MAT 101 – Beginning Algebra

                                                 Mathematics Department

 

Semester: Fall 2008

 

Catalog Course Description: This course includes the following topics: operations with signed numbers; addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with algebraic expressions; factoring; techniques for solving linear and fractional equations; and an introduction to graphing.

 

Prerequisite(s):                      MAT 100, RDG 032 or Appropriate Assessment Score

Credit Hours:             3.0 Credit Hours

 

Departmental Website:         http://midlandstech.edu/mathdepartment

 

Instructor:                              Jason Wetzel

Office:                                     Airport Campus     RO 203 

Telephone:                             (803) 822-3074

E-mail:                                   WetzelJ@midlandstech.edu

Campus Mailbox:                  Airport Campus   RO 105

Personal Website:                  http://www.midlandstech.edu/math/wetzel

 

Departmental Assistant:       Mitzi Trigg – TriggM@MidlandsTech.edu – 738-7689

Department Chair:                 Rick Bailey – BaileyR@MidlandsTech.edu – 738-7618

Program Coordinator:            Rose Jenkins – JenkinsR@MidlandsTech.edu – 822-3351       

 

Class Schedule[s]:                 L0Y:        MW        8:00-9:25 BLEC 117  (Batesburg-Leesville Campus)       

                                                                A4Y:       MW        2:20-3:45 AC 217

 

Office Hours:                         Please see my website

 

Textbook(s):                           Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, by George Woodbury Addison Wesley, 2nd Edition, 2009

 

Equipment:                             Scientific or graphing calculator. Note: A TI-84 or TI-84+ graphing calculator will be required for subsequent courses.

 

General Education Core Competency Statement:  Programs may use this course to meet the general education core competency of mathematics.

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

1.        Factor binomials and trinomials and use these techniques in solving quadratic equations

 

2.        Combine rational expressions by addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division and solve rational equations.

 

3.        Represent linear equations graphically and identify slope and intercepts.

 

4.        Solve word problems with linear and quadratic equations (including, but not limited to mixture and interest).

 

Course Outcomes and Competencies:

Intended Course Outcome: Students should be able to understand and apply computational skills, quantitative reasoning and symbolic reasoning to evaluate and solve problems systematically.

 

            Course Competency: Students should be able to solve mathematical problems by identifying what information is available and relevant to the problem; by selecting or developing appropriate procedures and relationships; by correctly applying the methods selected to the information available; and by verifying the validity and appropriateness of the solution.

            Performance Measurement Instrument: Students will be given four applied mathematical problems to solve selected by the Mathematics Department to measure successful attainment of the competency.  These problems will be embedded within student quizzes and tests.  A student correctly solving 3 out of 4 of the problems will be considered to have successfully attained the competency.  The goal is for 75% of the students completing the assessment to successfully attain the competency.

Course Attendance:  

ABSENCE -          Failure to be present for a scheduled meeting of the class or arriving for the class more than ten minutes after the scheduled time for the class to begin.

TARDY ---             Arrival to class after the instructor has called the roll and before ten minutes past the time scheduled for the class to begin.

I.                     Absences are counted from the first day of classes.

II.                   Three absences are allowed for a class that meets two times per week.

III.                 Three tardies are considered as one absence.  The student must meet with the instructor at the end of the class to which he has been late to have the absence changed to a tardy.

IV.                 There are no "excused" absences; all absences are counted, regardless of the reason for the absence.

V.                   A student missing class time by leaving early will also be counted absent.

 

 Please note the following: You are responsible for all material and announcements presented, whether you are present or absent. 

 

Withdrawal:  Should the maximum allowable absences be exceeded prior to midterm, a "W" will be submitted to the registrar to be recorded on the student's transcript.  Should the maximum allowable absences be exceeded after midterm, a "W" will be submitted to the registrar if the student was passing the course at the time of withdrawal OR a "WF" will be submitted if the student was failing the course at the time of withdrawal.

 

Course Requirements:  This is a hybrid course.  Students will be required to have a MyMathLab-CourseCompass account.  This software will be used for all homework and pop-quizzes. 

 

                                                                MyMathLab-CampusCruiser:     http://www.coursecompass.com/

 

                                                        For each section we cover in the book, there will be a corresponding homework assignment on MyMathLab-CourseCompass.   Homework will become available online the day before each class and will have a deadline the day of the next chapter test.  One or two pop-quizzes will be given on MyMathLab-CourseCompass each chapter.  There will be up to three attempts allowed for each pop-quiz. 

 

                                                There will be NO make-ups!  If you are absent for a unit test, your final exam grade will also count for the missing test grade.  If you take all five unit tests, your final exam grade will replace your lowest unit test if your final exam grade is higher.

 

Course Grading:        There will be 800 possible points for the course.

                                                                    100  homework

                                                                    100  pop quizzes

                                                                    500  five unit tests (100 pts. each)

                                                                    100  final exam

 

Grading Scale:                       90-100                     A                             Superior Work

                                                                  80-89                     B                             Good Work

                                                                  70-79                     C                             Average Work

                                                  60-69                     D                             Below Average Work

                                                                   0- 59                     F                              Unsatisfactory Work

 

Special Procedures:   Extra Credit:  An electronic course evaluation will become available to you through                                                           MTC Online.  It is important for MTC to get your feedback from this course.  At the end of the                                         semester, the class with the highest response rate will earn 3 bonus points on the final exam.

 

 

Classroom Rules/Other:       

·         Come to class each day ON TIME,  prepared with your book, paper, pencil, and calculator

·         Keep up with your homework and have questions ready to ask at the beginning of each class

·         Maintain a positive learning environment in the classroom (nobody has the right to interfere with the learning of people around you)

·         Take notes and follow along in class

·         Turn cell phones off.  No headphones/earphones are allowed.

·         If I see or hear a cell phone while you are taking a test, you will get a ZERO.

 

 

Course Topic Outline/Course Calendar with Assignments:

 

Week

Topic

Section

1

Linear Equations

 

 

Introduction to Linear Equations

2.1

 

Solving Linear Equations: A General Strategy

2.2

2

Problem Solving: Applications of Linear Equations

2.3

 

Application Involving Percents; Ratio and Proportion

2.4

3

Linear Inequalities

2.5

 

TEST 1

 

 

 

 

 

Graphing Linear Equations

 

 

The Rectangular Coordinate System; Equations in Two Variables

3.1

4

Graphing Linear Equations and Their Intercepts

3.2

 

Slope of a Line

3.3

 

Linear Functions

3.4

5

Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

3.5

 

Equations of Lines

3.6

6

Linear Inequalities

3.7

 

TEST 2

 

 

 

 

 

Exponents and Polynomials

 

 

Exponents

5.1

7

Negative Exponents; Scientific Notations

5.2

 

Polynomials; Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials

5.3

 

Multiplying Polynomials

5.4

8

Dividing Polynomials

5.5

 

TEST 3

 

 

 

 

 

Factoring and Quadratic Equations

 

 

An Introduction to Factoring; The Greatest Common Factor; Factoring by Grouping

6.1

9

Factoring Trinomials of the Form x2 + bx + c

6.2

 

Factoring Trinomials of the Form ax2 + bx + c

6.3

 

Factoring Special Binomials

6.4

10

Factoring Polynomials; A General Strategy

6.5

 

Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring

6.6

 

Quadratic Functions

6.7

11

Applications of Quadratic Equations and Quadratic Functions

6.8

 

TEST 4

 

 

 

 

12

Rational Expressions and Equations

 

 

Rational Expressions and Functions

7.1

 

Multiplication and Division of Rational Expressions

7.2

 

Addition and Subtraction of Rational Expressions with the Same Denominator

7.3

13

Addition and Subtraction of Rational Expressions with Unlike Denominators

7.4

 

Complex Fractions

7.5

 

Rational Equations

7.6

14

Applications of Rational Equations

7.7

 

TEST 5

 

 

 

 

 

Review

 

 

Departmental Exam

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: Should change become necessary, the instructor reserves the right to adjust the requirements, pace, or scheduling of this course.  Any change will be announced in class before it becomes effective.