BASIC MATHEMATICS

Math 187AA Winter, 2010

Monday & Wednesday

January 4 – February 10

3:30 – 5:55

Room: A206

 

 

INSTRUCTOR:         Jane Ellis

 

Phone Number:  541-4660, Extension 247

 

E-MAIL:                    ELLIS@LTCC.EDU

 

TEXTBOOK (OPTIONAL): Basic College Mathematics, Sixth Edition

by Tobey & Slater 

 

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. 

Our course id is ellis56833.

For assistance call 1-800-677-6337 which is available:

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:      The purpose of this course is to teach students the skills of basic

Arithmetic; in particular we will cover whole numbers, fractions, and an introduction to decimals.  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 course is an extended version of   Math 187A in which we will include a component of study skills to assist you in being successful in this math class and others which you will take in the future.

 

OVER

JANE’S OFFICE HOURS:  My office is in A204 next door to our classroom (A206).

 

                                    Monday & Wednesday................................... 6:00 – 7:00

                                    Tuesday & Thursday ...................................... 5:00 – 6:00

 

 

TUTORING:              Tutoring is available in the Math Success Center (MSC) in Room A201. 

It is open M – Th 9 – 6, Fri 10 – 2, Sat 11 – 3.  There are computers here for

 you to use when you do your work in MyMathLab if you do not have your

 own computer.

 

 

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).

 

QUIZZES:  Quizzes will be taken online in MyMathLab. Before you take the quiz, make sure that you have done the 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, a tutor, or your instructor on any difficult topics.  If you do not take a quiz on time, a zero will be recorded for that grade. 

 

Make-up Policy:             For Chapter Exams, and the Final, make-up is possible if the instructor is contacted in advance and the absence is excused; there is a 10% penalty for each day you are late if the absence is not excused.  You have a full week to do your quizzes, do not procrastinate; there is no make-up for quizzes.  Homework will be penalized by 10% for each class meeting that it is late.

 

GRADING POLICY:                                   

Homework                                                       15%

Quizzes #1 & #2                                              5%

                                                Exam #1                                                           20%

                                                Exam #2                                                           20%

                                                Study Skills Component                                    10%

                                                Final (Covers entire 6-week course content)     30%

 

                                                Your grade on the class is based on the following scale:

                                                            90% - 100%    A

                                                            80% - 89%      B

                                                            70% - 79%      C

                                                            60% - 69%      D

                                                            Below 60%      F

 


 

CHECKING YOUR GRADE ONLINE:

You can check your grade at any time in MyMathLab where you will be doing your homework and quizzes.  You will need the course code which is ellis56833 in order to register in the MyMathLab component of this class.

 

CALCULATOR:                    Calculators are not allowed in this class on exams. 

 

 

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

 

JANE’S COMMITMENT TO THIS CLASS:

·        I will check the earlier part of my day at the door when I enter the classroom, and I will give this class 100% of my attention while we are meeting.

·        I will come to class well prepared.

·        I will be here on time.

·        I will listen and seek to understand what is being said.

·        I will not shortchange the students in this class by setting low standards.

·        I will put 100% of my effort into being the best possible teacher for the students in this class.

 

YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS CLASS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Ø      Learning Assistance Center (LAC) open Mon – Th 10 – 6, Fri 10 – 2, Sat. 11 – 3*

Ø      Math Success Center (MSC) open Mon – Th 19 – 6, Fri 10 – 2, Sat. 11 – 3*

Ø      Open Labs in the D-Wing which have open times posted by each door.

 

* Both the LAC and MSC are in room A201.

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:      The successful student in Mat 187AA will be able to:
1. Perform arithmetic operations with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.
2. Translate written language into mathematical statements.
3. Apply the concepts in the course to real-life situations.

                        4. Apply study skills learned in this class to studying in this class.

 

 

OVER

REGISTRATION:   

            1.         You must register for this class at the Office of Admissions and Records.

                        2.         The last day to drop the class with no record is Friday, January 15.

                        3.         The last day to drop the class for a "W" grade is Monday, January 25.

4.         After Jan. 25, if you are enrolled, you will receive one of the following grades: A  B  C  D  F  or  I  (Incomplete, is only allowed in special cases).

 

In this class, it is your responsibility to drop the class in order to avoid a grade.  You must go to the registrar by the above dates to avoid a grade from option three or four.

 

HOW TO SUCCEED IN A MATH CLASS:

 

1) Come to every class meeting.

            2) Arrive early, get yourself settled and be ready when class starts.  Sit where you                              won't be distracted.

            3) Read each section before it is discussed in class.

            4) Do all of the homework.

            5) Do some math every day.

            6) Start preparing for tests at least a week in advance.

            7) Take advantage of tutors and office hours, extra help can make a big difference.

            8) Do some review every time you study math.

            9) Be willing to ask questions.

            10) Take notes.

            11) Study in groups and find a study buddy.

            12) Any thing else you can add that works for you?_________________________

 

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY (CHEATING):

 

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.

 

Disciplinary actions for cheating in this class: Cheating will result in a grade of zero on the item on which the cheating occurred.  The worst thing about cheating, however, is compromising your character for such a small reward.

 

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.

 

 

Lecture Schedule Math 187AA

                                                                                                                                                           

 

v     Do homework for a section before the next section is presented in class.  Having a hard time getting started?  Promise yourself that after doing math for a half-hour, you can do something else and take advantage of the assistance offered by the computer and tutors.

 

Jan. 4               Introduction to the class & syllabus

Sect. 1.1 Understanding Whole Numbers          Due Friday, January 15

Sect. 1.2 Addition of Whole Numbers  Due Friday, January 15

                        Sect. 1.3 Subtraction of Whole Numbers          Due Friday, January 15

 

*********

 

v     Introduce yourself to 3 classmates to develop a math support system.

 

Jan. 6               Sect. 1.4 Multiplication of Whole Numbers       Due Friday, January 15

                        Sect. 1.5 Division of Whole Numbers               Due Friday, January 15

 

               Quiz #1 on Sections 1.1 – 1.5 is due Friday, January 15 at 11:30 pm

                                                                                                                                                           

v     Write 5 questions on what you do not understand in this chapter.  Plan time to get assistance; then DO IT!

 

Jan. 11             Sect. 1.6 Exponents & Order of Operations      Due Friday, January 22                                                                        

                        Sect. 1.7 Rounding and Estimation                    Due Friday, January 22

 

*********

v  Begin today reviewing for your exam next Monday.  Do some math everyday.

v  Do the practice for exam #1 in MyMathLab (see the handout which reviews for exam #1)

 

Jan. 13             Sect. 1.8 Applied Problems                              Due Friday, January 22

                        Sect. 2.1 Understanding Fractions                     Due Friday, January 22

                        Sect. 2.2 Simplifying Fractions              Due Friday, January 22

                                                                                                                                   

Schedule Continued on the Next Page

 

 

Lecture Schedule Math 187AA (continued)

 

 

v     Every time you do homework from a section, write down 2 problems which could be on the next math exam and review them periodically.

 

Jan. 18             MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY

*********

v     Review your class notes before beginning your homework.  You did take notes didn’t you?  If not, try doing it at the next class meeting.

 

Jan. 20             Exam #1 (Sections 1.1 – 1.8)

                        Sect. 2.3 Improper Fractions & Mixed Numbers                      Due Friday, January 29

                        Sect. 2.4 Multiplication of Fractions & Mixed Numbers            Due Friday, January 29

                                                                                                                                                           

v     When your exam is returned, write your questions on what you do not understand in chapter 1.  Plan time to get assistance; then DO IT!

 

Jan. 25             Finish Section 2.4

Sect. 2.5 Division of Fractions & Mixed Numbers                     Due Friday, February 5

Sect. 2.6 The Least Common Denominator                               Due Friday, February 5

 

Quiz #2 on sections 2.1 – 2.5 is due Tuesday, February 2

                                           

*********

v     Do some fraction word problems every day for the next 7 days (get help if you need it).

 

Jan. 27             Sect. 2.7 Addition & Subtraction of Fractions               Due Friday, February 5

Sect. 2.8 Combining Mixed Numbers & Order of Operations Due Friday, February 5

Sect. 2.9Applied Problems involving Fractions              Due Friday, February 5

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

 

 

 

 

Lecture Schedule Math 187AA (continued)

 

v     Summarize what you learned in class today.

 

Feb. 1              Finish Section 2.9

                        Sect. 3.1 Decimal Notation                                                     Due Wednesday, Feb. 10                     Sect. 3.2 Comparing, Ordering & Rounding Decimals         Due Wednesday, Feb. 10

 

*********

 

v     Attend class every day on time.

 

Feb. 3              Exam #2 (Sections 2.1 – 2.9)

                        Sect. 3.3 Addition & Subtraction of Decimals   Due Wednesday, Feb. 10

                        Sect. 3.4 Multiplication of Decimals                              Due Wednesday, Feb. 10

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

v     Begin going over old exams to prepare for the final.  Write a practice final.

 

Feb. 8              Review for Final Exam

*********

 

Feb. 10            Final Exam for Math 187AA (Chapters 1 & 2, and Sections 3.1 – 3.4)

This is the day that you will successfully complete Math 187AA….CONGRATULATIONS!

 

 

Be sure that you are registered for Math 187B which begins next  week.