MAT 187A

Basic Arithmetic (Part I)

Summer 2005

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

Office Hours: I will be available in room A210 from 12:30 - 1:00 PM, Monday-Thursday.

Class Time and Location: Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 - 10:20 AM, E106

Textbook: Basic College Mathematics, 5^th Edition, John Tobey and Jeffrey Slater 

Calculator:  Calculators are not allowed in MAT 187A.

Course Description: MAT 187A covers general areas of arithmetic which include whole numbers, fractions, and an introduction to decimals.

Advisory: Appropriate skills demonstrated through the Math assessment process.

Course Objectives:

The successful student will:

1)      exhibit a proficiency in the topics covered in the course;

2)      engage in logical and critical thinking;

3)      read technical information; and

4)      demonstrate the solution to problems by translating written language into mathematical statements, interpreting information, sketching relevant diagrams, analyzing given information, formulating appropriate mathematical statements, and checking and verifying results.

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:                                50 points

Exam1 (July 5):                      75 points

Exam2 (July 12):                    75 points        

Final Exam (July 14):                     150 points

You may check your grades at any point in the quarter by going to the following website and using your secret code:

http://www.gradesource.com/reports/1027/7650/index.html

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 two days after it is assigned for half credit.  Each homework set is worth 5 points.

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 July 8.  After July 8, you may drop the class and receive a grade of W until July 22.  After July 22, 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.

Note: Since the summer quarter is compressed and highly accelerated, you MUST keep up with the class.  If you do not work on math everyday, you will fall behind.  You will find that you may need to spend up to four hours outside of class each day to master the material.  I strongly encourage you to make use of the tutoring center and come by my office to make sure that you are on top of the material. 

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.

June

27        1.1-1.3             Understanding, Addition and Subtraction of Whole Numbers

28        1.4, 1.5            Multiplication and Division of Whole Numbers

29        1.6, 1.7            Exponents, Order of Operations, Rounding and Estimation

30        1.8, 2.1, 2.2            Applied Problems, Understanding and Simplifying Fractions

July

4                     

5          2.3, Exam I            Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers

6          2.4, 2.5            Multiplication and Division of Fractions and Mixed Numbers

7          2.6, 2.7            The LCD, Addition and Subtraction of Fractions

11        2.8, 2.9            Mixed numbers and Order of Operations, Applied Problems

12        3.1, Exam II            Decimal Notation

13        3.2, 3.3            Comparing, Rounding, Adding and Subtracting Decimals

14        Final Exam              

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