College Algebra
Professor Robert Freeman

Phone: 856.225.6076 Email me

Office Hours: Before and/or after class and by appointment

Text: Thomas Hungerford’s Contemporary Pre-Calculus, A Graphing Approach. Also, a calculator will be required for the course. My recommendation is to use the TI-83, but any graphing calculator will suffice.

Prerequisite: Intermediate Algebra or an equivalent (placement exam)

Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Manipulate and evaluate algebraic, exponential, and logarithmic functions,
• Functions, domains, range, composition, one-to-one functions and their inverses,
• Graph linear and quadratic functions, using algebra and a calculator,
• Systems of linear equations, Gaussian Elimination,
• Solve equations and inequalities algebraically and graphically,
• Graph algebraic, polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions,
• Solve exponential and logarithmic equations, and apply exponential and logarithmic models.

Contents: The student is responsible for all material covered in class, as well as all material covered in the text. We will cover the first five chapters in the book.

Grading Policy: Your final grade will be determined by your results on three examinations, a final exam, and attendance/class participation. The dates for the exams will be announced at least two weeks in advance. The tests will go as follows:

Each exam will be worth 20% of your total grade. The final exam will be worth 35%. The remaining 5% will come from attendance/class participation. The letter grades are determined as follows:
A = 90 to 100
B = 80 to 89
C = 70 to 79
D = 60 to 69
F=<59

Homework: The only way to fully understand mathematics is to do the problems and the computations. Thus it is recommended that at LEAST all odd numbered problems are done from each section covered in class.
(NOTE: Test problems will be similar to the problems in the text, as well as problems covered in class.)
Questions about homework problems are encouraged to be asked at the start of the following class.

Academic Honesty: Cheating on an examination or assignment in any class seriously undermines the integrity of the academic system and will not be tolerated. If it is revealed that a student is cheating, he/she will be assigned the grade F for the course, as well as a letter to this effect will be sent to his/her advisor.

Attendance Policy: Attendance is mandatory and will be checked every class. If you are absent from class, you are responsible for all materials missed (i.e. it is your responsibility to study the section(s) covered and do the homework. Each student will be allowed to miss a total of 4 classes. After the fourth unexcused absence, the student will drop one letter grade for each successive unexcused absence.

If you are absent on the day of an exam, you will receive a grade of zero. However, some reasons for being absent are beyond your control. In such cases the student will only be permitted to take a similar examination provided that proof of reason for being absent is shown, and you have emailed me the day of the exam. Without proof of reason for being absent, the student will receive a zero for the exam.

Classroom Rules: Students must abide by Rowan University’s student code of conduct and policy on academic honesty (found in the undergraduate catalog). Improper behavior will not be tolerated to any extent. Also, students are not permitted to leave the classroom during lecture except under the most extreme circumstances. Please try to use the restrooms before class begins.

Cellular phones must be turned off or set to vibrate before you enter the classroom. The disruption of class due to a cellular phone will not be tolerated.

The best way to learn is to fully understand the material being taught. Therefore, questions about material in class should be and are encouraged to be asked in class while covering the material. REMEMBER: No question is an unintelligent question. Please feel free to ask any and all possible questions.

Students with Disabilities and/or Special Needs: Please come and see me as early as possible so that we can make the appropriate accommodations for you. If needed, you can also contact the Office of Special Services.