ELEMENTS OF ALGEBRA
Course Objectives: This course presents elementary
concepts of algebra and teaches basic algebra
skills. It is intended to prepare students for Intermediate Algebra, a skills
course required of most
students for graduation from Utah State University.
Text: Beginning Algebra; (Lial/Hornsby/McGinnis) Tenth Edition
Topics Covered: Real Number Operations (Addition,
Subtraction, Division, and Multiplication),
Solving Linear Equations and Inequalities in One Variable, Linear Equations in
Two Variables,
Exponents, Factoring, Operations with Polynomials and with Rational Expressions,
Various Types
of Applications Problems, Equations of Lines, and Graphing Linear Inequalities
in Two Variables
Calculators: Calculators are NOT ALLOWED on
tests. When you do your homework, it is
recommended that you do not use your calculator. Use a calculator sparingly on
application
problems where numbers are large.
Tuesday & Thursday Classes: Heidi Wursten will be
conducting Supplemental Instruction sessions
on Tuesday and Thursday. These sessions will be most beneficial if you have done
the previous
days homework before attending. You will be able to ask questions and get
clarification on
concepts that are challenging to you. Attendance at these sessions is mandatory
and will count
toward your final attendance grade.
Attendance: Attendance in class is crucial.
Class-time will be spent answering question about the
homework and discussing new material. Students are encouraged to ask and answer
questions and to participate in classroom discussions and activities. It should
be noted that it
is impossible to cover textbook material in the same depth that it is presented
in the textbook
itself. Students are expected to study the textbook to learn information not
presented in class.
Students who must miss class are responsible for contacting the instructor in
advance, making
arrangements to turn in assignments that are due, and getting notes from missed
lectures.
Students who miss class repeatedly or fail to consult with the instructor will
be referred to the
director, Nazih Al-Rashid.
Homework: Please see attached page that describes
how your homework must be written up.
Your three lowest homework scores will be dropped, and then your percent correct
on the
remaining assignments will serve as your homework score. Late homework will not
be accepted
except in extenuating circumstances (serious illness, for example). Each
assignment is due on the
next class meeting day after it is assigned. The homework will be worth 100
points.
Quizzes: Brief quizzes worth 10 points each will be
given frequently and without prior
announcement. The 10 best quiz scores will be counted.
Tests: Four midterm exams and a comprehensive final
exam will be given. Make-up exams will be
given only in emergencies, and you must obtain prior consent from the
instructor. Each midterm
exam will be worth 100 points. The comprehensive final exam is on December 10 at
9:30 a.m. and
is worth 200 points.
Test Corrections: All students are required to do
corrections on every exam. These will be due one
week after the exam is returned. The corrections consist of three parts: 1) the
missed problem must
be reworked correctly, 2) a brief written explanation of the error must be
given, and 3) similar
problems from a list I provide must be correctly worked. In the past, students
have found this to be
a valuable learning experience. It is also motivation to do well on the exam so
that the correction
process is minimized.
| Grading Policy: | Attendance | 100 points |
| Homework | 100 points | |
| Quizzes | 100 points (10 points each) | |
| Tests | 400 points (100 points each) | |
| Test Corrections | 100 points (25 points each) | |
| Final Exam | 200 points |
Math 0900 is a pass/fail class. Students must accumulate
at least 70% of the points possible over
the semester in order to earn a “pass” in the course.
Students who fall below 70% accuracy on homework, quizzes,
or exams are expected to meet
individually with the instructor and/or get help from the math tutors. Studies
have shown that studying
with other students is also an effective way to increase your understanding of
mathematics.
American with Disabilities Act: Title II of the
Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that all State
and Local Government programs be administered in such a manner as to protect
qualified
individuals with disabilities from discriminatory treatment. Utah State
University complies with this
policy, and therefore:
Students with disabilities who wish to receive
accommodations in this class should contact the
Disability Resource Center at 797-2444 during the first week of class so that
warranted
accommodations can be implemented in a timely fashion. The Disability Resource
Center is
located in room 101 of the University Inn. Special considerations must be
discussed with and
approved by the instructor.
Note: Elements of Algebra (Math 0900) is a remedial
math course. Its three credit hours do not count
toward graduation.
Your final exam will be comprehensive. You will take the
final exam at
9:30 a.m. on MONDAY, APRIL 27
| Day | Date | Section | Page | Assigned Problems |
| Jan 5 | 1.1 Fractions | 11 | 1-6, 13, 19, 21, 24, 27, 31, 38, 39, 44, 47, 52, | |
| Jan 7 | 1.1 Fractions | 11 | 32, 56, 65, 68, 75, 77, 87, 89 | |
| Jan 9 | 1.2 Exponents, Order of Operations, and Inequalities |
21 | 3, 6, 12, 18, 21, 27, 40, 45, 50, 57, 60, 63, 66, 72, 75, 81, 84, 87, 92, 93 | |
| Jan 12 | 1.3 Variables, Expressions, and Equations |
29 | 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 21, 24, 25, 27, 33, 42, 48, 54, 58, 60, 63, 72 | |
| 1.4 Real Numbers and the Number Line |
38 | 11, 14, 17, 20, 30, 42, 54, 60, 63, 66, 69 | ||
| Jan 14 | 1.5 Adding and Subtracting Real Numbers |
48 | 6, 18, 27, 33, 36, 42, 54, 60, 63, 69, 72, 75, 77, 81, 87, 90, 96, 99, 105, 108, 111, 116, 118, 123, 126 | |
| Jan 16 | 1.6 Multiplying and Dividing Real Numbers |
62 | 1, 3, 20, 29, 41, 44, 46, 48, 65, 72, 75, 83, 87,
91, 93, 99, 103, 111, 115, 121 |
|
| Jan 19 | MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY NO CLASSES | |||
| Jan 21 | 1.7 Properties of Real Numbers | 74 | 9, 18, 24, 27, 30, 31, 48, 51, 53, 54, 63, 73, 78, 84, 87 | |
| 1.8 Simplifying Expressions | 80 | 2, 10, 19, 28, 36, 45, 48, 53, 59, 62, 70, 73, 76, 82, 85, 86, 87, 88 | ||
| Jan 23 | 2.1 The Addition Property of Equality | 100 | 3, 18, 21, 24, 33, 38, 39, 43, 52, 53, 56, 62, 68, 71 | |
| 2.2 The Multiplication Property of Equality | 106 | 3, 5, 6, 21, 24, 33, 36, 39, 45, 48, 51, 62, 65, 68, 76 | ||
| Jan 26 | 2.3 More on Solving Linear Equations | 115 | 2, 3, 15, 18, 24, 26, 30, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 55, 61 | |
| Jan 28 | REVIEW | 93 186 |
Chapter 1 Test ALL Chapter 2 Test 1-5 |
|
| Jan 30 | EXAM 1 – YOU WILL BE TESTED ON SECTIONS 1.1-2.3 | |||
| Feb 2 | 2.4 An Intro. to Applications of Linear Equations | 125 | 1, 6, 9, 18, 22, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 54, 57, 60 | |
| 2.5 Geometry Formulas and Applications | 137 | 2, 3,8, 11, 17, 21, 29, 33, 48, 55, 60, 69, 72, 78, 81, 84 | ||
| Feb 4 | 2.6 Ratios and Proportions | 146 | 5, 10, 15, 18, 22, 27, 31, 36, 42, 49, 54, 61, 64, 67, 71 | |
| Feb 6 | 2.7 More about Problem Solving | 157 | 2, 10,13,22, 25, 30, 33, 46, 54 | |
| Feb 9 | 2.8 Solving Linear Inequalities | 172 | 2, 12, 19, 24, 30, 44, 54, 67, 74, 77, 82, 87, 91 | |
| Feb 11 | 3.1 Reading Graphs; Linear Equations in Two Variables | 199 | 4, 7, 9, 12, 15, 21, 24, 30, 39, 42, 50, 56, 64, 70, 73, 76, | |
| 3.2 Graphing Linear Equations in Two Variables | 212 | 6, 9, 12, 18, 25, 30, 31, 41, 46, 56, 62, 67 | ||
| Feb 13 | 3.3 The Slope of a Line | 224 | 5, 8d, 11, 13, 18, 21, 25, 34, 44, 50, 51, 56, 59, 62, 68, 69, 72 | |
| Feb 16 | PRESIDENT’S DAY NO CLASSES MONDAY CLASSES MEET ON TUESDAY | |||
| Feb 17 | 3.4 Equations of a Line | 237 | 3, 5, 12, 13, 15, 25, 32, 35, 36, 44, 48, 51, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 70 | |
| Feb 18 | 3.5 Graphing Linear Inequalities in Two Variables | 247 | 6, 12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36 | |
| Feb 20 | REVIEW | 186 268 |
Chapter 2 Test 6 – 20 Chapter 3 Test 1 – 20 |
|
| Feb 23 | EXAM 2 – YOU WILL BE TESTED ON SECTIONS 2.3-3.5 | |||
| Feb 25 | 5.1 The Product Rule and Power Rules of Exponents | 333 | 3, 13, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 36, 38, 39, 42, 45,
48, 54, 62, 63, 66, 72, 75, 81, 82, 87 |
|
| Feb 27 | 5.2 Integer Exponents and the Quotient Rule | 342 | 7, 11, 14b, 14d, 19, 24, 36, 39, 42, 48, 51, 54, 60, 63, 66, 72, 75, 78 | |
| 5.3 Scientific Notation | 350 | 1c, 4, 10, 16, 19, 27, 30, 33, 46, 74 | ||
| Mar 2 | 5.4 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials | 361 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 21, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 65, 80, 87 | |
| Mar 4 | 5.5 Multiplying Polynomials | 369 | 3, 9, 12, 18, 21, 27, 30, 36, 39, 45, 48, 54, 60, 63, 69, 72, 87 | |
| 5.6 Special Products | 375 | 1, 5, 13, 21, 26, 34, 57, 62, 69, 74, 77 | ||
| Mar 6 | 5.7 Dividing Polynomials | 384 | 3, 6, 12, 24, 33, 43, 46, 54, 58, 60, 68, 71, 77 | |
| MARCH 9-13 SPRING BREAK NO CLASSES | ||||
| Mar 16 | 6.1 Greatest Common Factor; Factoring by Grouping | 406 | 8, 11, 14, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42,
45, 48, 51, 54, 61, 64, 67, 76, 82, 92 |
|
| Mar 18 | 6.2 Factoring Trinomials | 412 | 1, 10, 20, 23, 32, 40, 51, 56, 65, 73 | |
| 6.3 More on Factoring Trinomials | 419 | 8, 20, 30, 35, 40, 78, 83, 88, 93 | ||
| Mar 20 | 6.4 Special Factoring Rules | 428 | 5, 19, 24, 34, 39, 49, 56, 73, 74 | |
| Summary | 431 | 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 | ||
| Mar 23 | REVIEW | 395 461 |
Chapter 5 Test ALL Chapter 6 Test 1- 20 |
|
| Mar 25 | EXAM 3 – YOU WILL BE TESTED ON SECTIONS 5.1-6.4 | |||
| Mar 27 | 6.5 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring | 438 | 13, 22, 25, 29, 32, 38, 41, 47, 54, 57, 60, 61, 64, 70, 79, 83 | |
| Mar 30 | 6.6 Applications of Quadratic Equations | 447 | 11, 19, 26, 32b, 32c, 37, 38 | |
| Apr 1 | 7.1 Fundamental Property of Rational Expressions | 473 | 4, 9, 13, 16, 23, 34, 37, 43, 63, 67, 77 | |
| 7.2 Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions | 480 | 5, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 55, 63 | ||
| Apr 3 | 7.3 Least Common Denominators | 486 | 5, 17, 26, 34, 39, 46, 55, 60, 65 | |
| 7.4 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions | 494 | 2, 5, 21, 26, 33, 39, 49, 54, 64 | ||
| Apr 6 | 7.5 Complex Fractions | 502 | 3,11,15,19,23,31 | |
| Apr 8 | 7.6 Solving Equations with Rational Expressions | 511 | 2, 3,12, 16, 21, 24, 27, 31, 33, 39, 42, 48, 58, 61, 68, 74, 80, 83 | |
| Apr 10 | 7.7 Applications of Rational Expressions | 521 | 3,11,19, 21,33,41 | |
| Apr 13 | REVIEW | 461 | Chapter 6 Test 21-28 Chapter 7 Test 1-22 |
|
| Apr 15 | REVIEW | |||
| Apr 17 | EXAM 4—YOU WILL BE TESTED ON SECTIONS 6.5-7.7 | |||
| Apr 20 | REVIEW FOR FINAL EXAM | |||
| Apr 22 | ||||
| Apr 24 | ||||
Math 0900 Written Homework Guidelines
1.) Any written work will be presented on 8.5x11 inch
loose leaf paper (not torn from a loose-leaf or
spiral binder). Paper carefully torn from notepads is acceptable.
2.) Name, class and section, date, and homework section
number should appear in the upper right
corner of each sheet.
3.) Homework is to be rigorously organized and ordered,
with the mathematical progression of a
problem indicated clearly through the use of appropriate relational symbols,
spacing, and use of
columnar formatting that reads from top to bottom and left to right.
4.) Only one problem may appear in each horizontal section
(line) of your homework. Individual
problems should be worked in columns.
5.) Show all the work necessary for each problem.
6.) If you make a mistake, please erase it. Do NOT
“scratch” it out!!! If you write with a pen, use
white-out (liquid paper) to erase your mistake.
7.) Leave two blank lines in between two different problems.
8.) Write big enough so your answer is readable.
9.) Make sure your complete answer to a problem appears on
one side of a page. Do not begin an
answer on one page and finish it on the back of the page or on another page.
10.) For each word problem, the conclusion should be given
clearing and include units of
measurement.
11.) Graphs are required to have labeled axes and/or captions.
12.) Obey the rules of punctuation and grammar.
