125.

Grading Policies

The numerical scores of all exams and assignments will be used in computing a final score that will determine your final letter grade:

10 Homeworks 15 each
3 Exams 200 each
Final Exam 250
Letter grade Numerical grade
A 850-1000
B 700-849
C 600-699
D 500-599
F 000-499
There will be around 12 homework assignments, the highest 10 of which will be counted. Doing the assigned work regularly, seriously, and carefully is vital to your success in this course. Although your homework is lightly weighted, you should keep in mind that you can only learn College Algebra by practicing it. This means doing as many problems as you can. This will be crucial for your exam performance. No late homeworks will be accepted. Additional homework guidelines can be found on the course webpage.

Make-up exams will only be given in documented emergencies. Make-up exams may be somewhat harder than the original tests in fairness to the students who took the regularly scheduled exam.

The final exam will be comprehensive. It will be a 2-day exam, unless announced otherwise.

Important Dates

February 4: First day of classes
February 8: Last day to drop without W grade
February 27: Exam 1
March 27: Exam 2
March 29: After this date, drop only in severe circumstances
May 8: Exam 3
May 29: Final Exam

Policy concerning collaboration on homework assignments

Students often learn a lot from working with one another and you are encouraged to meet with other students from class for this purpose. For example, you might work through exercises in the text together or discuss any material you found confusing in lecture or in the textbook.

It is also legitimate to discuss assignment problems with other students in the class or consult other texts. Assignments must be written up completely by yourself using only the text and your own notes as aids. The point is that your written report should be your own work. Do not let other students even look at your completed assignment solutions, since this can lead to copying. These rules are meant to ensure that all students understand their solutions to the problems well enough to write up solutions by themselves. If challenged you must be able to reproduce and explain your work.

Failure to comply with these guidelines is a serious academic offense. Penalties for such violations range from receiving a zero on the homework to suspension from the university.

On the first page of each homework assignment you must explicitly list all students with whom you have discussed assignment problems (even briefly) and which problems you discussed with each student. If you have discussed the homework with no one except me, write ``NO OUTSIDE DISCUSSION''. You must also list all other texts and aids that you have consulted. If you have consulted no text except the textbook and course notes, write ``NO EXTRA TEXT CONSULTED''. Without these statements, your assignment will not be graded.