SYLLABUS FOR MATH 115 FALL 2010 ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA

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1 SYLLABUS FOR MATH 115 FALL 2010 ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA Instructor: Anne Siswanto Office: E5 104 (Math Dept.) Section: Time: MW 9:40 10:50 Office Hrs: MW 12:15 1:30, 4 4:30 Room: C2 7A F 11:15 1:15 Phone: (323) Math Dept: (323) at E5 104 Mailbox: E5 104 (Math Dept.) Web site: Prerequisite Course Goals Student Learning Outcomes Topics Textbook Satisfactory completion of Math 112 (Prealgebra) or Math 110 (Intro to Algebraic Concept) or acceptable level of skill as demonstrated in the mathematics placement process. By the end of this course, students will, through reading, exercises, discussions, quizzes, and exams: Understand the differences between linear and quadratic equations. Solve linear equation in one variable, including fractions. Solve systems of linear equations by graphing, addition method, and substitution method. Solve quadratic equations primarily by factoring. Solve other equations, e.g. rational equations and radical equations, and linear equations in one variable. Solve and graph inequality in one variable. Apply the knowledge for solving word problems. Students will solve a quadratic equation by method of factoring. Given a linear equation in standard form, students will: o Write the equation in slope-intercept form o Determine the slope o Determine the y-intercept o Graph the equation Topics are chapters 1 6, , which include: Linear Equations, Inequalities; Graphing; Exponents and Polynomials; Factoring Polynomials; Rational Expressions; Systems of Linear Equations; Rational Equations. You need to get the textbook** by the end of the first week of class and bring it to class every day because I refer to problems in the textbook very often. Bittinger, Ellenbogen, Johnson, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra: Concepts and Applications, Fifth Edition, Pearson Custom Publishing, 2010 (Custom Edition for ELAC) ISBN: Math XL Access Code BUNDLED with the textbook. The access code is valid for two (2) years so that you may have an access code if you took quizzes for Pre-algebra the previous semester. MathXL access code is also available from ELAC bookstore for $33. Required A small ruler (needed for graphing later on). Math 115 (Elementary Algebra) 1 Instructor: Anne Siswanto

2 Supplies. A scientific calculator (no graphing calculator allowed during tests). Graph Paper. One notebook for the neat scratch of online homework. Methods of Evaluation Grades Final Exam: 25% Tests: 50% Online Homework: 10%** Neat scratch of Online HW 5% Paper-based Homework 10% Total: 100% + 3% Extra Credits Letter Grades A B C D F below 55 Final Exam Tests The final exam is closed book and closed notes. The final exam is cumulative and will count 25% of the grade. The final exam is on Thursday, December 16, 2010, 9:30 11:30 PM. Final Exam is mandatory, and failure to attend will result in an F. Each test is closed book and closed notes. We will have six chapter tests, i.e. Chapters 1 6. The lowest test score will be dropped. If you are unable to attend the test, please arrange with the instructor to take the test EARLIER (NOT LATER) than the test date. Test counts for 50% of the grade. Online Homework Online homework is available by logging in to You can open an online homework unlimited number of times and only the best score will be recorded. For each problem, you will have a maximum of eight (8) tries. Online homework is due the same day as the paper-based homework, i.e. on every Monday. All online homework is automatically scored when you click Submit. The online homework is open book and open notes, but you must work alone. Online homework counts for 10% of the total grade. ** At the end of the class, the online homework average is multiplied by 1.1. Neat scratch of Online Homework Please prepare one notebook or one folder for writing the neat scratch for the online homework. The computer only checks the final answer of each online homework problem. In learning math, it is important to learn the reasoning behind each step; therefore, I would like to see your logic for each step and will give you credit. An acceptable neat scratch of online homework has the following characteristics: Each section and each problem are clearly labeled. The handwriting is legible. Math 115 (Elementary Algebra) 2 Instructor: Anne Siswanto

3 There is no need to copy the problem but each step that you need to complete the problem is listed. The neat scratch should be turned in during each chapter test. Paper-based Homework Homework is due every Monday by 9:40 in class. Homework which is one day late (turned in by Tuesday 3 PM in E5 or math department mailbox) will be accepted but 3 points will be deducted. It is not necessary to copy the problem, but please show your work to get full credits. Note that the back of the textbook has the answers to most oddnumbered problems. You can work together (help each other) when doing homework and quizzes; however, you are not allowed to copy someone s homework. Homework is 10% of your grade. Please see below for the problems assigned for each section. Extra Credits At the end of each class, I often assign 2-3 extra credit problems, which is usually challenging. Some extra credit assignments are due the same day and some are due the following day at the beginning of the class. Extra Credit points will be given to correct answers to the assignment. There are 30 points available for extra credits. Extra credits are accepted if you are on-time to class. Extra Credits count 3% of your grade. Some extra credit problems will be taken from the even-numbered problems from the textbook. Math Free Tutoring Services Free walk-in tutoring service is available to all students enrolled at ELAC. The Math Tutoring Lab is located in F5 building. Please bring your student ID card to the lab. The tutoring lab is staffed by at least 4 tutors every hour. The tutoring lab has videos that would help you in mastering the subjects. The CD, which comes with the book, is installed in every computer in F5. You can take the online quizzes using computers available in F5 or from home. Please take advantage of the tutoring lab. The schedule is as follows: Monday Thursday 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Friday 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Expectations for Classroom Behavior To create a learning environment suitable for all students, students are expected to do the following: a. To purchase the textbook and MathXL access code and bring it to class by the second class meeting. b. To take the responsibility by asking clarification during class. c. To have at least one work partner who is responsible for answering questions, offering feedback on assignments and providing missed information. d. To set cell-phones or beeper to silent mode. Math 115 (Elementary Algebra) 3 Instructor: Anne Siswanto

4 e. To send text message before or after class or during the break. f. To be on-time and to stay until the end of class to meet the attendance requirement. Attendance Policy Since there is a waiting list for this class, students must come to class everyday during the first two weeks to avoid being dropped from the class. If a student decides to withdraw from the class, he or she should follow the official drop procedure adopted by the college. If a student stops attending classes but does not drop the class by the deadline, the student will receive a grade of F. Cheating Policy Cheating is not tolerated and is subject to ELAC Policy on Academic Honesty as written in the Schedule of Class. If a student is caught cheating by collaborating with another student, both students will get a 0 (zero) on the assignment. If a student is found cheating in a test, the student will get a 0. If a student is caught cheating more than once, he or she will get an F for the class. Using a graphing calculator during any exams is considered cheating. Math 115 (Elementary Algebra) 4 Instructor: Anne Siswanto

5 PLEASE KEEP THIS PAGE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. How to Login to F5 Computers (in the ELAC Main Campus) Each registered student has a unique user ID and password to F5 computers. Your username is the Student ID number which starts with 88 and is a 9-digit number. Your password starts with Elac, and is followed by the month and day of your birthday, as given in the school records, with the format MMDD. For example: John Smith whose and born on January 8, 19##, would have the following account information: User ID: Password: Elac0108 Enter your F5 lab username here for your record: Enter your F5 lab password here for your record: Instructions to access the online quizzes in MathXL In order to access your online quizzes in MathXL, you need MathXL access code and must register once. You will create a username and password during the registration process to be used when logging in to MathXL. Note that you will have two different pairs of usernames and password. The first pair of username and password is to be used to log in F5 computers AND the second pair is the one you created to access the online quizzes in MathXL. How to register in MathXL: Before you register in MathXL, you need to have the following items available: Valid address MathXL Student Access Code (bundled with your textbook package). To register in MathXL, please follow the steps below: Using Internet Explorer version 5.5 or later, go to Click Register. Enter your MathXL student access code. Enter your academic institution (East Los Angeles College). Zip code is Select the country United States. Math 115 (Elementary Algebra) 5 Instructor: Anne Siswanto

6 Create a login name and password for MathXL. Enter your MathXL username here for your record: Enter your MathXL password here for your record. Keep a record of your login name and password in a safe place. Your instructor or lab staff will not be able to retrieve your password. If for some reason you forget your login name / password, you need to call MathXL Tech Support at (8 a.m.-5 p.m. CST Monday through Friday). How to Do the Online Homework in MathXL: Once you register, you can login to your class in MathXL by following the steps below: Go to Click Login. Enter your username and password you created during registration process. If you login the first time, choose the radio button I am enrolled in a class which uses MathXL and I want to enroll in my instructor s course. Enter the course ID number (provided during the first day of class). The Course ID for your course is: XL0K 31FS 901Y 4OW2 Click Submit. If you are planning to take the online tests/quizzes at home, you need to download some plug-ins. The plug-ins has been installed in F5 and South Gate computer labs. To download the plug-ins for your home computer, click Install button at the top. Click either Homework and Tests to access either the online quizzes or online homework Click Study Plan to access your study plan. To view your results, click View Results and then click Homework. Important Information, please read carefully: 1. MathXL is not compatible with American Online (AOL) Browser. If you subscribe to AOL, you can connect to the Internet using AOL. Once you are connected to the Internet, open Internet Explorer version 5.5 or higher to access MathXL. 2. You should do browser check ONCE when you work from home computers and install the necessary software plugins in order to view the quizzes properly. If you do not install the plug-ins correctly, you will not be able to view the online quizzes; i.e. you will only see a blank page. Math 115 (Elementary Algebra) 6 Instructor: Anne Siswanto

MATH 108 Intermediate Algebra (online) 4 Credits Fall 2008

MATH 108 Intermediate Algebra (online) 4 Credits Fall 2008 Instructor: Nolan Rice Math Lab: T 2:00 2:50 Office: SHL 206-F Office Hours: M/F 2:00 2:50 Phone/Voice Mail: 732.6819 W 4:30 5:20 E-mail: nrice@csi.edu