Baton Rouge Community College
Academic Affairs Master Syllabus
Date Approved or Revised: August 8, 2012
Course Name:
Introductory Algebra
Course Number: MATH 093
Lecture Hrs. 3
Lab Hrs. 0
Credit Hrs. 3
Course Description: Establishes a foundation in algebraic concepts and problem solving for the
student with a limited algebraic background, but possesses a solid foundation in computational
arithmetic skills. Review the fundamental operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division involving integers and fractions, graphing on the number line, evaluating simple expressions
and polynomials, simplifying expressions containing exponents and simple radicals, solving and
evaluating linear equations and inequalities, and solving application problems. Teaches students to
utilize these concepts in problem-solving using technology where technology is available.
Pre requisites: Appropriate placement test score or MATH 092 (with a grade of C or higher)
Co-requisites: Academic Learning Center attendance
Suggested Enrollment Cap: 24
Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Evaluate mathematical expressions using the order of operations.
2. Solve linear equations with the variable on both sides of the equation.
3. Set up and solve application problems using linear equations.
4. Perform arithmetic operations with polynomials.
5. Apply properties of exponents when appropriate.
6. Factor polynomials by trial and error, by grouping, and by special factoring formulas.
Assessment Measures:
 A comprehensive departmental final exam will be given
 Instructor created exams and/or homework.
Information to be included on the Instructors’ Course Syllabi:

Disability Statement: Baton Rouge Community College seeks to meet the needs of its
students in many ways. See the Office of Disability Services to receive suggestions for
disability statements that should be included in each syllabus.

Grading: The College grading policy should be included in the course syllabus. Any
special practices should also go here. This should include the instructor’s and/or the
department’s policy for make-up work. For example in a speech course, “Speeches not
given on due date will receive no grade higher than a sixty” or “Make-up work will not
be accepted after the last day of class.”

Attendance Policy: Include the overall attendance policy of the college. Instructors
may want to add additional information in individual syllabi to meet the needs of their
courses.

General Policies: Instructors’ policy on the use of things such as beepers and cell
phones and/or hand held programmable calculators should be covered in this section.

Cheating and Plagiarism: This must be included in all syllabi and should include the
penalties for incidents in a given class. Students should have a clear idea of what
constitutes cheating in a given course.

Safety Concerns: In some programs this may be a major issue. For example, “No
student will be allowed in the safety lab without safety glasses.” General statements
such as, “Items that may be harmful to one’s self or others should not be brought to
class.”

Library/ Learning Resources: Since the development of the total person is part of our
mission, assignments in the library and/or the Learning Resources Center should be
included to assist students in enhancing skills and in using resources. Students should
be encouraged to use the library for reading enjoyment as part of lifelong learning.

Campus Safety: A student’s safety is important in the learning process. Please report
any suspicious activity to the Office of Public Safety at 216-8888 and use the red
telephones in the halls and classrooms, the outdoor blue light pole phones, or the
garage emergency phones located on all floors.
Sign up for the emergency text messaging service on the e2 Campus Link located on the
webpage and familiarize your self with the Emergency Response Plan posted in each
classroom.
If necessary, please exit quickly, and once outside continue to a safe distance away from
the building. Take your possessions with you.
 Chain of Command for Handling Student Issues: All student appeals/complaints must
first be brought to the attention of the instructor outside of class for possible resolution. If
the situation can’t be resolved, it is then to follow the following chain of command:
1. Submit to the Chair of the Mathematics Department
2. Submit to the Associate Dean of the Division of Math and Science.
3. If the issue is still not resolved, a discussion between all parties involved will be
facilitated by the dean (student, instructor, chair, associate dean, dean)
4. Submit to the Student Appeals and Exception Committee
 Communication: All course and college communication will be via BRCC email
addresses. Students are responsible for regularly checking their email. Immediately
contact the IT Help Desk in Governor’s 229 if there are problems with your email.
 Student Withdrawal from Course: Students are responsible for withdrawing from this
course on or before the withdrawal deadline as listed in the Academic Calendar (web
site).
A faculty member has the right to withdraw a student from a class if that student has
accumulated three weeks of unexcused absences in the class. Students will be notified
by BRCC email if this is done.
Expanded Course Outline:
1. Real Numbers(all objective in each section)
a. Addition of Real Numbers (optional)
b. Subtraction of Real Numbers (optional)
c. Multiplication and Division of Real Numbers (optional)
d. Exponents, Parentheses, and the Order of Operations
e. Properties of the Real Number System
2. Solving Linear Equations and Inequalities(all objectives in each section)
a. Combining Like Terms
b. The Addition Property of Equality
c. The Multiplication Property of Equality
d. Solving Linear Equations with a Variable on Only One Side of the Equation
e. Solving Linear Equations with the Variable on Both Sides of the Equation
f. Formulas
g. Inequalities in One Variable
3. Applications of Algebra(all objectives in each section)
a. Changing Application Problems into Equations
b. Solving Application Problems
c. Geometric Problems
4. Exponents and Polynomials (all objectives in each section)
a. Exponents
b. Negative Exponents
c. Scientific Notation
d. Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials
e. Multiplication of Polynomials
f. Division of Polynomials
5. Factoring (all objectives in each section)
a. Factoring a Monomial from a polynomial
b. Factoring by Grouping
c. Factoring Trinomials of the form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, 𝑎 = 1
d. Factoring Trinomials of the form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, 𝑎 ≠ 1
e. Special Factoring Formulas and a General Review of Factoring
f. Solving Quadratic Equations Using Factoring