Course Syllabus
Spring 2010	Math BA:    Elementary Algebra  (5 units) Professor:  Rafael Espericueta           Email:  resperic@bc.cc.ca.us	CRN 31873 & CRN 31876

Class Meetings

CRN 31873 -  This class meets Mondays through Thursdays from 2:35 - 3:45 pm in MS 108.

CRN 31876 -  This class meets Mondays through Thursdays from 4:10 - 5:20 pm in MS 108.

Topics Covered

Fundamental concepts and mathematical processes, first degree equations, special products and factoring, fractions and fractional equations, ratios, proportions, radicals, exponents, graphs, simultaneous linear equations, quadratic equations.

Prerequisites: MATH B50 or equivalent pre-algebra course with a grade of “C” or better or qualifying score on placement assessment. Recommended: Reading Level 5 or 6.    Not Transferable: Associate Degree only.

Prof's Office Hours

Office hours (in MS 108) -    Mondays through Thursdays from 2:25-2:35 pm,  3:45-4:10 pm, and 5:20-6:00 pm (except on Wednesdays only from 5:20-5:30pm)
                                             Also on Fridays from 8-9am in LA 107B.
                                            

Dropping

If you need to drop the class for any reason, it is entirely your responsibility to do so.  Check with the Office of Admissions and Records to see what their policy is concerning dropping the class, if you need to exercise this option.  If you don't drop the class, you may end up with an 'F' on your transcript.   On the other hand, you may be dropped if you accrue 8 unexcused absences.

Grading

Your grade will be computed as follows:

Class attendance: 5%  EXTRA CREDIT   ( Each unexcused absence subtracts 1%  from your extra-credit percentage.)
Chapter Section Quizzes: 30%
Chapter Post Tests: 30%
Final Exam: 40%

The final exam for both classes will be given on Monday, May 10, in our usual room MS108:

         If you are in the CRN 31873 class (which meets each day fromt 2:35 - 3:45pm), the final is from 2-4pm.
         If you are in the CRN 31876 class (which meets each day fromt 2:35 - 3:45pm), the final is from 4-6pm.

Online Tests

Before taking the chapter test you should first work through each section in the chapter. To work though a section,

1. Read the section lesson, working along with "pencil in hand" as you read.
    Don't just read it, DO IT!

2. Solve (at least) the odd numbered practice problems for the section.  
    Check your answers.

3. Take the section quiz.  
    You may redo the section quizzes for a better grade. 

After completing the above process for each section of a chapter, you should take the chapter post-test.  
You may NOT retake the chapter post-tests, so make sure you're prepared before taking them!

Although these online tests are effectively open book and open notes, you should practice taking them as though you were in a conventional test-taking environment.  This will help you prepare for the final exam!

Course Calendar

Note that you should complete all of the section quizzes in a chapter before you may take that chapter's post test. 
Although the due dates for the chapter post tests is given as "Friday", you may still have full credit if you submit them by the following Monday.
 

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
1/18   Holiday	1/19   Lecture 1 2.1- Types of Numbers                  & 2.2-  Number Properties	1/20   Lecture 2 2.3- Adding & Subtracting                  & 2.4-  Multiplying & Dividing	1/21   Lecture 3   2.5- Fractions	1/22
1/25   Lecture 4 2.6-  Squares, Square         Roots, & Absolute Value	1/26   Lecture 5 2.7- Order of Operations                  & 3.1-  Monomials	1/27   Lecture 6 3.2- Exponent Properties                  & 3.3-  More Exponent             Properties	1/28   Lecture 7 3.4- From Words to Algebra                     & 3.5- Evaluating Expressions	1/29  Chapter 2 Post     Test  DUE!
2/1   Lecture 8   3.6-  Polynomials	2/2   Lecture 9 4.1- Distributive Property                   & 4.2- FOIL Method	2/3   Lecture 10       4.3-  Squaring Binomials	2/4   Lecture 11 4.4- Adding & Subtracting              Polynomials	2/5 Chapter 3 Post    Test  DUE!
2/8   Lecture 12 4.5- Dividing Polynomials	2/9   Lecture 13 5.1- Length, Area, &       Volume Formulas	2/10   Lecture 14 5.2-  Other Formulas	2/11   Lecture 15 5.3- Ratios, Rates,        Proportions	2/12  Chapter 4 Post     Test  DUE!
2/15   Holiday	2/16   Lecture 16:   4.5 5.4- Pythagorean Theorem	2/17   Lecture 17 5.5- Cartesian Coordinates	2/18   Lecture 18           Review	2/19   Chapter 5 Post       Test  DUE!
2/22   Lecture 19 6.1- Solving Linear Equations         by Adding & Subtracting	2/23   Lecture 20   6.2-  Solving Linear Equations         by Multiplying & Dividing	2/24   Lecture 21 6.4-  Solving  General         Linear Equations	2/25   Lecture 22:  6.4-  Applications of         Linear Equations	2/26
3/1   Lecture 23:   6.5            Solving Linear           Inequalities	3/2   Lecture 24:   7.1        Graphing Linear   Equations in 2-Variables	3/3   Lecture 25:   7.2           Slope and the       Slope-Intercept Form	3/4   Lecture 26:  7.3     Point-Slope Form	3/5    Chapter 6 Post       Test  DUE!
3/8   Lecture 27:   7.4       Relations and Functions	3/9   Lecture 28:   7.5    Graphing 2-Variable      Linear Inequalities	3/10   Lecture 29:   8.1    Solving Linear Equations            by Graphing	3/11   Lecture 30:   8.2    Solving Linear Equations          by Substitution	3/12    Chapter 7 Post       Test  DUE!
3/15   Lecture 31:  8.3   Solving Linear Equations        by Elimination	3/16   Lecture 32:   8.4              Applications of         Linear Equations	3/17   Lecture 33:    8.5                Systems of          Linear Inequalities	3/18   Lecture 34:  9.1      Intro to Factoring          Polynomials	3/19   Chapter 8 Post      Test  DUE!
3/22   Lecture 35:   9.2        Special Quadratic       Factorizations	3/23   Lecture 36   9.3    Factoring Quadratics  with  Integer Coefficients	3/24   Lecture 37:   9.4          Special Cubic          Factorizations	3/25   Lecture 38:   9.5    Solving Linear Equations           by Factoring	3/26   Chapter 9 Post      Test  DUE!
3/29     Spring Break	3/30     Spring Break	3/31     Spring Break	4/1     Spring Break	4/2  Spring Break
4/5   Lecture 39:   10.1       Simplifying Rational        Expressions	4/6   Lecture 40   10.2    Multiplying & Dividing     Rational Expressions	4/7   Lecture 41:   10.3    Adding & Subtracting      Rational Expressions	4/8   Lecture 42:  10.4      Complex Rational          Expressions	4/9
4/12   Lecture 43:   10.5         Rational Equations	4/13   Lecture 44:   10.6      Direct & Inverse         Variation	4/14   Lecture 45:   11.1   Multiplying & Dividing      Radical Expressions	4/15   Lecture 46:  11.2   Adding & Subtracting      Radical Expressions	4/16   Chapter 10 Post      Test  DUE!
4/19   Lecture 47:   11.3       Radical Equations	4/20   Lecture 48:   11.4     Complex Numbers	4/21   Lecture 49:   11.5       Rational Exponents	4/22   Lecture 50:  Review	4/23   Chapter 11 Post      Test  DUE!
4/26   Lecture 51:   12.1      Square Root Property	4/27   Lecture 52:   12.2   Completing the Square	4/28   Lecture 53:   12.3       Quadratic Formula	4/29   Lecture 54:  12.4     Graphing Quadratic             Equations	4/30   Chapter 12 Post      Test  DUE!
5/3   Lecture 55:   Review	5/4   Lecture 56:  Review	5/5   Lecture 57:  Review	5/6   Lecture 58:  Review	5/7
5/10   Final Exam

IMPORTANT:    If you need additional time to complete the course . . .

An "incomplete" grade may be given, in the following circumstances:

Incomplete academic work for unforeseeable emergency and justifiable reasons at the end of the term may result in an “I” symbol being entered in the student’s record. The instructor must submit a statement of the requirements for clearance of the incomplete and also indicate the grade to be assigned in lieu of the ‘I’ if the requirements are not completed. An ‘I’ must be made up no later than one year following the end of the term in which it was assigned. An ‘I’ may not be assigned as a withdrawal grade. If the work stipulated is not completed within the time limitation, the grade assigned in lieu of the work being completed will be entered on the permanent record.

If something comes up during the semester that you think qualifies you to receive an incomplete, as per the above paragraph, please let me know as soon as possible.  If you qualify for an incomplete, you will have up to a year to complete your coursework.

If you have questions...    Ask in class, come to my office hours, email me, or go the Math Lab (SS 140), where free individual drop-in tutoring is available whenever BC is in session.