MT109:
A study of rational and polynomial functions and their graphs and techniques for solving rational and polynomial equations. Includes logarithms, inequalities, complex numbers, sequences, and matrices and determinants, as time permits. Provides essential background in pre-calculus mathematics to prepare students for Calculus I. Emphasis is given to exploring and analyzing the behavior of functions and the connections among those functions and real-world problems.
Prerequisites
MT104 or math placement
Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details
Contact Information
- Textbook
- College Algebra (2nd Edition) from OpenStax, Paperback ISBN: 978-1-711494-01-2, available for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/college-algebra-2e
- Calculator
- A scientific calculator will be useful for this course. Computers, cell phones, tablets, TI-89’s and TI-Nspire-CAS will not be allowed on quizzes and exams.
- Scanner or Scanner App
- Adobe Scan is free and I've used it on both Android and Apple devices. Sometimes it is a bit glitchy and I need to email the document to myself before it truly creates a sharable PDF.
Tentative Schedule
Subject to change during the semester. Adequate notice of changes will be given.
Homework: One to three sections from the book will be assigned for homework each lecture. Homework will be collected Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and graded for completion, not accuracy. At the top right corner of your homework, you should write your name, due date, and MT109 M2. On the top line of your homework, you should write your textbook section(s), and the homework problems assigned. If there is more than one textbook section assigned for the same day, you need to clearly indicate where the next section begins in your work by labeling the new section and listing all problems assigned for that section, but you do not need to start each section on a new page. You should write out each problem, and then show all your work (work down, not across) to get the solution to the problem. See the image at the bottom of this section for an example of how to label the top of your homework.
Homework should be scanned and submitted on BlackBoard by the due date. There is some leeway after the due date—if you submit a homework assignment after the due date but before I finish grading that assignment, I will still grade it the same as though you had turned it in before the due date.
Each assignment is graded out of 5 points. 5/5 means the homework looks like it was done completely and is scanned (with the pages presented in order) as one PDF document (if more than 1 piece of paper). 1/5 means the student turned in a blank piece of paper with their name on it. At the end of the semester, students who have scored a 4 or higher on all homework assignments will receive a 10-point bonus towards their test points tally (you can think of this as one test scored will be raised 10% if you earn this bonus).
For your homework, the work must be your own work. You are allowed to receive help, but you must have attempted the problem and you must credit anyone who helps you. By acknowledging their contribution, you do not make your work any less valuable (hence, it will not lower your grade) and you express gratitude for the help you received. You are not allowed to copy from other people or from any other source.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The grading scale will be as follows:
Grading:
| Category | Percent of Final Grade | Min. % | Grade | |
| Homework | 10% | 93% | A | |
| Quizzes and Worksheets | 20% | 90% | A- | |
| Exams | 45% | 87% | B+ | |
| Final Exam | 25% | 83% | B | |
| 80% | B- | |||
| 77% | C+ | |||
| 73% | C | |||
| 70% | C- | |||
| 65% | D |
Instructor Course Policies
Quizzes: There will be frequent quizzes given throughout the semester, usually on Fridays. In case of absences, any in-person quiz can be taken using Zoom, but the make-up must be scheduled by 3 pm the day of the missed quiz. At the end of the semester, the lowest two quiz scores will be dropped. Quizzes (and tests) are graded for accuracy. In order to receive full credit, you must show your work, and do all work correctly (points will be taken away for incorrect work, even if you make enough mistakes that your mistakes “undo each other”). There are different ways of working problems and if you are curious about whether your method is correct and/or if it shows enough work, please come to my office and ask me.
Tests: There will be 4 in-class exams and a final. The tests are currently scheduled for February 3, February 26, March 31, and April 25. The final exam is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, 8:00-10:00 am. Missing an exam is a serious matter and should only be done under the most extenuating of circumstances. Appropriate documentation is necessary for an excuse to be validated. (See the current Student Handbook for the college’s Attendance Policy.) Tests should be made up as quickly as possible. In the event that a student has an acceptable excuse and notified me in advance, the student will have two school days to make up the test for full credit, or an additional three school days to make up their exam for half credit. In the event that a student does not have an acceptable excuse, or if a student fails to notify me in advance, the student will have two school days to make up the test for half credit, or an additional three school days to make up their exam for quarter credit.
Academic Integrity: Any instance of cheating will result in a zero for the assignment, may result in an “F” grade for the course, and could result in referral for committee review. See the current Student Handbook for the college’s Academic Integrity policies as they pertain to examinations, plagiarism, classroom behavior, and the process for handling academic misconduct charges.
Additional Information
Classroom behavior: Please refrain from wearing scents (cologne/perfume/body odor/etc.) that could disturb the learning environment of the classroom. I will not tolerate disruptive behavior, be it use of cell phones, talking out of turn, passing notes, yawning loudly, and/or falling asleep. There is no tobacco use in the classroom. All music should be turned off before entering the classroom. There is no texting/gaming/watching videos on your phones during class. There is no packing up to leave this class before class is over. If there is a genuine reason you need to receive a call (e.g., awaiting an important call from a family member) let me know before class begins.
E-mail: You are required to use your Wilmington e-mail account for this course. I will use it to relay messages about the course. If you send me an email and I haven’t responded by the next school day, please email me again to make sure I’ve seen your email.
Institutional and Program-Level Policies
All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.
Out-of-class Work Expectation A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week. |
Instructional Course Delivery |
Academic Integrity Policy The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions. |
Academic Misconduct - Examples [10/24]
ACADEMIC CODE OF CONDUCT
This policy is directly related to the first Testimony, which is part of the Student Code of Conduct. “I will practice personal and academic integrity.” The initial responsibility for dealing with academic misconduct lies with the individual faculty member in whose classroom or course of study the offense occurs. The responsibility includes determination of the consequences for the offense. The goal is for faculty to confront cheating and plagiarism, to teach ethical behavior, and to provide an appropriate consequence based on the nature of the incident. Faculty are encouraged to explicitly address academic misconduct and its consequences in the course syllabus.
EXAMPLES OF ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
A. Examination offenses include, but are not limited to, the following:
1.Taking unauthorized materials into or out of the examination room.
2.Leaving the examination room without authorization before completing an examination.
3.Talking in the examination room without authorization.
4.Discussing the examination outside the examination room during the course of the examination.
5.Attempting to observe the work of another student.
6.Taking an examination for another person or permitting someone else to do so.
7.Collaborating improperly by discussion, joint research, or joint effort in any way expressly prohibited by the instructor. This includes using a cell phone or other device to access information from another source or another student.
8.Improper knowledge of contents of an examination - No student shall knowingly acquire unauthorized knowledge of an examination or any part of an examination, or solicit, offer, or give information about any part of an examination.
B. Student work offenses include, but are not limited to, the following, which are expressly prohibited in the absence of prior written approval of the instructor or instructors involved:
1.Resubmission of work - Submitting work which has been previously submitted for credit.
2. Plagiarism - Submitting work done wholly or partly by another, including the unattributed copying of all or parts of a published work or internet document. Using generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) sources to produce work (when not expressly permitted) is also a form of plagiarism. Some instances of plagiarism are the result of ignorance rather than dishonesty. When plagiarism is encountered, the instructor should be sure that the student knows proper procedures for attributing content.
3.Prohibited sources - Consulting material or persons contrary to the directions of the instructor.
4.Improper collaboration - Engaging in any discussion, joint research, or joint effort of any kind expressly prohibited by the instructor.
5.Deception - Misrepresenting the authenticity of sources, citations, or principles in any written work.
6. Sharing work – Students who share their work with others are responsible for how that work is used. For example, if a student shares a paper with another student to help him or her understand an assignment, and that student submits the work as their own, the author of the paper shares responsibility for the plagiarism committed by the other student.
D. Other misconduct - Engaging in any other improper conduct as specified by the instructor.
E. Lying – deliberately providing false information relevant to academic matters, such as misrepresenting the inability to take an examination because of illness.
F. Disruptive or disrespectful classroom behavior – causing a disturbance in the classroom, interrupting instruction, speaking rudely or threatening students or faculty.
Class Attendance Policy |
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
Students with Disabilities
In accordance with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973), Wilmington College provides access through reasonable accommodations to students with documented physical and psychological disabilities.
Students who wish to access Services need to meet with the Director of Accessibility and Disability Services and provide verification of their disability. To register with Accessibility and Disability Services, students submit an Application for Services. In addition, the student must provide the Disability Verification form accompanied by current disability documentation from a licensed professional. For more information, contact the Director of Accessibility and Disability Services at accessibility@wilmington.edu or 937.481.2444, 114 Robinson Communcation Center.