MAT187B – BASIC ARITHMETIC

 

Spring 2012

 

Course ID

Room

Unit

Days

Start Time

End Time

MAT 187B-1

A206

2

T, TR

10:00 AM

11:50 AM

 

INSTRUCTOR:                    Helen Shen

 

PHONE:                                 530-541-4660, Extension 364

 

E-MAIL:                                shen@ltcc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS:                Room A204

                                                Mon. & Wed.  10:40 – 11:00 AM & 12:40 – 1:30 PM

                                                Tue. & Thurs.  12:30 – 1:30 PM        

                                                Fri.                   10:40 – 11:00 AM & 12:40 – 1:00 PM

 

LTCC MATH PAGE:          http://www.ltcc.edu/academics.asp?scatID=5&catID=34

 

TEXTBOOK (OPTIONAL):  Basic College Mathematics, by Tobey & Slater, 7th Edition (New Edition)

 

Required Software License:  It is required to have a software license to use the software MyMathLab in this class.  Students have two choices.  The first choice is to purchase the textbook from the bookstore.  The textbook comes with the software license for an additional cost of approximately $5.  The second choice is to purchase the license alone either from the bookstore or online at coursecompass.com.  The license gives you access to the textbook online.  This is a more economical choice, but is only recommended to students who have online access and feel comfortable reading a computer screen instead of a traditional book.  If you purchase a used textbook, you will also need to purchase the software license.  The software license is valid as long as the student uses the same textbook; the student may need to call the tech support to obtain another access code if the student takes the same class again later.

 

Course website: www.coursecompass.com (MyMathLab)

                                                Our course id is shen14054

                                                For assistance call 1-800-677-6337. 

                                                                               Mon – Fri 5:00 AM – 5:00 PM & Sunday 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM

                                                Online assistance is available 24 hours every day at: 247pearsoned.custhelp.com

 

COUSE DESCRIPTION:    The purpose of this course is to teach students the skills of basic Arithmetic.  In reality, you have probably already seen this material somewhere in your educational past but may have forgotten it or never really understood it when it was first presented.  In this class, our goal is to fill in the gaps of your knowledge about arithmetic and to help you get the “big picture” so that it will all fit together in a way which makes sense to you and that you are able to apply it to “real life” problems.

This class covers decimals, percents, and an introduction to algebra.

 

CALCULATORS:                Calculators are not allowed in this class on exams or the final.

 

TUTORING:                         Tutoring is available in the Math Success Center (MSC) in Room 201.

                                                Students will earn 0.5 point toward the total grade for every 10 hours in MSC or DRC. However, if any student misses two or more classes, no lab credit will be granted.

 

STUDENT LEARNING      1. Solve problems involving decimals, percents and beginning algebra.

OUTCOMES:                       2. Translate written statements in to mathematical statements.

                                               3. Apply the topics of Basic Arithmetic (Part II) to real life situations.

 

GRADING POLICY:           Method of Student Evaluation

                                                Homework (Online, 22 sections, 5 points each)         110 points

                                                Quizzes (Three, Online, 10 points each)                       30 points

                                                Exams (Two, In Class, 100 points each)                     200 points

Final (Covers entire course content, 140 points)        140 points

   And, your final needs to be above 56 points

 

Your letter grade will be based on your percentage.

                                                            A         90-100%         

                                                            B         80-89%           

                                                            C         70-79%                                   

                                                            D         60-69%

                                                                     less than 60%

 

CHECKING YOUR            You can check your grade at any time in MyMathLab where you will be doing

GRADE ONLINE:               your homework. I will drop a student from the class if the student misses two classes or more and is unable to keep up with the learning.

                                         

HOMEWORK:                     Homework will be done online using MyMathLab.  Due dates are listed for you when you go on line to do the assignments.  Feel free to consult a fellow classmate, a tutor, your instructor, or anyone else for assistance on the homework. In addition, the computer will give you help with any problem, show you an example of a similar problem, and in some cases show you a video of someone teaching how to do that type of problem.  You can work on homework after the due date but there are penalties for being late (see the make-up policy below). If you don’t have the internet connection at home, you can print them out in school at Math Lab, TLC, or D-wing Lab, work the problem on the papers, and enter the answers in school.

 

QUIZZES:                             Quizzes will be taken online in MyMathLab. You can take each quiz up to three times, and the highest score will be used. Before you take the quiz, make sure that you have done your homework for the sections covered in the quiz, read the appropriate sections in the textbook, looked at the video(s), and received assistance from either the computer, or your instructor on any difficult topics. If you do not take a quiz on time, a zero will be recorded for that grade.

 

EXAM POLICY:                  Grading will be based on progress towards the final answer, and the demonstration of understanding of the concept that is being tested. The more you show me with steps and detail, the better your chances for partial credit.  You provide me the communication and detail in your answers; and I will give you the best grade I can based on that communication and answer. You can use one page of notes, front and back, for quizzes, exams and the final.

 

MAKE-UP POLICY:           For Exams and the Final, make-up is possible if the instructor is contacted in advance and the absence is excuse; there is a 10% penalty if the absence is not excused. The make-up test needs to be taken before the next class. Homework will be accepted late up to one week after it is assigned for half credit; the online homework will be closed after the due date, and I will reopen it next day morning for another week for the late homework. If you take the make-up test at TLC, you need to make an appointment at TLC 24 hours ahead by going to TLC, call (530)541-4660 x 740, or e-mail TLCProctors@ltcc.edu.

 

COMMUNICATION           You can communicate with me either by coming to class or office hours, sending

POLICY:                                an e-mail, or calling on the phone. I will respond to your e-mails in a timely

                                                manner, and I will do my best to return your calls (you need to make sure to leave your number clearly). If you miss the class, it is your responsibility to pick up the class handouts or obtain the information either from your classmates or from me during the office hours.

 

·         I have students work together to help each other. Please feel free to ask me directly if you like to work with me one-on-one.

·        Please come see me if you do not understand my policies.

·        Since English is my secondary language, please be sure to ask me if you have any difficulty to understand math due to my accent. I will be happy to clarify.

 

LEARNING                           If you have a certifiable learning disability that may affect your performance in

DISABILITIES:                    this class, be sure to discuss your special needs with me during the first week of class.  Learning disabilities will be accommodated.

 

HOW TO SUCCEED           1) Read your textbook before class.

IN A MATH CLASS:           2) Choose to attend all class periods and be on time.

3)  Exchange names and phone number with classmates.

4)  Learn from your mistakes and be patient with yourself.

5)  Don’t be afraid of asking questions.

6)  Know how to get help if you need it.

7)  Organize your class materials.

8)  Do your homework.

9)  Check your work.

10) Hand in assignments on time.

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY (CHEATING):  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.

 

Cheating will be defined as but not limited to: (1) using any method to copy another’s work on an exam, quiz, or final (2) directly copying another student’s homework assignment (3) using any method other than your own honest efforts to complete exams, quizzes, the final, or homework assignments.

The following activities are NOT cheating: (1) collaborating with other students to complete homework assignments (2) working with math tutors or academic coaches to complete homework assignments (3) working with other students to study for exams, quizzes or the final.

 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:     If you need help paying for your books or other expenses, call our financial aid officer, America Ramirez, at 541-4660 x236, email her at Ramirez@ltcc.edu, or drop by A100.

 

WHERE TO FIND A COMPUTER ON CAMPUS:  Computers are available for your use in the following locations on campus:

§  Learning Assistance Center (LAC)* open Mon – Thurs 9 – 6, Fri 10 – 2, Sat 11 – 3.

§  Math Success Center (MSC) * open Mon – Thurs 9 – 6, Fri 10 – 2, Sat 11 – 1.

§  Open Labs in the D-wing which have available times posted by the door of each lab.

* Both the LAC and the MSC are in room 201.

 

Tentative Lecture Schedule for Math 187B

 

Be sure to use class time, office hours, and the MSC to get all of your questions answered.

 


Date

Section  

Topic 

Homework

 

T 5/15

 

3.5

3.6

 

3.7

 

Division of Decimals

Converting Fractions to Decimals   

      & Order of Operation

Applied Problem Involving Decimals

 

 

TR 5/17

 

4.1

4.2

4.3

5.1

 

Ratios  (Read this section, No Homework)

Proportions   

Solving Proportions

Understanding Percent  

 

 

Homework on sections 3.5 – 3.7, & 4.2 – 4.3 is due Monday, 5/21 at 11:30pm

 

                   Quiz #1 (Sections 3.5 – 3.7 & 4.2 – 4.3) is due Wednesday, 5/23 at 11:30 pm

 

 

T 5/22

 

5.2

5.3B

5.3A

 

Changing between percents, decimals and fractions

Solving percents using a proportion                            Solving percents using an equation

 

 

 

 

TR 5/24

 

5.4

5.5

 

Solving applied percent problems

Solving commission, percent of increase or decrease, and interest problems

 

 

Homework on sections 5.1 – 5.5 is due Monday, 5/28 at 11:30pm

 

                   Quiz #2 (Sections 5.1 – 5.5) is due Wednesday, 5/30 at 11:30 pm

 

 

T 5/29

 

 

9.1

9.2

 

 

Addition of signed number

Subtraction of signed number  

Review for Exam 1

 

 

TR 5/31

 

 

 

 

9.3

 

Exam #1 (Sections 3.5 - 3.7, 5.1 - 5.5)   (1hr)

 

Multiplication and Division of signed numbers

 

 

Homework on sections 9.1-9.3 is due Monday, 6/4 at 11:30pm

 

T 6/5

 

9.4

6.4

7.5

 

Order of Operations with signed numbers

Converting units of measure

Square Roots

 

Homework on sections 9.4, 6.4, & 7.5 is due Monday, 6/11 at 11:30pm

 

                   Quiz #3 (Sections 9.1 – 9.4) is due Monday, 6/11 at 11:30 pm

 

 

TR 6/7

 

10.1

 

 

Variables and Like terms

Review for Exam 2

 

 

 

T 6/12

 

 

 

10.2

10.3

 

 

Exam #2 (Sections 6.4, 7.5, 9.1 - 9.4)   (50min)

 

The distributive property

Solving equations using the addition property

 

 

 

 

 

TR 6/14

 

10.4

 

10.5

 

Solving equations using the division or multiplication property

Solving equations using two properties

 

 

 

Homework sections 10.1 – 10.5 is due Monday, 6/18 at 11:30pm

 

T 6/19

 

 

Review for Final Exam

 

 

 

TR 6/21

 

 

Final Exam (Sections 3.5 – 3.7, Chapter 5, Sections 6.4, 7.5, Chapter 9, & Section 10.1 – 10.5)

 

 

This is the day that you will successfully complete Math 187B…. CONGRATUALTIONS!