Course Elementary Algebra

Course Outline

The topics that will be taught throughout the course include: Basic Concepts of
Arithmetic and Algebra; Real Numbers; First-Degree Equations and Inequalities of One
Variable ; Formulas and Problem Solving; Exponents and Polynomials; Factoring and
Solving Equations; Algebraic Fractions ; Coordinate Geometry and Linear Systems;
Roots and Radicals ; Quadratic Equations; Relations and Functions.

Course Objectives

To categorize numbers; Manipulate numbers using basic numerical operations; Evaluate
arithmetic expressions containing exponents; Solve first-degree equations and
inequalities; Solve formulas for a given variable; Recognize, solve proportion problems ,
analyze and solve word problems; Simplify, add, subtract, multiply and divide
polynomials; Simplify expressions containing negative exponents; Factor polynomials
using appropriate methods ; Apply factoring techniques to solve second-degree equations;
Factoring polynomials using a variety of techniques; Solve equations and word problems
using factoring; Manipulate and simplify algebraic fractions using the basic operations of
addition , subtraction, multiplication and division; Solve equations containing algebraic
fractions; Graph equations in two variables; Determine equations of lines ; Solve systems
of equations; Determine roots; Simplify, add, subtract, multiply and divide radicals ;
Solve equations containing radicals; Solve quadratic equations using completing the
square and the quadratic formula; Define and evaluate relations and functions.

Homework and Exams

Homework will be assigned but will not be collected. Quizzes (50 points total) will be given
throughout the semester. Quizzes will be taken verbatim from previously assigned homework
and notes will be allowed. Therefore, it is important that you complete homework assignments
on time. Attendance is important since no make up quizzes will be assigned. There will be five
exams (worth 100 points each) from which the best four will be averaged into your grade.
Because of this, no make-up exams will be given. No calculators will be allowed on any
exams. However, a calculator is recommended for some homework problems. In addition, there
will be a common final exam (200 points) which will be cumulative covering the material
presented throughout the course. Updated grades will be posted after each exam. Students
should plan to spend a minimum of three hours of study outside the class for each hour of
lecture. It is also important that students read the textbook. The lecture is designed as a
supplement to the text and is not an alternative for the textbook. Students are responsible for all
the topics covered in the text unless otherwise stated in the class lecture.

Class Expectations

Students are expected to follow the “Standards of Student Conduct” and “Student Academic
Integrity Policy Statement” for Mission College. Please arrive on time and be present
throughout the entire class. Students are to wait until the end of lecture to leave the room to
minimize class disruptions. Students should not be engaged in personal conversations while
instructor is lecturing. Students must turn off pagers, cell phones, ipods, and any other electronic
devices during class time. Students should also be prepared to discuss any previous assignments.
It is the student’s responsibility to drop the class if he/she no longer decides to attend class. Any
student appearing on the grade roster will receive a grade regardless of whether they are
attending classes or not.

Grading

Your final grade will be calculated as follows:

Total points received/Total points possible (650) = % grade

The following grading scale will be used:

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

Tutoring

Tutoring is available at the math center located in the basement of the Campus Center building
and is highly recommended if you are having difficulties with the assignments. In addition,
computer software and videos are available. There will also be workshops offered during the
semester for this course.

O U T L I N E

This schedule is tentative. It is subject to change .

Week 1	September 2 Introduction, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3	September 4 1.4, 1.5, 2.1
Week 2	September 9 2.2, 2.3, 2.4	September 11 2.5, 3.1
Week 3	September 16 3.2, 3.3, Rev Ch 1&2	September 18 3.4, Test Ch 1&2
Week 4	September 23 3.5, 4.1	September 25 4.3, 4.4
Week 5	September 30 4.5, 5.1	October 2 5.2, Rev Ch 3&4
Week 6	October 7 5.3, Test Ch 3&4	October 9 5.4, 5.5
Week 7	October 14 5.6, 6.1	October 16 6.2, 6.3
Week 8	October 21 6.4, 6.5	October 23 7.1, Rev Ch 5&6
Week 9	October 28 7.2, Ch 5&6 Test	October 30 7.3, 7.4
Week 10	November 4 7.5, 7.6	November 6 8.1, 8.2
Week 11	November 11 8.3, 8.4	November 13 8.5, 8.6
Week 12	November 18 8.7, 9.1	November 20 9.2, Rev. 7&8
Week 13	November 25 9.3, Test Ch 7&8	November 27 Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 14	December 2 9.4, 9.5	December 4 10.1, 10.2
Week 15	December 9 10.3, 10.4	December 11 11.7, Rev Ch 9, 10, & 11
Week 16	December 16 Rev Final, Test Ch 9, 10, 11	December 18 Rev Final

Note: Final will be held on Saturday December 20 from 10:15am to 12:15pm

Homework Assignments

Section	Assignments	Section	Assignments
1.1	1-65 eoo	6.1	1-91 eoo
1.2	1-85 eoo	6.2	1-75 eoo
1.3	1-127 eoo	6.3	1-67 odd
1.4	1-91 eoo	6.4	1-79 eoo
1.5	1-81 eoo	6.5	1-87 eoo
Ch1 rev	1-67 odd	Ch6 rev	1-57 odd
Ch1 test	1-25 all	Ch6 test	1-25 all
2.1	1-81 eoo	7.1	1-59 eoo
2.2	1-103 eoo	7.2	1-45 odd
2.3	1-91 eoo	7.3	1-79 eoo
2.4	1-99 eoo	7.4	1-71 eoo
2.5	1-71 eoo	7.5	1-51 odd
Ch2 rev	1-65 odd	7.6	1-49 odd
Ch2 test	1-25 all	Ch7 rev	1-35 odd
3.1	1-71 odd	Ch7 test	1-25 all
3.2	1-67 odd	8.1	1-49 eoo
3.3	1-57 odd	8.2	1-55 odd
3.4	1-85 odd	8.3	1-73 odd
3.5	1-59 eoo	8.4	1- 43 odd
Ch3 rev	1-35 odd, 41-51 odd	8.5	1-29 odd
Ch3 test	1-18 all, 21-25 all	8.6	1-39 odd
4.1	1-73 eoo	8.7	1-61 odd
4.2	1-69 eoo	Ch8 rev	1-49 odd
4.3	1-39 odd	Ch8 test	1-25 all
4.4	1-41 odd	9.1	1-83 oll
4.5	1-29 odd	9.2	1-65 odd
Ch4 rev	1-25 all	9.3	1-71 odd
Ch4 test	1-71 eoo	9.4	1-69 odd
5.1	1-83 eoo	9.5	1-39 odd
5.2	1-121 eoo	Ch9 rev	1-67 odd
5.3	1-49 odd	Ch9 test	1-25 all
5.4	1-39 odd	10.1	1-77 eoo
5.5	1-121 odd	10.2	1-35 odd
Ch5 rev	1-83 odd	10.3	1-47 odd
Ch5 test	1-25 all	10.4	1-45 odd
		Ch10 rev	1-21 odd
		Ch10 test	1-20 all
		11.7	1-43 odd