Prerequisite Classes

My Schedule

Note: These are "official" office hours. However, I will make myself available whenever I can. Please do not be afraid to ask for help at any time as I am always eager to help.

Office Location and Phone

• Physical Science building PS114A
• Office phone: (707) 476-4222

Cancelled Classes

Email

Blackboard

Once you login to Blackboard, locate your math class and take some time to find out what is provided. Then read the "Welcome Message" in the Discussion Board and reply to to the "Welcome Message" thread. In the future, use the Discussion Board to discuss issues and problems you are having with your class.

Getting Help

Help is available in many forms.

• Your instructor is always available for help in PS114A when he isn't teaching class or attending a meeting. Take advantage.
• There are two great study rooms in the Physical Sciences building where the "math geeks" hang out, PS119 and PS116. If you study in these rooms during your break, it is highly likely that there will be people in there who might kindly answer a question or two. Just remember that they have their own studies as well and don't overly monopolize their time.
• The Academic Support Center (ASC) in the library provides individual and group tutoring. You need to check in at the ASC desk and make an appointment to meet with a tutor.
• The "Mathlab" resides along the windows in the ASC. You must first go to registration (Forum Building) and register for Math 152 to make use of the mathlab. You can either register for 1/2 unit or a full unit.
  1. If you register for 1/2 unit, you must complete 22.5 hours in the mathlab. This amounts on average to 1.5 hours per week.
  2. If you register for 1 unit, you must complete 45 hours in the mathlab. This amounts on average to 3 hours per week.

  After you complete the registration process at Registration, proceed to the Mathlab which is located in the Academic Support Center (ASC) of the Learning Resource Center (LRC). There will be an instructor there who will give you an information page, and a contract to sign.

  You can find a list of instructors who work in the Mathlab (Math 152) and a schedule for the hours that Mathlab is open at the following link.

  Math 152 Instructor Schedule and Hours

  The mathlab is not a great place to get personal, extensive, one-on-one tutoring (you should make an appointment with an ASC tutor for that), but it is a great place to work on your homework and get quick help when you are stuck. People work on their homework, then raise their hand when stuck, and tutors come by as soon as they are available. Tutors are trained to jump around from student to student, hopefully not taking too much time with each question, so its likely that you can get quick attention as you need it.

• Another possible venue where you can receive help is to enroll for Guidance 345. For more information, click the following link.
  
  Guidance 345 Help for Math 120 Students
  
• Students can also walk in to the Disability Resource Center (DSR), located behind the cafeteria, to receive help with learning disabilities or differences. Folks at the center will also provide assistance to students feeling large amounts of stress due to schoolwork, family, or other personal problems.
• Finally, a list of private tutors who charge for the service is available at the following link:
  Math Tutor List

Classroom Environment

It is important to stay on task when class is in session. Hence, conversation not pertaining to the subject at hand should be taken outside the classroom.

I understand that students will have to get up and leave the room for various reasons and I also understand that students will arrive late from time to time. However, courtesy requires that you enter and leave as quietly as possible, without disturbing discussion or lecture.

It is essential for student success to maintain a good environment in the classroom. If you have any personal difficulties with the learning envrionment in the classroom, please visit me in my office to discuss them.

Texts

Students will be given a free Intermediate Algebra textbook on the first day of classes in the form of a CD. The book is written by the mathematics department and will be given free of charge to all students in intermediate algebra in the fall semester, 2007. When you load the CD into your computer, double-click the file start.html to view a table of contents.

The textbook files on the CD are in PDF format. You will need to download a free copy of the Acrobat Reader to read them. Click the following icon to obtain a free copy of the Acrobat Reader.

It is important that you have the most current version of the Acrobat Reader that your system will allow. The above links will take you to the Adobe site. Your system will be automatically analyzed and you will be informed of the optimal version of the reader for your system.

The Intermediate Algebra textbook is also available online at:

The online files are identical to the files on the CD and include:

1. A file for each chapter, which includes exercises and short answers.
2. Separate files for each section in each chapter.
3. Separate files for exercises and short answers for each section.
4. Separate files for exercises and complete solutions for each section.
5. A single file that contains all exercises and short answers for each chapter.
6. A single file that contains all exercises and full solutions for each chapter.

This is a third edition of the text, but errors will still exist. We've started an errata page at:

Expect that this page will be updated frequently throughout the semester.

Paper Copies are available:

• A printed version of the text can be purchased from the Bookstore for $28.00. Go to the information booth in the bookstore to order a copy. It takes 1-2 days for printing services to prepare a printed copy.
• You can also purchase a printed version of the Exercises and Solutions for the entire text from the Bookstore. These contain the statements of the exercises and full solutions for all the odd problems in the text. At the time of writing this syllabus, pricing was not available, but we expect this package to cost under $20.

Reading the Textbook

With a textbook on CD and/or online, it seems even more tempting to work the reverse process (exercises first, then the reading). There are a number of ways that you can combat this temptation.

• You can print out those pages from the CD or online files that are necessary for current work, three-hole punch them, then place them in a small binder to carry to and from school. This is especially helpful for those students who have difficulty reading extensive documents on a computer screen.
• You can purchase a full printed version of the textbook from the bookstore. Again, it is recommended that you just use a small binder to carry only those pages that are relative to the current discussion in the class.

Whatever your approach, reading the narrative online, printing out pages on your home printer, or purchasing the printed version of the textbook from the bookstore, it is essential that you read each section before attempting the exercises at the end of the section. And, by reading, we mean pencil in hand and scratch paper at the ready to work out the examples as you read. You should not read a mathematics text as if it were a novel.

Calculators

The TI graphing calculator is required in all intermediate algebra courses. If you have a TI82, it will suffice, as will a TI83, TI83+, TI84, or TI84+. However, if you plan on purchasing a new calculator, we recommend the TI84 Plus.

Kevin Yokoyama has developed a calculator help tutorial. The web address is

The Mathematics Department has a limited number of calculators that it rents to students each semester. There is a one-time, non-refundable fee of $20. To rent a calculator, please follow these steps:

1. Contact Eloise Cottrell in the Physical Science Office, 476-4211. Ask if she has calculators available to rent for Mathematics.
2. If there still are calculators available, go to the Cashier in Enrollment Services and ask to pay a $20 fee for a calculator.
3. Bring your receipt from the Cashier's office to Eloise Cottrell at the Physical Science Office. Eloise will handle the remaining details of the contract.

Examinations

Students who need special arrangements for examinations are expected to meet with the instructor before each examination to insure that all examination materials are on file in the Academic Support Center (the ASC is in the Learning Resource Center (library)).

If you know ahead of time that you have a conflict that will prevent you from sitting for an examination, please meet with me to discuss alternatives.

Every student will be required to sit for a final, cumulative examination. The time and day of this examination is posted in the Schedule of Classes and students are expected to sit for the exam at the time and on the day posted. No exceptions. Any student failing to sit for the final examination will receive an F in the class. Please keep this in mind when making travel plans for December. Plan ahead!

Online Quizzes

The OPTIMATH testing system uses PDF format. You will need to download a free copy of the Acrobat Reader to take the online quizzes. Click the following icon to obtain a free copy of the Acrobat Reader.

It is important that you have the most current version of the Acrobat Reader that your system will allow. The above links will take you to the Adobe site. Your system will be automatically analyzed and you will be informed of the optimal version of the reader for your system.

Assistance for using the online testing system can be found at

Homework

It is essential that students keep up with the homework on a daily basis. Each time you come to class without your homework, you are not prepared to take part in the class at a level geared to your success. Therefore, students are encouraged to hand in homework on time. However, I am acutely aware of the responsibilities that many students have to deal with outside the classroom. Consequently, I do allow a "grace period" of one class period for late work. That is, if you hand your homework in by the next class period, I will still accept the assignment. However, there is an automatic 2-point deduction for late work. Homework later than one class period will not be accepted.

If you are experiencing difficulty getting your homework in on time, or if you know an upcoming event will interfere with getting your homework in on time, please discuss this with your instructor. We can possibly make some arrangment to help facilitate the completion of your work.

In order to facilitate the recording of homework scores, students are required to place their name in the upper right-hand corner of their homework assignment and staple the pages together with a single staple in the upper left-hand corner. On the first line of the of the first page of your homework, please write down the assignment number, the pages that encompass the assignement, and list each exercise number assigned. For example, the first line of your homework might read:

Grades

When Problems Arise

The Syllabus is Subject to Change

As your instructor, I reserve the right to make adjustments to the syllabus should things not proceed as smoothly as expected. However, in general, I do not anticipate making changes.