1
LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
MATHEMATICS, ENGINEERING and COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
FALL 2015
MAT 096, ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA
6 PERIODS, 5 LECTURES, 1 LAB, 0 CREDITS
Catalog Description
This course provides a careful treatment of elementary algebra, beginning with linear equations,
ending with quadratic equations, and emphasizing the interplay between the algebraic and
geometric points of view. Topics include line graphing, systems of linear equations, introduction
to functions, exponents, polynomial algebra, factoring, radical expressions, and the quadratic
formula.
Instructional Objectives
During this course, the instructor expects to:
1. Provide students with the skills necessary to construct graphs from linear equations
and to deduce linear equations from graphs of straight lines.
2. Enable students to solve systems of linear equations graphically and algebraically and
to appreciate the diverse applications involving such systems.
3. Introduce students to the concept of function: elementary examples, tables, the inputoutput model, and evaluating functions.
4. Reinforce students’ understanding of the laws of exponents in the more general setting
of integers.
5. Provide students with the skills required to carry out arithmetic operations on
polynomials and factoring.
6. Familiarize students with the arithmetic of radical expressions.
7. Introduce students to quadratic functions and provide them with a powerful tool for
finding the zeros of such functions, the quadratic formula.
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Performance Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Appreciate the interplay of algebra and geometry in drawing graphs of straight lines
and deriving linear equations from straight-line data.
2. Solve systems of linear equations and apply skills to solve variety of word problems
arising from real-world situations.
3. Understand the power and versatility of the function concept in tabular as well as
algebraic settings.
4. Use laws of exponents appropriately in various algebraic settings.
5. Perform arithmetic operations on polynomials, including factoring.
6. Combine and simplify radical expressions.
7. Grasp the basics of quadratic functions and use various methods for solving
quadratic equations.
Required Text
Beginning Algebra, 6th edition (EDUCO International, Inc.) by Man M. Sharma
You are required to purchase online access to this text.
Evaluation
The purpose of a grading system is to give you, the student, and anyone else reading your
transcript an accurate record of your performance in this course. The role of the Mathematics
Department is to provide a fair, valid, and reliable structure for assessing your achievement.
In order to pass this course, you must fulfill the CUNY math proficiency requirements: an
overall average of at least 70% AND a score of at least 60 on the CUNY Final Exam.
S/R/U grading system: The A/B/C/D/F grading scale is not used in MAT 096. LaGuardia’s
policy for grading in MAT 096 is as follows:
♦ If you meet the above evaluation criteria, you’ll receive a passing grade of “S.”
♦ If you don’t meet the evaluation criteria, and you don’t have any previous “R” grades in
MAT 096, you’ll receive an “R” grade, and you will have to repeat the course.
♦ If you don’t meet the criteria, and you’ve already received one “R” grade in MAT 096, you’ll
receive another “R,” and you will have to repeat the course.
♦ If you don’t meet the evaluation criteria, and you’ve already received two or more “R”
grades in MAT 096, you’ll receive a “U” grade, and you will have to repeat the course.
Also, the College’s policy concerning grades of W, WN, and WU apply to MAT 096.
Revised Fall 2015
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Grading Categories
Online homework
Lab work
10%
5%
Departmental exams
25%
Professor’s tests/quizzes
15%
Projects
5%
Final online pre-test
5%
CUNY Final Exam
35%
Explanation of Grading Categories
1.
Online homework
Daily online assignments will be given. It is very important that you do them because
they reinforce the concepts learned in that section. Assignments must be completed by
the date and time set by your instructor.
2.
Lab work
You will meet in the Math Lab (MB-44) one hour every week and work on lab sheets
containing problems that will enhance your computational skills. A tutor will guide you.
You are encouraged to work together and learn from each other. Should you need further
assistance, you may ask the lab assistants or bring your questions up with the professor in
class.
You are required to bring to the tutoring lab a copy of the relevant lab sheet. The lab
sheets are available at: www.lagcc.cuny.edu/MEC/MAT095-and-MAT096-Lab-Sheets/
The completed lab sheets must be submitted to your instructor. He or she will determine
when the sheets are due.
3.
Departmental exams
Two one-hour departmental online examinations will be given. The examinations consist
of multiple choice questions, some of which are designed to test algebraic skills, while
the others will test conceptual understanding. The second departmental exam will be
cumulative.
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Explanation of Grading Categories (continued)
4.
Professor’s tests/quizzes
Your professor will develop and administer two tests and at least three quizzes during
the course of the semester
5.
Projects
Your instructor will assign to you at least ONE of the projects that are either listed in the
PQL Sampler (http://ctl.laguardia.edu/pql/sampler) or are similar.
6.
Final online pre-test
This will be a cumulative online pre-test assigned during the last week of classes. This
pre-test will help you prepare for the CUNY final exam.
7.
CUNY Final Exam
This exam will be given during the final examination week. It will consist of 25
multiple-choice questions that you must complete in 100 minutes.
Attendance
The maximum number of absences allowed will be 9 hours. Unexcused absences beyond this
maximum will result in a grade of WU, R, or U.
Academic Integrity
This class will be conducted in compliance with LaGuardia Community College’s academic
integrity policy.
IN ORDER TO PASS THIS COURSE, YOU MUST HAVE
a)
b)
c)
d)
an average total score (computed as stated above) of at least 70,
a score of at least 60 on the CUNY Final Exam,
no more than 9 hours of unexcused absences, and
satisfactorily completed the assignments, quizzes, tests, departmental exams, and
lab sheets.
Note: Calculators and other electronic devices are NOT allowed in this course.
Revised Fall 2015
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CUNY Final Exam Make-up Policy
If you missed your CUNY FINAL EXAM due to a documented reason, then reach out to your
professor immediately to request a possible incomplete (INC grade). If your professor decides to
grant and submit an INC grade for you, then you have six months to make-up the CUNY FINAL
and your overall class grade.
Then, see Anthony Pappas (E-223) about the sign-up sheet for a make-up CUNY EXAM. Any
student who does not have an INC on their transcript will be removed from the list of eligible
students for a make-up.
Be aware, you will only be able to make-up your CUNY EXAM one day per semester determined
in advance by the LaGuardia testing Office. You are strongly advised to plan ahead.
COURSE OUTLINE FOR MAT096, ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA
Spring 2015
Text: Beginning Algebra, 6th edition (EDUCO International, Inc.) by Man M. Sharma
The following outline is a guide for classroom instruction. It is subject to change
based on the College’s academic calendar. EDUCO online homework and
quizzes are date sensitive and must be activated by the instructor. These
assignments should be coordinated with the appropriate classwork material.
Week
Lesson
1
1
2
3
4
5
2
6
7
8-9
TOPIC
• Review
Operations with integers
Operations with fractions (including
LCD)
Translating statements into
mathematical expressions
Linear equations
• Review
More on linear equations
Applications of linear equations
Literal equations
Linear inequalities
Section
Suggested In Class/Homework
1.1
1.2
p. 5: 7,9,13,21,39,41,49,61,71,75
p. 15: 1,5,7,11,15,17
1.6
p. 51: 5,7,15,17,21,45,51,57
2.2
p. 73: 15,21,37,45,85,116,141,153
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.8
p. 78: 7,11,13,17,19,43,67,75,77
p. 86: 5,7,15,19,23,25,27,31,33
p .93: 1,9,15,23,27,33,35,37
p. 118: 7,9,17,23,27,47,67,79,83
EDUCO On-Line
ASSIGNMENTS
HW sections:
1.1, 1.2, 1.6, 2.2
HW sections:
2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.8
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Lab Sheet # 1
Professor’s Test I
• Linear Equations
Linear equations in two variables
Graphing linear eqs./Intercepts
Slope
Equations of a line
Rm. MB-44
Lab Sheet # 2
• Solving Systems of Linear
Equations
Graphically
Substitution method
Addition method
Applications
Rm. MB-44
Lab Sheet # 3
Departmental Exam I
• Introduction to Functions
Functions: Evaluating functions using
function notation, input-output
model, tables of values
• Exponents & Polynomials
Rules of exponents
Rm. MB-44
24-25
Integer exponents
5.5
Rm. MB-44
26
27-28
29
30
Lab Sheet # 4
• Exponents & Polynomials
Polynomial addition & subtraction
Polynomial multiplication
Special products
Division: by monomials only
Lab Sheet # 5
• Factoring
Greatest common factor (GCF)
& Factoring by grouping
Factoring trinomials
Special factorizations (difference of
two squares, perfect square
trinomials)
Lab Sheet # 6
• Solving Quadratic Equations
By factoring (zero principle)
Applications
Review
Rm. MB-44
Lab Sheet # 7
Departmental Exam II
• Roots (square roots only)
What roots mean and finding roots
Multiplication and division of roots
Rm. MB-44
Addition and subtraction of roots
8.3
Lab Sheet # 8
Rm. MB-44
10
3
11
12
13
14-15
4
16
17
18
19
20
5
21-22
23
6
7
31
32
33
34-35
8
36
37-38
39-40
41
9
42
43
44-45
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
p. 134: 3,5,7,9,17,21,31,33,47,48,59
p. 141: 1,3,11,15,17,21,25,31,37,49
p .151: 1,5,11,15,19,21,23,45,53,59
p. 161: 7,9,13,17,25,29,33,39,43,49,
55,59,67,69,71,73
HW sections:
3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4
HW sections:
4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.5
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.5
p. 192: 3,11,19,21,39,43,45,47,51,55
p. 197: 3,5,7,11,31,43,45
p. 203: 5,7,13,21,23,37
p. 213: 1,3,5,7,9,13,15,23,25,29
3.6
p. 175: 1,3,7,9,11,13,15,20,31,33,
35,39,43,45,47,55
5.1
p. 224: 3,5,13,15,21,23,27,37,61,65,
81,89
p. 245: 5,9,11,13,17,19,23,27,29,33
37,43,45
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.6
6.1
6.2
6.3
p. 230: 31,35,39,41,51,57,67,71,77
p. 235: 5,17,25,29,31,41,51,53,65,67
p .239: 1,7,23,25,31,45
p. 249: 3,5,11,15,25,27
p. 264: 3,7,13,17,29,33,45,57,59,
73,77
p. 271: 3,5,13,17,39,49,51,55,57,63
65,77
p. 278: 1,7,9,17,27,37,41,43,47,55,
79,89
HW sections:
3.6, 5.5
HW sections:
5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6
HW sections:
6.1,6.2, 6.3
Rm. MB-44
6.4
6.5
8.1
8.2
p. 284: 7,17,23,29,31,37,43,47,65
p. 288: 1,3,11,15,17,21,23,27,31
p. 367: 3,5,29,39,43,53,55,57
p. 372: 3,15,17,19,25,29,33
35, 39, 51,53,63,69
p. 377: 5,17,29,31,35,37,39,41,47
HW sections:
6.4,6.5
HW sections:
8.1, 8.2, 8.3
Revised Fall 2015
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10
46
47
48-49
50
11
51
52
53
54
12
• Roots (square roots only)
Rationalizing the denominator
• Solving Quadratic Equations
(again)
Square root property
Solution by formula
Lab Sheet # 9
Professor’s Test II
• Review
Decimal numbers
Percents
Ratios and proportions
Scientific notation (including word
problems)
Lab Sheet # 10
55-59
Cumulative review for
the CUNY Final Exam
60
Final Online Pre-test
8.4
p. 382: 3,9,15,37,43,47,55,61,63,67
9.1
p. 400: 3,9,13,17,19,21,27,31
p. 417: 3,9,13,17,21,29
9.3
HW sections:
8.4, 9.1, 9.3
Rm. MB-44
1.3
1.4
2.6
5.7
p. 22: 3,7,8,12,13,14
p. 27: 1,2,3,4,8,11,13,15
p. 100: 11,17,35,47,57,63,65,73,79
p. 253: 7,17,21,23,31,37,48,49,50
HW sections:
1.3, 1.4, 2.6, 5.7
Rm. MB-44
Problem sets and sample tests to be
assigned by the instructor.
Revised Fall 2015