College Algebra Home

Home, 12/10 (last message)

The semester is over and the final grades are in!

You can find the statistics as well as solutions to all our exams on the "scores and docs" page. Keep in mind that the scores for the final exam are significantly weaker than other exams because the best students do not take it.

Unfortunately, overall grades are quite dismal. The factors are the usual: not attending class, not turning in the requested work, scrolling through your phone the whole time while in class, etc. Consider these when you retake it. After all, college algebra is not rocket science: a little attention, and you will get a passing grade.

I enjoyed teaching this class! Thanks to everyone who went to the board to work on homework problems, even though math is not even your 7th favorite subject.

Have a great winter break, and all the best in the coming semester!

Home, 12/1

Boy, did exam 4 turn out poorly! I expected some pressure on the grades due to difficulty in material and the fact that we could have used another hour of homework, but it was worse than that.

The final exam is scheduled for Monday at 1:30 in our usual classroom. It will have six pages and consist of problems like the ones on the exams during the semester. Therefore, to start preparing for it, make sure you can do all the problems on the four exams we have had. The word problems have a habit of repeating themselves on the final exam! (Solutions to all of our exams are available.) Also, check out the sample final exam on the "scores and docs" page. No one should have any problem finishing the exam, since it is 50% longer than a usual exam, but you get twice the time.

If you opt to take the final exam, turn in joysheets 10 and 11 if you haven't already.

Office hours schedule Monday-Thursday:
Monday 9:30-10:30 and 12:30-1:30, after 3:00 only with appointment
Tuesday 10:30-2:30
Wednesday by Zoom only
Thursday 10:00-12:00
To attend office hour by Zoom, send me an email first, so I can start the meeting.

Home, 11/25

On Monday, we will finish lectures over section 5.3 and go over homework in sections 5.2 and 5.3. The MyLabs are due on Tuesday.

Please try to stay on top of things this week, as we have several short sections to cover, but to many it is unfamiliar material, but few prerequisites are needed. Expect two joysheets this week, the last one due by the final exam.

Exam 4, covering sections 5.1-5.6 is on Friday. By Friday evening, I will let you know your overall grade in the course so you can decide on whether to take the final exam on Monday.

Home, 11/17

Exam 3 turned out like the other exams: not well, unfortunately! I am afraid I don't know what to say any more.

On Monday, we continue discussion of homework in section 5.1 and lecture on section 5.2.

MyLab for sections JIT25 and 27 is due tomorrow and the one for section 5.1 is due on Monday.

Home, 11/10

Exam 3, covering sections 3.1-3.5, 4.1 and 4.2 is scheduled for Tuesday. Look at sample exam 3 on the "scores and docs" page to get an idea what the exam will be like. On Monday, we will review for the exam.

Sections 4.1 and 4.2 are assigned on MyLab, due on Sunday. Joysheet 9 was due today: bring it on Monday if you did not turn it in today.

Home, 11/3

On Monday we will discuss homework in section 3.5. MyLabs for sections 3.4 and 3.5 have been assigned and are due on Monday.

On Tuesday, I expect an in-class joysheet, covering sections 3.3-3.5.

I anticipate exam 3 to be early during the week after next.

Home, 10/27

On Monday we will finish section 3.3 and start working on its homework.

MyLab for 3.3 has been assigned and is due on Tuesday.

Home, 10/20

Exam 2 turned out only a little less poorly than exam 1. An improvement, but everyone still needs waaay more practice on homework, joysheets and sample exams than they are getting. Do more and you will see better results!

Joysheet 7 and the last of MyLabs for this week were due today. If you did not turn in joysheet 7, bring it on Monday.

On Monday we will start working on homework in section 3.1, which has been assigned on MyLab and is due on Tuesday.

Home, 10/13

Take a little break after exam 2. Then do some homework from review sections JIT 13, 15, 21-23 that are now up on MyLab. We will discuss them starting Monday.

Home, 10/4

Joysheet 5 was due today - if you haven't brought it, make sure you bring it on Monday. MyLab for homework in sections 2.4 and 2.5 has been assigned and is due on Monday and Tuesday. We will work on this homework on Monday and Tuesday.

I am anticipating exam 2 to be next week on Friday, covering sections 2.1-2.5. Check out sample exam 2 on the "scores and docs" page. To give you more practice, I assembled links to all my past exams on one page called the Motherlode (new). Look there for more practice exams.

I will give you one more joysheet before the exam.

Have a nice fall break!

Home, 9/29

On Monday, we will work on an in-class joysheet covering sections 2.1-2.3. MyLabs for section 2.2 and 2.3 are due on Monday.

Exam 1 turned out poorly. A number of people scored under 30 - which indicates barely any preparation for the exam - which dragged the average lower. The offer of 10% extra points for corrections will improve the numbers slightly, but one should not count on this on future exams.

For better results in the future, consider taking these steps.

Come to class all the time. You will see what we are doing and how we are doing it and will be exposed to the material at least once. And while there, pay attention to what we are doing, instead of being glued to your phone screen.
Complete the MyLabs and turn in the joysheets. These are essentially practice problems for the exams.
For exam preparation, print a sample exam and try to do it in 50 minutes without consulting any answers. After you are done, compare your work with an answer sheet and see what you missed. The more sample exams you do, the better your preparation!

Home, 9/22

On Monday, we will continue with discussion of homework in 2.1. The MyLab for that section is due on Tuesday.

I will have exam 1 graded by Monday.

Home, 9/15

Joysheet 4 was distributed today and is due on Monday. If you were not in class, you can get it through the link above. MyLab for sections JIT 18 and 1.6 is due tonight.

Exam 1, covering sections 1.1-1.6, is scheduled for Wednesday. To get an idea what the exam will resemble, check out sample exam 1 on the "scores and docs" page. While our exam will be close to the sample one, don't expect it to be the same thing with the numbers changed, rather, consider it as an illustration of what concepts and ideas are usually covered on the exam. Try to work the exam in 50 minutes to check that you are proficient enough with the material.

As part of preparation for the exam, you could compare your joysheets to their solutions, which are available for joysheets 1-3 on the "scores and docs" page. To help you work out joysheet 4, you can look at solutions to the in-class joysheet 4.

On Monday we will start with some new material (not on exam), and on Tuesday we will review for the exam.

Home, 9/8

Joysheet 3 was due today. If I did not receive it from you, make sure you bring it on Monday.

On Monday, we will work on homework in section 1.5. I have opened it up on MyLab, due on Tuesday.

After we finish section 1.6, it's time for an exam, but that will be week after next. We will do one more joysheet before the exam.

Home, 9/1

On Tuesday, we will continue discussion of homework in section 1.4. MyLabs for sections 1.3 and 1.4 are due on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Joysheet 2 was due today - if you did not hand it in, bring it on Tuesday.

An in-class joysheet over sections 1.3 and 1.4 is planned for next week.

Home, 8/25

On Monday, we will homework from section 1.2. On Tuesday, we will have an in-class worksheet over sections 1.1 and 1.2.

MyLab for JIT 6, 7, 9, 14 is due on Sunday, while the one for section 1.2 is due on Monday.

The first worksheet was handed out today and is due on Tuesday. If you did not get it today but would like to have it before Monday, find it under "joysheets" in the menu.

Hours for free tutoring services have been posted.

Home, 8/18

On Monday, we will continue working on homework from sections JIT 17 and 1.1. Please look over those over the weekend so you can work them on the board.

For people who haven't yet found the online homework or the online textbook, make this your priority this weekend, as the first due date is on Wednesday.

Home, 8/14

Welcome to the course! Look around to familiarize yourself with the layout of these webpages. To get to other pages, click on the links in the menu (or drop-down, if viewing on a smartphone). The most often-used pages are in the first line of the menu (or the first several choices of the drop-down). "Scores and docs," for example, has all the documents for the course.

Your first exercise is to find the syllabus on these pages and read it. The items there that are typically of greatest interest to students are from "Homework" to "Make-ups."

These pages will get more content as information becomes available. Check back often: useful information is provided in the "home" section (which you are reading), typically updated weekly. For now, here is some information on the textbook, online homework and Canvas.

Textbook and online homework: In this course, you have signed up for "Inclusive Access," which automatically bills you for access to the online homework system and includes the e-book. You can access these materials by clicking on Canvas/Modules. If you do not already have a Pearson account, you will need to create it and then link it to your Canvas account.

Canvas: Canvas will mainly be the repository of class notes and your grades. Information about the course and weekly messages will be posted to this website (also accessible from Canvas). (Why bother with the website outside of Canvas? Two reasons: it's easier to make updates to it, and it stays public. I value this, and you may grow to as well, as a service to future students of this same course.)

Lecture notes: Have these with you so that you can follow the lectures in class without having to copy a lot. Because there are many students in this class, I will not print them, it is your responsibility to do so. Blank ones are on the "scores and docs" page for printing or writing on a tablet. Notes written in class are on Canvas.