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Elementary Algebra

SPRING SEMESTER 2009 SYLLABUS
Elementary Algebra
MTH 098 – Section 96 – 4292
Course Description This course is a review of the fundamental arithmetic and algebra operations. The
topics include the numbers of ordinary arithmetic and their properties; integers and
rational numbers; the solving of equations; polynomials and factoring; and an
introduction to systems of equations and graphs. This course is a developmental
level course and does not apply toward the general core requirement for
mathematics.
Hours 3 semester hours
Days / Time Tuesday & Thursday 5:30 to 6:45 am
Course Type WebCT-Enhanced Math Course
Campus Gadsden State Cherokee
Building/Room Gadsden State Cherokee 207
Prerequisite(s) A grade of “C” (75%) or higher in Mth 090, or appropriate mathematics placement
score.
COMPASS Score Algebra (AL) 20-35
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all course prerequisites are
completed. A student can be administratively withdrawn if they do not meet the
prerequisites. Students who lack prerequisites and owe tuition, fees, fines, etc., or who
are taking only one course must withdraw themselves to avoid receiving an “F” in this
course.
Required Textbook Beginning and Intermediate Algebra 4th Edition
ISBN-10: 0-321-44233-4 ISBN-13: 978-0-321-44233-8
Optional for this course:
Textbook with MyMathLab Student Access Kit:
ISBN-10: 0-321-50722-3 ISBN-13: 978-0-321-50722-8
Author: Lial/Hornsby
Publisher: Addison/ Wesley
Course Supplies Notebook Paper, Pencils, Textbook, Graph Paper, Computer access.
NOTE: Students will NOT be allowed to use calculators in this course.
Computer System
Requirements		 Personal computers must have access to the Internet in order to use WebCT.
Course Objectives
(State-wide Syllabus
Objectives)		 Upon completion of this course the student will become proficient in the following
objectives:
1. Solution of linear equations
2. Solution of formulas
3. Applications of linear equations
4. Solution of linear inequalities
5. Solution of absolute value equations
6. Graphing straight lines using tables & inequalities and intercepts
7. Finding slopes of lines
8. Solving linear systems by graphing
9. Properties of exponents
10. Addition and subtraction of polynomials
11. Multiplication and division of
12. Factoring monomials and polynomials
13. Solution of equations by factoring
14. Applications of quadratic equations
SACS Objectives 1. Demonstrate the ability to solve linear equations.
2. Demonstrate the ability to solve a quadratic equation by factoring.
3. Demonstrate the ability to solve a linear inequality.
4. Demonstrate the ability to solve an absolute value equation.
5. Demonstrate the ability to graph a line.
6. Demonstrate the ability to factor by grouping.
7. Demonstrate the ability to factor a trinomial.
8. Demonstrate the ability to factor the difference of squares.
9. Demonstrate the ability to factor the sum and difference of cubes.
10. Demonstrate the ability to solve a number problem.
Gadsden State TEC
Initiative Student
Learning Objectives		 1. Students will be able to connect to other students and their instructors via e-mail.
2. Students will learn to submit assignments electronically.
3. Students will develop/demonstrate the ability to initiate searches when in need of
specific information for special projects/assignments in all courses.
4. Students will be able to recognize reliable sources and determine the usefulness of
information gathered using technology resources.
5. Students will develop skills that allow them to incorporate a variety of formats to
share information with each other and instructors.
Lab Assistants See posted hours for tutoring/lab assistant schedule and Student Support Services at
various campus sites.
Evaluation and
Assessment		 The final exam will include post-test comprehensive questions. All students are
required to take the final exam to receive a passing grade in the course.
Students must achieve a “C” - 75% or higher in this class to proceed to the next level
course. Letter grades are assigned for all college level courses as stated below.
Homework
Assignments/Checks		 Math is learned by doing problems. You do not learn math by watching your instructor
work problems in class. A complete list of assigned homework problems is included in
this syllabus. The odd-numbered problems have answers in the back of your textbook
so that you can check your work. If you work the even-numbered problems you can
ask for those answers to check that work. If you have an assigned problem you
cannot get correct you should ask for help with it in class. That very one you cannot
figure out may be a test question. Homework can be checked at anytime during the
semester without any notice. There will be 19 homework checks given in class during
the semester. You will earn 6 points for each of these, with 15 (your best 15 scores)
out of the total 19 being counted for a homework grade. Homework problems must be
properly worked out to receive credit on the homework check. If there is no work
shown and only answers are written the problem will be marked wrong. If you are
absent or late and miss a homework check, you will receive a zero on that check with
no make-ups allowed. Therefore, attendance is very important. If you are absent, you
are still responsible for all homework assignments when you return to class. All test
questions are based on the homework assignments so if you can work the homework
you can work the test questions. The more you practice by working the homework
assignments the easier the course material will be for you.
Activities and Scores
for this Course		 Activities Number of Points Due Dates
Syllabus printed 5 points Tuesday, 1/20
Student Information Sheet completed 20 points Tuesday, 1/20
Homework checks 90 points During classes
Worksheet #1 20 points Thursday, 1/29
Worksheet #2 20 points Thursday, 2/19
Worksheet #3 20 points Thursday, 3/17
Worksheet #4 20 points Tuesday, 4/21
Other possible assignments or quizzes TBA TBA
Test #1 100 points Tuesday, 2/3
Test #2 100 points Tuesday, 2/24
Test #3 100 points Tuesday, 3/19
Test #4 100 points Thursday, 4/23
Completing course evaluation 5 points Thursday, April 30
Comprehensive Final Exam (Required) 100 points Thursday, April 30
Total Points Possible 700 (+ other points if assigned)
To Calculate Your
Grade		 Grades will be calculated by dividing points earned by total points possible. This is
your percentage grade. Students must achieve a “C” - 75% or higher in this class to
proceed to the next level course. Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
 
Percentage
Grade		 Letter
Grade		 Percentage
Grade		 Letter
Grade		 Percentage
Grade		 Letter
Grade
90-100 A 80-89 B 75-79 C
Below 75 U        
Make-up Policy Gadsden State Policy - Make up work MAY be provided only at the discretion and
convenience of the instructor. If you miss a regularly scheduled test with an
acceptable excuse you must make that test up before the next scheduled test in the
class or you will receive a zero for that test. You may make up a maximum of 2 tests
during the semester. Make up tests may be short answer requiring all work to be
shown for credit instead of a multiple choice test.
Use of Non-Class
Electronic Devices		 Students using these devices must have instructors consent and approval prior to use.
All devices of this type, including cell phones, should be silent and never visible during
class time.
Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA)		 The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 prohibit discrimination against any qualified person regardless of his or her
disability. Gadsden State Community College strives to create a welcoming
environment and will work in good faith to meet the needs of Its diverse populations.
Reasonable and appropriate accommodations will be provided for qualified disabled
students, applicants, employees, and visitors unless to do so would present an undue
hardship or lower the academic standards of the College. Persons with disabilities
requesting accommodations should contact the ADA Coordinator or Assistant
Coordinator on or nearest their campus to obtain forms for requesting
accommodations and documentation requirements, as well as to be informed of
campus procedures involving accommodations. Campus contacts include: Dr. Teresa
Rhea, Gadsden Area, ADA Coordinator (256-549-8263), Dr. Danny Wilborn, Anniston
Area, Asst. ADA Coordinator (256-835-5456), or Ms. Diann Cruickshank, Cherokee
County Area (256-927-1802).
Common College
Instructional Policies		 The Standard College Policies apply to all classes at the college and are a part of
every official course syllabus. It is the responsibility of the student to have a copy of these policies and to abide by them. This class syllabus is intended to give further detail about the policies and expectations in each specific class.

Tentative Class Schedule and Assignments
This is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor
Day Date Section Page Assignment
T 1-13 Introduction to Class
WebCT log-in		    
Th 1-15 Review Problems
2.1 The Addition property of equality
2.2 The Multiplication property of
equality		 90-92
100-101
106-107		 #43-126 all
#5 – 43 odd, 47-65 odd
#3 – 69 odd
T 1-20 2.3 More on solving linear equations
Summary Exercises
2.4 An Introduction to applications of
linear Equations		 115-116
117
126-130		 116 #5 – 61 odd
all
#5-57 odd
Th 1-22 2.5 Formulas and applications from
geometry		 138
141		 #13-43 odd
#57-85 odd
T 1-27 2.6 Ratios and proportions 147 #29 – 43
Th 1-29 2.8 Solving linear inequalities
WORKSHEET #1 DUE
Review for test		 174-175 # 1-71 odd
T 2-3 Test #1    
Th 2-5 9.1 Compound inequalities 626-627 #1-61 odd
T 2-10 9.2 Absolute value equations and
inequalities		 635-637 #1-95 odd
Th 2-12 9.2 Absolute value equations and inequalities
Summary exercises		 635-637
639		 #1-95 odd
#1-47 odd
T 2-17 3.1 Reading graphs
3.2 Graphing linear equations		 201-203
214-215		 #1-69 odd
#1-55 odd
Th 2-19 3.3 The slope of a line
8.1 Solving systems of linear
equations by graphing
WORKSHEET #2 DUE
Review for Test		 226-229
555-557		 #1-63 odd
#1-27 odd
T 2-24 Test #2    
Th 2-26 4.1 Product and power rules for
exponents		 261-262 #1-79 odd
T 3-3 4.2 Integer exponents and quotient rule
Summary Exercises		 270-271
272		 #1-79 odd
#1-41 odd
Th 3-5 4.4 Adding and subtracting
polynomials		 289-291 #1-95 odd
T 3-10 4.5 Multiplying polynomials 297-299 #1-83 odd
Th 3-12 4.6 Special products 303-304 #1-53 odd
T 3-17 4.7 Dividing polynomials
WORKSHEET #3 DUE
Review for Test		 312-314 #1-31, 39-75 odd
Th 3-19 Test #3    
T 3-24 5.1 Greatest common factor; factor by
grouping		 334-335 #35-85 odd
Th 3-26 5.2 Factoring trinomials 340-341 #1-59 odd
T 3-31 5.3 More on factoring trinomials 347-349 #1-89 odd
Th 4-2 5.4 Special factoring rules
Summary Exercises		 356-357
359		 #1-51 odd
#1-79 odd
T 4-7 5.5 Solving quadratic equations by
factoring		 366-36 #1-81 odd
Th 4-9 5.5 Solving quadratic equations by
factoring		 366-367 #1-81 odd
T 4-14 Spring Break ---- NO CLASS
Th 4-16 Spring Break ---- NO CLASS
T 4-21 5.6 Applications of quadratic equations
WORKSHEET #4 DUE
Review for Test		 375-378 #5, 7, 11, 17, 19, 31
Th 4-23 Test # 4    
T 4-28 Review for Comprehensive Final Exam    
Thursday
April 30		 REQUIRED
COMPREHENSIVE
FINAL EXAM		 5:30 to 7:30 pm