Clinton Community College

Fall 2013 Course Syllabus for MAT 100 – Introductory Algebra 4 free elective credit hours/4 contact hours

Contact Information Instructor: Angela Alphonso Office/Phone: 109H / 562-4227 Office Hours: MWF 8-9 AM, MW 12-1 PM, W 5-6 PM, TR 3-4 PM E-mail: [email protected]

Course Description This course covers basic algebraic skills essential to the study of mathematics. Course topics include linear expressions, equations and inequalities; systems of equations and inequalities; polynomial, rational and radical expressions and equations; and graphing on the coordinate plane. Applications to various fields of study will be explored. This course counts as free elective credit only. Students must earn a C- or better to take MAT104 College Algebra with Trigonometry I or MAT105 Technical Mathematics I.

Course Prerequisites MAT098 – Prealgebra, equivalent or placement

Course Objectives Students satisfactorily completing this course will be able to: 1. Communicate using the appropriate mathematical vocabulary 2. Identify algebraic expressions and equations 3. Use appropriate mathematical notation 4. Translate word problems into mathematical expressions or equations and vice versa 5. Complete tables of values using provided equations 6. List the factors of a given number and give the prime factorization of a given number 7. Build up a given fraction to an equivalent fraction with the indicated denominator and simplify a given fraction 8. Convert an improper fraction to an equivalent mixed number and vice versa 9. Perform operations with real numbers 10. Convert between fractions, decimals and percentages 11. Order given real numbers and graph given real numbers on the number line 12. Use the order of operations to simplify algebraic expressions 13. Evaluate an expression by substituting in given values 14. Simplify a given expression by combining like terms and by using the distributive property 15. Solve a given equation, formula and inequality

Course Objectives continued 16. Write clear, coherent solutions that demonstrate an understanding of the math concepts 17. Logically determine if solutions make sense 18. Solve word problems within the context of business, economics, entertainment, health, science, sports, and technology applications 19. Graph a given point on the coordinate plane and identify a point that has been graphed 20. Determine the slope and intercepts of a linear equation 21. Place a linear equation in each of the following forms: slope-intercept form, point-slope form, or general form 22. Write and graph linear relationships 23. Determine if given linear functions are parallel, perpendicular or neither 24. Evaluate functions at a point 25. Determine if a mathematical relationship is a function 26. Determine the domain and range of a function 27. Determine if a given ordered pair is a solution to a system of linear equations or inequalities 28. Solve a system of linear equation by the graphing method, the substitution method and the addition method 29. Solve linear inequalities and systems of linear inequalities and graph their solution set 30. Simplify expressions involving exponents 31. Convert numbers in standard notation to scientific notation and vice versa and use to simplify computations 32. Determine if a given expression is a polynomial and the degree of a given polynomial 33. Perform operations with polynomials 34. Use various factoring techniques to factor polynomials (including factoring out GCF, factoring difference of squares, factoring by grouping, and factoring trinomials). 35. Solve a quadratic equation by factoring and by using the quadratic formula 36. Simplify rational and radical expressions and complex fractions 37. Perform operations with rational and radical expressions 38. Solve simple radical and rational equations 39. Convert expressions with rational exponents to radical form

Required Textbook Introductory Algebra, 4th edition; Alan S. Tussy and R. David Gustafson. Brooks/Cole. ISBN: 978-1-4390-4787-3

Required Materials A scientific calculator, with at least square, square root, and memory functions, is required. You also need a large notebook, some graph paper and several pencils. Attendance Policy All students are expected to attend ALL scheduled classes. Attendance will be taken on a daily basis. If you are not in class, you are absent.

Attendance Policy continued Late arrivals will not be tolerated. They are a disruption to the instructor and to the entire class. You are expected to be on time. Class will begin promptly at its scheduled start time. If you are not in class once it begins, you are LATE and you WILL NOT be allowed to enter the classroom. Again, if you are not in class, you are absent. Therefore, if you are late, you are absent.

Class attendance is YOUR responsibility. An absence is an absence. Any and all absences (including late) will be counted toward the student’s overall absence total. The ONLY exceptions to this are emergency hospitalization, doctor advised rest due to illness or injury, death of an immediate family member, or jury duty.**

 Upon your third absence (during the semester), your final grade will be lowered a full letter grade. (A to B, A- to B-, B+ to C+, B to C, B- to C-, C+ to D+, C to D, C- or below to F)  Students who miss four (4) or more classes during the semester will automatically be administratively withdrawn from the course.* *Being administratively withdrawn from a course may affect your financial aid status for the current and future semesters.

 Students WILL NOT be allowed to make-up any scheduled class work that was due on the date of their absence. Remember, late also means absent. Again, the ONLY exceptions to this are emergency hospitalization, doctor advised rest due to illness or injury, death of an immediate family member, or jury duty.** **Must notify the instructor (via office hour, email or phone) within 24 hours and must supply written documentation to support the circumstance. Without 24 hour notification and documentation, the absence will be counted and the make-up will not be allowed. All allowed make-ups will be submitted/take place during a scheduled appointment with the instructor. Make-ups will not be accepted during class.

From time to time a student may need to miss a class due to a prearranged commitment that was established without their input. For instance CCC athletic team travel, CCC class/club trip, military reserve, or career based federal/state exam. It DOES NOT mean routine medical appointments, interviews, work schedules, or any other arrangements that YOU personally have an input in scheduling. A prearranged commitment does come with advanced notice. Therefore, it will be the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor (via office hour, email or phone) a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the prearranged commitment, in order to establish a meeting time where scheduled class work will be submitted/taken PRIOR to the absence. Note,  Any prearranged commitment will be at the instructor’s discretion.  The student must supply the instructor with written documentation to support the commitment.  The student is required to submit/take any scheduled class work prior to the absence. You are not allowed to make-up the class work after the absence.  Such commitments are still considered an absence and will be counted toward the student’s overall absence total.

Attendance Policy continued Weather, area school closings, childcare, mechanical breakdowns, computer problems, and any other such circumstance ALL involve YOU planning ahead and/or having a back-up plan. Again, class attendance is YOUR responsibility. Be PREPARED to attend ALL scheduled classes.

Immunization Records New York State Public Health Law 2165 requires college students born after January 1, 1957 to provide proof of immunization to measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). Documentation must be forwarded to the Health Office immediately. Students who fail to do so will automatically be administratively withdrawn from the course.

Academic Honesty The following is taken from the College Catalog: Academic honesty is expected of all Clinton Community College students. It is academically dishonest, for example, to misrepresent another person’s work as one’s own, to take credit for someone else’s work or ideas, to knowingly give or accept help on a test or an assignment, to obtain advanced information on confidential test or assignment materials, or to intentionally harm another student’s chance for academic success. When an instructor believes that a student has failed to maintain academic honesty, the instructor may decide on the penalty he or she believes is warranted. When a student is penalized by receiving a failing grade on a major assignment or for the course, the instructor must notify his or her Department Chairperson and submit evidence that the student has acted dishonestly to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The VPAA’s Office will send an academic incident form to the student within five working days. If the student disputes the charge or the penalty, he or she may follow the Academic Grievance Procedure as outlined in the College Catalog. If the student chooses not to appeal, or the appeal is unsuccessful, the Vice President for Academic Affairs will retain a record of the offense. A student who commits a second offense may be dismissed from the college, and an appeal to return will not be permitted for one full calendar year.

Classroom Policy Snacks and drinks will be allowed during class time as long as you respect the classroom and your fellow classmates. Full meals are not allowed. Cell Phone Policy Use of cell phones during class time is PROHIBITED. If you carry a cell phone, make sure it is OFF while you are in class (unless you have requested special permission from me for an emergency purpose). If your cell phone rings during class or you attempt to use it in any way during class, you WILL BE told to leave class IMMEDIATELY. You will NOT be allowed to hand-in and/or make-up any scheduled class work. This will count as an absence.

If your cell phone EVER rings AGAIN or you attempt to EVER use it AGAIN during class, you WILL BE administratively withdrawn from class.

Special Accommodations Clinton Community College offers a wide variety of academic support services to students with documented disabilities. It is the responsibility of the student with a disability to request services. If you have, or suspect you may have, any type of disability or learning problem that may require extra assistance or special accommodations, please see me as soon as possible so I can help you obtain any assistance you may need to successfully complete this course. You should also contact Laurie Bethka, Ext. 252 (562-4252) or in Room 420M, the Academic Assistance Center, for further assistance.

Course Continuity Plan In the case that the college officially closes because of an emergency which causes a short term disruption of this course, we will utilize email to continue this course in the short term (1-3 weeks). All students need to utilize their campus email to receive course related information.

Course Organization Class instruction will consist of lectures, example problem solving, demonstrations, group participation in the form of questions and/or discussions, homework assignments, quizzes, chapter tests, and a cumulative final exam.

Grading Homework Quizzes* (12 given; 10 count toward final grade) 40 pts Take-Home Quizzes (10 quizzes) 50 pts Chapter Tests (6 tests) 270 pts Cumulative Final Exam (week of December 9-13, 2013) 90 pts TOTAL Possible Points 450 pts (See Grading System)

Homework Quizzes: Doing assigned homework problems from the textbook are STRONGLY encouraged and will be given at the beginning of each chapter/section. Assignments will not be handed in; however, there will be short homework quizzes that are taken from previously assigned homework problems. These quizzes are to encourage the completion of assigned homework problems and good attendance.

The numbers of various chapter/section homework problems numbers will be written on the board and you will have a maximum of 10 minutes to find them in your homework problem notes and copy the original problem along with your work and the final answer on a separate sheet of paper. You will NOT be allowed to use your textbook, ONLY your homework problem notes.

SO…… Do all the assigned homework problems. Keep a notebook just for homework problems. Be neat when you do your homework problems, make sure to label each section and problem number, copy the original problem and show all your work in your notes. Quizzes CANNOT be made-up; however, I will drop your two (2) lowest

Grading System

A 427 pts-450 pts (95-100)

A- 403 pts-426 pts (90-94)

B+ 390 pts-402 pts (87-89)

B 376 pts-389 pts (84-86)

B- 358 pts-375 pts (80-83)

C+ 345 pts-357 pts (77-79)

C 331 pts-344 pts (74-76)

C- 314 pts-330 pts (70-73)

D+ 295 pts-313 pts (66-69)

D 268 pts-294 pts (60-65)

F <268 pts (failure)

Course Topics 1. An Introduction to Algebra (textbook chapter 1) including describing numerical relationships, fractions and decimals, real numbers, operations with real numbers, solving equations, exponents and order of operations, algebraic expressions 2. Equations, Inequalities, and Problem Solving (textbook chapter 2) including solving equations, problem solving, simplifying algebraic expressions, formulas, inequalities 3. Graphs, Linear Equations, and Functions (textbook chapter 3) including graphing using the rectangular coordinate system, equations containing two variables, graphing linear equations and inequalities, the slope of a line, describing linear relationships, writing linear equations and inequalities, functions 4. Solving Systems of Equations and Inequalities (textbook chapter 4) 5. Exponents and Polynomials (textbook chapter 5) including integer exponents, scientific notation, polynomials, operations involving polynomials 6. Factoring and Quadratic Equations (textbook chapter 6) including factoring out the greatest common factor, factoring by grouping, factoring trinomials, solving quadratic equations by factoring 7. Rational Expressions and Equations (textbook chapter 7) including simplifying rational expressions, operations with rational expressions, complex fractions 8. Roots and Radicals (textbook chapter 8) including evaluations square and higher order roots, operations with radicals, solving radical equations and rational exponents 9. Quadratic Equations (textbook chapter 9) solving equations using the Quadratic Formula

Course Dates to Note No class October 15, 2013 (Harvest Break). No class November 28, 2013 (Thanksgiving Break). Cumulative Final Exam will be given during the week of December 9-13, 2013.

Course Outline Tentative Homework Quiz, Take-Home Quiz and Chapter Test Dates:

Homework Quiz #1 – Tuesday, September 3, 2013 Take-Home Quiz #1 & #2 – Thursday, September 5, 2013 Homework Quiz #2 – Tuesday, September 10, 2013 Test #1 – Thursday, September 12, 2013

Homework Quiz #3 – Tuesday, September 17, 2013 Take-Home Quiz #3 – Thursday, September 19, 2013 Homework Quiz #4 – Tuesday, September 24, 2013 Test #2 – Thursday, September 26, 2013

Homework Quiz #5 – Tuesday, October 1, 2013 Take-Home Quiz #4 – Thursday, October 3, 2013 Homework Quiz #6 – Tuesday, October 8, 2013 Test #3 – Thursday, October 10, 2013

Take-Home Quiz #5 – Thursday, October 17, 2013 Homework Quiz #7 – Tuesday, October 22, 2013 Take-Home Quiz #6 – Thursday, October 24, 2013 Homework Quiz #8 – Tuesday, October 29, 2013 Test #4 – Thursday, October 31, 2013

Homework Quiz #9 – Tuesday, November 5, 2013 Take-Home Quiz #7 – Thursday, November 7, 2013 Homework Quiz #10 – Tuesday, November 12, 2013 Test #5 – Thursday, November 14, 2013

Homework Quiz #11 – Tuesday, November 19, 2013 Take-Home Quiz #8 & #9 – Thursday, November 21, 2013 Homework Quiz #12 – Tuesday, November 26, 2013 Test #6 – Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Take-Home Quiz #10 – Thursday, December 5, 2013

Cumulative Final Exam – week of December 9-13, 2013