Course Syllabus

Independent Study in Idaho

ISI Website | indepst@uidaho.edu | 208-885-6641

MATH 1143 College Algebra

Sponsoring Institution: University of Idaho

3 Credits

Instructor Information

Course Instructor: Theresa Allen, Ph.D.

  • Email: tmallen@uidaho.edu 
  • Phone: 208 885-7709

Course Description

This course introduces the concept and examples of real functions. Topics include definition, domain and range of a function; composition and inverse of functions, transformations; linear, quadratic and higher degree polynomials; rational, exponential and logarithmic functions; and representations (formulas, graphs) and applications. Prerequisite: sufficient score on SAT, ACT, or math placement test; or Math 108 with grade of C or better. It is recommended that Math 143 be taken within two years of passing Math 108 or its equivalent. You can find the required test scores for this course on the University of Idaho’s Website.

UI students: Carries no credit after Math 1160 or Math 1170; carries 2 credits after Math 1137 [Algebra with Applications]; general education credit - Mathematics; Polya Math Center unavailable for ISI students.

Texas Instrument TI-30X IIS 2-Line Scientific CalculatorRequired Materials

Stewart, James, Lothar Redlin, and Saleem Watson. Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2006. ISBN-10: 0-534-49277-0. ISBN-13: 978-0534492779

Texas Instrument TI-30X IIS 2-Line Scientific Calculator ONLY. No other calculators allowed for test-taking (see image to right).

Recommended Course Materials

Stewart, James, Lothar Redlin, and Saleem Watson. Student Solutions Manual for Stewart/Redlin/Watson’s Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2006. ISBN-10: 0-534-49290-8. ISBN-13: 978-0534492908

Course Delivery

All ISI courses are delivered through Canvas, an online management system that hosts the course lessons and assignments and other items that are essential to the course. Upon registration, the student will receive a Registration Confirmation Email with information on how to access ISI courses online.

Course Rules and Requirements

The course has been divided into 16 lessons and four exams. Submit all lessons and exams for grading. Omit any chapters or sections not included in the assignments. You must wait for the graded assignments to be returned before taking the exams.

If you want more problems to solve to make sure you understand the material, there are several books available that have problems and solutions. Schaum’s Outline Series of College Algebra is a good one and is available from the University of Idaho Bookstore.

Each of the lessons covered in this study guide is constructed with reading assignments in the text and practice problems. These alternate so that you read a selection and then work applicable practice problems. At the end of the lesson, there is a graded assignment section with a list of problems from the textbook, which you will submit for grading. These questions will cover a sample of the material. It is not possible to cover all of the material for each lesson in each graded assignment; therefore, the practice problems are very important. The grade on each assignment will be based on the work shown, as well as on the accuracy of the answer.

It is important that you understand the material presented before trying the graded assignments. Work through the examples in the reading assignments and the associated practice problems. The answers to all odd-numbered problems are located in the back of the textbook. If your answer differs from that in the back of the book, carefully check for errors and, if necessary, work the problem again. You will find that you usually need to write out more steps than the author does in the examples. The author sometimes skips steps in order to keep the number of pages to a minimum. Any section of the text not specifically mentioned in the lessons should be skipped (for example, Section 1.9 will be skipped, but Sections 1.8 and 1.10 will be covered).

There is a summary of important ideas, formulas, and rules for each lesson in the study guide. If you find a formula in the text that is not mentioned in the study guide, you do not need to memorize that formula for the exams.

Complete the graded assignments in pencil only. Copy the original question, show your work in a vertical format on the page, and circle the answer. Neatness and completeness are essential. You may use a non-text calculator on both assignments and exams, but very few problems will need them. Keep in mind that we are grading and testing your understanding of the material, not your ability to push buttons. Therefore, it is in your best interest not to rely on calculators while doing the assignments. Nevertheless, you will need a calculator for the sections on exponentials and logarithms.

Your instructor wishes you success in your study of pre-calculus and hopes that your experience with the course is both profitable and enjoyable.

Lessons

Each lesson includes the following components:

  • Reading assignments
  • Lesson objectives
  • Practice problems
  • Graded assignment

Study Hints

  • Keep a copy of every lesson submitted.
  • Complete all assigned readings.
  • Set a schedule allowing for completion of the course one month prior to your desired deadline.
    (An Assignment Submission Log is provided for this purpose.)

Assignment Guidelines

Students may submit up to 2 lesson in one week.

  • Wait for grades and feedback on lessons prior to submitting subsequent lessons.
  • Copy the original question, show your work in a vertical format on the page, and circle the answer.
  • Graphs should be completed on graph paper. Only one graph should be drawn per set of axes. It is not necessary to circle graphs.
  • Neatness and completeness are essential.
  • You may use a non-text calculator on both assignments and exams, but few problems other than logarithms will need them.
  • Graded problems will generally be worth two points each. Approximately one point will be awarded for accuracy and one point for method, per problem. Each assignment is worth 20 points, and point totals are recorded.
  • Send original work only.
  • UI students: Polya math tutors are not available for ISI courses.

Exam Guidelines

Submit all lessons preceding each exam prior to taking it. For each exam, you must wait until the lessons preceding the exam have been returned to you graded, with feedback, before taking the exam. Exams are closed note and closed book. 

The timing of the exams is as follows:

  • Exam 1 (Section 1.5-2.2): follows Lesson 4
  • Exam 2 (Sections 2.3-3.2): follows Lesson 8
  • Exam 3 (Sections 3.3-4.4): follows Lesson 12
  • Final Exam (Sections 1.5-10.4): follows Lesson 16

The first three exams will be 70 minutes long and will cover only the material studied since the previous exam. The exams will be made up of problems similar to the assigned problems (both practice problems and graded problems).

The final exam will be similar to the first three exams except that it will be two hours long and will cover the entire course. That is, it will cover all assigned sections, from 1.5 through 10.4.

Proctor Selection/Scheduling Exams

All exams require a proctor.

To submit your Proctor Request form online, visit the ISI website. Submit this form at least two weeks before your first exam.

Grade Information

The course grade will be based upon the following considerations:

  • Graded Assignments = 300 pts (20 pts each, lowest assignment dropped)
  • Exams = 600 pts (200 pts each)
  • Final Exam = 400 pts

TOTAL POSSIBLE = 1300 pts

A letter grade is assigned only at the end of the course, as follows:

  • A = 1170-1300 pts
  • B = 1040-1169 pts
  • C = 910-1039 pts
  • D = 780-909 pts
  • F = 0-779 pts

The final course grade is issued after all lessons and exams have been graded.

Acts of academic dishonesty, including cheating or plagiarism are considered a very serious transgression and may result in a grade of F for the course.

Course Policies

Refer to the ISI Policies for the most current policies and procedures, including information on setting up accounts, student confidentiality, exams, transcripts, course exchanges, refunds, academic integrity, library resources, disability support and other services. 

UNIVERSITY POLICIES AND RESOURCES

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

U of I Moscow is located on the homelands of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce), Palus (Palouse) and Schitsu’umsh (Coeur d’Alene) tribes. We extend gratitude to the indigenous people that call this place home, since time immemorial. U of I recognizes that it is our academic responsibility to build relationships with the indigenous people to ensure integrity of tribal voices.

PROFESSIONALISM

This course is difficult, and I expect that you will want to work with a group on assignments. I encourage this, in fact. However, copying from another student or any online source/answer manual is plagiarism and is not allowed. Cheating and plagiarism will earn you an F in this course and, potentially, a visit to the dean of students. See Dean of Student's Student Code of Conduct for more information.

Remember: You’re paying to learn, not just get grades.

LEARNING CIVILITY

In any environment in which people gather to learn, it is essential that all members feel as free and safe as possible in their participation. To this end, it is expected that everyone in this course will be treated with mutual respect and civility, with an understanding that all of us (students, instructors, professors, guests, and teaching assistants) will be respectful and civil to one another in discussion, in action, in teaching, and in learning.

Should you feel our classroom interactions do not reflect an environment of civility and respect, you are encouraged to meet with your instructor during office hours to discuss your concern.  Additional resources for expression of concern or requesting support include the Dean of Students office and staff (208-885-6757), the U of I Counseling & Testing Center’s confidential services (208-885-6716), or the Office of Civil Rights and Investigations (208-885-4285).

DISABILITY ACCESS AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

University of Idaho is committed to ensuring an accessible learning environment where course or instructional content are usable by all students and faculty. If you believe that you require disability-related academic adjustments for this class (including pregnancy-related disabilities), please contact Center for Disability Access and Resources (CDAR) to discuss eligibility. A current accommodation letter from CDAR is required before any modifications, above and beyond what is otherwise available for all other students in this class will be provided. Please be advised that disability-related academic adjustments are not retroactive. CDAR is located at the Bruce Pitman Building, Suite 127. Phone is 208-885-6307 and e-mail is cdar@uidaho.edu.  For a complete listing of services and current business hours visit https://www.uidaho.edu/student-resources/disability-accessibility-resources.

VANDAL FOOD PANTRY

The Vandal Food Pantry is a free resource stocked weekly with food, grocery bags, and various hygiene items. Its eight locations across campus are accessible during building hours and open to all. Please take what you need.

GREEN DOT SAFETY PROGRAM

What's Your Green Dot? It's up to all of us to make a safer campus. Vandal Green Dot is a program that helps students learn about the power of the bystander, how to recognize potentially risky situations, and realistic ways to intervene. Together we can bring down the number of people being hurt by interpersonal violence on our campus. No one has to do everything, but everyone has to do something! Learn more and get involved by visiting UI's Green Dot Safety Program or emailing greendot@uidaho.edu.

FIREARMS

The University of Idaho bans firearms from its property with only limited exceptions. One exception applies to persons who hold a valid Idaho enhanced concealed carry license, provided those firearms remain concealed at all times. If an enhanced concealed carry license holder's firearm is displayed, other than in necessary self-defense, it is a violation of University policy. Please contact local law enforcement (call 911) to report firearms on University property. University of Idaho leadership remains committed to maintaining a safe work, living and learning environment on campus. We will not tolerate any threatening use of firearms or any other weapons. While authorized license holders may have familiarity and be at ease carrying a loaded firearm, we ask that they be aware that many people are not familiar with handguns and are uncomfortable in their presence.

OTHER HELP AND RESOURCES

STUDENT RESOURCES

The University of Idaho provides student support to ensure a successful learning experience.

LIBRARY HELP

The U of I Library website has many databases that will help you find relevant and reliable books, articles, images, and more. Don't hesitate to contact a librarian for research assistance.

TECHNOLOGY HELP

The U of I Student Technology Center provides many technology related services to students.

WRITING SUPPORT

The U of I Writing Center provides one-on-one assistance to student writers and other members of the campus community.

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