MAT 152A

Basic Algebra (Part I)

Spring 2013

 

Instructor: Bruce Armbrust, phone: 541-4660x314, email: bruce.armbrust@hotmail.com

 

Office Hours: Room A210,   Mon, Wed        1:00  – 2:00 PM

                                                Tues                8:30 – 9:30 AM

Thurs               12:30 – 1:30 PM

MSC A201,      Fri                    11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

And as always, by appointment.

 

Class Time and Location: Tues. & Thurs. 10:00 - 11:50 AM, D125

 

Textbook (Optional): Beginning and Intermediate Algebra, 5th Edition, Elayn Martin-Gay

 

Required Software: It is required to have a software license to use the software MyMathLab in this class.  You must have a valid e-mail address to use the on-line curriculum.  Students have two choices.  The first choice is to purchase the textbook from the bookstore.  The textbook comes with the software license.  Note:  If you purchase a used textbook, it may not have a valid course access code.  Be VERY careful when acquiring the text.  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 have already purchased an access code for Math 152A for this textbook, you may also use it for this class at no extra cost.

 

To access our class page, go to www.coursecompass.com and register using your student access code and the course ID for this class:  armbrust37106

For assistance with MyMathLab: You may get help by calling 1-800-677-6337 during the following hours: 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

Course Description: 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.

 

Prerequisite: MAT 187B with a grade of “C” or better or equivalent or appropriate skills demonstrated through the math assessment process.

 

Calculators: Calculators are not allowed in MAT 152A.

 

Registration Information: You may drop the class with no penalty or mark on your record until May 3.  After May 3, you may drop the class and receive a grade of W until May 24.  After May 24, if still enrolled, you will receive a grade of A, B, C, D, F or I.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1.      Solve linear equations and inequalities.

2.      Define and employ terminology and arithmetic relating to polynomials in one variable.

3.      Determine the equation and graph a line given information about the line.

4.      Manipulate expressions with integral exponents.

5.      Apply course topics to real-world situations.

 

Course Grade: Your final letter grade will be based on the usual grading scale:

A 90-100%, B 80-89%, C 70-79%, D 60-69%, F 0-59%

The following items will make up the course grade:

 

Homework:                              15%    

Quizzes:                                 15%    

Exam1 (May 7):                       20%

Exam2 (June 4):                     20%    

Final Exam (June 25):             30%

 

You may check your grades at any point in the quarter by accessing the grade book in MyMathLab.

Homework: Homework is due each Sunday by midnight.  You will be using the MyMathLab website to work on your homework.  Feel free to consult a fellow classmate, a tutor, your instructor, or anyone else for assistance on the homework. While graded homework assignments close Sundays at midnight, there are versions of the homework assignments that never close. You may work on these homework assignments all quarter. These assignments do not count towards your grade, and are provided so that you may use them as a study and review aid. These assignments are all named with the suffix 'Late'.

Quizzes: Each week you will be required to take a quiz on MyMathLab.  The quizzes are designed to help you prepare for exams, and will be made up of problems that are very similar to the problems from your homework assignments.  The quizzes may be taken as often as you would like before the due date/time.  Your lowest quiz score will be dropped.  Because of this, there will be no make-up quizzes. Before you take the quiz, make sure that you have done the guided exercises, read the textbook sections for the week, looked at the video(s), and received assistance from either a tutor or your instructor on any difficult topics.  Please ask for help if you need it.  If you do not take a quiz, a zero will be recorded for that grade.  Quizzes must be completed by midnight each Sunday.

 

Exams:  Students are to bring a pencil and blank scratch 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. The final must be taken by June 25th.

 

 

Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty of any form will not be tolerated.  Students caught cheating on exams will receive a score of zero on the assignment and the dropping of lowest quiz score will be forfeit.  Students may work together on homework assignments (and, in fact, are encouraged to) as long as all students understand the material covered.

 

How to Succeed in a Math Class: I am often asked how to successfully pass a math class, and here is my advice:

 

I) Come to every class session.  Be prepared, and plan on participating.

II) Do your homework.  Remember that what I assign is what I consider a bare minimum.  If you need more practice, do it.  Don’t make me be a homework enforcer.

III) Read the book.  You paid good money for it, so you might as well use it.

IV) Make use of available tutors and my office hours.  You will find tutors who know the subject matter in this course at the Math Success Center (MSC).

V) Do math every day.  Math is just like everything else: if you don’t practice, you become rusty.

 

Technology in the Classroom:  All cell phones, headphones, MP3 players, iPods, etc, must be turned off and put away prior to the start of each class.  No electronic devices may be used during exams.

 

Learning Disabled Students: Students with disabilities who may need accommodations for this class are encouraged to notify me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) early in the quarter so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible.  Students may contact the DRC by visiting the Center (located in room A205) or by phoning 541-4660, ext. 249 (voice) or 542-1870 (TTY for deaf students).  All information will remain confidential.

 

A Few Words on Computer Mediated Classes: This course is not like a “traditional” course.  The majority of the work done in the learning will be done by you while working with the computer.  We will have mini-lectures in class, but these will be short and cover only the key concepts.  This kind of course is great if you learn well when using a computer, like to work at your own pace, need more flexibility in your schedule, or have trouble in a “traditional” class.  If you are uncomfortable with using computers or don’t want to do as much work as in a “traditional” class, this section is not for you.  This hybrid course WILL NOT be easier that the other sections and will require just as much work (if not more).  


 

Course Schedule:

The following is a tentative schedule.  If things change (and I have money that says they will), I will let you know.

 

April

9          1.2, 1.3                        Introductions, Real Numbers, Fractions

11        1.4, 1.5                        Algebraic Expressions and Addition of Real Numbers

16        1.6, 1.7                        Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division of Real Numbers

18        1.8, 2.1                        Properties of the Real Numbers and Their Uses

23        2.2, 2.3                        Properties of Equality and Solving Linear Equations

25        2.4                               Problem Solving

30        2.5, 2.6                        Applications of Algebra

 

May

2          2.7, 2.8                        More Applications of Equations, Solving Linear Inequalities

7          Exam I

9          3.1, 3.2, 3.3                 Rectangular Coordinates, Graphing Lines, Intercepts

14        3.4                               Slopes of Lines

16        3.5                               Equations of Lines

21        3.6                               Functions

23        9.4                               Linear Inequalities of Two Variables

28        5.1                               Exponents

30        5.2                               Polynomials

 

June

4          Exam II

6          5.3, 5.4                        Multiplying Polynomials          

11        5.5                               Negative Exponents and Scientific Notation

13        5.6                               Dividing Polynomials

18        9.1                               Compound Inequalities

20        9.2                               Absolute Value Equations

25        Final Exam                 Note: The final is from 11:00 am – 12:50 pm