MATL 098L2      INTRODUCTION TO ALGEBRA II LAB

Instructor:

        Mrs. Debra Lotsbaich

 

 

 

Semester: Winter, 2003

 

      

       

 

Credit Hours:  0 credit hours, 2 contact hours

With also 3 hours of lecture required on MWF

 

Office Hours:

          

By appointment only         

 

Time:  11:00 – 11:50 on Tuesday & Thursday in V- 247

 

 

 

Office Phone:

Home Phone:

e-mail

 

       574-239-8373

       269-695-6182

dlotsbaich@hcc-nd.edu

 

1.       PREREQUISITES

 

            Successful completion of Math 097 or its equivalent.  (See Course Description)

 

2.       TEXTBOOKS

 

A.       Required

            Beginning Algebra,  Charles P. McKeague, Fifth Edition, Saunders College Publishing

B.       Optional

Student Solution Manual

                                A calculator

 

3.       COURSE DESCRIPTION 

 

This lab class must be taken with Math 098.  Students are required to work on computers to help build mastery of the objectives presented in the Math 98 class. 

 

Math 97-98 is a two-semester sequence in basic algebra skills.  It does not assume previous instruction in algebra.  However, students are expected to be able to perform basic arithmetic operations (+, -, x, / ) on whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.  Students who are weak in computation may be expected to complete extra work and computer tutorials strengthening these skills.  Students who successfully complete this course (including 098) will have the skills necessary to complete Math 101 (Intermediate  Algebra)or Math 111 (Discrete Math).   Included in this course are the chapters on factoring , rational expressions, roots and radicals, and quadratic equations.

 

4.       GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

 

Both content objectives and transferable skill objectives are listed after the assignment sheet.

 

5.   GRADING CRITERIA  AND REQUIREMENTS

 

Each lab assignment will count 10 points.  If you score more than 80%, you will earn a 10.  If your score is less than 80%, divide your percentage (# problems right / total # problems) by 10.  For example, a lab with 60% would count as 6 out of 10, a lab with 65% would be 6.5 out of 10.  Feel free to do labs over until you achieve a score of 80% or higher.  A missed lab results in a score of 0 out of 10. 

To earn credit for a lab, it must be turned in BEFORE THE TEST IS TAKEN, and WITH ALL SCRAP WORK attached and neatly numbered.

Your lab scores will be factored into your grade in your 98 lecture class (on M W F).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.       GRADING SCALE

 

Reminder:  you will receive a letter grade for your MWF class, but it will not count in your GPA.

 

7.       MAKE-UP POLICY

 

As there are no quizzes or tests in this class, no policy is needed in that regard.  A student who is absent must be sure to keep up with the deadlines established on the assignment sheet and hand in work on a timely basis.  The student is encouraged to contact me to discuss any difficulties that may arise.

 

8.       ATTENDANCE POLICY/ WITHDRAWAL POLICY

 

Class attendance is required in BOTH the lectures AND the labs.  Try not to miss any class or lab. 

January 22 is the last day to drop a class.  March 21 is the last day for class withdrawal with a grade of W.

 

9.   OTHER INFORMATION

 

·                     Special Needs/ Learning Disabilities: 

 

You are encouraged to make known to us any problems  which may make it difficult for you to learn math.  We will do our best to work with you to help you succeed. 

 

·                     Good Advice: 

 

If you are ever discouraged or have concerns or questions, do not hesitate to talk with me.  Please call or make an appointment.

 

·                     Tutoring:

 

You are encouraged to make use of the Learning Resource Center in Room V 110-b.  Hours are posted.  Peer tutors, adult tutors, and teachers are available to help you FREE OF CHARGE.  Videotapes of all lectures are available for viewing at the LRC. 

 

·                     Important Dates:

 

January 20                    is the last day to add a class

                  January 22                    is the last day to drop a class

                  March 8 - 16                  is spring break

                  March 21                       is the last day for class withdrawal with a grade of “w”

                  April 18-21                     Easter Break                

                              May 2                           Last day to withdrawal with grade of WP/WF

                  May 5 – 8                      is exam week

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day      Date                             Lab Assignment Due

 

 

T          1-14                                          Review Sheet

 

Th         1-16                              6.1        Greatest Common Factor (GCF) & Factor by

                                                            grouping

                                                           

T          1-21                              6.2        Factoring Trinomials

 

Th         1-23                              6.3        More Trinomials to Factor

 

T          1-28                              6.4        The Difference of Two Squares

 

Th         1-30                              6.5        Factoring:  A General Review

 

T          2-4                                6.6        Solving Equations by Factoring

 

Th         2-6                                6.7        Applications

 

 

Reminder:  All labs from chapter 6 must be turned in BEFORE the test on Friday, February 7.

 

 

T          2-11                              7.1        Reducing Rational Expressions to Lowest Terms

 

Th         2-13                              7.2        Multiplication and Division of Rational Expressions

 

T          2-18                              7.3        Addition and Subtraction of Rational Expressions

 

Th         2-20                              7.4        Equations involving Rational Expressions

 

T          2-25                              7.5        Applications

                                                7.6        Complex Fractions

           

Th         2-27                              7.7        Proportions

 

T          3-4                                7.8        Variation

 

 

Reminder:  All labs from chapter 7 must be turned in BEFORE the test on Wednesday, March 5.

 

 

Th         3-6                                8.1        Definitions and Common Roots

 

 

Saturday, March 8 through Sunday, March 16 is SPRING BREAK!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Day     Date                            Lab Assignment Due

 

 

T          3-18                              8.2        Properties of Radicals

 

Th         3-20                              8.3        Simplified Form of Radicals

 

T          3-25                              8.4        Addition and Subtraction of Radical Expressions

 

Th         3-27                              8.5        Multiplication and Division of Radicals

                                    8.6        Equations Involving Radicals

           

 

Reminder:  All labs from chapter 8 must be turned in BEFORE the test on Monday, March 31.

 

 

T          4-1                                9.1        More Quadratic Equations

 

Th         4-3                                9.2        Completing the Square                          

 

T          4-8                                9.3        The Quadratic Formula

 

Th         4-10                              9.3        Continued

 

T          4-15                              9.4        Complex Numbers

 

Th         4-17                              9-5        Complex Solutions to Quadratic Equations

 

 

Friday, April 18  to Monday, April 21 is EASTER BREAK!!!

                                   

T          4-22                              9-5        Continued

 

Th         4-24                                          Review Chapter 9

 

Reminder:  All labs from chapter 9 should be turned in BEFORE  the test on Monday, April 28.

 

 

 

T          4-29                              Review Chapters 6 and 7

 

Th         5-1                                Review Chapters 8 and 9

 

 

Final Exam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.        GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

A.       Content

            Upon successful completion of the Math 098 class (lab included),  the student should be able to:

·                     Factor the greatest common factor from a polynomial

·                     Factor by grouping

·                     Factor a trinomial whose leading coefficient is the number 1

·                     Factor a trinomial whose leading coefficient is other than 1

·                     Factor the difference of two squares

·                     Factor a perfect square trinomial

·                     Factor a polynomial by first factoring out the greatest common factor and then factoring the polynomial that remains

·                     Factor a variety of polynomials

·                     Solve an equation by writing it in standard form and then factoring

·                     Apply the Blueprint for Problem Solving to applications whose solutions depend on solving equations by factoring

·                     Find the restrictions on the variable in a rational expression

·                     Reduce a rational expression to lowest terms

·                     Work problems involving ratios

·                     Multiply and divide rational expressions by factoring and then dividing out common factors

·                     Convert between units using unit analysis

·                     Add and subtract rational expressions that have the same denominators

·                     Add and subtract rational expressions that have different denominators

·                     Solve equations that contain rational expressions

·                     Solve applications whose solutions depend on solving an equation containing rational expressions

·                     Simplify a complex fraction

·                     Solve application problems involving proportions

·                     Solve problems involving direct and inverse variation

·                     Find the root of a number

·                     Find the root of an expression containing a variable

·                     Solve an application problem involving roots         

·                     Simplify a radical expression by using the property which states that the square root of a product is the product of the square roots

·                     Simplify a radical expressions by using the property which states that the square root of a quotient  is the quotient of the square roots

·                     Simplify a radical expression by using a combination of the properties stated in the previous two objectives

·                     Use both properties of radicals to write a radical expression in simplified form

·                     Rationalize the denominator in a radical expression that contains only one term in the denominator

·                     Add and subtract similar radical expressions

·                     Multiply radical expressions

·                     Rationalize the denominator in a radical expression that contains two terms in the denominator

·                     Solve equations that contain radicals

·                     Solve a quadratic equation by taking the square root of both sides of the equation

·                     Solve an application problem involving a quadratic equation

·                     Solve a quadratic equation by completing the square

·                     Solve a quadratic equation by using the quadratic formula

·                     Add and subtract complex numbers

·                     Multiply and divide complex numbers

·                     Write square roots of negative numbers as complex numbers

·                     Solve quadratic equations whose solutions may be complex numbers

 

 

 

 

 

4.        GOALS AND OBJECTIVES (cont.)

 

B.       Transferable skills

 

At Holy Cross College, we have identified a number of transferable skills which we hope that all of our students will exhibit by the time they graduate.  The TRANSFERABLE SKILLS OBJECTIVES*  which are incorporated into our class include the following:

 

I.                     Creative Thinking

a.        The student should be able to generate ideas and synthesize results.

1.        Participate in brainstorming activities

2.        See connections and patterns

3.        Work independently or with others to put ideas into action/form, i.e., synthesize results

a.        The student should be able to recognize and use multiple ways of thinking.

1.        Utilize inductive and deductive reasoning

2.        Perceive accurately; see the overall and the specific; draw from both logic and intuition; compare and contrast; understand cause and effect

a.        The student should be able to understand the creative process (planning, experimenting, implementing, and evaluating).

1.        Envision an idea/solution to a problem and communicate that vision

2.        Design a plan/template/model to express the idea

3.        Carry out plans

4.        Solicit feedback, evaluate, and revise creative product

II.            Critical Thinking

a.        The student should be able to analyze, interpret, and appreciate thoughts and works of others.

1.        Be familiar with the basic terminology of various disciplines

2.        Attempt to be objective in analysis and interpretation

III.           Quantitative Reasoning and Levels of Achievement

a.        The student should be able to understand and use basic algebraic concepts and applications.

1.        Solve problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of polynomial expressions

2.        Solve and apply algebraic equations and inequalities

3.        Use algebraic quantitative skills to help recognize, create, and solve problems related to everyday living

a.        The student should be able to recognize the order, logic, precision, and terminology of mathematics.

1.        Show evidence of a reflective, deliberate choice to use quantitative information

2.        Organize, appropriately use, and clearly communicate quantitative information using appropriate terminology

3.        Show a refined sense of effective ways to present quantitative information for a specific audience

a.        The student should be able to apply mathematical principles in a variety of situations.

1.        Identify quantitative relationships within a context

2.        Show awareness of assumptions behind quantitative information

a.        The student should be able to understand relations and functions.

1.  Interpret, select, and construct graphs and apply measurement concepts

IV.           Reading

a.        The student should be able to demonstrate proficiency in reading competently in the various disciplines. 

1.  Gain and understand accurate information and ideas from the written text

V.            Technology

a.        The student should be able to use various software programs needed for major areas of study relevant to course work.

1.  Have a basic understanding of the common terms associated with computer technology

 

*  There are many other transferable skills included in our course which are observed, but not formally assessed.