MTH 103 College Algebra FS2024

MTH 103 Course Syllabus

Section: ______
Instructor: Sue Allen (C229 Wells Hall) Email: [email protected]

Office Hours: Monday 2-3 pm; Tuesday 2 -4 pm; Wednesday 1-2 pm

Textbook: No official textbook is required for this course. Course content, along with explanations and practice for
all of the objectives, is included in D2L.

Calculator: A graphing calculator is required for this course. You are expected to have a calculator for every class
meeting. The recommended calculators are NSPIR (without CAS), TI83+, TI 84, or TI 84+. You are
responsible for developing proficiency with your calculator. NOTE: Some calculating devices are
inappropriate for this course. Calculators with symbolic manipulation (NSPIR/CAS, TI-89, TI-92, etc.) or
communication capabilities may not be used. Cell phones, tablets, laptops, Apple watches, etc. may not
be used as a calculator on graded assessments.

Webwork: Graded homework is completed online using Webwork. The course fee for Webwork is $75.
Login instructions, payment information, due dates, etc, can be found on the Webwork website
(http://math.msu.edu/Webwork). The Webwork fee is due on Friday, September 20th. Webwork can be
used for free up to the due date. If you pay the Webwork fee and later drop the class, the fee will not be
refunded. Therefore, if you are not sure whether you want to stay in the class, we recommend you use
Webwork without paying the fee until a few days before the due date. Webwork will open on August 26 th.
More information about Webwork assignments can be found on Page 3 of this syllabus.

D2L Site: The course site is hosted on D2L (https://d2l.msu.edu). Select videos, course materials, important
deadlines, and course announcements will be posted on D2L. Additionally, practice materials with
solutions will be available on this D2L site for each course objective. It is the student’s responsibility
to stay informed by reading the D2L announcements on a daily basis along with instructor and
ULA emails.

Attendance: Students are expected to be present and ON TIME for ALL LECTURES and RECITATIONS!
Students are responsible for material covered if absent from class. If absent, you will need to obtain
missed material/information from classmates or view completed class notes posted on D2L.

Homework: Webwork homework will be done online at http://math.msu.edu/Webwork. Homework deadlines are
available on the Webwork site and on page 3 of this syllabus. Assignments submitted up to 48 hours after
the 100% credit deadline will receive 75% of the score received (with the exception of the last homework
assignment). Make-ups will not be permitted and no assignments will be dropped. You are allowed 8 or
less attempts for each problem unless indicated otherwise on the assignment page.

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MTH 103 College Algebra FS2024

Quizzes: There will be 7 quizzes given during recitation. Each student’s lowest 2 quiz scores will be dropped at
the end of the semester. For this reason, no excuses are accepted or required for missed quizzes. The
dropped scores will accommodate any missed quizzes as well as low quiz scores. There will be no make-
up quizzes, with the exception of some documented MSU-sanctioned excused activities and grief
absences (with documentation). There will be no makeups for personal travel, medical
appointments/procedures, illness, social events, transportation issues, etc. Contact your instructor in
advance to see if you qualify for a make-up.

Exams: There will be exams given on September 27th, November 1st, and November 22nd. Put these dates on
your calendar!!! Each student’s lowest exam score will be dropped at the end of the semester. All
exams will be given during recitation. There will be no makeup exams with the exception of some
documented MSU-sanctioned excused activities/appointments. Contact the instructor in advance to see
if you qualify for a make-up. A missed exam will receive a score of 0.

Final Exam: There will be a cumulative final exam given on Monday, December 9th, at 10 am. The location and
details for your final exam will be provided toward the end of the semester. If you have 3 or more final
exams or another math final exam scheduled on the same day, you may qualify for a makeup final exam.
Contact the instructor in advance to see if you qualify for a make-up. A missed final exam will receive a
score of 0.

Re-Grading: If you believe a quiz or exam problem was graded incorrectly, you have ONE WEEK from when your
ULA initially returned the assessment in recitation to turn the assessment back to your ULA with a
note explaining what problem(s) you would like to be examined for regrading.

Grading: Your course grade will be based on the following 5 components:

 Your Webwork homework percentage
 The sum of your 5 highest quiz scores
 Your highest exam percentage
 Your second highest exam percentage
 Your final exam percentage

Each of these components will be 20% of your course grade.

The following grading scale can be used to estimate your final grade for this course. The grading scale
will be no worse than what is shown in the table below.

GRADE 0.0 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

% GRADE [0, 55) [55, 60) [60, 65) [65, 73) [73, 79) [79, 85) [85, 90) [90, 100]

MLC: The Mathematics Learning Center (MLC) offers free online and in-person help for MTH 103 students.
For more details and hours, visit https://www.math.msu.edu/mlc/.

Honesty: The Math Department adheres to the university policies on academic honesty. Students caught cheating
may receive a 0.0 on the assignment/exam or fail the course. Integrity violations include using
unapproved devices or resources (copy or online), copying another person’s work, talking to peers during
assessments, late submission of assessments, use or posting of social media during and after assessments,
and use of ChatGPT and other AI programs. For more information visit https://msu.edu/~ombud/ and
https://honorcode.msu.edu/
Department of Mathematics 2 Michigan State University
MTH 103 College Algebra FS2024

SPARTAN CODE OF HONOR: “As a Spartan, I will strive to uphold values of the highest ethical
standard. I will practice honesty in my work, foster honesty in my peers, and take pride in knowing that
honor is worth more than grades. I will carry these values beyond my time as a student at Michigan
State University, continuing the endeavor to build personal integrity in all that I do.” (Written by
students for students.)

Webwork Due Dates for Lecture Classes: (Homework must be submitted by 7:00 am for all due dates.)

Assignments 100% Credit 75% Credit

Tutorial 9/14 9/16
A1, A2, A3, A4 9/14 9/16
A5, A6 9/14 9/16
A7 9/17 9/19
Webwork payment due* by 10:00 am on Friday, September 20th
B1, B2 9/21 9/23
B3 9/24 9/26
B4, B5 9/28 9/30
B6, B7 10/1 10/3
C1 10/5 10/7
C2 10/8 10/10
C3 10/12 10/14
C4 10/19 10/21
C5 10/26 10/28
C6 11/2 11/4
D1 11/9 11/11
D2, D3 11/12 11/14
D4 11/16 11/18
D5 11/19 11/21
D6 11/23 11/25
E1 11/26 11/28
E2, E3 12/3 12/5
E4 12/3 12/5
E5, E6 12/7 12/9
E7 12/10 Not Available

* If your Webwork payment is not made on time, you will be temporarily locked out of Webwork until your payment
is made and processed. You will not lose credit/points for work that has been previously submitted. However, you will
not be able to make up any work for which the due date has already passed. Once the Mathematics Department has
received your payment, please allow 1-2 hours for processing before having access again.
Department of Mathematics 3 Michigan State University
MTH 103 College Algebra FS2024

Schedule of Lectures/Recitations:
DATE: TOPIC: LESSON: OBJECTIVES:
Aug 26 Introduction, Syllabus, & Prerequisite Preview Lesson 1 A1
Aug 28 Function Overview Lesson 1 A1, A2, A3
Aug 30 Recitation – Prerequisite Activity
Sept 4 Function Overview, Graphing Functions Lessons 1, 2 A3, A4
Sept 6 Recitation – Prerequisite Review
Sept 9 Function Operations and Composition Lesson 3 A5, A6
Sept 11 Operations, Composition, and Inverses Lesson 3 A7
Sept 13 Recitation – Quiz 1 (A1-A6)
Sept 16 Representations of Linear Functions Lesson 4 B1, B2
Sept 18 Linear Applications, Average Rate of Change Lesson 4, 5 B3, B4
Sept 20 Recitation – Quiz 2 (A7, B1, B2)
Sept 23 Linear Applications and Systems Lesson 5, 6 B4, B5
Sept 25 Absolute Value Functions Lesson 7 B6, B7
Sept 27 Recitation - Exam 1 (A1-B5)
Sept 30 Properties of Exponents and Solving Equations Lesson 8 C1
Oct 2 Representations of Exponential Functions Lesson 9 C2
Oct 4 Recitation – Quiz 3 (B6-C1)
Oct 7 Representations of Exponential Functions Lesson 9 C3
Oct 9 Representations of Logarithmic Functions Lesson 10 C4
Oct 11 Recitation – Quiz 4 (C2, C3)
Oct 14 Representations of Logarithmic Functions Lesson 10 C4
Oct 16 Representation of Logarithmic Functions Lesson 11 C5
Oct 18 Recitation – Review/Activity
Oct 23 Applications of Exponential Functions Lesson 12 C6
Oct 25 Recitation – Quiz 5 (C4, C5)
Oct 28 Applications of Exponential Functions Lesson 12 C6
Oct 30 Operations on Polynomial Expressions Lesson 13 D1
Nov 1 Recitation – Exam 2 (B6-C6)
Nov 4 Quadratic Functions Lesson 14 D1, D2
Nov 6 Quadratic Functions Lesson 14 D2, D3
Nov 8 Recitation – Quiz 6 (D1, D2)
Nov 11 Application of Quadratic Functions Lesson 14 D4
Nov 13 Polynomial Functions Lesson 15 D5
Nov 15 Recitation – Quiz 7 (D3, D4)
Nov 18 Square Root Functions Lesson 16 D6
Nov 20 Operations on Rational Expressions Lesson 17 E1
Nov 22 Recitation – Exam 3 (D1-D6)
Nov 25 Rational Functions and Limits Lesson 18 E2, E3
Nov 27 Rational Functions Lesson 19 E4, E5
Dec 2 Application of Rational Functions Lesson 19, 20 E5, E6
Dec 4 Direct and Indirect Variation Lesson 21 E7
Dec 6 Recitation – Final Exam Review
Dec 9 Final Exam @ 10 am – Check your schedule for location!

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MTH 103 College Algebra FS2024

Important Dates:

Monday, August 26 First day of classes

Friday, August 30 Online open add period ends at 11:59 pm.
Monday, September 2 Labor Day – No Classes
Students go to C212 Wells Hall for math enrollment changes (late
Monday, September 2 – adds, section changes, course changes) by Friday, September 6 th, or
Friday, September 6 contact a math advisor. (See Resource Table on Page 6 for contact
information.)
Thursday, September 19 End of 100% tuition refund.
Friday, September 20 Webwork payment due by 10:00 am.
Middle of Semester – Last day to drop a course with no grade
Monday, October 14
reported.
Monday /Tuesday
Fall break days
October 21/22
Thursday/Friday
Thanksgiving Break – University is closed.
November 28/29
Friday, December 6 Last day of classes
Monday, December 9 Final Exam (Cumulative) at 10 am – Location TBA

Useful Links:

Math Home Page: https://math.msu.edu/ (Look under Undergraduate for all kinds of math information.)

D2L: https://d2l.msu.edu (Desire 2 Learn for all class information including content, class notes, videos, etc.)

Webwork: http://www.math.msu.edu/Webwork (online homework and quizzes)

Math Department Student Portal: http://www.math.msu.edu/student (Webwork, course grades, and other info)

Math Learning Center: http://www.math.msu.edu/mlc (free math help)

Math Department Advising: https://[email protected] (dropping to lower course or a section change by

September 6th)

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MTH 103 College Algebra FS2024

Resource Table:

Contact: Email address For help with:

Sections 1-20, Instructor

Administrative Issues
Grief Absences
Sharon Griffin [email protected]
Missed Exam
Office Hours/Webwork help

Sections 21-40 Instructor

Administrative Issues
Grief Absences
Sue Allen [email protected]
Missed Exam
Office Hours/Webwork help

Sections 41-60 Instructor

Administrative Issues
Joseph Smith [email protected] Grief Absences
Missed Exam
Office Hours/Webwork help

Sections 80-89 Instructor

Administrative Issues
Marios Velivasakis [email protected] Grief Absences
Missed Exam
Office Hours/Webwork help

Objective/Webwork help
Your ULA
Recitation questions

Dropping to lower Math course

Brian Chadwick [email protected] Changing Math sections
Being Readmitted to Course if dropped

Dropping to a lower Math course

Ron Powers [email protected] Changing Math Sections
Being Readmitted to Course if dropped

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MTH 103 College Algebra FS2024

10 Tips for Succeeding in MTH 103

1. Print out the class notes for each unit in advance. They are available in D2L.

2. Attend class EVERY day and complete ALL of the class notes. If you have to miss class or cannot
keep up with all of the notes, completed class notes will be posted in D2L after completion of the
lesson. Attendance will be taken weekly during recitation and possibly during the lecture portion of the
course.

3. Use all of your resources in D2L. For each class lesson in D2L be sure to check
 Learn It - contains course content along with detailed examples for new concepts, blank &
completed class notes, class lecture videos, solutions for quizzes and exams
 Practice It – has lots of extra practice problems, including detailed solutions, for mastery of
concepts
 Check my Understanding - self-assessments you can do before quizzes and exams. Detailed
solutions are included.

For every semester hour (credit) of class you should be spending a minimum of two hours of math
practice and review outside of class (3 credit hours of MTH 103  9 hours per week = 3 hours class +
6 hours study outside of class (this does not include doing homework)).

4. Complete the Webwork homework on time. Refer to the Webwork due date schedule posted in your
syllabus. Be sure to check your score after completing each objective in Webwork by clicking on
“Grades” (at the upper left-hand corner of the screen).

5. Know when and where to get help. Be sure to stay on schedule with your homework and class notes
and also get help from the Math Learning Center or your ULA and/or instructor. Contact Outreach
Support Center if struggling in this class or need support, plans for improvement, advice, etc.

6. Get to know your instructor (office hours and appointments) and also your ULA
(undergraduate learning assistant) for your recitation.

7. Review and study your past exams. Solutions will be posted on D2L a few days after each quiz and
exam. You can learn so much from your mistakes!

8. Review previous material and concepts as often as possible. Studies show that the more you repeat
things, the longer you will remember them.

9. Complete the review material that is posted on D2L several days BEFORE the exam and then
check your answers using the solutions that will also be posted on D2L. Also be sure to review your
class notes and do the practice problems and self-assessments included in D2L.

10. Use a planner and plan ahead. Record all of your exam and quiz dates. Begin looking at material
that will be covered on exams at least a week before the exam.

Department of Mathematics 7 Michigan State University