MATH 093 PRE-ALGEBRA Mrs. Cheryl Niccum email: [email protected] Spring 2015 NCL 304 10:30 am – 12:50 pm Tuesday & Thursday Web site: http://commons.wvc.edu/math/cniccum Office Hours: 9:30 – 10:25 am Tues. & Thurs. Conference Rm 114 Text: Elementary & Intermediate Algebra 6th Ed. by Bittinger, Ellenbogen and Johnson Calculators: A “TI 30” calculator is recommended. TI 89’s are not allowed! Upon completion of this course, successful students will be able to: 1. Perform arithmetic operations on real numbers without a calculator. 2. Translate between English and Algebraic expressions. 3. Simplify numeric expressions containing powers, roots, parentheses, absolute values using correct order of operations. 4. Add and subtract algebraic expressions. 5. Evaluate algebraic expressions. 6. Use distributive, commutative and associative properties to manipulate expressions. 7. Use unit analysis to set up and solve word problems. 8. Convert between decimal and scientific notation and perform arithmetic operations on numbers written in scientific notation. 9. Solve linear equations and linear inequalities. 10. Set up and solve linear word problems. 11. Graph linear equations in two variables from tables and from equations. 12. Calculate the slope of a line given two points, a graph, and/or an equation. 13. Find the equation of a line in two variables given two points, a point and a slope, or a graph. 14. Solve a 2X2 system of linear equations graphically. 15. Solve a 2X2 system of linear equations algebraically (basic). 16. Solve applications involving a system of linear equations. 17. Continue on into next appropriate math course. Tests: will be announced and given at the instructor's discretion. There will be six tests. There may be announced and unannounced quizzes. Missed quizzes may not be made up! Final Exam is Thursday, June 11, 2015, 10:30 am to 12:50 pm. Any material that we have covered in class is fair game on any test/quiz or the final exam. You may not use notes on tests/exams. Failure to attend the final exam will result in failure of this class! Grades: are based on points earned on assigned homework, quiz (10% of final grade), test scores (90% of your final grade). Grades are guaranteed based on your overall percentage as follows: 93% A 90% A- 88% B+ 83% B 80% B- 78% C+ 74% C 70% C- 68% D+ Warning: I do NOT grade on a curve. Any student with a percentage less than 62% will earn a failing grade. 62% D My Math Lab: REQUIRED: This is a homework and study program. When you do homework on MyMathLab there is help available on the website. The homework on the mymathlab site is the graded homework for this class. When you go to http://www.mymathlab.com you will be given the choice of registering for the first time or signing in to the appropriate course. You will need to sign into Spring 2015 Math 93. The course ID # is: niccum64176 This information is also on my website, so that you may copy and paste it. Dropping the Class: If you decide to drop this (or any) class, be sure to complete the necessary paper work... Fill out a Drop/Add form available at the Registration Office. If you stop attending class without filing the appropriate paperwork, it will simply result in a failing grade. The last day to withdraw is 5/15/15. Attendance: You are expected to be in class every day. Do not assume if two days are scheduled for a topic or section that all the information is covered in the first day. If you choose to skip then you are choosing to teach yourself math. If you miss one test you may make it up. It is your responsibility to make arrangements with me to make it up within one day of your return to class. If you miss more than one test, you most likely will not be allowed to make it up. The make-up tests will cover the same material; but probably won't be the same test the rest of the class took. (Usually make up tests are harder!) Homework: The recommended text assignment is to do the odd problems in each section covered in the text. It would be a good idea to keep all assignments and notes in a notebook of some sort. This will make an easy reference tool to use in review for tests. Mathematics is not learned by observance only. If you want to succeed in this class and future math classes, you must practice by working the assigned problems. If you have tried and are unable to solve a problem; leave space for the answer, skip it and try the next one. The next day ask for help! (You probably aren't the only one who couldn't solve it.) In most cases I will work it in class or help you after class or during my office hours. I do NOT accept any late assignments. NO EXCEPTIONS! You may turn in an assignment early. The Special Populations Office: The Disability Support Services Office has been designated by the college as the primary office to guide, coach and assist students with disabilities. If you receive services (or think you should) through that office and require accommodations for this class, make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss your approved accommodation needs. Bring your Instructor Notification and Request form provided by the Special Populations Coordinator to the appointment. I will hold any information you share with me in strictest confidence unless you give me written permission to do otherwise. Electronic Devices: Electronic devices are to be turned off when you enter the room and not turned on again until after the instructor has ended the class session. If an emergency exists, a call to the registration office at 682-6833 will quickly result in a message being brought to you in class. CELLPHONES may not be used as a calculator. There will be one warning for the entire class. The subsequent offenses will result in forfeiting the electronic device for the duration of the quarter and/or bringing donuts/sweets for the entire class the following class day. Additional Help: Additional help for this class is available to you through: 1) The Instructor during office hours and at my home phone number if needed____________ 2) The tutor center; open daily in the library 3) Possibly through Peers if you form a study group with fellow classmates. 4) Online site… http://www.khanacademy.org offers free help (not all topics are covered by this site) If you consistently work hard at this course, I believe you can succeed. It is my goal to help you do that! Anything in this syllabus is subject to change at the instructor's discretion.