Elementary Algebra

PLEASE PHOTOCOPY ALL EXAMS BEFORE MAILING THEM TO ME

TUTORING AND HELP SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE through ITV at the sites and if you contact me directly through e-mail, phone or fax. We have a scheduled time for ITV sessions every week (They will be scheduled as students need them). Also, I am the Math & Writing Center Coordinator, so I can set up times for sessions or conduct them upon contact.

Supplies: A pencil, notebook paper, your textbook and your brain are required for your success in this course. In addition, you may use your TI-83 calculator. You will be responsible for being familiar (or getting familiar) with its proper use. I recommend that you use your calculator to check your homework answers, and not for doing your homework for you. Please do not become dependent upon using it to solve problems for you.

Prerequisites: It is assumed that you have earned a “C” grade, or better, in Math 070, Basic Mathematics, but you may also be registered for this class if you have my specific permission. The reason for this is that I would like you to be familiar with topics concerning basic mathematics to be successful in the study of algebra.

Student Responsibility: IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP WITH THE CLASS WORK, YOU WILL NOT PASS. I encourage you to keep up with the class work. Trying to do all of it at the end of the allowed time period can be stressful for both you and your instructor. Please do not procrastinate!

Homework: First of all—THERE IS TUTORING AVAILABLE IN THE MATH & WRITING CENTER (BUILDING #6), FROM 10-5 M-F!!!!! Homework assignments are mapped out on the class schedule. Please do these in a timely manner.

Homework for each section must be completed before I will give you the test for the corresponding chapter! Fax or mail your homework to me at the college! If you do not get the proper practice by doing the assignments, you will not pass the class! ALWAYS SHOW YOUR WORK, OR YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CREDIT.

Exams: We will have 2 exams worth 100 points each. THESE EXAMS MUST BE TAKEN DURING THE SCHEDULED TIMES, UNLESS YOU HAVE A VALID EXCUSE. Mail your exam to me at the college, after you have photocopied it for your personal records.

Final Examination: You will have a mandatory, comprehensive final exam, worth 200 points, over all the material covered over the term.

Communication: You can communicate with me in several ways. You can call, fax, e-mail or just come see me. You can fax or mail your work to me, or you can put it in my box/hand it to me at my office.

Grades: Letter grades are assigned as follows:
(These are percent scores based on
the points you earn out of the total
possible.)

Your grade will be calculated as follows:

Class Schedule: Here is the list of assignments and when the tests will be given. SHOW YOUR STEP-BY-STEP WORK ON THESE ASSIGNMENTS, OR YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CREDIT. Exercises are located in the Exercise Set part of each section.

2.1 Combining Like-Terms: Do Exercises 1-57 odd.
2.2 The Addition Property of Equality: Do Exercises 1-67 odd.
2.3 The Multiplication Property of Equality: Do Exercises 1-63 odd.
2.4 Solving Linear Equations – variable on one side: Do Exercises 1-103, every other odd. (i.e., 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, etc)
2.5 Solving Linear Equations – variable on both sides: Do Exercises 1-77, every other odd.

Take Test 1 October 15-19

2.6 * Inequalities in One Variable : Do Exercises 1-25 odd.
3.1 Formulas: Do Exercises 1-43 odd.
3.2 Changing application problems into equations: Do Exercises 1-35 odd.
3.3 Solving application problems: Do Exercises 1-35 odd.
3.4 Geometric problems: Do Exercises 1-37 odd.

Take Test 2 November 12 – 16

4.1 Exponents: Do Exercises 1-105 every other odd.
4.2 Negative exponents: Do Exercises 1-129 every other odd.
4.3 *Scientific notation: Do Exercises 1-43 odd.
4.4 Addition and subtraction of polynomials : Do Exercises 1-116 every other odd.
4.5 Multiplication of polynomials: Do Exercises 1-109 every other odd.
4.6 *Division of polynomials: Do Exercises 1-41 odd.

Final Exam December 3-7

Course Outcomes: Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide signed numbers
• Apply the concept of rate to problems involving distance and work
• Represent rational numbers as fractions, decimals, and percents.
• Raise numbers to integer powers .
• Write numbers in scientific notation.
• Find square roots of positive numbers.
• Find the perimeter of a two-dimensional figure.
• Apply formulas to find areas of rectangles, triangles, parallelograms, and trapezoids.
• Find the circumference and area of a circle .
• Apply the commutative, associative, and distributive properties.
• Apply the order of operations.
• Apply special properties of 0, 1, and –1.
• Find equivalent algebraic expressions by combining like terms .
• Translate verbal expressions into algebraic expressions.
• Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find the hypotenuse of a right triangle.
• Locate points in the coordinate plane.
• Apply the definitions of run and rise.
• Apply the distance formula.
• Represent functions in four ways: verbally, symbolically , numerically, and graphically.
• Use a calculator to display tables and graphs.
• Solve simple linear equations with a variable on one side of the equation.
• Solve simple linear equations with a variable on both sides of the equation.
• Solve word problems leading to simple linear equations.
• Simplify expressions by removing parentheses and combining like terms.
• Solve equations that require the expression on one or both sides to be simplified.
• Describe a seven- step process for solving problems.
• Apply the seven-step process to a variety of problems.
• Find the slope of a line given two points .
• Find the slope of a line from its equation.
• Interpret slope as a rate of change and the y-intercept as an initial value.
• Find an equation of a line given a slope and y-intercept, one point and slope, or two points.
• Write the equation of a line in slope-intercept form.
• Use the x- and y- intercepts to sketch the graph of a linear equation.
• Solve a system of linear equations in two variables by graphing.
• Identify an inconsistent system of linear equations in two variables.
• Solve a system of linear equations in two variables by the substitution method.
• Solve a system of linear equations in two variables by the elimination method.
• Solve proportion equations .
• Set up proportions.
• Apply proportions to problems.
• Solve problems involving real -life applications.
• Explain the laws of exponents .
• Apply the laws of exponents to simplify expressions.
• Expand the product of a monomial and a binomial.
• Factor the product of monomial and a binomial.
• Apply the zero -product property to solve equations of the form ax + bx = 0