Syllabus for Elementary Algebra

Course Information

Prerequisite(s) A score of a least 39 on the numerical skills (NS) component of the ASSET test or a score of 36-100
on the PreAlgebra portion of COMPASS or a score of 0-23 on the Algebra portion of COMPASS or a
grade of S in MTH 090 is required.
Students are required to complete prerequisites for this course. Students who enroll without
completing prerequisites for this course may be withdrawn by the College and may not qualify for a
refund of tuition. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all course prerequisites are
completed and documented at the College.
Course
Description
This course is a review of the fundamental arithmetic and algebra operations. The topics include the
numbers of ordinary arithmetic and their properties; integers and rational numbers; the solving of
equations; polynomials and factoring ; and an introduction to systems of equations and graphs.
Student
Learning
Outcomes
Students will demonstrate competence in: arithmetic skills and concepts; algebraic skills and
concepts; basic coordinate geometry ; critical thinking skills.
Class days
and time
Tuesday/Thursday: 7:30am – 9:10am
Campus and
Class location
Martin Campus: room 2826
Required
textbook and
Course
Materials
Textbook: Developmental Mathematics - Basic Mathematics and Algebra (2nd edition) Author: Lial, Hornsby,
et al, and the My MathLab Starter Kit
Graph paper
Calculators are allowed in this class but may not be used on some sections; recommended calculators include the
TI-30X IIS. Graphing calculators are not permitted.
Last Date of
Withdrawal
December 9, 2009
Make-up
policy
MAKE-UP TEST POLICY: Students who miss a test or quiz should contact the instructor
before the next class meeting. Students who have an excused absence (see Standard
College Policies sheet) should present documentation and complete any make-up work
within one week of the last day covered by their excuse. Students who will miss a test or
quiz because of official school events must make arrangements for making up work prior to
missing. Documentation is subject to verification.
Course
Compass
The HOMEWORK and QUIZ portion of the grade will come from work on MyMathLab. Each
student must have a MyMathLab student access kit. Course Compass ID: blount72172
Quizzes Daily quizzes are required; they must be accessed through
MyMathLab. Each quiz may be attempted up to FIVE times. The highest grade from
these attempts is the grade that will count. The deadline for each quiz is posted on MyMathlab.
Makeups for these quizzes will NOT be given, but at least THREE quiz grades will be dropped
If you do not attempt a quiz before its DEADLINE, you will LOSE one of your five attempts..
Final
Examination
Tuesday, December 15, 2009: 8:00am – 10:00am

College Policy Information

Academic
Misconduct
Students are expected to be honorable in all college assignments. Suspected cases of academic
misconduct are reported to the Dean of Instructional Services.
Attendance
Policy
SSCC Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend all classes for which they are
registered, to be prompt and to remain in class/lab for the entire time. Attendance will be
recorded at every class/lab meeting. On the final grade report, instructors are required to
identify the last day of attendance for all students who receive a grade of “F” or “U.” Students
who are unable to attend class regularly, regardless of the reason or circumstance, should
withdraw from the class. Withdrawal from class can affect eligibility for federal financial aid.
Standard College
Policies
The Standard College Policies apply to all classes at the college and are a part of every official
course syllabus; each student receives a copy when he or she completes the vehicle
registration/waiver procedure.It is the responsibility of the student to have a copy of these policies and
to abide by them. This class syllabus is intended to give further detail about the policies and
expectations in this class. College policies are also published in the Schedule of Classes and the
SSCC College Catalog/Student Handbook. Students are expected to be aware of and abide by
College policies in every class.
Student Email
(Bucs Mail)
are provided an email account. Students who are currently registered must have an email
account. Electronic mail is the official method of communication for delivery of information
Shelton State designated communicators may use this email account to send official
communications to the student body. Student email addresses will be recorded in the college’s
electronic directories and records.
Quality
Enhancement
Plan
Shelton State’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)
Improving Student Success in Online Classes

Grading:
Students who take all tests and have no more than 1 unexcused absence may replace their lowest test grade with the final exam score. The final examination
is required.

  Percentage
of Grade
Student’s
Score
Test #1 (Sections 9.1-10.6) 12%  
Test #2 (Sections 11.1-12.2, 15.3) 12%  
Test #3 (Sections 12.3-13.7) 12%  
Test #4 (Sections 14.1-16.5 12%  
Quiz Average 12%  
Homework Average 10%  
Final Examination (Comprehensive) 30%  
  100%  
Letter grades will be assigned according to the following:

 

Percentage Grade Letter Grade
80-100 S
0-79 U

 

MTH 098-13 NEW BOOK (graded HW is on MyMathLab – Course ID: blount72172) Room 2826 TR 7:30-9:10 am
Instructor: Betsy Blount

Day Date Section Topic Practice Problems
1 Aug 20 9.1 Exponents, Order of Operations and Inequality ;
Introduction to MyMathLab
p. 621: 7 - 22, 25 - 50
2 Aug 25 9.2 Variables, Expressions, and Equations p. 627: 11 – 30 (omit 15, 16), 33 – 44, 59 -70
9.8 Simplifying Expressions p. 683: 5 – 14; 37 - 56
3 Aug 27 10.1 Addition Property of Equality p. 703: 5 - 58
10.2 Multiplication Property of Equality p. 709: 21 -62
4 Sept 1 10.3 More on Solving Linear Equations p. 719: 7 – 30; 33 - 60
5 Sept 3 10.4 An Introduction to Applications of Linear Equations p. 731: 7 – 14; p. 735 49 - 56
6 Sept 8 10.5 Formulas & Applications from Geometry p. 743: 13 – 37; p.748 61 -74
10.6 Solving Linear Inequalities p. 757: 7 - 54
7 Sept 10   Review  
8 Sept 15   Test 1 (9.1 – 10.6)  
9 Sept 17 11.1 Reading Graphs; Linear Equations in Two Variables p. 782: 15 – 24; 27 – 54; 57 - 74
10 Sept 22 11.2 Graphing Linear Equations in Two Variables p. 795: 1 - 30
11 Sept 24 11.3 Slope of a Line p. 809: 1 – 6; 9 – 13; 16 - 45
11.4 Equations of Lines p. 821: 3 – 13; 15 - 29
12 Sept 29 15.3 Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Elimination p. 1089: 15 - 40
13 Oct 1 12.1 Adding & Subtracting Polynomials p. 855: 31 – 47; 53- 86
12.2 Product Rule and Power Rules for Exponents p. 865: 7 – 12; 25 - 85
14 Oct 6   Review  
15 Oct 8   Test 2 (11.1 – 12.2, 15.3) Approx. 20% from previous material
16 Oct 13 12.3 Multiplying Polynomials p. 871: 7 - 43
12.4 Special Products p. 877: 3 – 18; 21 - 32
17 Oct 15 12.5 Integer Exponents & the Quotient Rule p. 887: 1 – 28; 37 - 76
18 Oct 20 12.6 Dividing a Polynomial by a Monomial p. 891: 7 - 28
12.8 Scientific Notation p. 903: 3 – 10; 13 - 32
19 Oct 22 13.1 Factors: Greatest Common Factor p. 923: 1 - 74
13.2 Factoring Trinomials with a Coeff. of 1 for the Squared Term p. 929: 11 - 56
20 Oct 27 13.3 Factoring Trinomials by Grouping p. 933: 7 – 12; 17 – 33
13.4 Factoring Trinomials Using FOIL p. 939: 1 – 6; 27 - 43
21 Oct 29 13.4 Factoring Trinomials Using FOIL p. 939: 1 – 6; 27 – 43
13.5 Special Factoring Techniques p. 947: 5 – 28; 33 – 38; 42-50
22 Nov 3 13.7 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring p. 961: 1 – 12; 15 - 52
13.8 Applications of Quadratic Equations p. 971: 17 - 24
23 Nov 5   Review  
24 Nov 10   Test 3 (12.3 – 13.8) Approx. 20% from previous material  
25 Nov 12 14.1 Fundamental Property of Rational Expressions p. 993: 5 - 52
14.2 Multiplying & Dividing Rational Expressions p. 999: 3 – 20; 23 - 40
26 Nov 17 14.4 Adding & Subtracting Rational Expressions p. 1013: 9 – 20; 23 – 44; 47 - 56
27 Nov 19 16.1 Evaluating Roots p. 1129: 17 – 37; p. 1132 75 - 94
16.2 Multiplying, Dividing, & Simplifying Radicals p. 1139: 3–10; 13–36; 41–72 91 - 102
28 Nov 24 16.3 Adding & Subtracting Radicals p. 1145: 5 - 38
16.5 More Simplifying & Operations with Radicals p. 1157: 5 – 34; 51 - 56
29 Dec 1   Review  
30 Dec 3   Test 4 (14.1 – 16.5) Approx. 20% from previous material  

**********Wednesday December 9, 2009 – Last Day to Withdraw**********

31 Dec 8   Review for Final  
This course outline and the dates established therein are tentative, and the instructor reserves the right to change them .
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