Course Syllabus for Beginning Algebra

Course Description: A course in elementary algebra that prepares students for higher level mathematics courses required to satisfy degree requirements. This course covers topics including operations with real numbers, simplifying algebraic expressions, solving linear and quadratic equations, and applying these techniques to solve practical applications.

University/School Mission Referenced: The school of Arts and Sciences at OCU is a learning/teaching community dedicated to:
▪ Academic knowledge and excellence, application of academic discipline, technical proficiency, and life long learning,
▪ Presentation of Christian ethical and moral values within a liberal arts environment,
▪ The broadening of each person’s intellectual, artistic, spiritual, and social development,
▪ And community service through positive leadership

Learned Society Standards: See attached NCTM standards.

Course Objectives:
1. To develop fundamental skills in arithmetic and mathematical operations.
2. To develop the ability to apply these techniques to problem solving situations.
3. To provide a foundation for successful study of higher level mathematics courses.

Learner Outcomes:
1. Simplify mathematical expressions using the properties of the real number system.
2. Solve linear and quadratic equations using properties of equality.
3. Apply learned techniques to solve practical problems.

Instructional Procedures: Due to the nature of the course, instruction and feedback will be given through email and Blackboard Online. Students should make themselves familiar with logging in to Blackboard, checking announcements for the course, and posting/replying to topics on the message board. Grades will be posted online and students will be required to take tests through Blackboard.

Course Requirements: Lesson readings, homework, quizzes, chapter tests and a final exam.

Evaluation: Students will receive a weekly homework grade by emailing the instructor or posting/replying to a topic for discussion on the message board on Blackboard Online. Tests will be given online for each chapter listed in the syllabus; this may be once per week. Online exams will have time limits so students must learn the material! Late assignments (i.e. no contact or not completing a test at the given time) will result in a 0%. Course grades will be computed as follows:
Homework/Participation: 34% of final grade
Tests/Quizzes: 33% of final grade
Final Exam: 33% of final grade

Anyone caught cheating on homework, quizzes, or exams will at least receive an F on that assignment. Depending on the circumstances, the professor has the right to give a worse punishment including an F for the course.

Grading Scale and Procedure:
A    100-93%
A-   92-90%
B+  89-87%
B   86-83%
B-  82-80%
C+ 79-77%
C   76-73%
C-  72-70%
D+  69-67%
D   66-63%
D-  62-60%
F   59-0%

Notes to the Student: Since success in this course is almost entirely dependent on student initiative, the following suggestions are offered: read everything, learn the terminology (items in bold print), and, if financially feasible, purchase any student study materials that accompany the text. Read carefully all picture captions, examples and hints. Work problems along with the reading, being sure to follow the procedures or steps suggested. Learn the terminology. Trying to learn a subject without knowing the terms is like trying to travel in a foreign country with no knowledge of the language; you may eventually get where you want to go, but not without a great deal of time and trouble. Finally, use the discussion/message boards or email if problems arise.

Schedule for Class

Week 1:

1. Read “To The Student” on P. XVII.
2. Begin chapter one by working on p. 2-106.
3. Suggested practice problems: P. 10-13, 1-82; P. 28-29, 1-122; P. 39-41, 1-94; P. 50-53, 1-76; P. 59-61, 1-80; P. 66-68, 1-102; P. 79-82, 1-118; P. 93-95, 1-96.
4. Supply feedback to instructor.

Week 2:
1. Finish Chapter 1.
2. Take Chapter 1 Test.

Week 3:
1. Read and work chapter two pages 107-181.
2. Work on the chapter review and test for practice.
3. Supply feedback to the instructor.
4. Take chapter two test online.
*Suggested practice problems-P. 114-115, 1-66; P. 122-124, 1-70; P. 132-134, 1-78; P. 143-147, 1-90; P. 155-158, 1-48; P. 170-172, 1-90.

Week 4:
1. Read and work chapter three pages 184-221.
2. Supply feedback to the instructor.
3. Take chapter three test online.
*Suggested practice problems-P. 191-195, 1-26; P. 200-202, 1-42; P. 211-215, 1-53.

Week 5:
1. Read and work chapter four pages 223-288.
2. Supply feedback to the instructor.
*Suggested practice problems-P. 233-236, 1-92; P. 244-246, 1-75; P. 254-256, 1-36; P. 262-265, 1-64; P. 270-272, 1-38; P. 278-280, 1-44.

Week 6:
1. Work on the chapter review and test for practice.
2. Take chapter four test online.

Week 7:
1. Read and work chapter five pages 289-340.
2. Supply feedback to the instructor.
3. Work on the chapter review and test for practice.
4. Take chapter five test online.
*Suggested practice problems-P. 298-300, 1-51; P. 307-309, 1-32; P. 315-317, 1-55; P. 325-328, 1-28; P. 332-334, 1-44.

Week 8:
1. Read and work chapter six pages 341-412.
2. Supply feedback to the instructor.
*Suggested practice problems-P. 347-350, 1-86; P. 357-359, 1-100; P. 365-367, 1-82; P. 372-375, 1-76; P. 382-384, 1-78; P. 391-393, 1-44; P. 402-405, 1-126.

Week 9:
1. Finish chapter 6.
2. Take chapter six test online.

Week 10:
1. Read and work chapter seven pages 413-471.
2. Supply feedback to the instructor.
*Suggested practice problems-P. 419-421, 1-86; P. 428-429, 1-66; P. 435-437, 1-86; P. 444-445, 1-88; P. 452-453, 1-96; P. 462-466, 1-66.

Week 11:
1. Finish chapter seven.
2. Take chapter seven test online.

Week 12:
1. Read and work chapter eight pages 473-548.
2. Supply feedback to the instructor.
*Suggested practice problems-P. 481-484, 1-84; P. 489-491, 1-64; P. 496-499, 1-64; P. 506-509, 1-82; P. 515-518, 1-40; P. 524-526, 1-46; P. 537-540, 1-24.

Week 13:
1. Finish chapter eight.
2. Supply feedback to the instructor.
3. Work on the chapter review and test for practice.
4. Take chapter eight test online.

Week 14:
1. Read and work chapter nine pages 549-598.
2. Supply feedback to the instructor.
3. Take chapter nine test online.
*Suggested practice problems-P. 555-558, 1-26, 47-56; P. 565-567, 1-108; P. 570-573, 1-78; P. 577-579, 1-74; P. 585-587, 1-44; P. 591-593, 1-48.

Week 15:
1. Read and work chapter ten pages 599-660.
2. Supply feedback to the instructor.
3. Work on the chapter review and test for practice.
4. Take chapter ten test online.
*Suggested practice problems-P. P. 606-608, 1-58; P. 613-614, 1-34; P. 622-625, 1-44; P. 629-630, 1-36; P. 639-641, 1-44; P. 649-652, 1-32.

Learned Society Standards

NCTM Standards ©2000

Number and Operations Standard

Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems
▪ develop a deeper understanding of very large and very small numbers and of various representations of them;
▪ compare and contrast the properties of numbers and number systems, including the rational and real numbers, and understand complex numbers as solutions to quadratic equations that do not have real solutions;
▪ understand vectors and matrices as systems that have some of the properties of the real-number system;
▪ use number-theory arguments to justify relationships involving whole numbers.

Understand meanings of operations and how they relate to one another
▪ judge the effects of such operations as multiplication, division, and computing powers and roots on the magnitudes of quantities;
▪ develop an understanding of properties of, and representations for, the addition and multiplication of vectors and matrices;
▪ develop an understanding of permutations and combinations as counting techniques.