MATH 095,Elementary Algebra,E03,3 credits
Great BasinCollege,Fall Semester 2006
Tu. Th.,11:00a.m.– 12:15p.m.
Room: HSCI 107Call #: 12415
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Topics of this course include operations on real numbers, solving equations, operations with polynomials, factoring polynomials, problem solving, quadratic equations and graphing. Prerequisite: MATH 091, placement, or instructor approval. You must meet the prerequisite prior to taking the course.
The class format will be generally lecture-based, but questions and discussion of topics are encouraged.
OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Solve linear equations and inequalities.
- Set up and solve a variety of applied problems using algebraic techniques.
- Add, subtract, multiply, divide, and factor polynomials.
- Solve equations by factoring.
- Solve quadratic equations by using the quadratic formula.
- Graph linear equations and inequalities.
- Communicate mathematical concepts orally.
- Communicate mathematical concepts in writing.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor:Xunming DuOffice:MCML 132
Phone:(775) 753-7081Address: Great BasinCollege
Fax:(775) 738-87711500 College Pkwy
E-mail:lko, NV89801
Office hours:Mon. Wed.: 2:00P.M.-3:15P.M.; Tu., Th., 9:30A.M.-10:45A.M. (In ASC)
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Textbook: Introductory Algebra, 5th ed. by D. Franklin Wright
Scientific calculator
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE
Turn off your cell phone for the duration of class and during office visits.
Do not bring children to class.
Do not do homework or work from other courses during class.
Be prepared when you come to my office—have your questions ready, bring your calculator, etc.Do not sleep in class.
GRADING
There are 25 sections assignments, which are supposed to turn in through the Internet. Late turning in homework will have some penalties. It will be 10% off for one day late homework, 20% off for two days late homework, 30% off for three days late homework. No credit will be given for more than 3 days late homework. Homework accounts for 25% of your total grade. There are four tests. The test with lowest grade will be dropped. Each test accounts for 15% of your total grade. So tests account for 45% of your total grade. Tests will be done in class. Make-up tests will be allowed only on the solid reasons with documents. Except for medical emergencies, other excuses might NOT be accepted in general.Final exam accounts for 30% of your total grade. Tests and Final Exam are graded for both content and form, so show your work. If you have a disability and will be requesting accommodation, please contact the Student Services Office in Elko at 753-2279.
Grades are distributed as follows:
92%A78%C+60%D-
90% -A-72%CBelow 60F
88% -B+70%C-
82% – B68%D+
80% – B-62%D
Consult the Great BasinCollege catalog for information on "I" grades and withdrawals.
MISSING CLASS
Please note that the syllabus is just a guide. Although every effort will be maintained to follow the syllabus, you may find that we get a day or two ahead or behind. If you should miss class, it is your responsibility to find out what was covered and if a test date or homework due date was changed.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
The University and Community College System of Nevada expressly forbids all forms of academic dishonesty, including (but not limited to) all forms of cheating, copying, and plagiarism. Students who are discovered cheating will be assigned zero points for the course, and will be brought to the GBC Academic Officers for prosecution.
HOW THE SOFTWARE WORKS
The first thing you will need to do is to register your software. To do this, go to the Hawkes Learning website: and click on “getting your access code.” Fill out the form. You will be asked to provide the license number of your software. This number is located on the software that came with your book. Once you submit this registration, you will be given an access code. Write it down.
HOMEWORK CERTIFICATION
Homework can be done when you are offline. You will get a certification after you finish homework in a section. Save the certification on your floppy disk. You must upload your certification to the grade book through the Internet before the deadline.
ASSISTANCE TO YOUR STUDY
The ASC does provide you with some help.
1)MathLab: software may help you find final solutions of your math questions.
2)Tutorial Lectures: topics and schedules will be announced
3)Tutors: answer your math questions and show you how to use the math lab.
A FINAL WORD
Math cannot be learned by osmosis. Mastering math means spending time studying and working problems. Try to do some math everyday. If you are having difficulty, get help as soon as possible; procrastination and last-minute cramming are not conducive to success. In addition should you do poorly on a test, you will not have an opportunity to retest. So, obvious as it seems, it is imperative that you clear up any misunderstanding prior totests and the exam. Feel free to ask questions in class, stop by my office, or e-mail me. You are strongly encouraged to work together with your classmates. And finally, math is not just about getting the right answer. You must be able to communicate and calculate mathematically. Therefore, you will be graded on both the content and the form of your work.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Week / Date / SECTION(S)One / Aug. 29, Tu / 1.1, 1.2; The Real Number Line and Absolute Value, Addition with Integers
Aug. 31, Th / 1.3, 1.4; Subtraction with Integers, Multiplication and Division with Integers
Two / Sept. 5, Tu / 1.5, 1.6; Exponents, Prime Numbers, and Order of Operations, Properties of Real Numbers
Sept 7, Th / 2.1, 2.2 Multiplying and Dividing Fractions, adding and Subtraction Fractions
Three / Sept. 12, Tu / 2.3, 2.4; Decimal Numbers and Fractions, Change in Value
Sept. 14, Th / 2.5, 2.6; Simplifying and Evaluating Algebraic Expressions, Translating English Phrases and Algebraic Expressions
Four / Sept. 19, Tu / 3.1, 3.2; Solving Linear Equations І, ІІ
Sept. 21, Th / Test One on Chapter 1 & 2
Five / Sept. 26, Tu / 3.3, 3.4; Applications І, ІІ
Sept. 28, Th / 3.5, 3.6; Working with Formulas, Formulas in Geometry
Six / Oct. 3, Tu / 3.7, 4.1; Solving Linear Inequalities and Applications, The Cartesian Coordinate System
Oct. 5, Th / 4.2, 4.3; Graphing Linear Equations in Two Variables, The Slope-Intercept Form
Seven / Oct. 10, Tu / A1 (Appendix), 4.4; Point-Slope Form
Oct. 12, Th / 5.1, 5.2; Systems of Equations: Solutions by Graphing, Solutions by Substitution
Eight / Oct. 17, Tu / Test Two on Chapter 3 & 4
Oct. 19, Th / 5.3, 5.4; Systems of Equations: Solutions by Addition, Applications І
Nine / Oct. 24, Tu / 5.5, 6.1; Applications ІІ, Interest and Mixture, Exponents
Oct. 26, Th / 6.2, 6.3; More on Exponents and Scientific Notation, Identifying and Evaluating Polynomials
Ten / Oct. 31, Tu / 6.4, 6.5; Adding and Subtracting Polynomials, Multiplying Polynomials
Nov. 2, Th / 6.6, 6.7; Special Products of Binomials, Dividing Polynomials
Eleven / Nov. 7, Tu / 7.1, 7.2; Greatest Common Factor and Factoring by Grouping, Factoring Trinomial
Nov. 9, Th / Test Three on Chapter 5 & 6
Twelve / Nov. 14, Tu / 7.3, 7.4; More on Factoring trinomials, Factoring Special Products
Nov. 16, Th / 7.5, 7.6; Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring, Applications of Quadratic Equations
Thirteen / Nov. 21, Tu / 7.7, 7.8 Addition Applications of Quadratic Equations, Additional Factoring Review
Nov. 23, Th / Thanksgiving Recess
Fourteen / Nov. 28, Tu / 9.1, 9.2 Real Numbers and Simplifying Radicals, Simplifying Radicals
Nov 30, Th / Test Four on Chapter 7
Fifteen / Dec. 5, Tu / 9.3, 10.1; Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication with Radicals, Quadratic Equations І
Dec. 7, Th / 10.2, 10.3 Quadratic Equations: Completing the Square, The Quadratic Formula
Dec 11-15 / Final Exam. Check the college book "Spring 2006 Class Schedule".
HOMEWORK ON COMPUTER IS DUE EVERY SATURDAY
Week / Date / SECTION(S)One / Sept. 2 / 1.1bIntroduction to Absolute Value
Two / Sept. 9 / 1.5 b, c Exponents, Prime Numbers, and Order of Operations
2.1 a, d Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
Three / Sept. 16 / 2.2 Adding and Subtraction Fractions
2.5 b, d Simplifying and Evaluating Algebraic Expressions
Four / Sept. 23 / 3.2 Solving Linear Equations: ax+b=c
Five / Sept. 30 / 3.3, 3.4; Applications І, ІІ
3.6 Formulas in Geometry
Six / Oct. 7 / 3.7 Solving Linear Inequalities and Applications
4.3 The Slope-Intercept Form
Seven / Oct. 14 / 4.4 Point-Slope Form
5.2 Solutions by Substitution
Eight / Oct. 21 / 5.4 Applications: Distance-Rate-Time, Number Problems, Amounts and Costs
Nine / Oct. 28 / 5.5 Applications: Interest and Mixture
6.1 Exponents
Ten / Nov. 4 / 6.4 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
6.6 a, b Special Products of Binomials
Eleven / Nov. 11 / 7.2 Factoring Trinomial
Twelve / Nov. 18 / 7.3 More on Factoring trinomials,
7.4 Factoring Special Products,
Thirteen / Nov. 25 / 7.5 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring
Fourteen / Dec. 2 / 9.2 Simplifying Radicals
Fifteen / Dec. 9 / 9.3 a, b Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication with Radicals
10.3 Quadratic Equations: The Quadratic Formula