SYLLABUS -- MATH A -- Introductory Algebra -- Fall 02; Sec. No. 1607 -- Don Power
Office:
Downstairs Science, Room 35. Phone
384-6291. Office hours 9-10 MTWF; 1-2 Tu
Web site: www/merced.cc.ca.us/powerd/
e-mail:
powerd@merced.cc.ca.us
Home
phone: Refer to Atwater
Phone Directory.
My Class Schedule: 0800 MTWF in S4B; 1200 MTWF in S2; 1300 MWF in PS-2; 1500 MTWTh in S3.
Math Lab: Open M-Th 0800-2200, Fri 0800-1300, Sat 0900-1300. My Lab hours: To be determined.
Textbook: Martin-Gay, Beginning Algebra, 3th Ed.
Calculator: You will need a scientific or graphing calculator. (The TI-85 or 86 is used in higher courses.)
Course Description
(from 2001-2002 Catalog): MATH-A BEGINNING ALGEBRA. 5 units; 5 hours lecture.
Prerequisite: MATH-80 or MATH-83.
Advisories: ENGL-A, ENGL-41
This course covers the basic operations of addition, multiplication, division,
squaring, and taking the square root of real numbers and algebraic
expressions. It also includes solving and graphing first and second degree
equations, inequalities and systems of linear equations, factoring and
simplifying fractions, radicals, exponents, irrational expressions, and complex
fractions. Mathematical terminology and written problems will be
emphasized throughout the course.
Lecture/Test
Schedule
Grading
System
Homework
Standard
Homework Assignment
Labs
Chapter
Tests
Quizzes
Comprehensive
Final Exam
How
to Succeed
Attendance
Lecture/Test Schedule (Appropximate):
|
1. |
Aug 19-23 |
1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 |
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2. |
Aug 26-30 |
1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.1, 2.2 |
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3. |
Sep 2-6 (Monday holiday) |
2.3, 2.4, Appendix B (angles), 2.5 |
Tue: Lab 1 |
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4. |
Sep 9-13 |
2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9 |
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5. |
Sept 16-20 |
3.1, 3.2, 3.3 |
Mon: Lab 2. Tue: Test on Ch 1-2 |
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6. |
Sept 23-27 |
3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 |
Thurs: Lab 3 |
|
7. |
Sept 30 - Oct 4 |
4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 5.1, 5.2 |
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8. |
Oct 7-11 |
5.3, 5.4, 5.5 |
Mon: Lab 4. Tue: Test on Ch 3-4 |
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9. |
Oct 14-18 |
5.6, 5.7, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 |
Thurs: Lab 5 |
|
10. |
Oct 21-25 |
6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7 |
|
|
11. |
Oct 28 – Nov 1 |
Appendix B (congruent/similar), 6.8, 7.1, 7.2 |
Wed: Lab 6. Thu: Test on Ch 5-6 |
|
12. |
Nov 4-8 |
7.3, 7.4, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 |
Thurs: Lab 7 |
|
13. |
Nov 11-15 (Monday holiday) |
8.4, 8.5, 9.1 |
|
|
14. |
Nov 18-22 |
9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5 |
Mon: Lab 8. Tue: Test of Ch 7-8 |
|
15. |
Nov 25-29 (Th-Fri holiday) |
Appendix B (Pythagoras), 9.6, 9.7 |
|
|
16. |
Dec 2-6 |
10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 |
Tue: Lab 9 |
|
17. |
Dec 9-13 |
10.5, 10.6, Appendix D |
Thurs: Lab 10 |
|
18. |
Mon, Dec 16, 1500 |
Comprehensive Final Exam |
Final Exam |
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|
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Grading Scale |
|
|
|
-- Homework (top 15 of 16), 7 each |
100 points |
|
90% 720-800 |
A |
|
-- Labs (10), 5 each |
50 points |
|
80% 640-719 |
B |
|
-- 4 Chapter Tests -- 100 points each |
400 points |
|
70% 560-639 |
C |
|
-- Final Exam |
250 points |
|
60% 480-559 |
D |
|
Total |
800 points* |
|
Below 60% 0-479 |
F |
|
* Plus Quizzes (2 points each) |
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|
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Due dates: The homework for each week's lessons is due in class on Tuesday of the following week. Example: 1.1 through 1.6 are due in class Aug 28. I will accept late homework up to Wednesday afternoon (2 points off) or Friday afternoon (3 points off). I will not collect homework during finals week.
Format: Start a new page for each lesson. Do not use spiral notebook paper unless you trim the ragged edge.
For each question, include:
 |
A brief summary of the question. Do not copy the text of word problems--summarize them. |
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Your work (or a statement of why you chose your answer) (optional on the very shortest problems). |
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The answer. |
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A check for accuracy (Optional, but important if you really want to learn) |
Standard Homework Assignment For each lesson, do every problem ending in 1, 4, 7, or 9 in the exercise set, including synthesis problems (specifically 1, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 27, etc. For the review exercises, do every problem.
There will be ten 5-point labs using Math Pro Explorer (one for each chapter). Your assignment will be to do exercises 3, 6 and 9 for every objective in every section in the chapter.
You may use one 3x5 card of notes.
Work the entire test without a calculator; after finishing the test, you may check with a calculator.
You must clearly show your work to explain/justify your answers.
Make-ups:
You may make up one chapter test if you were absent due to a bona-fide
emergency.
For each additional make-up, your score will be reduced by 15%.
The make-up
must be taken within one week of the original test.
It may not be taken during the regular class period.
Your lowest test percentage will be replaced by your final exam percentage, if it helps your grade.
Quizzes We will periodically have brief quizzes, scored at 2 points each. These may add to the 800 points available for the class. There will be no make-ups for missed quizzes.
If you get a C (70%) or better on both the final exam and the homework, you will receive a C or better in the course.
If you do not take the final exam, you will receive a D or F in the course.
Form a study group and meet daily. Contribute to your study group.
Prepare for class: Read the text of each lesson before it is covered in class.
Stay on task in class.
Take good notes in class and study them repeatedly. Re-work the problems we did in class. In a college class, your instructor should be able to tell you something once and have it stick.
Use your textbook intelligently.
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Write down the important definitions and procedures and devise examples to illustrate them. |
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Work the authors’ examples and proofs yourself (don’t just read them). |
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Do the homework. If you need more practice, do more problems. |
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Check your work. Devise a strategy to check each type of problem; check with a calculator or computer; check the back of the book. |
Speak up in class. Visit my office and the math lab. The only dumb question is one you don’t ask.
Attendance for the full class period is mandatory. I may count you absent if you arrive late or leave early. If you wish to drop the class, that is your responsibility. However, I may drop you if (1) you are absent for a full week of consecutive classes, (2) you miss a test and do not arrange for a make-up, or (3) you if you are failing the course and have missed four or more class periods nonconsecutively.
Return to: Merced College; Don Power Updated 8/13/02