Math 152a: Basic Algebra (4 Units)
Winter, 2006
Instructor: John Massey
Contact: email: masseyjv@cs.com ;
voicemail:
Class Time and Location: Tuesday and Thursday,
4:00 to 6:00 pm, Room HSST2 South Lake Tahoe High School.
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 6:00 to
6:30pm
Textbook: Elementary and Intermediate Algebra
2nd Edition by Mark Dugopolski
Calculator: No calculators are needed. You
cannot use them on test. You may use them in class and on homework
Course Description: This course is an
introduction to algebra. Topics include: real numbers and their properties
and operations, absolute value equations, simplifying algebraic expressions,
linear equations and inequalities, applications with formulas, the
rectangular coordinate system, graphing linear equations and inequalities,
polynomials and their operations, integral exponents, scientific notation,
and an introduction to functions. This course will introduce more abstract
mathematical concepts that are germane to real world applications.
Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in Math
187B or equivalent; or, appropriate skills demonstrated through Math
Assessment process.
Grading Policy: Your grade will be determined by
a combination of homework, quizzes, exams, and a final. The breakdown is as
follows:
- Homework (10 @ 5 points
each): 50 points total
- Exams (2 @ 100 points
each): 200 points total
- Quizzes (2 @ 25 points
each): 50 points
- Comprehensive Final (1
@200 points): 200 points
Based on these grades, letter grades will be awarded in
the typical manner: A (90 to 100%), B (80 to 89%), C (70 to 79%), D (60 to
69%), F (less than 60%).
Homework: Homework will be due each week (see
the homework schedule at the end of the syllabus). Homework not turned in
at this time will not be accepted.
Quizzes: There will be two quizzes given over
the quarter, each about 15 minutes long. These quizzes will be designed to
help prepare you for the exams, and quiz
problems will be very similar to the homework assignments. If you miss a
quiz your grade on the exam which covers the same material as the quiz will
be used as the quiz score.
Exam:
Each exam will be ~1 hour long. Students are
to bring a pencil and blank 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.
Learning Disabilities:
If you have a certified learning
disability, be sure to let me knowthe first week of class. All certified
learning disabilities will be accommodated.
Registration Issues:
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 January 27. After January 27,
you may drop the class and receive a grade of W until March 3. After March
3, if you are still enrolled, you will receive a grade of A, B, C, D, F or
I. It is your responsibility to drop the class in order to avoid a grade.
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.
Tips for Success:
A few recommendations for
succeeding in this course, and in math courses in general:
-
Come to every class (be alert, pay
attention, and participate);
-
Do your homework (if the assignments are
not enough to make the concept clear, do more problems on your own);
-
Be organized (keep all your homework,
handouts, and notes together and easily accessible);
-
Prepare for exams (preparing for exams
thoroughly helps you learn and re-learn the material; go over notes and
do a bunch of problems from the book to prepare for the exam).
Course Objectives:
The successful student in this
course will:
-
Exhibit a proficiency in the topics
covered in this course;
-
Engage in logical and critical thinking;
-
Read technical information;
-
Demonstrate the solution to problems by
translating written language into mathematical statements, interpreting
information, sketching relevant diagrams, analyzing given information,
formulating appropriate math statements and checking and verifying
results;
-
Think critically by problem solving during
class and on homework assignments.
Schedule: Tentative, will probably
change as the quarter goes along.
|
Date |
Section |
Topic |
|
Jan. 3
|
1.1, 1.2
|
Introduction, Real
numbers, Fractions
|
|
Jan. 5
|
1.3, 1.4
|
Addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division of real numbers
|
|
Jan. 10
|
1.5, 1.6
|
Exponential
expressions and order of operations, Algebraic expressions
(Homework #1 Due)
|
|
Jan. 12
|
1.7, 1.8
|
Properties of real
numbers and their uses (Quiz #1)
|
|
Jan. 17
|
2.1, 2.2 |
Addition and
multiplication properties of equality, (Homework #2 Due) |
|
Jan. 19
|
2.3 |
Solving general
linear equations |
|
Jan. 24
|
2.5, 2.6 |
Translating
English into math. Number, Geometric and Motion Applications
(Homework #3 Due) |
|
Jan. 26
|
2.7
|
Discount,
Investment and mixture applications. Review for Exam 1. |
|
Jan. 31
|
2.8, 2.9 |
Inequalities and
solving inequalities (Exam #1) (Homework #4 Due)
|
|
Feb. 2
|
3.1, 3.2
|
Graphing lines and
slope |
|
Feb. 7
|
3.3, 3.4 |
Equations of lines
Point-slope form, Applications of linear equations
(Homework #5 Due) |
|
Feb. 9
|
11.1, 11.6 |
Functions and
relations. Graphs of functions and relations
Only pg 738 &739 of 11.6 |
|
Feb. 14
|
3. 6 |
Graphing linear
inequalities (Quiz#2)
(Homework #6 Due)
|
|
Feb. 16
|
8.1 |
Compound
inequalities. |
|
Feb. 21
|
8.2,
4.1 |
Absolute
value equations. Only pg 513-515 of 8.2Addition
and subtraction of polynomials. (Homework #7 Due) |
|
Feb. 23
|
4.2 |
Multiplication of
polynomials. Review for Exam 2 |
|
Feb. 28
|
4.3 |
Multiplication of
binomials (Exam #2) (Homework #8 Due) |
|
Mar. 2
|
4.4 |
Special Products
|
|
Mar. 7
|
4.5 |
Division of
polynomials (Homework #9 Due) |
|
Mar. 9
|
4.6 |
Positive integral
exponents |
|
Mar. 14
|
4.7 |
Negative exponents
and scientific notation, |
|
Mar. 16
|
All
|
Review Course
(Homework #10 Due)
|
|
Mar. ??
|
All
|
Final Exam
|
Homework Assignments: This table is tentative;
due dates and problems may be changed.
|
HW |
Due |
Problems |
|
1
|
Jan. 10
|
(1.1):
Multiples of 5 (1.2):
Multiples of 5 (1.3): Multiples of 5 (1.4):
Multiples of 5 |
|
2
|
Jan. 17 |
(1.5):
Multiples of 6 (1.6):
Multiples of 7 (1.7): Multiples of 6 (1.8):
Multiples of 6 |
|
3
|
Jan. 24
|
(2.1):
Multiples of 5
(2.2): Multiples of 5 (2.3):
Multiples of 5 |
|
4
|
Jan. 31
|
(2.5):
Multiples of 5 (2.6): Multiples of 4 (2.7):
Multiples of 4 |
|
5
|
Feb. 7
|
(2.8):
Multiples of 7 (2.9): Multiples of 5 (3.1):
Multiples of 6 (3.2): Multiples of 5 |
|
6
|
Feb. 14
|
(3.3):
1-3, 10-18 26-29, 37-41,53-58,75-79
(3.4):
1-94 Multiples of 5
(11.1): Multiples of 5
(11.6):
1-20 Multiples of 5 and 80 and 85
|
|
7
|
Feb. 21 |
(3.6):
Multiples of 5 (8.1):
Multiples of 5 (8.2):
Multiples of 5 1 thru 35 and 85 &90
|
|
8
|
Feb. 28
|
(4.1):
Multiples of 5 (4.2):
Multiples of 5 |
|
9
|
Mar. 7 |
(4.3):
Multiples of 5 (4.4):
Multiples of 5 |
|
10
|
Mar. 16 |
(4.5):
Multiples of 5 (4.6):
Multiples of 5 (4.7)
Multiples of 5 |