About the course
The goal of the course is to either satisfy the University of Pittsburgh's minimal mathematics requirement or to prepare you for success in subsequent courses involving mathematical quantitative reasoning. To satisfy the University of Pittsburgh's mathematical requirement, one must also successfully complete Math 0020. Math 0010 and Math 0020 together are equivalent to Math 0031.
Text
The text for this course is College Algebra 5th edition with MyMathLab. Authors are Beecher, Penna, and Bittinger.
This course covers chapters 1, 2, and 3. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 are covered in Math 0020.
MyMathLab
MyMathLab is a computer tutor that accompanies the text. It will be your homework grade for the course. You can log on to www.mymathlab.com. If you bought a used book, you will need to purchase a registration code at https://register.pearsoncmg.com/reg/buy/coursebuy.jsp.
Your instructor will give you a Course ID for his section of MyMathLab.
Recitations
Once a week you will meet with your UTA (Undergraduate Teaching Assistant) in a classroom to go over problems related to the material covered the previous week.
Homework
You will be provided a list of practice problems from the textbook. You are expected to solve these problems, although they will not be collected and graded. Exam and quiz problems will often be modeled on these problems. Only MyMathLab will be graded as homework.
Grades
Your course grade will be determined as follows:
- Two midterm exams 50% (25% each)
- Final exam 30%
- MyMathLab assignments 10%
- Quizzes 10%
Some sections may deviate slightly from this recipe. Any deviations will be announced by your instructor at the beginning of the term.
Final Exam Policy
All day sections will take a final exam at a time and place to be scheduled by the registrar. Calculators will not be permitted on the departmental final exam.
Evening sections will meet through final exam week, and the final exam will be given during the last one or two scheduled class periods.
Final Grade Policy
Your final grade will not exceed your final exam grade by more than one letter grade.
Exam Dates
See the class schedule for the dates of the two midterm exams. The date, time and room of the final exam will be announced by your instructor.
Make-Up Policy
Missed quizzes and exams cannot be made up unless missed due to a conflict with an official university sponsored event, and your instructor has been notified in advance.
Verifiable doctor's excuse will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Consideration may be given in the event of and extreme emergency. However, contact your instructor immediately.
Materials
In addition to the textbook, you will need at least a scientific calculator. Any calculator with logarithms and exponentials functions will do. Programmability is desirable but not essential. A graphing calculator, such as the TI83 or TI86, can be used.
Getting Help
Tutoring
Free, walk-in tutoring is available in the Math Assistance Center (MAC) located in the O'Hara Student Center - Room 215, 4024 O'Hara Street.
Office Hours
Your instructor will announce his office hours.
Disability Resource Services
If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Office of Disability Resources and Services, 140 William Pitt Union, 412-648-7890 as early as possible in the term.
Academic Integrity
Cheating/plagiarism will not be tolerated. Students suspected of violating the University of Pittsburgh Policy on Academic Integrity will incur a minimum sanction of a zero score for the quiz, exam or paper in question. Additional sanctions may be imposed, depending on the severity of the infraction.