Metropolitan Campus
Business & Technology Unit
Autumn/2007
MATH-0910
BASIC ARITHMETIC & PRE-ALGEBRA
Credits: 03
Section(s) Day(s) Time Rm
84004 M W F 9:30 am–10:33 am MLA 117
Instructor: Dr. Joseph Arendt
Office: HUM 202 (math lounge)
Mailbox in Part-Time Office, Sci Tech Building, Room 118
Phone: 1-800-954-8742 and (216) 987-6245
E-mail Address: Joseph.Arendt@tri-c.edu
Office Hours: Before or after class, or by appointment.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Review of basic arithmetic and introduction to algebraic concepts. Includes basic review of whole numbers and decimals, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions, order of operations, ratio and proportion, percents, the United States and metric systems of measurement and estimation. Introduction to integers and simple linear equations and some definitions in geometry. Includes applications and activities to build skills in estimation, problem solving, and study techniques.
Lecture Hours: 03 Laboratory Hours: 00
COURSE PREREQUISITE(S): None.
PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of MATH-0910 Basic Arithmetic and Pre-Algebra, the student should be able to:
A. Add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers and solve application problems using whole numbers.
B. Add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions and solve applications problems using fractions.
C. Add, subtract, multiply and divide decimals and solve application problems using decimals.
D. Demonstrate an understanding of ratio and proportion and their applications.
E. Demonstrate an understanding of percents and solve percent application problems.
F. Use the English system and the Metric system to measure length, mass, and capacity.
G. Demonstrate an understanding of and use the order of operations.
H. Evaluate a variable expression given the values for the variables.
I. Simplify a variable expression by collecting like terms.
J. Solve simple linear equations.
K. Estimate a “reasonable” answer to an application problem.
L. Display several standard problem-solving techniques.
M. Demonstrate an understanding of the study skills necessary for success in mathematics courses.
INSTRUCTOR'S EXPECTATIONS:
I expect regular attendance, selected homework announced weekly in class to be turned in on time, and ability to explain and use main concepts from this course. Careful reading of my Grading Policy will show that attendance by itself is not part of the grade. Only test scores and homework grades are used. Nevertheless, material from all lectures will appear in the homework and tests, so excellent attendance is highly recommended. Regular attendance fit well with success of students in the previous semester, even though not a guarantee.
The Academic Credit section states, “two hours of significant student study outside of class for each one hour in class.” This course meets only once a week on Saturday, so one Saturday lecture covers the same material as three lectures during the week. Missing one class means missing a full week of material, which can be difficult to make up. Also, I strongly advise not putting off the homework until the last minute. Please consider the two-hours-outside rule for how much time to allocate for homework.
TEXTBOOK/INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:
Investigating Basic College Mathematics, Laura Bracken and Hazel McKenna, Brooks/Cole-Thomson, Learning Inc., 2003
A calculator will not be required in this course. A calculator is not permitted on the regular exams or on the final exam. A calculator may be used for some of the homework, but since it is not allowed on the exams, students need to be able to perform problems without it.
The textbook includes with it a CD-ROM that requires using a Windows PC to run. The CD includes tutorials and sample problems. While I believe this to be worthwhile and excellent practice with the practice quizzes, use of the CD is not required when I teach this course.
ATTENDANCE:
Regular class attendance is required, although I will not use attendance in computing the grade in this course. An instructor may withdraw a student for excessive absence if the student has missed the equivalent of one week of instruction unless arrangements satisfactory to the instructor can be made by the student to demonstrate that he/she can make acceptable academic progress (College Policy).
WITHDRAWAL:
Students may withdraw from any semester course prior to the end of the twelfth week of the full term, or 80 percent of any instructional part of term. Specific withdrawal dates are available by term in the Campus Admissions and Records Offices or published in the schedule of courses.
Up to the last day of the twelfth week of the semester, a student may withdraw from a course(s) for any reason. Withdrawal from a course prior to the last day of the second week of the semester will have no notation made in permanent records--withdrawal thereafter will be noted with a "W."
If a student misses class time for the equivalent of one week of instruction, an instructor has the option to withdraw the student for excessive absence. The instructor may elect not to exercise this option, however, and it is the student's responsibility to make sure that an official withdrawal takes place.
All transactions involving withdrawal from courses shall be done in writing and on forms provided by the college. A student's failure to attend classes shall not constitute an official withdrawal. The withdrawal date for this course is November 27, 2007 with a W on the transcript.
TESTS, QUIZZES & HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
There will be four regular tests, plus a cumulative final exam. The homework problems to be collected and graded by the instructor are labeled separately from homework that is recommended to prepare for the tests, but that the instructor will not grade.
FINAL EXAM:
Friday, December 14, 2007, 9:30 am–11:30 am, MLA 117
MAKE-UP POLICY:
Only for a verifiable doctor’s excuse will a make-up test be scheduled. This is a strict requirement, but keep in mind that one of the four regular tests will be dropped as explained in the Grading Policy/Scale. For assigned homework, it will be accepted late with a penalty of the instructor’s discretion until that material is covered on an exam, after which that late homework will not be accepted.
GRADING POLICY/SCALE:
A grade of A for 90.0%-100.0%; B for 80.0%-89.9%; C for 70.0%-79.9%; D for 60.0%-69.9%; F for 0.0-59.0%.
Lowest score of four regular tests (not including the final) will be dropped.
20% each (for 60% total) Three regular tests (after lowest dropped)
35% Final exam
5% Homework
Consider if one had 90% on each of the four tests and 90% on the homework, but missed the final exam. One of the four regular tests automatically goes away. This then works out to (90%)(0.2) + (90%)(0.2) + (90%)(0.2) + (90%)(0.05) = 58.5%. That is under 60%, so it is an overall grade of F! This means one can be going into the final exam with a low grade of A, but merely by missing the final exam get an F! Taking the final exam is vitally important!
INCOMPLETE (I) GRADES:
A notation of "I" indicates that a student has not completed all course requirements as a result of circumstances judged by the instructor to be beyond the student's control. A student must complete all course requirements no later than the end of the sixth week of the academic term following the semester in which the "I" was noted. Failure to complete such requirements will result in an "F" (failing) grade. At least three of the four regular tests must be completed before the regular end of the course for a student to be considered for an Incomplete, “I”.
ACADEMIC CREDIT:
In order to award one (1) semester hour of college credit, the Ohio Board of Regents requires two hours of significant student study outside of class for each one hour in class for the equivalent of an academic semester (16 weeks).
DISABILITIES:
Students with disabilities at Cuyahoga Community College are expected to take an assertive role in communicating with faculty and staff members about their need for reasonable accommodation.
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please contact me as soon as possible.
Please communicate to the instructor any disability that might prevent taking the test in the classroom in the same time period as the other students early in the class well before the test itself is taking place. For my courses, under no circumstances will a regular classroom test or the final exam be given as a take-home test to be done without supervision overnight or over several days. Instead, a different location and time will be provided to students with disabilities who require it, with more time allowed or other requirements that they might have.
MATH TUTORING AVAILABLE
The Math Tutoring Lab is available for assistance. Tutoring is free and no appointments are needed. The hours are:
Monday through Thursday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
The Math Tutoring Lab will be closed whenever the college is closed.
The phone number is 216-987-4647. The Math Tutoring Lab is located on the fourth floor of the Metro library.
Their web site is:
http://instruct.tri-c.edu/metromathtutors
http://instruct.tri
-c.edu/metromathtutors
If you want to talk to me, I can be reached at arendtj@att.net
Last modified September 27, 2007