Follow-on courses: Here is a partial list of classes that require Math 104 as a direct prerequisite (that is, Math 098 is not sufficient)
CHEM 121 - General Chemistry I COSC 111 - Introduction to Programming ESSC 470 - Quantitative Methods in Geography and Geology ET 100 - Introduction to Engineering Technology ET 101 - Introduction to Engineering Technology Computing MATH 105 - College Algebra MATH 107 - Plane Trigonometry MATH 119 - Applied Calculus PSY 205 - Quantitative Methods in Psychology SOCL 250 - Quantitative Applications in Sociology TM 306 - Quantitative Analysis of Sustainability Issues
Section 0, CRN 50349: Mon/Tue/Thu 1:00- 2:50 in Pray-Harrold 322
Class meetings will be mostly interactive lectures, with some time to work on problems in class, and perhaps some time to go over problems from the homework.
During a regular semester (Fall or Winter), I expect that you will work on Math 104 for 6 to 10 hours per week outside of class. During a double-pace semester, you should double that number, of course.Mon/Tue/Thu: 10:00-10:30 office hour 10:30-12:20 Math 319 Pray-Harrold 503 12:20- 1:00 office hours and lunch 1:00- 2:50 Math 104 Pray-Harrold 321 2:50-3:50 office hours Wed/Fri: no schedule--I'm often on campus, though. I have various meetings to go to. Send e-mail to make an appointment.
I am also happy to make appointments if you cannot come to the general office hours. Please send me e-mail to arrange an appointment. However, I am not available when I am teaching other classes, as you can see in the schedule above.
The Mathematics Student Services Center (or "Math Lab") is also here to help you, in Pray-Harrold 411 Their hours are posted here. Please give them a call at 734-487-0983 or just drop by.
Another resource on campus is the Holman Success Center, formerly the Holman Learning Center.My general math interests are in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IEOR). In particular, I do research in applied probability and queueing theory, the mathematics of predicting how long it takes to wait in line for service. You can learn more about this in Math 319 and 419 when I teach them. I also enjoy teaching about cost-minimizing/profit-maximizing methods called Non-Linear Programming (NLP) in Math 560, Optimization Theory.
Textbook: Intermediate Algebra: Concepts and Applications, 9th edition, via the online homework.
Online homework: We will use Canvas to access MyMathLab, which includes an electronic version of the textbook. The cost is about $105.
You are expected to keep an eye on your scores using MyMathLab, and get extra help if your scores indicate the need.
A lot of our work will be done on computers. If you had been waiting for a good reason to buy a laptop, this is it.
Materials such as practice exams, practice exam solution keys, and some worksheets will be posted inside Canvas.
Date/Time Day Chapter Topic 2017-05-04 13:00 Thu Introductions, Syllabus 2017-05-04 13:15 Thu 1.4 Problem Solving 2017-05-04 13:30 Thu 1.5 Solving Formulas 2017-05-04 13:45 Thu 1.6 Properties of Exponents 2017-05-04 14:00 Thu 1.7 Scientific Notation 2017-05-04 14:15 Thu 2.2 Functions: domain and range, graphs 2017-05-04 14:30 Thu 2.2 Functions: notation and equations, piecewise 2017-05-08 13:00 Mon 2.3 Linear: Slope-Intercept form 2017-05-08 13:15 Mon 2.3 Graphing, Pos/Neg slope 2017-05-08 13:30 Mon 2.3 Units of slope, avg rate of change 2017-05-08 13:45 Mon 2.4 Horiz/Vert Lines, parallel/perpendicular 2017-05-08 14:00 Mon 2.4 Graphing via Intercepts, solving equations graphically, standard form 2017-05-08 14:15 Mon 2.5 Point-Slope Form, finding eqn of a line 2017-05-08 14:30 Mon 2.5 interpolation vs extrapolation 2017-05-09 13:00 Tue 3.1 2-Variable linear systems, setup 2017-05-09 13:15 Tue 3.1 identifying solutions 2017-05-09 13:30 Tue 3.1 solving graphically 2017-05-09 13:45 Tue 3.2 Substitution method 2017-05-09 14:00 Tue 3.2 Elimination method 2017-05-09 14:15 Tue 3.3 total-value and mixture problems 2017-05-09 14:30 Tue 3.3 motion problems 2017-05-11 13:00 Thu 4.1 Inequalities: solutions, interval notation 2017-05-11 13:15 Thu 4.1 Addition principle, multiplication principle 2017-05-11 13:30 Thu 4.2 Intersections, Unions 2017-05-11 13:45 Thu 4.2 Compound inequalities, interval notation 2017-05-11 14:00 Thu exam1ch123 2017-05-11 14:15 Thu exam1ch123 2017-05-11 14:30 Thu exam1ch123 2017-05-15 13:00 Mon 5.4 factoring trinomials, x^2+bx+c 2017-05-15 13:15 Mon 5.4 factoring ax^2+bx+c 2017-05-15 13:30 Mon 5.5 factoring perfect-square trinomials 2017-05-15 13:45 Mon 5.5 difference of squares 2017-05-15 14:00 Mon (5.6 briefly) sum or difference of cubes, just mention 2017-05-15 14:15 Mon 5.7 Factoring: a general strategy 2017-05-15 14:30 Mon 5.7 2017-05-16 13:00 Tue 5.8 Applications of polynomial equations 2017-05-16 13:15 Tue 5.8 Principle of Zero Products 2017-05-16 13:30 Tue 5.8 Problem Solving 2017-05-16 13:45 Tue 6.1 Rational functions, simplifying 2017-05-16 14:00 Tue 6.1 multiplying, dividing 2017-05-16 14:15 Tue 6.2 adding, subtracting 2017-05-16 14:30 Tue 6.2 Case of different denominators 2017-05-18 13:00 Thu (6.3 briefly) (difference quotients, (n+1)^a/b^(n+1)/(n^a/b^n) 2017-05-18 13:15 Thu review 2017-05-18 13:30 Thu review 2017-05-18 13:45 Thu review 2017-05-18 14:00 Thu exam2ch45 2017-05-18 14:15 Thu exam2ch45 2017-05-18 14:30 Thu exam2ch45 2017-05-22 13:00 Mon 6.4/5 Rational Equations: sharing work 2017-05-22 13:15 Mon 6.4/5 problems involving motion 2017-05-22 13:30 Mon 6.4/5 Solving rational equations 2017-05-22 13:45 Mon 6.4/5 2017-05-22 14:00 Mon 6.8 Formulas, direct variation 2017-05-22 14:15 Mon 6.8 inverse variation 2017-05-22 14:30 Mon 6.8 joint variation 2017-05-23 13:00 Tue 6.8 combined variation 2017-05-23 13:15 Tue 6.8 2017-05-23 13:30 Tue 7.1 square roots and sqrt functions, sqrt(a^2) 2017-05-23 13:45 Tue 7.1 cube roots, odd and even n'th roots 2017-05-23 14:00 Tue 7.2 rational exponents, negative rational exponents 2017-05-23 14:15 Tue 7.2 laws of exponents 2017-05-23 14:30 Tue 7.2 simplifying radical expressions 2017-05-25 13:00 Thu exam3ch6 2017-05-25 13:15 Thu exam3ch6 2017-05-25 13:30 Thu 7.3 Multiplying radical expressions 2017-05-25 13:45 Thu 7.3 Simplifying by factoring 2017-05-25 14:00 Thu 7.3 Multiplying and simplifying 2017-05-25 14:15 Thu 7.4 Dividing and simplifying 2017-05-25 14:30 Thu 7.4 Rationalizing denominators 2017-05-29 13:00 Mon Memorial Day Memorial Day 2017-05-29 13:15 Mon off off 2017-05-29 13:30 Mon off off 2017-05-29 13:45 Mon off off 2017-05-29 14:00 Mon off off 2017-05-29 14:15 Mon off off 2017-05-29 14:30 Mon off off 2017-05-30 13:00 Tue 7.5 Adding and subtracting radical expressions 2017-05-30 13:15 Tue 7.5 Products of two or more radical terms 2017-05-30 13:30 Tue 7.5 Rationalizing denominators with two terms 2017-05-30 13:45 Tue 7.5 2017-05-30 14:00 Tue 7.5 Terms with Differing Indices 2017-05-30 14:15 Tue review/slack 2017-05-30 14:30 Tue review/slack 2017-06-01 13:00 Thu 8.1 Quadratic Equations 2017-06-01 13:15 Thu 8.1 Principle of Square Roots 2017-06-01 13:30 Thu 8.1 Completing the square 2017-06-01 13:45 Thu 8.1 ballistics 2017-06-01 14:00 Thu 8.1 skip compound-interest 2017-06-01 14:15 Thu 8.2 The Quadratic Formula 2017-06-01 14:30 Thu 8.2 Solving using it 2017-06-05 13:00 Mon 8.2 Solving using it 2017-06-05 13:15 Mon 8.2 Approximating solutions 2017-06-05 13:30 Mon 8.3 Discriminant 2017-06-05 13:45 Mon 8.3 Writing equations from solutions 2017-06-05 14:00 Mon 8.3 2017-06-05 14:15 Mon 8.3 2017-06-05 14:30 Mon review exam5ch7and8a in Testing Lab! 2017-06-06 13:00 Tue (8.4 briefly) Applications testing lab: exam5ch7and8a 2017-06-06 13:15 Tue 9.2 Exponential functions 2017-06-06 13:30 Tue 9.2 graphing 2017-06-06 13:45 Tue 9.2 Eqns with x and y interchanged 2017-06-06 14:00 Tue 9.2 applications 2017-06-06 14:15 Tue 9.2 2017-06-06 14:30 Tue 9.3 Logarithmic functions 2017-06-08 13:00 Thu 9.3 Meaning 2017-06-08 13:15 Thu 9.3 Graphs 2017-06-08 13:30 Thu 9.3 Equivalent Equations 2017-06-08 13:45 Thu 9.3 Solving Certain Equations 2017-06-08 14:00 Thu 9.4 Properties of logs 2017-06-08 14:15 Thu 9.4 Products 2017-06-08 14:30 Thu 9.4 Powers 2017-06-12 13:00 Mon 9.4 Quotients 2017-06-12 13:15 Mon 9.4 2017-06-12 13:30 Mon review 2017-06-12 13:45 Mon review 2017-06-12 14:00 Mon 9.5 Common and Natural Logs 2017-06-12 14:15 Mon 9.5 Common logs on a calculator 2017-06-12 14:30 Mon 9.5 Natural logs on a calculator 2017-06-13 13:00 Tue 9.5 Changing bases 2017-06-13 13:15 Tue 9.5 Graphs 2017-06-13 13:30 Tue 9.7 Applications of exponential and log functions 2017-06-13 13:45 Tue 9.7 2017-06-13 14:00 Tue exam6ch8b9a 2017-06-13 14:15 Tue exam6ch8b9a 2017-06-13 14:30 Tue exam6ch8b9a 2017-06-15 13:00 Thu 9.7 2017-06-15 13:15 Thu 9.7 2017-06-15 13:30 Thu 9.7 2017-06-15 13:45 Thu 9 wrapup 2017-06-15 14:00 Thu 9 wrapup 2017-06-15 14:15 Thu 9 wrapup 2017-06-15 14:30 Thu 9 wrapup 2017-06-19 13:00 Mon review 2017-06-19 13:15 Mon review 2017-06-19 13:30 Mon review 2017-06-19 13:45 Mon review 2017-06-19 14:00 Mon review 2017-06-19 14:15 Mon review 2017-06-19 14:30 Mon review 2017-06-20 13:00 Tue final exam 2017-06-20 13:15 Tue it 2017-06-20 13:30 Tue it is 2017-06-20 13:45 Tue it is cumul 2017-06-20 14:00 Tue it is cumulati 2017-06-20 14:15 Tue it is cumulative 2017-06-20 14:30 Tue it is cumulative!!!
Some variations in this outline are to be expected.
Regular attendance is strongly recommended. There may be material presented in class that is not in the textbook, yet will be very useful. Similarly, there are things in the textbook that are might not be covered in class, but are still very useful. If you must miss a class, arrange to get a copy of the notes from someone, and arrange for someone to ask your questions for you.
My lectures and discussions mostly use the whiteboard, along with demonstrations in Excel and other mathematical software. I do not usually have PowerPoint-like presentations, and thus cannot hand out copies of slides.
Just about every section that we use in the online textbook will have at least one homework associated with it. These will generally be due the class day after the section is discussed in class (Monday's homework will be due Tuesday; Tuesday's will be due Thursday; Thursday's will be due Monday). Because most class sessions span more than one section, this means that you will often have 2 and sometimes 3 assignments in between classes, sometimes plus a practice test and other exam prep.
There will be a 6 exams during the semester, plus a comprehensive final exam. Quizzes might also occur, announced or not, during the semester.
No scores will be dropped, unless a valid medical excuse with evidence is given. In the unfortunate event of a medical need, the appropriate grade or grades might (at the instructor's discretion) be dropped entirely, rather than giving a make-up. You are highly encouraged to still complete the relevant assignments and consult with me during office hours to ensure you know the material.
Your final score will be computed as follows:The University Writing Center (115 Halle Library; 487-0694) offers one-to-one writing consulting for both undergraduate and graduate students. Students are encouraged to come to the UWC at any stage of the writing process.
The UWC also has several satellite locations across campus (in Owen, Sill, Marshall, Porter, Pray-Harrold, and Mark Jefferson). These satellites provide drop-in writing support to students in various colleges and programs. The Pray-Harrold UWC satellite (rm. 211) is open Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The locations and hours for the other satellites can be found on the UWC web site: http://www.emich.edu/uwc.
UWC writing consultants also work in the Academic Projects Center (116 Halle Library), which offers drop-in consulting for students on writing, research, and technology-related issues. Additional information about the APC can be found at http://www.emich.edu/apc.
Students seeking writing support at any location of the University Writing Center should bring a draft of their writing (along with any relevant instructions or rubrics) to work on during the consultation.