Math 100 – Elementary Algebra

Fall 2009

TREAT YOUR BRAIN LIKE A MUSCLE….EXERCISE IT OFTEN FOR BEST RESULTS!!

Disclaimer: All information in the syllabus is subject to change if the instructor finds it necessary. Any change will be verbally announced during a class session. It is the student’s responsibility to determine from their peers what they missed in class due to an absence.

Course Meetings: MW 10:30 – 12:50 pm, Room FL1-208, Folsom Lake College

Required Text: Beginning Algebra, 7^th edition, by John Tobey and Jeffrey Slater.

Instructor: Professor Michelle Chiang-Yamada Phone & voice mail: (916) 608- 6606

E-mail: chiangm@flc.losrios.edu Office: FL1 – 142

Web Site: I will update your grades after every chapter exam. The grades are listed by your post number. This will be assigned to you before the first exam. The web site address is: www.flc.losrios.edu/~chiangm (Please refresh this site whenever you check your grade).

Office Hours: MTWTh 6:30 – 7:30 am

F 6:30 – 7:30 am (virtual)

Pre-requisites: In order to enroll in Math 100, you must have completed Math 30 with a minimum grade of “C” (in the Los Rios district) or you must show proof of placement into Math 100 via the assessment process at any college in the Los Rios district. An ARC or Sierra Self Placement is not acceptable. More information on FLC Math Department’s policy and procedure on prerequisites can be found on www.flc.losrios.edu/~flcmath. Proof of necessary prerequisite is required by Monday, August 31, 2009. If you have not provided proof of pre-requisite at that point, you will be dropped. Please note that Math 30 is strongly recommended for students who have experienced difficulties in Algebra in the past.

 The Course: Math 100 is a beginning Algebra course necessary for further study in math, science, or computer science courses. Math 100 can be applied for an AA degree. Math 100 topics include: signed numbers, solutions to equations and inequalities, systems, linear graphing, factoring, exponents and polynomials, rational expressions, radicals, and solving quadratic equations. You should expect to spend AT LEAST a minimum of ten hours per week outside of class in order to be successful at learning the material. A more specific breakdown of the topics can be found in the college handbook. It is highly recommended that you see a counselor as part of your college planning.

Student Learning Outcomes;

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• evaluate and expand polynomial expressions (including expressions written in scientific notation).
• report solutions to polynomial operations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• record factors of polynomial expressions by removing common factors, factoring difference of square expressions, and factoring trinomial expressions including perfect square trinomials.
• apply rules of exponents (including negative exponents) in the simplification of algebraic expressions.
• solve linear equations, linear formulas (of more than one variable), linear inequalities, and 2x2 systems of linear equations.
• produce graphs of solution sets of linear equations and linear inequalities in two variables.
• evaluate and simplify radical expressions and solve equations involving these.
• solve application problems using algebraic expressions, algebraic equations, algebraic inequalities, and graphing techniques.
• solve quadratic equations by factoring and using the quadratic formula.

Class Policy: Treat yourself and others in the room with courtesy and respect.

This includes being on time, TURNING OFF AND PUTTING AWAY any electronic devices such as cellular phones, pagers, headsets, game devices, laptops, PDA, etc. before entering the room, leaving food and drinks outside (except water), and leaving the room orderly before dismissal each session.......just to name a few. I will not tolerate rudeness – if you get in the way of those that want to learn, I will ask you to leave. If any of your electronic devices goes off or is used during class, you will lose your exam makeup privilege after TWO warnings. If any of your electronic devices goes off or is used DURING AN EXAM, you will receive a ZERO on the exam without any makeup privileges. A more detailed exam policy is printed on the cover of every exam. A sample exam cover sheet is attached to the back of this syllabus.

Grading: Letter grades will be calculated based on the percentage of the total points:

A: 90%-100% B: 80%-89.9% C: 70%-79.9% D: 60%-69.9% F: below 60%

The following is an approximate list of points available this semester:

Classwork/ Participation	2 pts per session when assigned	varies
Homework	12 homework packets at 5 points each	60 points
Quizzes	About 25 quizzes at 5 points each	About 125 points
Exams	5 exams at 60 pts each	300 points
Cumulative Final Exam	Dec. 16, 2009 (10:00 – 11:50 am)	120 points

No early or late final exam will be given. Please plan accordingly.

Attendance: You are expected to attend class regularly, to arrive on time, and to stay until the end of each session. Unless special circumstances arise, you should not be absent from class more than two times. If you are absent more than two times without communication with the instructor, you will be dropped from the class without notification. The bottom line is---COME TO CLASS! Note that the last day of class instructions is Dec. 9, 2009.

Homework: Each session I will expect that you will have tried the homework assignment for the previous lecture. Homework will be collected about once a week (see homework assignment sheet for specific dates). Any homework turned in after 10:40 am on due date is considered to be late and is eligible for half credit. Late homework will be accepted until the next session by 10:40 am. See Homework Assignment Guidelines for details on how to put together your homework packet. If any of your math assignment is done in pen, you will receive no credit for that assignment (this includes quizzes, classwork, homework, exams, etc.)

Quizzes: Quizzes will be given almost everyday either in the beginning of a class session, or/and towards the end. No late or makeup quizzes will be given for any reason. You will not receive any points for a quiz if you just come to take a quiz and leave immediately. At the end of the semester, your lowest quiz grade will be dropped. Additionally, you will be given class work assignments that may be individual or group work. These may be collected and graded.

Exams: Exams will be given approximately once every three weeks. Calculators and notes will not be allowed on exams. If any of your electronic devices goes off or is used during an exam, you will receive a ZERO on the exam without any makeup privileges. Any form of cheating will result in an automatic ‘F’ on the exam WITHOUT any makeup privileges. On the day that graded exams are returned, you can only question the grading before you leave class that day. No other re-grading is possible.

Makeup: If for any reason you can not make it to an exam OR if you would like to improve an exam grade, you have an opportunity replace ONE exam grade with your final exam grade. If you would like to do this, you must send an email to the instructor by Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009.

Resources: The best resources are your classmates. Make a point of meeting a few people in class and exchanging phone numbers or emails. They can fill in a missing point in your notes, discuss homework problems, and study for an exam together. There is also free tutoring at the Reading, Writing and Math Center. The schedule is posted around campus. Additionally, I am available for assistance, both during my office hours or by appointment if my office hours are not convenient for you.

Lastly, give your best every time you come to class. You will get out of the course exactly what you put into the course. I believe in hard work, teamwork, honesty, mutual respect, curiosity, smiles, persistence, patience, occasional frustration, and ultimately the reward of pride in a job well done!

Here’s to a fantastic beginning.....high fives all around.....and Welcome to Mathematics!