QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
COURSE OUTLINE for Students and Instructor
MA-10 ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA
Prerequisite: None
Hours: 5 Class Hours
0 Credits
Course Description:Signed numbers, polynomials, geometric concepts, graphing, and solutions of linear and
quadratic equations by graphing and algebraic methods, word problems, slope and y-intercept, factoring and its
applications.
Curricula for which the course is required/recommended:
All A.S., A.A., and A.A.S. Degree Programs
General Education Objectives:Math-10 prepares students: to use quantitative skills and mathematical
reasoning to solve problems; to reason quantitatively and mathematically as required in their fields of interest
and in everyday life; to integrate their mathematical knowledge and skills across the courses and experiences in
their programs of study; to use information management and technology skills effectively for lifelong learning.
Course Objectives/Outcomes:Students are expected: to know the basic concepts and skills of algebra and
geometry that are outlined in the course description above; to apply their knowledge when solving problems
mathematically in disciplines where required; to draw conclusions from algebraic and graphical solutions to
problems; to communicate the results in written and oral format.
Required Text
WORKSHEETS WITH THE MATH COACH/MathXL PACKAGE
For Beginning Algebra: Early Graphing 3rd ed., 2012
John Tobey, Jeffrey Slater, Jamie Blair& Jennifer Crawford, Authors
Pearson Prentice Hall, Publisher
Calculators: Calculators may NOT be used on the final exam. Use of a calculator during the course is at the
instructor’s discretion.
Evaluation of student learning: Students must meet each of the following criteria to pass the course
1. Must have at least a minimum grade of 60% on the uniform CUNY final exam
AND
2. Must have a 70% course average. The uniform CUNY final exam accounts 35% of the final grade
and the remainder comes from exams, assignments and classroom performance.
Class exam policy: Any student who scores less than 70 on a class exam is required to go to the Math
Learning Center (S-216) and go over the exam with a tutor before the next exam. The student must have the
exam signed by the tutor and present the signed exam to his/her teacher before the next class exam. Failure to
do so will result in a 5-point penalty for that exam.
Academic Integrity: Academic honesty is expected and taken with utmost seriousness. All assignments must
be the original work of the student (and partners or group, if applicable). All questions or concerns regarding
ethical conduct should be brought to the course instructor.
The QCC Academic Integrity Policy, 2/14/2005, states, “It is the official policy of the College that all acts or
attempted acts that are violations of academic integrity be reported to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). At
the faculty member’s discretion and with the concurrence of the student or students involved, some cases,
though reported to the OSA, may be resolved within the confines of the course and department. The instructor
has the authority to adjust the offender’s grades as deemed appropriate, including assigning an F to the
assignment or exercise or, in more serious cases, an F to the student for the entire course.”
NOTE: Any student who thinks that he/she may need an accommodation based upon the impact of a disability
should contact the instructor privately to discuss his/her specific needs. Please contact the Office of Services for
Students with Disabilities in Science Building, room 132 (718 631 6257) to coordinate reasonable
accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
A week is five class hours. One class hour each week must be used for student-centered problem
solving.TOPICS
Real Numbers & Variables: Discussion ofReal Numbers, Exponents (integral), and Order of Operations.
Sections
1.1 – 1.5
2
Real Numbers and Variables: Simplifying Algebraic Expressions.
1.6 – 1.9
3
Review and Exam 1;
Equations, Inequalities, and Applications: Principles of Equality, Solving Equations.
Equations, Inequalities, and Applications: Solving Word Problems, Solving Inequalities in One Variable.
Literal Equations
Graphing and Functions: Rectangular Coordinate System, Graphing Linear Equations, The Slope and Equation
of a Line.
Using Function Notation to Evaluate Values: In section 3.6 only
Week*
1
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Systems of Equations: Solving a System of Equations by Graphing.
Systems of Equations: Solving a System of Equations by Substitution and Addition.
Word Problems using Systems of Equations;
Review and Exam 2
Exponents and Polynomials: Rules of Exponents,
Scientific Notation: Multiplication & Division
Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication ofPolynomials
Dividing Polynomials (Only monomial as divisor)
Factoring: Common Factors, Factoring by Grouping, Factoring Trinomials.
Factoring: Special Cases, Solving Quadratic Equations;
Review and Exam 3
Ratio and Proportions
Percents and Percent Increase/Decrease
12
Radicals: Square Roots, Operations on Radical Expressions
13
Radicals: Rationalizing with Single Radical in Denominator, The Pythagorean Theorem.
Review and Exam 4
14
Final
2.1 – 2.4
2.5 – 2.8
supplement
3.1 – 3.4
3.6
4.1
4.2 – 4.4
4.5
5.1
5.2 (and
supplement)
5.3 – 5.5
5.6
6.1 – 6.4
6.5 – 6.7
7.6
0.5 (and
supplement)
8.1 – 8.4
8.5 – 8.6
Final Review
Final Exam & Required Final Exam Review
*The weekly guidelines are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. The instructor is responsible for
making assignments and scheduling examinations.
MA-10 Homework Problems/Exercises from Chapter Sections*
Homework may be assigned from Worksheets that are not completed during class hours.
Spring 2016
JC/MF/CS:cs
[MATH SPRING2016 MA-10SP16]