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Algebra 1AB:  Class Syllabus

Spring Semester 2001
Instructor: Emmanuel Littrel, Ed.M.
E-mail: elittrel@lausd.k12.ca.us
(Course Description)   (Course Outlines)

Questions are encouraged.  You may contact me by email.

If something is not clear, it is important you ask.

Required Text: Algebra 1, 2000 Edition, by Ron Larson  pub. by McDougal Littell Publishers (2000).  

The Need for Mathematics in a Changing World

We live in a time of extraordinary and accelerating change. New knowledge, tools, and ways of doing and communicating mathematics continue to emerge and evolve. Calculators, too expensive for common use in the early eighties, now are not only commonplace and inexpensive but vastly more powerful. Quantitative information available to limited numbers of people a few years ago is now widely disseminated through popular media outlets (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2000) .
Course goals:
(1) Develop fluency in basic computational and procedural skills, an understanding of mathematical concepts, and the ability to use mathematical reasoning to solve mathematical problems, including recognizing and solving routine problems readily and finding ways to reach a solution or goal when no routine path is apparent, (2) Communicate precisely about quantities, logical relationships, and unknown values through the use of signs, symbols, models, graphs, and mathematical terms, (3) Develop logical thinking in order to analyze evidence and build arguments to support or refute hypotheses, (4) Make connections among mathematical ideas and between mathematics and other disciplines, (5) Apply mathematics to everyday life and develop an interest in pursuing advanced studies in mathematics and in a wide array of mathematically related career choices (California Department of Education, 2001), and (6) Develop an appreciation for the beauty and power of mathematics.  It is well known that California students lag behind students in other states and nations in their mastery of mathematics (Reese et al. 1997; Beaton et al. 1996).

Class:  There will be five one hour lectures per week. Occasional guests and video presentations will help us to get out of the classroom. NOTE: material covered will come from several sources, including but not exclusively from the texts. You are responsible for all readings, lectures, note taking, and guest/video/slide presentations that will be included in exams.

Grading:  Grades will be based on 2 mid-term exams (100 pts. each), 1 cumulative final exam (200 pts.), and "laboratory" (100pts) for a total of 500 pts. Grades will be based on the percentage of total points accumulated:  A (88   -100%), B (75-87%), C (65-74%), etc. There may be an adjustment (curve) to everyone's grades if the highest scores are lower than expected and these higher scores merit an A grade.

Exams:  You are responsible for attending the scheduled exams:  there are no make-up or rescheduled exams. Exams will consist of multiple choice, matching, and fill-in-the-blank types of questions. There will also be a few short answer or essay type questions. As with all of my exams, there may be an opportunity to earn extra-credit (but don't expect it to work miracles for your grade if you are not doing well).


Special Note:  If you are absent the day of an exam or on the due date of an assignment or project you are required to request a make-up test the day of your return or submit the late assignment on the day of your return.  The teacher reserves the right to administer  the make-up on that day or the day following the re-admit.  

SCHEDULE: (Subject to change depending upon rate of progress)

WEEK    

LECTURE TOPIC(S)  READ (Chapter/sections)
26 Feb - 2 Mar State Buy Back Days
Pupil free day
5 March Enroll Students
Class Orientation
Review Algebra 1A
Issue Textbooks
12 March 

6.1 Using Properties of Exponents
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Use properties of exponents to evaluate and simplify expressions involving powers.
Use exponents and scientific notation to solve real-life problems.

6.2 Evaluating and Graphing Polynomial Functions
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Evaluate a polynomial function.
Graph a polynomial function.

6.3 Adding, Subtracting, and Multiplying Polynomials
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Add, subtract, and multiply polynomials.
Use polynomial operations in real-life problems.
19 March

6.4 Factoring and Solving Polynomial Equations
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Factor polynomial expressions.
Use factoring to solve polynomial equations.

6.5 The Remainder and Factor Theorems
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Divide polynomials and relate the result to the remainder theorem and the factor theorem.
Use polynomial division in real-life problems.

6.6 Finding Rational Zeros
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Find the rational zeros of polynomial function.
Use polynomial equations to solve real-life problems.

26 March

6.7 Using the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Use the fundamental theorem of algebra to determine the number of zeros of a polynomial function.
Use technology to approximate the real zeros of a polynomial function.

6.8 Analyzing Graphs of Polynomial Functions
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Analyze the graph of a polynomial function.
Use the graph of a polynomial function to answer questions about real-life situations.

6.9 Modeling with Polynomial Functions
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Use finite differences to determine the degree of a polynomial function that will fit a set of data.
Use technology to find polynomial models for real-life data.
2 April 

7.1 nth Roots and Rational Exponents
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Evaluate nth roots of real numbers using both radical notation and rational exponent notation.
Use nth roots to solve real-life problems.

7.2 Properties of Rational Exponents
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Use properties of rational exponents to evaluate and simplify expressions.
Use properties of rational exponents to solve real-life problems.

7.3 Power Functions and Function Operations
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Perform operations with functions including power functions.
Use power functions and function operations to solve real-life problems.
 
9 April 

7.3 Power Functions and Function Operations
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Perform operations with functions including power functions.
Use power functions and function operations to solve real-life problems.

7.4 Inverse Functions
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Find inverses of linear functions.
Find inverses of nonlinear functions.

7.5 Graphing Square Root and Cube Root Functions
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Graph square root and cube root functions.
Use square root and cube root functions to find real-life quantities.
16 April

7.6 Solving Radical Equations
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Solve equations that contain radicals or rational exponents.
Use radical equations to solve real-life problems.

7.7 Statistics and Statistical Graphs
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Use measures of central tendency and measures of dispersion to describe data sets.
Use box-and-whisker plots and histograms to represent data graphically.
23 April  ***** Midterm Exam **************

8.1 Exponential Growth
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Graph exponential growth functions.
Use exponential growth functions to model real-life situations.

8.2 Exponential Decay
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Graph exponential decay functions.
Use exponential decay functions to model real-life situations.

8.3 The Number e
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Use the number e as the base of exponential functions.
Use the natural base e in real-life situations.

8.4 Logarithmic Functions
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Evaluate logarithmic functions.
Graph logarithmic functions.

 

30 April

8.4 Logarithmic Functions
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

8.5 Properties of Logarithms
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Use properties of logarithms.
Use properties of logarithms to solve real-life problems.

8.6 Solving Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Solve exponential equations.
Solve logarithmic equations.
7 May

8.7 Modeling with Exponential and Power Functions
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Model data with exponential functions.
Model data with power functions.

8.8 Logistic Growth Functions
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Evaluate and graph logistic growth functions.
Use logistic growth functions to model real-life situations.
14 May

9.1 Inverse and Joint Variation
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Write and use inverse variation models.
Write and use joint variation models.

9.2 Graphing Simple Rational Functions
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Graph simple rational functions.
Use the graph of a rational function to solve real-life problems.

9.3 Graphing General Rational Functions
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Graph general rational functions.
Use the graph of a rational function to solve real-life problems.

9.4 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Multiply and divide rational expressions.
Use rational expressions to model real-life quantities.
21 May  9.5 Addition, Subtraction, and Complex Fractions
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Add and subtract rational expressions.
Simplify complex fractions.

9.6 Solving Rational Equations
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Solve rational equations.
Use rational equations to solve real-life problems.

Ch. 10 Quadratic Relations and Conic Sections

10.1 The Distance and Midpoint Formulas
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Find the distance between two points and find the midpoint of the line segment joining two points.

Use the distance and midpoint formulas in real-life situations.

28 May

10.1 The Distance and Midpoint Formulas
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Find the distance between two points and find the midpoint of the line segment joining two points.

Use the distance and midpoint formulas in real-life situations.

10.2 Parabolas  
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Graph and write equations of parabolas.
Use parabolas to solve real-life problems.

10.3 Circles
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Graph and write equations of circles.
Use circles to solve real-life problems.
4 Jun

10.4 Solving Polynomial Equations in Factored Form
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Graph and write equations of ellipses.
Use ellipses in real-life situations.

10.5 Hyperbolas
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Graph and write equations of hyperbolas.
Use hyperbolas to solve real-life problems.

10.6 Graphing and Classifying Conics
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Write and graph an equation of a parabola with its vertex at (h, k) and an equation of a circle, ellipse, or hyperbola with its center at (h, k).
Classify a conic using its equation.
11 Jun

10.6 Graphing and Classifying Conics
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Write and graph an equation of a parabola with its vertex at (h, k) and an equation of a circle, ellipse, or hyperbola with its center at (h, k).
Classify a conic using its equation.

10.7 Solving Quadratic Systems
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Solve systems of quadratic equations.
Use quadratic systems to solve real-life problems.
18 June Cumulative Review Chapters 6 - 10
25 Jun ********Final Exam************


**NOTE** The final exam is cumulative and will cover the entire semester.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

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