Basic Algebra

Basic Algebra (Part 1) – Mat 152-A

Time &Place: Tues & Thur 610-8P

South Lake Tahoe High School Rm HSST2

Instructor: Nick Thiel

Instructor Background: Professional

University of Wyoming 91-01

Cross Country / Track Athlete

BS Sec Ed Math

MS Computer Science

Student Organization Staff

Bently Nevada/GE 01-06

Software Developer

Quality Manager

Process Development

Personal

Married

Disc Golf

Skiing

Chess

Ping Pong

2 Golden Retrievers

‘Closet Race Car Driver’

Phone Number: 530.541.4660 ext 577

Email: thiel@ltcc.edu

Required Text: Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, second edition

By Mark Dugopolski

Optional Text: Student Solution Manual

By Mark Dugopolski

What this course is not: Full of non aplicable information

· You may ask the question any time….’How is this useful?’

· Rocket science

· This class may not be easy but it is achievable for all

Optional

· This class paves the way for you to get what you want

What this course is:

MAT 152A BASIC ALGEBRA (PART I) 4.00 Units

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.

MAT 183 SUPLEMENT FOR MAT152A (BASIC 1.00 Units

ALGEBRA PART I)

This course is taken in conjunction with specifically designated MAT 152A

sections. The course allows for one additional hour each week of instruction

and is specifically designed for students who are nervous about and/or find

math difficult to master.

COREQUISITE: MAT 152A

1 T,Th 1155AM-1220PM Room: E106

Instructor: Littell, C 9/18/2007 - 12/04/2007

Math 152A, Basic Algebra achieves two objectives

1. Foundational building blocks to all quantitative math

2. Cross training for problem solving

a. Assess what you know

b. Assess what you don’t know

c. Evaluate so that you might know what you don’t know

Course Content: General Topics

· Real Numbers and their properties

· Solving linear equations

· Solving inequalities

· Basic operations on polynomials

· Graphing two variable linear functions

· Graphing two variable inequalities

· Exponent properties

· Introduction to functions

Comprehension

Assessment The objective in this class it to master the math concepts and

(Grades) improve our thinking skills. We assess this with grades. Grades

are an indicator of comprehension…nothing more and nothing less. Finally, I don’t give grades, you earn them. This is not subjective, it is objective. Everyone begins this class with a 100% (10/10 hmwk). Where you go from here is solely up to you. Though I will do all I can to suport your goal.

A 90-100%

B 80-89.9%

C 70-79.9%

D 60-69.9%

F < 60%

Homework 18 @ 5pt each 100 pts (20%)

Pre Exam 3 @ 20pts each 60 pts

Exam 3 @ 80pts each 240 pts

Final Exam 100 pts (20%)

Homework – Homework is due by the beginning of each class. Late homework is worth 0 pts. You may submit your homework to my mailbox if you can not be in class. In the case of an excused absence your homework will be due at the beginning of your next class. You may do homework with others if you like.

Grading

5 - Every problem and you’ve shown your work

0 - Anything less

Each homework is 1% of your overall grade. Homework problems must each be numbered, the answer must be legible next to the number of the problem and work must be shown when more than one step is required to solve the problem. If the answer is not right next to the problem number I will treat it as if there is no answer. This is necessary to expedite grading so that I can give you feedback on a per problem basis.

Pre Exam / Exam / Final Exam – Tests can only be made up for excused absences. Pre-Exams may be taken with your team mate. You may mutually select a team mate at the time of the first pre exam. This is your team mate for successive pre exams. If your team mate is absent for a pre exam you are on your own. You are not required to have a team mate. Pre Exams are open book. Exams and Final Exams are taken individually.

Each Pre-Exam is 4% of your overall grade

Each Exam is 16% of your overall grade

The Final Exam is 20% of your overall grade

Absences: Notify the instructor of absences via email or voice mail…preferably by email. Excused absences are based on the college defined criteria.

Dishonesty/Cheating: Cheating and dishonesty is not tolerated. Cheating will result in a 0 for the assignment or test. If cheating is caught the second time the student will receive an F for the course. The worst thing about cheating, however, is compromising your character for such a small reward.

Learning Disabilities: If you have a certified learning disability that may affect your performance in this class, be sure to discuss you special needs with me during the first week of class. Disabilities will of course be accommodated.

Tutoring: 2 Options

· Cindy Littell the academic math tutor is available M W 3 – 5 and

T Th 1 – 3 in the library study room L114

· Gateway Math Center open to walk-ins M, T, W, R, F 9 – 6 in G4.

Office Hours: TBD

Registration:

1. Showing up at this class does not make you registered. You must register for this class at the Office of Admissions and Records.

2. Friday September 28, 2007 is last day to be refunded

3. Friday October 12, 2007 is the last day to drop or change to CR/NC

4. Friday November 2, 2007 last day to drop class with W grade

Classmate Name Phone/Text Number

_________________________________________________________________________________

Fall ’07 Bio

Name: _______________________________________ 4-digit Code: _________________

Phone: __________________________________ email: _____________________________

Why have you picked LTCC at Lake Tahoe?

What is your goal in getting a college education?

What was the last math class you took and what was your conclusion at the end of the class?

What do you like or think you might like about math?

What do you dislike about math and how did you come to that conclusion?

What can the instructor do to help you succeed in this class?

What will be the most difficult thing for you to overcome to do well in this class?

SCHEDULE

Sept. 18 Introductions, Discussion of Syllabus

1.1 Real Numbers

1.2 Fractions

1.3 Addition & Subtraction of Real numbers

HW #1
Section 1.1: p 10 – 11 #1 – 62 Evens
Section 1.2: p 22 – 23 #1 – 80 Even, 85 – 97 Odd
Section 1.3: p 29 – 30 #9 – 26 Even 3, 31, 35, 37 – 43 Odd, 54 – 84 Even, 93

Sept. 20

1.4 Multiplication & Division of Real Numbers

1.5 Exponential Expressions & Order of Operations

1.6 Algebraic Expressions

HW #2

Section 1.4: p 34 – 35 #9 – 57 Odd, 57, 69 – 79 Odd

Section 1.5: p 42 – 43 #4 – 48 Even, 58 – 90 Even, 91, 109, 117

Section 1.6: p 49 – 51 #3 – 15 Odd, 18 – 56 Even, 59, 67, 71, 75, 87, 93

Sept. 25

1.7 Properties of Real Numbers

1.8 Using the Properties to Simplify Expressions

HW #3

Section 1.7: p 60 – 61 #1, 3, 9– 69 Odd, 73 – 97 Odd, 105

Section 1.8: p 68 – 69 #1 – 5, 15, 17, 27 – 99 Odd, 107, 109

Sept. 27

2.1 Addition & Multiplication Properties of Equality

2.2 Solving General Linear Equations

Pre-Test #1

HW #4

Section 2.1: p 86 – 87. #5 – 11 Odd, 18 – 72 Even, 89, 93

Section 2.2: p 93 – 95. #1 – 66 Odd, 75, 85, 87, 93, 95

Oct. 2

2.3 Identities, Conditional Eqs, and Inconsistent Eqs

2.5 Translating Verbal Expressions into Algebra

HW#5

Section 2.3: pgs 101–102. #1–13 Odd, 15 – 51 Odd, 53 – 71 Odd, 75, 83.

Section 2.5: pgs 119–121. #3–13 Odd, 18–54 Even, 55, 65, 67, 73, 77, 81, 87

Oct. 4

2.6 Number, Geometric, and Uniform Motion Aplications

HW#6

Section 2.6: p 129 – 131. #5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 23, 25, 33, 39, 47

Oct. 9

Exam #1 (Chapter one, 2.1 – 2.3, 2.5)

Oct. 11

2.7 Discount, Investment, and Mixture Problems

HW#7

Section 2.7: p 136 – 138. #7 – 15 Odd, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 35, 39

Oct. 16

2.8 Inequalities

2.9 Solving Inequalities

HW#8

Section 2.8: p 143 – 145 #1 – 9 Odd, 15 – 51 Odd, 55, 63, 71 – 79 Odd

Section 2.9: p 152 – 154. #1 – 11 Odd, 12 – 60 Even, 63, 65, 69

Oct. 18

3.1 Graphing Lines in the Coordinate Plane

PreExam #2 (Chapter 2)

HW#9

Section 3.1: p 175–179. #1–7 Odd, 15–29 Odd, 34–60 Even, 63–75 Odd, 83, 85, 91

Oct.23

3.2 Slope

3.3 Equations of a Line in Slope-Intercept & Standard Forms

HW#10

Section 3.2: p 189–191. #1–13 Odd, 15–31 Odd, 31–47 Odd, 48–60 Even

Section 3.3: p 199 – 203. #1–17 Odd, 21– 75 Odd, 79, 81, 85

Oct. 25

3.4 Point-Slope Form of the Equation of a Line

3.6 Graphing Linear Inequalities

Review for Exam #2

HW#11

Section 3.4: p 210 – 213. #1 – 7 Odd, 12 – 38 Even, 45 – 69 multiples of 3

Section 3.6: p 229 – 231. #1 – 7 Odd, 15– 45 Odd

Oct.30

Exam #2 (2.6 through Chapter 3)

Nov. 1

4.1 Addition & Subtraction of Polynomials

4.2 Multiplication of Polynomials

HW#12

Section 4.1: pgs 253–255. #1–11 Odd, 12–30 multiples of 3, 36–60 multiples of 3, 81–87 Odd

Section 4.2: pgs 260 – 261. #1 – 9 Odd, 12 – 45 multiples of 3, 66 – 87 multiples of 3, 93

Nov. 6

4.3 Multiplication of Binomials (FOIL)

4.4 Special Products

HW#13

Section 4.3: p 266 – 267. #6 – 62Even, 65, 75, 83, 93

Section 4.4: p 271 – 272. #1 – 27 Odd, 30 – 48 Even, 65 – 73 Odd

Nov. 8

4.5 Division of Monomials & Polynomials

4.6 Positive Integral Exponents

Pre Test 3 (4.1-4.4)

HW#14

Section 4.5: p 280 – 281 #1–11 Odd, 15–36 Odd, 45–57 Odd, 64–90 Even

Section 4.6: p 286 – 287 #1 – 17 Odd, 24 – 54 Even, 64 – 84 Even

Nov. 13

4.7 Negative Exponents & Scientific Notation

8.1 Compound Inequalities

HW#15

Section 4.7: p 295–297 #1–11 Odd, 15–45 multiples of 3, 51–87 Odd, 97, 101, 113

Section 8.1: p 509 – 511 #1 –11, 21–27 Odd, 33 – 39 Odd, 47 – 53 Odd, 57 –78 Odd

Nov. 15

8.2 Absolute Value Equations

Review for Exam #3

HW#16

Section 8.2: p 519 – 520. #1, 3, 9, 15, 21, 29, 31, 33

Nov. 20

Exam #3 (Chapter 4, 8.1, 8.2)

Nov. 22

THANKS GIVING HOLIDAY!!!

Nov. 27

11.1 Introduction to Functions

11.6 Combining Functions

HW#17

Section 11.1: p 692 – 694. #1 – 15 Odd, 25 – 37 Odd, 69 – 77 Odd, 88 – 102 Even

Section 11.6: p 744. #1, 5 – 15 Odd

Nov. 29

Review for Cumulative Final Exam

Dec. 4

Cumulative Final Exam (???)