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Math
181a-e Syllabus
Fall 2000 Having
received this document, the student is expected to know its contents, whether
explained verbally or not. Read it! Required
Text:
Essential Arithmetic, Johnston, Willis, and Lazaris, Wadsworth, 7th
Ed.
ISBN # 0-534-94482-5. This
book is on reserve at the LTCC library. Students
may wish to use this resource as a temporary solution if they cannot purchase
the book immediately. But this will
not be a satisfactory long term
resolution of this difficulty. Nor
will sharing. You will need to own your own copy. Syllabus Internet Address:
http://www.ltcc.edu/programs/math/, then click to syllabii,
Mat
181 (Drake). Instructor:
George Drake: (530)541-4660x256
drake@ltcc.edu
Office:
F-103 Office
Hours: M 3:30-4:30, T
2:30-3:30, W 11:00-12:00 in the GMC,
Th 9:30-10:30 These
hours are for drop-in student counseling (i.e., I am there waiting for someone,
anyone, to show up). If I appear to be busy, be sure to make your presence known,
as I rotate questioning amongst all students who are in attendance.
In addition, individual appointments may be made, but please observe the
courtesy of attempting to meet your needs through the drop-in service as much as
is practical. Thanks
Math 181a-e is a sequence of 5 one unit classes, referred to as
"modules." Each
module must be registered for separately, and each is graded separately.
Because the course is taught as a combination of self-paced and group-led
instruction, I recommend the student register for each class either as it
commences as group-led or when s/he actually begins to work on the material of
that module, rather than sign up early for a course s/he may not be prepared to
finish when the quarter nears its end (for one thing, you will not be able to
get a refund, even a few minutes after signing up later in the quarter).
The usual add and drop policies of the College are subject to special
rules for modular classes such as these. The last day to add a module this quarter is Monday, November 20, 2000.
The last day to drop a module is Monday, November 27, 2000. HOMEWORK:
Completion of Mat 181a-e (i.e., all five units) in one quarter's time requires that students do homework.
When working homework: 1) Handouts
supersede the text. Be sure to be
aware of when a handout is supposed to be used instead of the text and be sure
you have that handout. Unless
indicated otherwise below, the text may be used to reinforce the ideas/methods
described in a corresponding handout, and especially so when the homework is to
be done from the text, as opposed to just from the exercises included in the
handout, but always use the methods of
the handouts when they differ from that of the text. 2)
Students should always read the appropriate handout before
attempting exercises. With
five exceptions, the same is true of the appropriate section in the
textbook. The exceptions are as follows
(please mark them in your texts now):
1) On pages 151-153, the text describes the “Euclidean Algorithm.” Do
not read this material, nor use its method to work the exercises in section
3.3B. Instead, use the prime factoring and GCF methods only (see the handouts
entitled “The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic” (FTA), which supplement the
text on this topic.. 2) On pages
157-159, the text describes a “special algorithm.”
Do not read this material nor use its method to work exercises in
section 3.4. Instead, use the prime
factoring and LCM methods only (also see the “FTA handouts”).
3) In section 4.8, students are to skip the portion entitled “finding
the square root when the answer is exact” (pages 268-9) Students
are not to work any of the problems numbered 11 through 20 in either set.
4) That portion of Section 8.3
before “Savings Accounts” on pg 486 is not to be read.
Instead read the handout on Checking Accounts and use its exercises
to replace those from the text involving checking accounts.
5) Sections 11.1, 11.2 and 11.5
are not to be read. Instead
read and use the handout entitled “Negative Numbers” to work the exercises
in 11.1, 11.2, and 11.5. 3) When
doing exercises from the text, students are expected to do every third exercise in both
set I and set II--starting with number 1 (i.e., work numbers 1, 4, 7, 10,
etc.). If a problem has numerous
subparts, a), b), etc., do each subpart as part of doing the problem itself
(i.e., do not skip subparts). There
are, however, five exceptions (mark them now). The
first exception is section 4.7b, where you do not do #40 in either
section. The second exception is
section 4.8, (see above). The
third exception is section 4.9,
pg 282, where you do not do #19 from either set.
The fourth exception is section
8.2B, where you start with #4. The
fifth exception is section 8.3, where the handout replaces those portions of
section 8.3 previous to “Savings Accounts” on page 486, and the only
exercises from the text will be number 6 in both sets. When
doing exercises from handouts, students are expected to do every exercise.
4) When referring to the answer section in the back of the book, be aware
of the conventions spelled out on page xiv, item 16, of your text (please read this reference before using the answer section!). 5) Answers
to Set II exercises are available from the instructor or the aide during class
time. 6)Review
exercises are optional. 7) Students
must show their homework to the instructor or the aide before taking the exams
on each Chapter. 8) Students
should take the chapter exams as soon as possible after having completed the
homework in that chapter. This,
in particular, is important when a module covers more than one chapter.
Do not wait for a class-wide
administration of the exam, as exams are given on an “individual need”
basis. 9) Tests
are not to be taken home by students, even after being graded and recorded.
Tests which leave the campus may inadvertently result in a student
getting an F in the pertinent module. 10)
Frequent review of these instructions,
including which sections to cover (discussed later), will save you considerable
confusion, especially regarding 8.2B and 4.8.
During the course orientation, you will be requested to fill out an
estimate of your overall workload. The most common cause of lack of success in Mat 181a-e, without compare,
is students having unrealistic self-expectations on how much work they can
handle. The time to correct an
overload is in the first few weeks of a quarter, not the last!
The College’s late drop date for regular classes can seriously
exacerbate the negative effects of poor planning on the student’s part.
Do not wait until the deadline to drop classes if you are predictably
overextended!
Students do have the option of
reducing the time spent outside of class with
the understanding that the usual consequence is that Mat 181a-e may require more
than one quarter to complete. This
is not advised, and students are urged to talk with the instructor before
choosing this route. GENERAL
INFORMATION:
Attendance, although not considered in assessing final grades, is
essential and required for success.
Hand held calculators are not to be used for Mat 181a-c, but should be
used in Mat 181d. They should also not
be used during the portion of Mat 181e which involves manipulation of signed
numbers (i.e., Chapter 11).
Mat 181a-c involve extensive work with the basic operations, the mechanics of which will be taught. However, the basic facts,
such as 7 x 4, 14-6, etc., must be memorized by the student, and virtually
no class time will be devoted to this task.
It is the student's responsibility
to assess, and eliminate, his/her weaknesses in this area!
Students will be tested on the first day of class to determine proper
placement. If
placed in Mat 181b, the student may elect to forego credit for Mat 181a and
skip Chapter 1 and 2 in the text, but is then still required to attend lectures on Chapter 1 and 2, and to read and
work the material in the FTA handouts, as these constitute the basis upon
which much of Chapter 3's work is to be done.
If placed in a module higher than
Mat 181b, the student may elect to sign up only for the modules needed and
is then only required to attend during those classes in which those modules are
being covered. Because so many
students forget to return to the class at the proper time, however, this option
is not recommended.
The following is an outline of sections and the dates when the homework
related to them should be completed (if on a “5 unit track”). Students will be
expected to obtain and read the handouts referred to herein. Handouts and lectures on these topics are expected to be
delivered at the class meeting before the
dates listed below. Occasionally
circumstances arise during the quarter which necessitate minor changes, hence
this schedule is somewhat tentative. If
you need to know the exact date that a module begins and are not attending class
regularly, consult me again nearer the proposed date.
It is the student’s
responsibility to obtain the handouts, and this is especially pertinent if
attendance is sporadic. Day
One(9/19/00): lecture will cover: orientation, introduction, On the digital sum
(casting out nines), and placement,
Module: 181a
Chapters 1 & 2, Introduction, Casting Out Nines (On the Digital Sum) and
Fundamental Theorem Of Arithmetic Handouts (lectures begin on 9/18/00). Homework Due on: 9/21....................................
§§1.1-1.2 + Introduction & On the Digital Sum handouts 9/26..........................................................................................................
§§1.3-1.8 9/28...........................................................
Finding nth Roots handout+ §1.9 + §1.11 10/3.................................
Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic (FTA) handout §§1-3 10/5.........................................................
FTA handout §4 + Exercises
(only!) From
.................................................
book’s §1.12 + On Solving Word Problems handout
10/10........................................................
§§2.3-2.5 + review the On Solving Word ....................................
Problems
handout then do Exercises (only!) from book’s §2.1-2.2 Module:
181b
Chapter 3, Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic and Mnemonics handout (lectures
begin on 10/10/00) Homework
Due on: 10/12................
§§3.1-3.3 (remember, no “Euclid’s Algorithm”)+ Mnemonic handout 10/17.......................
FTA handout §5-7 + (exercises only from text's §3.4, 3.6 &
3.7
............................... (remember, no “Special
Algorithm”) + (all of book's) §3.5 & 3.8 10/19......................................................................................................
§§3.9-3.12 10/24....................................................................................................
§§3.13-3.15 Module: 181c,
Chapter 4.1-4.14 (4.8--no exact roots) (lectures begin on 10/24/00). Homework
Due On: 10/26........................................................................................................
§§4.1-4.5 10/31........................................................................................................
§§4.6-4.9 11/2......................................................................................................
§§4.10-4.14 Module: 181d:
Chapters 7.1 (optional), 6, & 8 (If you are not familiar with hand held
calculators, do 7.1, but definitely do the sections in this order, if you do 7.1
at all) (Calculators may--in fact, should--be used throughout this module) (lectures
begin on 11/2/00). Homework
Due On: 11/7..........................................................................................................
§§6.1-6.4 11/9..........................................................................................................
§§6.5-6.8 11/14.....................................
§6.9 + §§8.1-8.2 + Checking Account handout + read
........................... §8.3 Savings Account (only) and do
exercise #6 (Set I and II) only. 11/16(Note
the same date as below)............................................ §8.4 + (see
below) Module: 181e:
Chapters 11, 12.1-12.5, & 13.1-13.3 (§13.4 is recommended but optional)
Negative Numbers Handout. (Calculators OK on all but Chapter 11) (lectures
begin on 11/14/00). Homework
Due On: 11/16
(Note the same date as above) .......................................................................
...................................................
Adding and Subtracting Negative Numbers handout 11/21............................................................................
§§11.3-11.4 + §§11.6-11.7 11/28..................................................................................................
§§11.8-12.3b 11/30.....................................................................................
§§12.3c-12.5 + §13.1 12/5*........................................................................
§§13.2-13.3 + (optional)§13.4 *
The instructor teaches two sections of Mat 181 this quarter.
The AM section has a meeting scheduled for the Thursday of finals week,
while the PM section has a meeting scheduled for the Tuesday of finals week.
Students from either class may attend the scheduled meeting of the other
class in order to take the chapter tests remaining to finish up the work for any
module in progress. In
addition, since both sections are on the same schedule, students may find
attending the other section is a convenient way of avoiding falling behind on
those occasions when they miss their regularly scheduled class meeting. |