MAT 152A

Basic Algebra (Part I)

Fall 2003

 

Instructor: Bruce Armbrust, phone: 541-4660 ext. 314, email: armbrust@ltcc.edu

 

Office Hours: Room A210,             Tues.                           3:30 – 4:30 PM

Wed.                                    1:00  - 2:00 PM

Thurs.                                     12:00 - 1:00 PM

GMC G4,             Mon. & Wed.               9:30 – 10:30 AM

And as always, by appointment.

 

Class Time and Location: Mon. & Wed. 11:00 AM -12:50 PM, E106

 

Textbook: Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, Mark Dugopolski

 

Course Description: This course is designed as an introduction to algebra.  Topics covered include the four basic operations with positive and negative numbers and with polynomials, solving and graphing linear equations, an introduction to functions and sets, and properties of integral exponents.

 

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in MAT 187B, MAT 181D, or MAT 191T, or appropriate skills demonstrated through the Math assessment process.

 

Calculators: Calculators will not be allowed in MAT 152AA

 

Course Grade: Your final letter grade will be based on the usual grading scale:

A 90-100%, B 80-89%, C 70-79%, D 60-69%, F 0-59%

The following items will make up the course grade:

 

Homework:                              200 points            Average of HW Scores X 20

Quizzes:                                 200 points            Average of Quiz Scores X 10

Exam1 (October 8):

Exam2 (October 29):              400 points            Average of Exam Scores X 4

Exam3 (November 19):

Final Exam (December 8):            200 points

 

Homework: Homework will be due the class period after it is assigned.  Homework not turned in at this time will be considered late. You may turn in homework up to one week after it is assigned for half credit.  If all homework is turned in, and no more than two are late, the lowest regular exam score will be dropped.  Your homework score will be determined in the following way: up to 5 points for completion and one point each for 5 problems chosen at random to be graded.

 

Quizzes: There will be 4 quizzes given over the quarter.  These quizzes will be designed to help prepare you for the exams, and quiz problems will be taken directly from the homework assignments. A quiz may be made up late with a penalty of 10% per day.

 


Exams:  Students are to bring a pencil and blank scratch paper to each exam.  If you cannot make it to an exam (final not included), you may take it up to 2 school days prior to the scheduled date with proper arrangements.  Otherwise, the exam may be made up after the scheduled date with a penalty of 10% per day.

 

Registration Information: You must register for this class at the Office of Admissions and Records.  You may drop the class with no penalty or mark on your record on or before October 17.  After October 17, you may drop the class and receive a grade of W until November 21.  After November 21, if you are still enrolled, you will receive a grade of A, B, C, D, F or I.

 

How to Succeed in a Math Class: I am often asked how to successfully pass a math class, and here is my advice:

 

I) Come to every class session.  Be prepared, and plan on participating.

II) Do your homework.  Remember that what I assign is what I consider a bare minimum.  If you need more practice, do it.  Don’t make me be a homework enforcer.

III) Read the book.  You paid good money for it, so you might as well use it.

IV) Make use of available tutors and my office hours.  You will find tutors who know the subject matter in this course at the GMC.

V) Do math every day.  Math is just like everything else: if you don’t practice, you become rusty.

 

Learning Disabled Students: It is important that students who are identified as being learning disabled speak to me about their special needs.  I am more than willing to grant you reasonable accommodations.

 

Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty of any form will not be tolerated.  Students caught cheating on exams or quizzes will receive a score of zero on the assignment for the first offense and a course grade of F for the second offense.  Students my work together on homework assignments (and, in fact, are encouraged to) as long as all students understand the material covered.

 


Course Schedule:

The following is a tentative schedule.  If things change (and I have money that says they will), I will let you know.

 

September

22        1.1,1.2                         Introductions, Real Numbers, Fractions

24        1.3,1.4                         Addition, Subtraction, Mult., & Division of Real Numbers

29        1.5,1.6                         Exponential and Algebraic Expressions

 

October

1          1.7,1.8, Quiz I               Properties of the Real Numbers and Their Uses

6          2.1, Review                        Addition and Multiplication Properties of Equality

8          Exam I, 2.2                Exam on Chapter 1, Solving General Linear Equations

13        2.3,2.5                         Types of Equations, Translating English into Math

15        2.6,2.7                         Applications of Algebra

20        3.1,3.2, Quiz II              Inequalities

22        3.3,4.1                         Absolute Value Equations, Graphing Lines

27        4.2, Review                        Slope

29        Exam II, 4.3                Exam on Chapters 2 & 3, Equations of Lines

 

November

3          4.4,4.5                         Point-Slope Form, Applications of Linear Equations

5            4.6,11.3, Quiz III            Intro. to Functions, Operation on Fractions

10        NO SCHOOL                    Veteran’s Day

12        5.1,5.2                         Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication of Polynomials

17        5.3, Review                        FOIL

19        Exam III, 5.4               Exam on Ch. 4 & Sections 11.3,5.1,5.2, Special Products

24        5.5,5.6                         Division of Polynomials and Positive Integral Exponents

26        5.7,8.6, Quiz IV            Neg. Exponents, Sci. Notation, & Graphing Lin. Inequals.

 

December

1          Review                       

3          Review

8          Final Exam               Note: The final is from 10:00  -11:50 AM.       

 


The following is a list of all homework assignments for this course.  The due dates for the various sections will be given in class.

 

Section Assignment
1.1 Multiples of 3
1.2 Multiples of 5
1.3 Multiples of 5 (except 85 and 90)
1.4 Multiples of 5 (except 60 and 90)
1.5 Multiples of 7 (except 119 and 126)
1.6 Multiples of 5 (except 90)
1.7 Multiples of 5
1.8 Multiples of 5
2.1 Multiples of 5
2.2 Multiples of 5
2.3 Multiples of 5 (except 85)
2.5 Multiples of 7
2.6 Multiples of 3
2.7 Multiples of 5
3.1 Multiples of 5 (except 70)
3.2 Multiples of 5
3.3 Multiples of 5 (except 80)
4.1 Multiples of 5 (except 55 and 95)
4.2 Multiples of 3
4.3 Multiples of 5 (except 5)
4.4 Multiples of 3 (except 54)
4.5 Multiples of 3
4.6 Multiples of 5 (except 80)
11.3 1, 2, 5-16
5.1 Multiples of 5 (except 45, 60, and 100)
5.2 Multiples of 5
5.3 Multiples of 5
5.4 Multiples of 5 (except 80 and 90)
5.5 Multiples of 5
5.6 Multiples of 5
5.7 Multiples of 5 (except 95, 100, and 105)
8.6 Multiples of 3