Math 98-EN Course Syllabus

1. WALK-IN OFFICE HOURS

Monday & Wednesday: 2:00-3:00 PM; 5:00-6:00 PM

Friday: 4:30-5:30 PM

2. BY APPOINTMENT OFFICE HOURS

Monday & Wednesday: 11:30 AM-12:00 PM

Thursday: 2:00 PM-4:00 PM

Class Time and Place: Monday, Wednesday 3:00 PM - 4:50 PM, Room #: 3983.

Prerequisite: Placement test or consent of department chair.

Textbook: Beginning & Intermediate Algebra, 4th edition, Martin-Gay, Pearson/Prentice Hall
(Optional). MyMathLab access code is required. This online tool includes the electronic Text-
book & much more. You may buy this access code either from the Beck's Bookstore

Course Description: Algebra of real numbers, integer exponents, polynomial operations, factor-
ing, rational and complex expressions, linear equations, word problems, quadratic equations, and
graphical and algebraic solutions of simultaneous linear equations. Writing assignments, as appro-
priate to the discipline, are part of the course.

Other materials: Students are required to have a scientific or a graphing calculator. You are not
allowed to use a cell phone as a calculator. Calculators are allowed for all assignments except the
first Test.

Course & MML Structure: The four main required structural components of this course are:

• In-class lectures with a strong emphasis on student engagement.

• The text.

• In-class assessments.

In-Class
Student engagement during class is critical. The lecture material will be presented in bite-size
chunks and frequently punctuated with paper and pencil work and the use of worksheets to keep
you engaged and to give you real-time feedback for you to assess your understanding of the current
material. Power Point slides will also be used for further reinforcement.

Text
The text provides for each section an abundant collection of worked-out problems, additional prob-
lems located on the sides of relevant discussions with answers, and an extensive set of homework
problems. Each chapter ends with a chapter review set of exercises, a chapter test and a cumulative
test that covers material from previous chapters. The text is also available in an e-book version
that is accessible once you complete your MML registration.

MML & Online Assignments
The rationale for including MML is to enrich your experience learning algebra both inside and
outside of the classroom and to give you every possible opportunity to do well. MML provides
you with a wonderful tool to support your learning on a 24/7 basis. It is always there for you no
matter what your schedule. It is there to help you to reinforce concepts introduced in the class-
room. Consider MML as your virtual tutor. Online class work, homework and quizzes/tests will
be assigned throughout this course. You will get immediate feedback on each homework problem,
and incorrectly worked problems can be repeated (with a new version of the problem provided by
the computer) until a correct solution is obtained. Tips and examples are available online for each
problem, in addition to the help available from your instructor and the Tutoring Center. Online As-
signments may be done at any location with an internet access. Do not wait till the last hour to start
and complete online assignments because a computer glitch may prevent you from accessing your
account. Emergency access to homework assignments

MML Resources

• Video lectures to reinforce the lecture material.

• Power Point presentations to reinforce the lecture material

• Immediate grading and feedback to students and instructors for each completed MML assign-
ment.

• Student study plan to assist them in improving their identified weak areas.

• Access to tutors. They can be reached at 1-888-777-0463 .
You are limited to 15 minutes per call. Tutoring is available in Spanish. Tutors are available
Monday - Friday from 8 AM to 8 PM and on Sunday from 5 PM - 12 PM.

• Access to technical assistance. They can be reached at 1-800-677-6337.

Credit Hours: 4 credit hours.
Course Objectives:

1. Understand and make connections between real numbers and expressions.

2. Develop the algebraic skills necessary for problem solving.

3. Develop the ability to model linear relations, including the use of graphing techniques as tools,
for the purpose of solving contextual problems.

4. Manipulate and apply literal equations for the purposes of solving contextual problems.

5. Writing and communicating the results of problem solving appropriately.

Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon satisfactory completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Simplify expressions containing integer exponents.

2. Apply scientific notation to contextual (real-world) situations.

3. Simplify square roots for perfect squares.

4. Know and use order of operations.

5. Evaluate algebraic expressions.

6. Perform operations on and simplify polynomial expressions. Factor polynomials.

7. Understand the order relations on the set of real numbers and illustrate them on the real
number line.

8. Translate between verbal expressions and algebraic or numerical expressions.

9. Identify and represent numerical or algebraic expressions in equivalent forms.

10. Solve linear equations and inequalities. Solve factorable quadratic equations.

11. Solve and evaluate literal equations (formulas) of the first degree.

12. Solve systems of linear equations in two variables graphically and algebraically.

13. Formulate and apply a linear equation or inequality to a contextual (real world) situation.

14. Determine the slope of a line.

15. Graph linear equations by plotting points and using slope.

16. Identify and represent linear relationships in equivalent forms (i.e., graphical, algebraic, tab-
ular, and contextual).

17. Apply formulas of area, perimeter and volume to basic 2- and 3-dimensional figures.

General Education Goals:
This course addresses the following TR General Education Goals:

• The student performs effectively in the workplace and has the ability to work and make
effective use of wide variety of current technologies. (Gen. Ed. Goal 2)

• The student demonstrates the ability to think critically, abstractly, and logically. (Gen. Ed.
Goal 4)

• The student demonstrates the ability to work independently. (Gen. Ed. Goal 6)

Class Operation:

1. On-Line Class Work Practice: Each class period will utilize a small set of problems to reinforce
the material being covered during the class. The students will work these problems on their
lab computer, and if necessary, complete them outside the lab. You can take each of these
assignments as many times as you want. On-line "Help" is available. Each assignment will be
open for one week after the section is completed.

2. On-Line Homework: There is a homework assessment for each section of the six chapters cov-
ered. The homework comprises. Your lowest homework score will be dropped. The homework
is found at our MML web site. You can take each of these assignments as many times as you
want. Each homework assignment will be open for one week after the section is completed.
There is no help on-line for those assignments.

3. On-Line Quizzes: 5 online quizzes will be given. You may take each quiz up to two times and
your highest grade will be used. Each assignment will be open for one week after the section
is completed. There is no help on-line for those assignments. The quizzes cannot be made up.
4. In-Class Quizzes & Classroom Activities: Throughout the semester, we will have at least 10
quizzes & classroom activities. In-Class quizzes or classroom activities cannot be made up.
There are no exceptions. As a result, I will drop the lowest two quizzes/classroom activities.
We will not have

5. Tests: There will be 4 tests during the semester in addition to the final exam. The final exam
is also cumulative and it will be given during the last week of the semester.
6. COMPASS Test: All exiting Math 98 students must take the COMPASS test during the fif-
teenth week of the semester. This test will count 5% of the final exam score.

Policies:
• Participation policy: Class participation is mandatory. You are expected to attend most of
the class sessions. If you have any question, be ready to ask it at the beginning the class.
The average student should plan two hours of out of class time for each hour of class. Some
students need more time than this.