Welcome to Elementary Algebra!
(Math 72)
Instructor: Rochelle Mitchell
Spring 2008
10:00 – 10:50 AM (Section FF)
11:00 – 11:50 AM (Section GG)
Located in room SMT 220
How to Contact Me
What to call me: / Rochelle or Ms. MitchellOffice: / SMT 328
Office Hr: / Daily 8:00 – 8:50 AM or by Appointment
Phone: / 253-833-9111 Extension 4507
Email: /
Website: /
Mailbox: / Located on the 3rd floor of SMT and accessed through the secretaries
Supplies You Will Need
Text: / Beginning and Intermediate Algebra: The Language and Symbolism of Mathematics, 2nd Edition by Hall and MercerCalculator: / A graphing calculator is required for each student in this course. I will demonstrate with a TI-84. Calculators are available to rent for $20 in the MathLearningCenter.
Other: / Pencils (I do not accept work done in pen!)
Paper (8.5” by 11”)
2 or 3 Blue Books (May be purchased for $0.20 each at the Paper
Tree bookstore)
Optional: / Student Solutions Manual
Colored Pencils
Ruler
Resources Available to You
- MathLearningCenter (MLC): The MLC is located in SMT-355. FREE Drop in tutoring is available. MLC hours are Monday – Thursday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM and Friday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Mathzone: A web-based tutorial which offers practice exercises, video instruction, e-Professor, and NetTutor.
What We’ll Be Doing
This is the first of two algebra courses that prepare you for 100-level mathematics. We will be working extensively with linear functions. In this area, we will solve linear equations of one variable, systems of equations of two variables, and find equations of lines. As well, we will manipulate exponents and polynomial expressions. In everything we do, we will look at tables, graphs, equations/expressions, and words. Prepare to learn and have fun!
My Quick Advice to You
Math is not like many other subjects; reviewing and looking at notes and completed homework is not a good way to study. Math is more of a skill (like playing a guitar, a sport, or a video game). In order to be successful, you must practice A LOT! Once you complete your homework, you should “Test” yourself by picking a few problems from previous sections and the current section and trying to do them WITHOUT notes.
Prerequisite: The prerequisite for this class is Math 70 with a grade of 2.5 or higher, or appropriate Compass score, or instructor’s permission.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Students will demonstrate the ability to:
1. develop and use problem solving skills: recognizing the applicability of previously learned solutions to a new problem and applying reverse reasoning.
2. work efficiently in small group settings: respecting others’ ways of thinking, having confidence in your own knowledge, sharing information, pooling knowledge, and listening effectively.
3. recognize that problems may have alternate solutions and that alternate techniques may be used to arrive at those solutions.
4. understand when the use of a calculator is appropriate and when it’s use may lead to misconceptions.
5. find real solutions for linear equations; -- using tables, graphs and algebra
6. solve literal equations;
7. simplify expressions involving integer exponents;
8. simplify, add, subtract, and multiply polynomials;
9. factor quadratic trinomials;
10. graph linear equations, derive equations for lines;
11. use unit analysis to convert measurements;
12. solve ratio, rate, and proportional reasoning problems;
13. apply the Pythagorean Theorem to solve problems;
14. use functions in the form of graphs, tables and linear equations
15. solve systems of linear equations;
16. apply real number properties and order of operation to solve equations;
17. solve linear inequalities with one variable.
Demonstrated through your answers in class, on projects, homework, quizzes, and tests.
CAMPUS-WIDE OUTCOMES: Green RiverCommunity College has identified ability areas that we believe encompass knowledge and are the most important skills, behaviors, attitudes, and values that students will need in order to be successful after leaving the college. Among these ability areas, this class will address Responsibility, Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning, and Critical Thinking. Outcomes in these ability areas and where they will be demonstrated in your work are listed below.
Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to:
1. Identify and comply with clearly stated expectations, policies, and procedures.
2. Demonstrate common courtesies and show respect for the needs, difficulties, and rights of others.
3. Complete work independently and appropriately acknowledge the source of ideas and contributions of others.
Demonstrated by preparedness for lectures and discussions, handing assignments in on time, group accountability, and signing the Student Understandings hand-out.
Critical Thinking: Students will demonstrate the ability to:
1. Use appropriate reasoning to evaluate problems, make decisions, and formulate solutions.
2. Give reasons for conclustions, assumptions, beliefs, and hypotheses.
Demonstrated through your explanations in class, on projects, assignments, quizzes, and tests.
Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning: Students will demonstrate the ability to:
1. Evaluate and interpret quantitative and symbolic reasoning.
2. Recognize which quantitative reasoning methods are appropriate for solving a given problem, and correctly implement those methods.
3. Demonstrate the ability to estimate a solution to a presented problem.
4. Translate data into various formats such as symbolic language, equations, graphs, and formulas.
5. Implement calculator/computer technology to solve problems.
Demonstrated through your answers in class, on projects, homework, quizzes, and tests.
MY EXPECTATIONS:
I expect you to:
be in class everyday and complete all the assignments;
participate fully in the class and in your own learning;
collaborate with your peers (form study groups, check answers, etc.);
contact me before class if an emergency arises preventing you from coming to class. If that day is a quiz/test day or something is due, you must make arrangements with me before class or as soon as possible. Only ONE of these emergencies is allowed in the quarter.
respect everyone in the class (do not talk when someone else is talking, do not be late, etc.);
turn off (or silence) your cell phone and/or pager and put them away during class.
complete your own work. Absolutely no cheating or plagiarism will be tolerated in this class. If individuals are found to be cheating, their names will be given to the Dean of Academic Education for further action which may range from no credit on the exam/assignment to a 0.0 grade in the class.
contact me about your progress in the class or if you have any questions or would like suggestions for improvement.
GENERAL INFO:
If you are taking this class as a prerequisite for Math 97, you must receive a 2.5 or above to go on to Math 97.
If you wish to take this class Pass / No Credit, you must fill out a form with the registrar by May 23rd.
If you get to a point in the quarter when you are thinking about withdrawing, please come and talk to me about your options. The last day to withdrawal is May 23rd.
ADA Statement:If you believe you qualify for course adaptations or special accommodations under the Americans With Disabilities Act, it is your responsibility to contact the Disability Support Services Coordinator in the LSC and provide the appropriate documentation. If you have already documented a disability or other condition through the GRCC Disability Support Services Office, which would qualify you for special accommodations, or if you have emergency medical information or special needs I should know about, please notify me during the first week of class. You can reach me by phone at 253-833-9111, extension 4507. Or, you can schedule an office appointment to meet me in the SMTBuilding, office number SMT 328 during my posted office hours or at another mutually determined time. If this location is not convenient for you, we will schedule an alternative place for the meeting. If you use an alternative medium for communicating, let me know well in advance of the meeting (at least one week) so that appropriate accommodations can be arranged.
ASSESSMENT:
Point distribution for in-class assignments, homework, and projects will be discussed in class. Problems on quizzes, tests, and the final exam will be assessed as follows:
Points
/ Work0 / No attempt or no correct ideas
1 / Answer with no supporting work, or attempt with a correct idea
2 /
Some correct ideas
2.5 / Half correct ideas3 / Concept is correct with errors in work
4 / Mostly correct ideas (small mistake that is not conceptual)
5 / Perfection (correct answer with correct work)
GRADE CALCUATION:
Your grade will be based on 6 categories, each earning a different percentage weight of your grade. You are expected to keep track of your own grade, but I will also give you a progress report after each test.
Activities / 5% / Quizzes / 15%Homework Checks / 15% / Tests / 39% (13% per test)
Project / 10% / Final Exam / 16%
Activities: Included in this category are group accountability and written work completed mostly in class. Perfect attendance is a precursor to success in this area. At the end of the quarter, one activity will be dropped.
Project: There will be one project completed during the quarter. The exact details will be given out later. It will be a group project requiring substantial work outside of class time and will require the ability to effectively communicate ideas through writing.
Homework Checks: Required homework is listed on the back of the class calendar and will be assigned daily. You are encouraged to check your odd numbered answers in the back of the book AFTER you finish your homework and check all of your homework with your classmates outside of class time. As well, you may ask questions on homework problems in class (as time allows) and during my office hours. On days noted on the calendar, I will check your homework. This will happen in one of two ways. First, I may have you turn in assignments for grading. Second and more common, I may have you copy selected homework problems from your completed assignments into a blue book. Since you will be copying your work and answers from already completed homework, you will only have 10 minutes at the beginning of class to complete these checks. At the end of the quarter, one homework check score will be dropped. Thus, NO late homework will be accepted.
Quizzes: There will be 6 short quizzes on days shown on the class calendar. These quizzes will look similar to homework problems. At the end of the quarter, your lowest quiz score will be dropped.
Tests: There will be 3 tests given in class on dates noted on the class calendar. Included on tests will be questions asking you to problem solve, write, and explain processes.
Final Exam: The comprehensive final exam will be in class at the date and time noted on the calendar.
DECIMAL GRADING: Numerical grades will be assigned based on your overall percentage earned in the class (according to the afore mentioned weighting):
% earned / Grade / % / Gr. / % / Gr. / % / Gr. / % / Gr. / % / Gr.96 – 100% / 4.0 / 89% / 3.4 / 83% / 2.8 / 77% / 2.2 / 71% / 1.6 / 65% / 1.0
94 – 95% / 3.9 / 88% / 3.3 / 82% / 2.7 / 76% / 2.1 / 70% / 1.5
93% / 3.8 / 87% / 3.2 / 81% / 2.6 / 75% / 2.0 / 69% / 1.4
92% / 3.7 / 86% / 3.1 / 80% / 2.5 / 74% / 2.0 / 68% / 1.3
91% / 3.6 / 85% / 3.0 / 79% / 2.4 / 73% / 1.8 / 67% / 1.2
90% / 3.5 / 84% / 2.9 / 78% / 2.3 / 72% / 1.7 / 66% / 1.1
64% AND BELOW: 0.0
Student Understandings (Copy for You)
Math 72 / Mitchell
1. I understand the standards in this course and that I am responsible for monitoring my own learning.
2. I understand that I must show respect for everyone in class and can expect the same of others.
3. I understand that I am responsible for establishing my priorities in order to fulfill the requirement of this course.
4. I understand that when we are working in small groups, I am responsible to take an active part in advancing the assigned work of the group.
5. I understand that if at any time in the quarter I feel unsure about my “grade”, I may request an assessment from the instructor.
6. I understand that homework will be due at the beginning of the hour on days announced in class and will not be accepted after that time. (It is my responsibility to get to class on time.)
7. I understand that I am in control and responsible for my own learning.
8. I understand that projects and nearly all in-class work will be done in pairs or larger groups and that they may require time spent outside of class time with my group.
9. I understand that the work of the course requires consistent classroom attendance and active participation.
10. I understand that reading the sections and working through examples prior to class discussion will lead to a better comprehension of the material.
11. I understand that quizzes and tests are on the dates specified on the calendar (unless the dates are changed in class) and cannot be made up after those dates.
12. I understand that no cheating will be tolerated in this class and the punishment for such action could result in dismissal from the class (and a grade of 0.0).
13. I understand that I should call or email Rochelle in the event that I cannot make it to class when something is due or there is a quiz or test. (Only then can arrangements be made for an alternative turn-in time. I am responsible to make those arrangements!) As well, I understand that I am allotted a maximum of one of these emergencies during the quarter.
14. I understand that to insure my anonymity, my grade may be posted outside Rochelle’s office at the end of the quarter.
Please enter a 4 digit number if you wish for your grade to be posted: ______
______
DatePrint NameSignature
MATH72 (Mitchell) – Spring 2008 Tentative Calendar
Wk / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / FridayA / 1 / March 31 / April 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
P
R / Introductions / Hmwk Check / Hmwk Check
I / 1.1 / 1.7 / 1.1 / 1.7 / 2.1 / 2.1 / 2.2
L / 2 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11
Hmwk Check / Hmwk Check
2.2 / 2.3 / 2.3 / 2.4QUIZ / 2.5
3 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18
Hmwk Check / Catch up with / Hmwk Check
2.6 / 2.7 / 2.7 / the calendar / TEST #1
4 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25
NO DAY
Hmwk Check / CLASSES / Unit Analysis
Pythagorean / 1.2/2.8 / In-Service Day / 2.8 / QUIZ
5 / 28 / 29 / 30 / May 1 / 2
M / Hmwk Check / Hmwk Check
A / 3.1 / 3.1 / 3.2 / 3.2QUIZ / 3.2
Y / 6 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
Hmwk Check / Catch up with / Hmwk Check
3.3 / 3.3 / 3.4 / 3.4 / the calendar / TEST #2
7 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16
Hmwk Check / Hmwk Check
4.1 / 4.2 / 5.1 / 5.2 / 5.3QUIZ
8 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23
Hmwk Check / Last day to withdraw or apply to take a class pass/no credit
5.3 / 5.4 / 5.4 / 5.5 / 5.5QUIZ / 6.1
9 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
NO CLASSES
Memorial Day / Hmwk Check / Catch up with / Hmwk Check
6.2 / 6.2 / the calendar / TEST #3
J / 10 / June 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
U / Catch up with
N / Hmwk Check / the calendar
E / 6.3 / 6.3 / 6.4 / 6.6 / QUIZ
11 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13
NO DAY / Final Exam for / Final Exam for
Review for the / CLASSES / the 10:00 class / the 11:00 class
Final Exam / Study Day / 10:00 – Noon / 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
***This schedule is tentative and subject to changes (announced in class) as needed.***
MATH72 MINIMUM HOMEWORK REQUIREMENTS(Mitchell)
(Elementary Algebra, 2nd ed. by Hall and Mercer)
- These problems are the minimum requirement. You are encouraged to do more problems as needed.
- Required assignments may be altered in class during the discussion of a section.
- Along with the problems listed above, you may be required to do problems for additional material covered in class.
- Chapter Reviews, Cumulative Reviews, and Chapter Tests at the end of the chapter will not be collected. However, it is strongly recommended that you do them in preparation for the tests. You will find the answers for the chapter reviews and tests in the back of the textbook.
Section
/ Problems1.1 / 1–10, 12, 15, 16, 18
1.7 / 1, 7, 8, 15, 19, 24, 25, 29, 31, 35, 39, 42, 44
2.1 / 1, 3, 6, 7, 19, 22,29,32, 33, 37, 41, 42, 45, 46, 47, 64, 66, 71, 72
2.2 / 1, 2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 17, 20, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 41–43, 44, 45
2.3 / 1, 3, 10, 18, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 29, 32, 33, 35, 43, 46, 51, 52, 56,61,62
2.4 / 1, 10, 11, 22, 27, 33, 36, 43, 47, 48, 65, 68–70, 71, 74, 86
2.5 / 3, 6, 11, 12, 16, 17, 21, 23, 28, 29, 32, 33, 35, 40, 41, 43, 45, 50, 63, 64, 66, 67, 69. 72
2.6 / 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 30, 39, 46, 47, 48
2.7 / 2, 5, 9, 13, 15, 17, 18, 22-26, 27, 28, 31, 33–35, 40, 42, 43, 45,46, 50, 55, 64, 61, 65, 71, 73, 74
2.8 / 6, 8, 11, 12, 19, 20
Chpt 2 Review / 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 23, 38, 41, 43, 47, 51, 56–59, 61–63, 66, 71, 73, 75, 76, 78, 81, 84, 88, 89
3.1 / 1, 3, 4, 9, 10–14, 17, 21–23, 28, 29, 33, 37–42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 52, 53, 55, 58, 68, 71, 73, 77, 78
3.2 / 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 19–21, 22, 25, 26, 31, 32–34, 37–39, 45, 46, 49, 50, 55, 57, 58, 61, 62, 65, 67, 70, 71–76, 80
3.3 / 2, 11, 13, 16, 21, 22, 23, 25, 29, 33, 35, 37, 38, 56, 57, 67, 68, 73
3.4 / 1, 6, 11, 12, 13, 31, 33, 37, 43, 51, 56, 57
Chpt 3 Review / 1–29
1.2 / 41, 42, 43, 44-48
4.1 / 1, 4, 6, 29, 32, 33, 37, 40, 59 solve algebraically, 61, 62, 64, 69
4.2 / 1, 24–26, 27, 30, 36, 41, 43, 45, 46, 48, 51, 52, 55, 65, 66, 67,68, 72
Chpt 4 Review / 1, 8, 12, 22, 23, 25, 27, 32, 33, 36,
5.1 / 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 15, 21–23, 26–35, 38, 41,43, 46, 48, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 72–76, 79, 80
5.2 / 2, 6, 7, 22–26, 35, 38, 39, 45, 46, 49, 52, 53, 55, 57, 60, 65,70, 75, 77, 78, 81, 83, 84
5.3 / 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32, 34, 35, 40, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55–57, 63, 65, 67
5.4 / 5, 7, 10, 11, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26–30, 32, 34, 37, 39, 43, 44, 47, 61–63, 73, 74, 77–79, 80,81, 82
5.5 / 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19 – 23, 27, 28, 35, 39, 42, 43, 48, 52, 55, 61, 79, 80, 81
Chpt 5 Review / 1–8, 11–14, 17–27, 33–36, 40, 42, 46, 47, 51–53, 71, 77, 83
6.1 / Pg 377 #66, 67–67, Pg 420 #1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30
6.2 / 1–11, 14, 15, 16,17, 20, 21, 27, 28, 33–38, 41–45, 47, 49, 57, 65, 66, 79–81, 85, 86, 89, 90, and Pgs. 421–422 # 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 51, 69
6.3 / 5, 6, 13, 14, 17, 18, 37, 38, 39–44, 59, 60, 67
6.4 / 5, 6, 19, 20, 21–26, 31–33
6.6 / 1, 3, 5–7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15–17, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27, 51, 52, 56, 57, 59, 60, 67, 68
Chpt 6 Review / 2–4, 7–13, 15–20, 22, 29–31, 35, 45, 46, 51–55, 57, 59, 65, 67, 71
Cumulative Review / 11, 12a,b, 13, 14, 18, 20, 23, 26–28, 29a, 30a, 31–38, 45, 51c,d, 55, 63–68, 69a, 71a,c, 72a,c, 74a, 76a,c, 77a, 78a,b