MATH 187 A/B Syllabus, Winter Quarter 2006

Class: Math 187 A and 187 B

Instructor: Audrey Morrow

College Phone Number:  541-4660 Ext. 573

Home Phone: 577-4141

Email address: ammathtype@aol.com

Class meets:  Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:30 PM ~ 3:20 PM

Room E-103

Text: Basic College Mathematics, Fifth Edition, by Tobey & Slater

 

Important dates for Winter, 2006:

 

Last day to register without written permission: Friday, January 6th

Last day to drop Math 187 A with a ‘W’: Friday, January 27th

Last day to drop Math 187 B with a “W”: Friday, March 10th

Final Exam date for Math 187A: February 8th; Final for 187B:  March 22nd.

College Holidays:  January 16th, MLK Day and February 20th, Presidents’ Day                           

 

Course Description:  Math 187 A/B is designed to equip the student with a level of competency in basic arithmetic problem-solving.  Some of the included material will probably constitute a review for each of you, as we move into newer territory.  The goal of the class is to broaden and strengthen your understanding of basic arithmetic topics, in order to achieve a comfortable grasp of problem-solving with everyday life situations.  Different students may have different gaps to fill, in order to gain the complete set of skills provided by the Basic Arithmetic course.  Note:  Calculators are not allowed in this class.

 

Math 187A covers whole numbers, fractions and an introduction to decimals.  Math 187B

covers decimals, percents and an introduction to algebra.  This is actually two six-week classes, and you will receive a separate grade for each.

 

Homework will be assigned each lecture, with problems selected to coordinate with the material that was covered in class.  You’ll be given a reading and assignment sheet, showing which problems to work for each lecture date.  Many of the problems will resemble those demonstrated in lecture, with others selected to motivate your thinking and comprehension of the class topics.

 

Tutoring is available in the Gateway Math Center (GMC) in Room G4 in the Garden Building area located near the dance studio and the Learning Resource Center.

 

 

 

                     HABITS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS:

 

Attend every lecture if you possibly can.  You are allowed two absences in Math 187 A/B. LTCC guidelines allow for you to be dropped from the class if you have more than four.  Try to arrive early.  Sit where you can see and hear, and where you won’t be distracted.

 

Take notes.  Working along in class is essential to your success in any college course, so never sit through a lecture as a watcher. 

 

Do the assigned reading before the class discussion, so that you can use your class time to clear up any confusion you felt during the reading, or working the examples.

 

Work all of the assigned homework problems.  You’ll have time to ask questions in class about any problems you weren’t able to finish.

 

Ask questions!   At the beginning of each lecture we’ll spend some time going over homework problems that were difficult, or that you were unable to finish.

 

LEARNING DISABLED STUDENTS:  Please see me if you are in the Learning Disabled Program, or if you think that you might have a disability.  I’ll need to know if you have special needs.

 

LEARNING DISABLED STUDENTS: Please see me if you are in the Learning Disabled program, or if you think that you might have a disability.  I’ll need to know if you have special needs.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  The successful student will:  exhibit proficiency in the topics covered; engage in logical and critical thinking; read technical information; demonstrate solutions to problems by translating written language into mathematical statements; interpret information by sketching relevant diagrams; analyze given information; and formulate appropriate mathematical statements, and checking and verifying results.

 

HABITS TO AVOID:

 

Sloppy attendance.  This is the first and most common cause for course failure!

 

Missing homework assignments.  Regular practice with problem-solving is necessary if you are to achieve competency in a math course.  Try to do some math every day.

 

Socializing in class.  Avoid chit-chatting when class is in session.  Even whispering is disruptive to those around you, and focuses your attention away from the subject.

 

Cellphones and headphones:  Your cellular phone may not ring in class!  This disturbs everyone, and is an unpardonable interruption.  If your phone rings in class, you will be instructed to leave.  Headphones are not allowed in class.   Keep them out of sight.

 

 

Math 187 A Schedule of topics & homework.  Winter, 2006.  Instructor A. Morrow.

 

Each date shows the topics covered that day, and a related homework assignment.  Each assignment is due at the next class meeting. EOO stands for “every other odd problem.”  Please always staple your completed homework pages together. 

 

Wednesday, January 4th:  Welcome to Math 187A; cover 1.1 ~ 1.3 in the book.  Read 1.1 through 1.6.  Do:  1.1 # 1-53 EOO; 1.2 # 51 EOO; 1.3 # 1-90 EOO.

 

Monday, January 9th:  Cover Sections 1.4 ~ 1.6, Multiplication and division of whole numbers; exponents and order of operations.  Homework, due next time:  Read 1.7 & 1.8. Do:  1.4# 1-77 EOO, #81-102 multiples of 3. 1.5# 1-30 All, #31-75 EOO, #78-90 multiples of 3, #91.  1.6# 1-6, #7-103 EOO.

 

Wednesday, January 11th:  Cover 1.7 & 1.8, Rounding and Estimation, Applied Problems. Do:  1.7# 2, #3-30 multiples of 3, #33-81 EOO, #85-90.  1.8# 3-33, multiples of 3.  # 35, 40-42.  Review Chapter One for the test next Monday.

 

Monday, January 16th:  Holiday, Martin Luther King Day, College closed. 

 

Wednesday, January 18th:   Test #1, Covering Chapter One, Sections 1-8.  No written homework.  Read 2.1 ~ 2.3 for Monday.

 

Monday, January 23rd:  Cover 2.1 ~ 2.3, Understanding and simplifying fractions.  Improper fractions & mixed numbers.  Do:  2.1# 1-37 EOO, 39-48 multiples of 3, #54.  2.2# 1-85 EOO; 90, 91.  2.3# 3-81 EOO; 83, 87, 88.   Read 2.4-2.6 for Wednesday.

 

Wednesday, January 25th:   Cover 2.4-2.6, Multiplication & division with fractions and mixed numbers; the least common denominator (LCD).   Read 2.7 ~ 2.9 for Mon.  Do:  2.4# 1-45 EOO, 48-57 multiples of 3, 61, 63.  2.5 # 2,  #3-39 multiples of 3, 41-69 EOO, 71-81 odd,  Page 152 # 1-39 odd.  2.6 # 1-81 EOO.

 

Monday, Jan. 30th:  Cover 2.7-2.9:  Addition & subtraction of fractions, combining mixed numbers, order of operations; Applied problems.  Do:  2.7# 1-53 EOO, #55-63 odd,

65-70. 2.8# 1-41 EOO, 45-51 odd, 57-75 multiples of 3.  2.9# 1-23 odd, Page 191 # 3. Review Ch 2 as needed for the test.

 

Wednesday, Feb 1st:  Test #2, covering 2.1 – 2.9.  No written HW.  Read 3.1 ~ 3.4.

 

Monday, Feb 6th:  3.1-3.4   Decimal notation, general operations & problem-solving with decimals.  Read 3.4.  Do:  3.1#1, 3-63 multiples of 3, 67.  3.2# 3-66 multiples of 3, #72.

3.3# 1-49 EOO, #53-67 odd, 75, 80.  3.4# 3-57 Multiples of 3, 61, 63.

 

 

Wednesday, Feb 8th:  Final exam for Math 187A.  Sections 1.1 ~ 1.8; 2.1 ~ 2.9, 3.1 ~ 3.4.

Math 187B begins on Wednesday, February 13th.   Read 3.5-3.7 for next time.