Math 50 – Elementary Algebra          

Course Syllabus – Fall 2004

Course #0865 (4 units)

 

Class Hours:

MTWTh: 6:30–7:35 am

Room:  LA-5 (bldg. 30)       

                               

MyMathLab ID: toner83775

 

 


Instructor:  Stephen Toner                                                                     

Web Page:  http://www.stevetoner.com                                   Fall Calendar:

e-mail:  toners@vvc.edu (Include your name in subject line)          Aug. 30         Classes Begin

                                                                                                Sept. 6          Labor Day Holiday

VVC voicemail:  245-4271 ext. 2770                                    Nov. 8          Last day to drop with a “W” grade

Office:  LA, office “U”                                                          Nov. 11        Veteran’s Day Holiday

Office Hours:    M,T,Th:  8:15 - 9:30 am                             Nov. 25        Thanksgiving Holiday

                           Wednesdays:  9:00 - 9:30 am                     Dec. 18         End of Fall semester

 

 

Required Textbook:  Introductory Algebra, 9/e, by Bittinger. This textbook can be purchased new bundled with MyMathLab (an online tutorial) at no extra charge.  If you purchase a used textbook, MyMathLab can be purchased online at www.mymathlab.com for approximately $30.  MyMathLab is strongly recommended for supplemental use by my students.

 

Course Description:  This course covers signed number arithmetic, square roots, order of operations and algebraic expressions.  It also covers equation solving, factoring, graphs of linear equations and solving of equations.

 

 

You are required to attend class every day.  After 4 hours of absence, you may be dropped from this class.  It is your responsibility to keep your enrollment status current.  You risk an “F” if you stop attending without officially withdrawing.  Do not bring friends or children to class.  Please turn off any cell phones or pagers during class time (or switch them to silent mode).  No cell phones will be allowed on your desk during exams.

 

 

Homework Policy:  Practice is essential.  Each student is expected to spend at least 2 hours doing homework for each hour this class meets.  I expect you to practice at least all of the odd exercises in your text unless otherwise directed.  Homework will not be collected, however. 

 

 

Grading Policies:  Grades will be based on all chapter tests and the final exam.  No calculators, notes or “cheat sheets” will be allowed on any exam.  Any exam not taken will be regarded as a zero.  The lowest chapter exam score (but not the final exam) will be deleted prior to computing the term grade.  The final exam (which counts as two exams) is both required and comprehensive.  Students are expected to complete all exams during class on the dates and times scheduled.  No make-up or re-take exams will be given. 

 

Grading Scale:  A=90% or above;     B=80%-89.9%;       C=70%-79.9%;       D=65%-69.9%;        F=below 65%

 

 


Tentative Class Schedule

There are two “flex days” scheduled into this semester.  If they are not needed, they become final exam review days.  If they are needed for some reason, all remaining daily plans will be shifted back a day to compensate.  Otherwise, exam dates are fixed.

 

 

 

Sections to be Covered In Class

 

 

 

Sections to be Covered In Class

M

8/30

intro, 1.1-1.2

 

M

10/25

Review

T

8/31

1.3-1.6

 

T

10/26

Test Chapter 5

W

9/1

1.7-1.8

 

W

10/27

6.1-6.2

Th

9/2

Review

 

Th

10/28

6.3-6.4

M

9/6

No school – Labor Day

 

M

11/1

6.5

T

9/7

Test Chapter 1

 

T

11/2

6.6

W

9/8

2.1-2.3

 

W

11/3

6.7

Th

9/9

2.4-2.5

 

Th

11/4

6.8

M

9/13

2.6

 

M

11/8

Review, 8.1

T

9/14

2.7

 

T

11/9

Test Chapter 6

W

9/15

2.8

 

W

11/10

8.2-8.3

Th

9/16

Review, 3.1

 

Th

11/11

No School – Veterans’ Day

M

9/20

Test Chapter 2

 

M

11/15

8.4

T

9/21

3.2-3.3

 

T

11/16

8.5

W

9/22

3.4

 

W

11/17

Review, 9.1

Th

9/23

7.1-7.2

 

Th

11/18

Test Chapter 8

M

9/27

7.3

 

M

11/22

9.2-9.4

T

9/28

7.4

 

T

11/23

9.5-9.6

W

9/29

7.5

 

W

11/24

Review

Th

9/30

Review, 4.1

 

Th

11/25

No School – Thanksgiving

M

10/4

Test Chapters 3 & 7

 

M

11/29

Test Chapter 9

T

10/5

4.2

 

T

11/30

10.1

W

10/6

4.3-4.4

 

W

12/1

10.2

Th

10/7

4.5-4.6

 

Th

12/2

10.3-10.4

M