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Math
181A-E, section 4 Syllabus
Winter 2001 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). Class meets M W
6:00pm-8:15pm, 1/3/01-3/14/01 and 6:00pm-7:50pm 3/19/01 all in HSPC5 Instructor:
George Drake: (530)541-4660x256
drake@ltcc.edu
Office:
F-103 Office
Hours: M
W 3:30pm-4:30pm, T Th 2:30pm-3:30pm except Th 2/8, T 2/13, and T 3/6 when the
hour will be from 12:30pm-1:30pm. The
office hours conducted on Thursdays will be held in the GMC (G4)
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, March
5, 2001. The last day to drop a
module is Monday, March 12, 2001. 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, where you are not to work
any of the problems numbered 11 through 20 in either set (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) After a test has been graded, the student should go over it with the
instructor or the aide. If the
student wishes to take the exam again, or if s/he must take the exam again due
to having received a grade of less than 70%, the exam may be retaken after an
overnight period has elapsed following going over it with the instructor/aide. Retakes which improve the score will replace the original
score, but retakes which do not improve on the original score will not affect
the original score. All Chapters
must be tested at 70% or greater for the student to receive a passing grade in
the module.
11) Frequent review of
these instructions, including which sections to cover in each module (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, per se,
may impact a student’s grade indirectly.
If, in the last two weeks of class, a student who has not been attending
regularly wishes to take an exam, he/she will be allowed to do so (assuming the
homework has been completed) but only under a restriction not applicable to
students who have attended regularly. The
restriction is this: if the student has attended fewer than four class
meetings (for the duration of the period), then the student will be given only
one chance to attain a passing grade on each test; if the student has attended
fewer than eight class meetings (for the duration of the period), but more than
four, then the student will be given two chances to pass each exam; and if the
student has attended fewer than twelve class meetings (for the duration of the
period), but more than eight, then the student will be given three chances to
pass each exam. Students who
utilize the DRC during class time are required to obtain verification from DRC
staff attesting to their attendance in order to avoid these restrictions.
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(1/3/01): lecture will cover: orientation, introduction, On the digital sum
(casting out nines), Sections
1.1-1.3, and placement. Module:
181a Chapters 1 & 2, Introduction, Casting Out Nines (On the
Digital Sum) and Fundamental Theorem Of Arithmetic Handouts (lectures begin
on 1/3/01). Homework
Due on:
1/8...................................................................
§§1.1-1.3 + Introduction & On the Digital Sum handouts
......................................................................................................................................
+quiz on the syllabus 1/10................................................................................................
§§1.4-1.9 + Finding nth Roots handout
1/17................................................
Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic (FTA) handout §§1-2 + §1.11
1/22.....................................................................................................
FTA §§3-4 + Exercises (only!) From
................................................................................
book’s §1.12 + On Solving Word Problems handout
1/24.............................................................................................
§§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 1/24/01) Homework
Due on:
1/29............................................
§§3.1-3.3 (remember, no “Euclid’s Algorithm”)+ Mnemonic handout
1/31........................................................
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,
& 3.9
2/5..................................................................................................................................................
§§3.10-3.14
2/7(Note the same date as below)........................................................................................................
§3.15 Module:
181c, Chapter 4.1-4.14 (4.8--no exact roots) (lectures begin on
2/5/01). Homework
Due On:
2/7(Note the same date as above).................................................................................................
§§4.1-4.5
2/12....................................................................................................................................................
§§4.6-4.9
2/14................................................................................................................................................
§§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 2/14/01). Homework
Due On:
2/21....................................................................................................................................................
§§6.1-6.4
2/26....................................................................................................................................................
§§6.5-6.8
2/28.......................................................................
§6.9 + §§8.1-8.2 + Checking Account handout + read
......................................................
§8.3 Savings Account (only) and do exercise #6 (Set I and II) only.
3/5(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 2/28/01). Homework
Due On:
3/5 (Note the same date as above) ...................................................
Adding and Subtracting Negative
............................................................................................................................................
Numbers handout
3/7..........................................................................................................................
§§11.3-11.4 + §§11.6-11.7
3/12..............................................................................................................................................
§§11.8-12.3b
3/14.................................................................................................................................
§§12.3c-12.5 + §13.1
3/19.................................................................................................................
§§13.2-13.3 + (optional)§13.4
The instructor teaches two sections of Mat 181 this quarter.
The day section has a meeting scheduled for the Tuesday of finals week,
March 20, in A213, from 4-6pm, while the evening section (this one) has a
meeting scheduled for the Monday of finals week, March 19, in HSPC5, from 6-8pm.
Students from either class may attend the scheduled meeting of the other
class during finals week in order to take the chapter tests remaining to finish
up the work for any module in progress. If
it is more convenient to attend the other class during the quarter, inquire of
the instructor as to what material will be covered, as the two sections are on a
slightly different schedule. |