Beaufort County Community College
DMA 080
Radical Expressions and Equations
Instructor:
Office:
Phone Number:
Email:
Office Hours:
Course begins:
Course ends:
Course Description
In this course, students will understand how to manipulate radicals to solve real world
applications involving radical equations. Students will simplify and perform operations with
radical expressions and rational exponents. Reasonableness of solutions in an application will
be emphasized. The graphing calculator will be used to examine the graphic representation of
radical functions.
Course Competencies
At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:
• Solve contextual application problems involving operations on radical expressions and/or
equations
• Represent real world situations as radical equations and graphically using a graphing
calculator
• Explain the reasonableness of solutions found
• Correctly perform operations with radical expressions
• Use graphing calculator to analyze radical functions
Student Learning Outcomes
The student will:
1. Demonstrate the use of a problem solving strategy to include multiple
representations of the situation, organization of the information, and algebraic
representation of radical equations
2. Correctly use rational exponents to rewrite radical expressions
3. Simplify radical expressions
4. Add and subtract radical expressions
5. Multiply radical expressions
6. Divide radical expressions
7. Solve radical equations
8. Solve quadratic equations using the quadratic function.
9. Graph radical functions using the graphing calculator to identify and interpret the
graph in terms of the problem
Prerequisites
DMA070
Course Credit Hours
1 hour
Background
The Developmental Mathematics curriculum is designed in 4-week modules to allow the
student to complete all necessary work in one academic year. Placement into the modules is
based on your diagnostic test scores and the curriculum math classes you will need in order to
meet the requirements of your academic program.
Text
Martin-Gay, Elayn. Eight Modules: Correlated with the North Carolina State Standards. Boston,
MA: Pearson, 2012. ISBN:
This text is bundled in the bookstore with MyMathLab, which is required for the course. If you
do not buy the bundled text from the bookstore or rent your textbook you will need to
purchase MyMathLab separately.
We will cover sections 8.1 – 8.8 from the text.
Calculator
Calculator allowed. TI 84 plus Silver Edition graphing calculator recommended.
Attendance
The student is expected to attend all scheduled class meetings. Attendance from the beginning
of class to the end of class is required. A student will be counted absent if they are tardy or
leave early. You are allowed to miss no more than two hours of class. If you miss more than two
hours prior to the last day to drop your instructor may withdraw you from the course and you
will receive a grade of “W”. After the last day to drop, you will receive a “WF”.
Grading
This class is mastery-based. This means you must strive to fully understand the material to be
able to achieve a grade of 80% or better on the final assessment.
In addition to demonstrating mastery on the final assessment, you must also have an overall
course average of 80% to receive a passing grade. Your overall course average will be calculated
as follows:
60% Proctored Final Assessment (minimum score of 80%)
30% MyMathLab assignments
10% Classwork/attendance
A student will receive a grade of:
"P" (Pass) for the module if they earn an overall final average of 80 or higher
"R" (Repeat) is received if they earn an overall final average of below 80.
“W” (Withdraw) if they withdraw or are dropped from the course prior to the last day to drop
“WF” (Withdraw Failing) if they are dropped from the course after to the last day to drop. This
grade is issued to students who do not take or are ineligible to take the final exam.
The Final Assessment:
The final assessment will be computerized. However, you will be required to show all of your
work on paper to receive credit for your answers. If you do not pass the final assessment but
earn 70% or better you will be allowed one retest after one day of required remediation. If you
earn below a 70% on the final you will not be allowed to retest and will be required to repeat
the module.
MyMathLab
MyMathLab is computer software that is aligned with your textbook to give you practice on the
material covered in class. Homework will be assigned daily and is expected to be completed.
Success in any mathematics course requires practice and dedication to learning the material.
You access MyMathLab by opening your internet browser and going to http://mymathlab.com .
You will need the access code that comes bundled with your textbook (or purchased
separately). You must register and create a login.
There will be graded homework for each section covered. Each homework exercise is
accompanied by an interactive guided solution, sample problem, and additional multimedia
resources, such as video lectures, animations, and an eBook. You can change your answers as
much as you want and use the resources provided to help you solve each problem correctly. If
you are willing to put in the time and effort you can have a perfect homework score. There are
quizzes in addition to homework. There are no learning aids available on quizzes. You must
score an 80% or better on all quizzes to be eligible to take the final assessment. Pay attention to
due dates. No extensions will be given.
The Code of Classroom Conduct
Beaufort County Community College is an institution for adult learning. It is a partnership
between instructors desiring to teach and students desiring to learn. In order to create an
appropriate environment for teaching and learning to flourish, there must be respect for
everyone in the classroom. Listed below are guidelines for classroom behavior established to
protect the learning environment.
1. Attendance: You are expected to be in class the entire class time. Do not enter late or leave
early. Rare exceptions may be excused, particularly under emergency circumstances, but
you should be prepared to explain and document your tardiness to the instructor after
class. Likewise, the need to leave early should be explained and documented to the
instructor before class.
2. Absences: Inform the instructor in advance in writing, if you know you are going to miss a
class. Also, take responsibility for getting missed assignments from other students.
Instructors are not responsible for re-teaching the material you missed because of absence.
3. Conversation: Participate in class discussions. Avoid side conversations in class.
4. Other Activities: Please focus on class activities instead of working on other activities while
in class. This includes homework for other courses or other personal activities. You will be
counted absent if you work on materials not related to this class.
5. Internet: You may use the lnternet for valid, academic purposes only. You may not use it for
open access to other non-academic sites which are unrelated to the course.
6. Sleep: Please stay alert so you do not miss anything. No sleeping in class. You will be
counted absent if you are asleep during class.
7. Attitude: You are expected to maintain a cooperative attitude in class.
8. Profanity and Offensive Language: Always use language that will be acceptable to everyone.
Do not use profanity or offensive language in class, and do not wear clothing that
communicates profanity or offensive messages.
9. Cell phones, electronic devices: There are no cell phones or electronic devices (i.e. i-pods,
laptops, i-pads etc.) allowed in class. If you have a cell phone with you it is to be turned off
(not on vibrate). If you violate this policy you will be asked to leave the room immediately
and will be marked absent for the day.
10. Guests: You are not permitted to bring family, friends, or children to class.
11. Food and Drink: You may not have food or drink in class.
12. Personal Business: Sometimes you may need to transact business with the instructor, asking
him or her to sign forms. Plan to do this before instruction begins or after class.
BCCC Policies and Procedures:


BCCC College Catalog: http://www.beaufortccc.edu/gneral/catalog.htm
Americans with Disabilities Statement: Students with documented disabilities who may
need accommodations, who have any emergency medical information the instructor should
know of, or who need special arrangements in the event of evacuation, should make an
appointment with the BCCC Disability Services Office in Building 9. Notify instructor as early
as possible.





BCCC Non-Discrimination Policy: Beaufort County Community College is an affirmative
action, equal opportunity institution. It is the policy of the College that there will be no
discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, disability, gender, marital status, national
origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status in any educational programs,
activities or employment. Persons having questions about equal opportunity and nondiscrimination, please contact Human Resources for referral to the appropriate personnel.
Student Rights and Responsibilities: http://www.beaufortccc.edu/stdserve/rights.htm
Distance Education Policy: http://www.beaufortccc.edu/LRC/Distance/policy.htm
Academic integrity:
http://www.beaufortccc.edu/LRC/Distance/PDF/Academic%20IntegrityforStudents.pdf
Campus Resources
o Learning Enhancement Center (LEC); Building 3, contact James Casey 940-6338
http://www.beaufortccc.edu/learning-enhancement-center/
o Student Support Services/Tutoring- Building 1, Room 120; contact Sandra Hunter
940-6487
o Counselor- Building 9, Room 925; contact Kimberly Jackson 940-6252
o Questions regarding student services: Rick Anderson, Vice President of Student
Services, 940-6417
o Math Department Website: Resources such as study, note and test-taking tips
http://www.beaufortccc.edu/progrm/Math/math.html
Revised August 2015