ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA
Course Outline:
This course is equivalent to one year of high school
algebra. Topics include: arithmetic operations
with real numbers, polynomials, rational expressions, and radicals; factoring
polynomials; linear equations
and inequalities in one and two variables; systems of linear equations and
inequalities in two variables;
applications problems; equations with rational expressions, equations with
radicals; and introduction to
quadratic equations in one variable.
Students enrolled in this course are required to spend one hour per week in the Math Lab.
Prerequisite: Math 84.
Textbook: INTRODUCTORY ALGEBRA for College Students (5th ed.) by Robert F. Blitzer; Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009
Final Exam: Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 6:45—9:45 p.m. MC71
Final exam is not exemptible. Not taking the final will
result in an ”F”. If you can not
take the final exam for some unexpected situation, you should file a petition
with the record
office (and notify the instructor) for an Incomplete grade so that you will have
a chance to
make it up later. (To apply for ”Incomplete”, you should have a passing
grade at that time.)
(The final grade will be available about two weeks after
the end of the semester by calling (310)
434-4333.)
Evaluation:
The grade is determined by the total points you
get in quizzes, homework, tests, and the final exam.
There will be
(1) 10 quizzes, 20 points each, 160 points total ,(the
lowest two dropped);
(2) 5 tests, 100 points each, 400 points total,(the lowest one dropped);
(3) 5 homework assignments, 10 points each, 40 points total (the lowest one
dropped);
(4) and a (common) final exam, which is 200 points.
Grading System
A 90 — 100
B 80 — 89
C 65 — 79
D 50 — 64
F Below 50
Semester Total =6.25%(Quiz total)+12.5%(Test
total)+15%(Final) +15%HW+Lab Hour Credits
=10(Q) + 50(T) + 30(F) + 6(HW) + 4(LHC) = 100
About Tests and Quizzes:
There will be 10 in-class/take-home quizzes, 20 points
each. Each quiz contains 8–20 problems, covering
the topics in the previous one or two classes. No make-up quiz will be given
if it’s in-class.
There will be 5 in-class, close-booked tests, 100 points
each. Each covers two chapters. Test problems
are similar to quiz and homework problems. NO make-up test will be given.
Homework:
Working the homework assignment problems is a MUST for you
to study math. You need to practice a
lot by yourself to deepen the understanding and learn what we discussed in
class. Homework will be assigned
in each section discussed in class and collected on test date.
Additional review exercises in each chapter will be given on the web page of the instructor.
Calculator Policy:
Calculators are NOT allowed in tests and the final exam.
Lab Hours and Lab Hour Credits:
Students enrolled in Math 31 are required to spend one hour per week (averagely)
in Math Lab. Students
make use of lab hours to review the math topics studied in class. The Math Lab
will record your time spent
in Math Lab study.
You earn Lab Hour Credits ( that is 4% of Semester Total) by the cumulative
hours spent in Math Lab
as follows:
| Points | Cumulative hours |
| 4 3 2 1 |
12 hours or above 8 hours to 12 hours 4 hours to 8 hours less than 4 hours (but more than 0) |
Attendance and Withdrawal:
Regular attendance is essential for success. You are supposed to attend every
class meeting when you
enroll in a course. If the student accumulates excessive absences for 4 classes,
s/he may be excluded from the
class. However, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor if
s/he intends to withdraw from
the class, and it is the student’s responsibility to be aware of college drop
deadlines. (Please refer to SMC
Fall 2008 schedule (Page 7) for the Withdrawal Deadlines.) The student must
complete the official
procedure with the Record Office if s/he decides to withdraw.
Class Meeting Schedule: (Tentative)
| Date (Day) | Sections | Quiz / Test | |
| 1 | 08-25 (M) 08-27 (W) |
1.1 – 1.2; 1.3 – 1.5; |
Q1 |
| 2 | 09-01 (M) 09-03 (W) |
Labor Day; 1.6 – 1.8; |
|
| 3 | 09-08 (M) 09-10 (W) |
2.1, 2.2; 2.3 – 2.5; |
|
| 4 | 09-15 (M) 09-17 (W) |
2.6; 3.1; 3.2; |
|
| 5 | 09-22 (M) 09-24 (W) |
3.3; 4.1; 4.2, 4.3; |
Q4 |
| 6 | 09-29 (M) 10-01 (W) |
4.4; 4.5; 4.6; 5.1; |
Q5 |
| 7 | 10-06 (M) 10-08 (W) |
5.2; 5.3 – 5.5; |
T2 (Ch.3,4) |
| 8 | 10-13 (M) 10-15 (W) |
6.1 – 6.3; 6.4, 6.5; |
|
| 9 | 10-20 (M) 10-22 (W) |
6.6, 6.7; 7.1, 7.2; |
Q7 |
| 10 | 10-27 (M) 10-29 (W) |
7.3; 7.4, 7.5; |
T3 (Ch.5,6) |
| 11 | 11-03 (M) 11-05 (W) |
7.6; 8.1; 8.2, 8.3; |
Q8 |
| 12 | 11-10 (M) 11-12 (W) |
Veterans Day 8.4, 8.5; |
Q9 |
| 13 | 11-17 (M) 11-19 (W) |
8.6, 8.7; 9.1 |
T4 (Ch.7,8) |
| 14 | 11-24 (M) 11-26 (W) |
9.2, 9.3; 9.4, 9.5; |
Q10 |
| 15 | 12-01 (M) 12-03 (W) |
10.1, 10.2; 10.3; |
T5 (Ch.9,10) |
| 16 | 12-08 (M) 12-10 (W) |
Review; Final Exam; |
Some Notes:
(1) For students in need of additional assistance outside
of class lecture, they should go to the Math
Lab where Math Assistants and Math Tutors are available at no charge
(4) Turn off your cellular phone before you enter the
classroom, you are not allowed to receive and
make phone calls during class meetings.