Fall Semester 2012

Math 095 - Elementary Algebra

Ely Center Section 1005

Course Description:A first course in algebra for students who plan to continue in the math sequence. This course covers operations on real numbers, solving equations, operations with polynomials, factoring polynomials, problem solving, solving linear and quadratic equations and the concept of graphing.

Prerequisite:MATH 091, sufficient score on the placement exam, or instructor approval. You must meet the prerequisite prior to taking the course.

Objectives:This course will provide students with some of the tools and thought processes that will allow the student to be successful in their future math classes. Upon finishing this course, students should be able to solve and graph various kinds of algebraic equations and inequalities, factor algebraic statements and communicate mathematical concepts.

Instructor:Russell Pantello

Class Meeting Time: TTH 7:00- 8:15

Phone:(775)-223-2854

E-mail:

Textbook: Introductory Algebra: AReal World Approach, by Ignacio Bello, 4thEdition,

ISBN:9780073384399

Learning Outcomes: The successful student will be able to –

  • Identify Variables and constants, distinguishing terms from factors.
  • Describe what variables are used for
  • Solve linear equations, identifying trivial situations
  • Graph linear equations
  • Perform operations on and simplify polynomial expressions
  • Recognize problems that involve factoring and apply the process
  • Extract radicals
  • Operate on radicals
  • Solve quadratic equations by factoring and the quadratic formula
  • Make applications of certain course material

Measurements: The above outcomes will be measured by a series of examinations and homework as described below.

Attendance Policy: Attendance will be monitored daily, but it will not normally count into your final grade. If you are one or two points away from the next highest grade and have been participating regularly, I will take this into account.

Makeup Policy: Nomake-ups will be allowed except under extreme circumstances. Circumstances will be judged on a case-by-case basis. There are no make-ups whatsoever for the final exam.

Homework Policy:If you don’t do homework, it is unlikely that you will pass. The student is expected to work half the problems from each section and subsection that we cover. These problems will not be collected for a grade. If the completion of homework becomes a problem, I will begin collecting homework for a grade.

Withdrawal Policy: If you determine that you wish to drop the course prior to its conclusion, it is necessary for you to officially drop, either online through the college's website, or by visiting one of our college campuses and submitting a drop form. Any student who does not officially drop will receive a grade at the conclusion of the course. These grades will be based on the number of points that you have accumulated (see below).

If you do not officially drop the course as described above, by taking this class you agree that your "last date of attendance" for official purposes will be the last day of this course. Since this may affect your financial aid, it behooves you to drop officially or to complete the entire course.

Academic Integrity: The NSHE Code (Board of Regents Handbook 6.2.2q) expressly forbids all acts of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to “cheating, plagiarism, falsifying research data or results, or assisting others to do the same.” In more detail, these acts include but are not limited to the following:

  • giving/receiving unauthorized assistance during quizzes or tests;
  • using study aids (textbooks, notes, calculators) during quizzes/tests;
  • Failing to adhere to test-taking instructions (e.g., talking, starting/stopping times).

Accusations of academic dishonesty will first be reviewed by the instructor. If the instructor judges that academic dishonesty has occurred, the matter will be submitted to GBC’s Academic Officers. Students guilty of academic dishonesty will receive an “F” grade for the course. If the dishonesty was not isolated (occurred more than once and/or involved others), then the instructor will recommend a one-year period of academic probation.

Grading Policy: In total, there will be

7quizzes worth 25 points each. These will be given during a

lecture period, normally at the end of the period.

3 in-class tests worth 50 points each. An in-class review will

precede each test, except where noted.

1 final exam worth 100 points. No review prior to the final.

The total number of points available for the semester is 425.

Instruments:In order to provide accurate assessment of the learning outcomes, students will be tested regularly on the items documented above, as they are covered in the course.

Final Exam: In order to assure student competency, the final exam at the conclusion of the course is a cumulative test. Any student who has accumulated a ninety percentor above prior to the final exam will receive an “A” for the course without having to take the final.

Grading Policy:The grading scale to be used for this class is given below.

90-100%A

80-89%B

70-79%C

60-69%D

60% and below F

ADA STATEMENT

“Great Basin College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to qualified students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A qualified student must furnish current verification of disability. The ADA Officer (Julie G. Byrnes) will assist qualified students with disabilities in securing the appropriate and reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services. For more information or further assistance, please call the Student Services Office in Elko at775-753-2271”As Soon As Possible.

Date / Lecture # / Content / Student
Evaluation / Chapter Content
Aug. 28 / 1 / 1.5, 2.1-2.2 / Test 1 and Quiz 1 / Order of Operations; addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division properties of equality
Aug. 30 / 2 / 2.3, / Test 1 and Quiz 1 / Linear Equations
Sep. 4 / 3 / 2.4 2.5 Q1 / Test 1 / Word problems; motion, mixture and investment problems
Sep. 6 / 4 / 2.6 / Test 1 / Formulas and geometry applications
Sep. 11 / 5 / 2.7 / Test 1 / Properties of inequalities
Sep. 13 / 6 / Review, Test 1
Sep. 18 / 7 / 3.1 / Test 2 and Quiz 2 / Line graph, bar graphs and applications
Sep. 20 / 8 / 3.2 / Test 2 and Quiz 2 / Graphing linear equations in two variables
Sep. 25 / 9 / 3.3 Q2 / Test 2 and Quiz 2 / Graphing lines using intercepts, horizontal and vertical lines
Sep. 27 / 10 / 3.4, 3.5 / Test 2 and Quiz 3 / Slope of a line; graphing a line using slopes and points
Oct. 2 / 11 / 4.1, 4.2 / Test 2 and Quiz 2 / Product, quotient, and power rules for exponents; Integer exponents
Oct. 4 / 12 / 4..3 / Test 2 and Quiz 2 / Application of exponents: scientific notation
Oct. 9 / 13 / 4.4, 4.5 / Test 2 and Quiz 2 / Addition and subtraction of polynomials
Oct. 11 / 14 / 4.6 Q3 / Test 2 and Quiz 2 / Multiplication off polynomials
Oct. 16 / 15 / 4.7 / Test 2 / Special products of polynomials
Oct. 18 / 16 / 4.8 / Test 2 / Division of polynomials
Oct. 23 / 17 / Review, Test 2
Oct. 25 / 17 / 5.1 / Test 3 and Quiz 4 / Common factors and grouping
Oct. 30 / 18 / 5.2 / Test 3 and Quiz 4 / Factoring x squared +bx+c
Nov. 1 / 19 / 5.3, Q4 / Test 3 and Quiz 4 / Factoring ax squared +bx+c
Nov. 6 / 20 / 5.4, 5.5 / Test 3 and Quiz 5 / Factoring squares of binomials; Factoring strategies
Nov. 8 / 21 / 5.6, Q5 / Test 3 and Quiz 5 / Solving quadratic equation by factoring
Nov. 13 / 22 / 5.7 / Test 3 and Quiz 6 / Applications of quadratics
Nov. 15 / 23 / 8.1 Q6 / Test 3 and Quiz 6 / Finding roots
Nov. 20 / 24 / 8.2, 8.3 / Test 3 / Multiplication, division, addition and subtraction of radicals
Nov. 27 / 25 / Review Test 3
Nov. 29 / 26 / 9.1 / Final and Quiz 7 / Solving quadratic equations by the square root property
Dec. 4 / 27 / 9.2 / Final and Quiz 7 / Solving quadratic equations by completing the square
Dec. 6 / 28 / 9.3 / Final and Quiz 7 / Solving quadratic equations using the quadratic formula
Dec. 11 / 29 / 9.4 Q7 / Final and Quiz 7 / Graphing quadratic equations
Dec. 13 / 30 / Review
Dec. 13 / 31 / Final exam