SOUTHWEST COLLEGE
Department of Mathematics
COURSE SYLLABUS
MATH 0306: Fundamentals of Math I
CRN # 35924
INSTRUCTOR:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Ernest Nwachukwu
Ernest.nwachukwu@hccs.edu
OFFICE HOURS:
2:30pm -3:30pm Tues, Thurs
My Math Lab course ID: nwachukwu11347
Course Description
Topics include fundamental operations in whole numbers, fractions and decimals, percents,
ratios, and proportion, descriptive statistics, and an introduction to the real numbers. All students
who enroll in this course are expected to complete Math 0308, and Math 0312 in the following
consecutive semesters before attempting their first college-level mathematics course (usually
Math 1314 College Algebra).
A departmental final examination will be given in this course.
Prerequisites
Must be placed into MATH 0306 (or higher).
Textbook:
Prealgebra and Introductory Algebra
by Bittinger & Ellenbogen; 3rd Ed.
Publisher: Addison Wesley, 2011
ISBN-13: 9780321731630
Office location and hours
Please feel free to contact me concerning any problems that you are experiencing in this course.
You do not need to wait until you have received a poor grade before asking for my assistance.
Your performance in my class is very important to me. I am available to hear your concerns and
just to discuss course topics.
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Course Goal
This course is designed to provide students with the basic arithmetical skills enabling them to
proceed to the next level mathematics course.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Correctly choose and apply the four
basic arithmetic operations with
whole numbers, decimals, fractions
and signed numbers to estimate and
solve application problems.
Course Objectives
1.1 Add, subtract, multiply and divide whole
numbers, understand the order of operations, and
solve problems involving exponential notations.
1.2 Solve problems by estimating and rounding.
1.3 Add, subtract, multiply and divide integers.
1.4 Find the least common multiples of two or more
integers.
1.5 Add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions.
1.6 Add, subtract, multiply and divide with decimals
and percent.
2. Apply “Proportional Reasoning” to
solve related problems including
ratios, rates, proportion, percent and
conversions of units.
3. Interpret data from tables,
pictographs, bar graphs, line graphs,
and circle graphs.
4. Simplify algebraic expressions.
2.1 Solve problems involving ratio and proportion.
3.1 Read and interpret data from tables,
pictographs, bar graphs, line graphs, and circle
graphs.
4.1 Simplify algebraic expressions.
Instructional Methods
MATH 0306 is a prerequisite course for many students.
As an instructor, I want my students to be successful. I feel that it is my responsibility to provide
you with knowledge concerning the field of mathematics, modeling good analytical problem
solving strategies, and organizing and monitoring the success of each student with homework
that allows you to connect the information that you learn in this course to applications in other
course work and life in the real world.
As a student wanting to learn about the field of mathematics, it is your responsibility to read the
textbook, submit assignments on the due dates, study for the exams, participate in classroom
activities, attend class, and enjoy yourself while experiencing the real world of mathematics.
As I believe that engaging the students in the learning is essential for teaching to be effective,
you will spend a portion of class time involved in problem solving activities. You will be involved
in discussions with your classmates and your instructor. As you will want to contribute to these
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discussions, you will need to come to class prepared to discuss, analyze and evaluate
information from your text and other assigned readings.
Attendance policy:
Students are expected to attend classes regularly. If some special situation arises, which calls for your
missing classes, then please keep me informed. If I am not notified and your absences exceed 12.5% of
the number of classes, you will be administratively withdrawn immediately.
Tardiness (lateness to class) policy:
Every student is expected to be in class on time. If a student is late on the examination day, the student will
not be given extra time.
Withdrawal policy:
Any student who is contemplating withdrawing from the class is encouraged to do so on or before the final
day for withdrawal as specified in the class schedule. If a student withdraws after the final day for
withdrawal from the class, the student will get either an “IP” or an “F” which ever that is applicable.
Exam Policy:
Cheating is not allowed in the examination. If a student is caught cheating in an examination, the student will lose all
the marks for that examination. College policies on cheating will be enforced. These are clearly outlined in the HCCS
Student Handbook.
Make-up policy:
There will be no make-up of any test. An exception to this can be allowed if there is a case of medical emergency and
with a valid proof. There will be no make-up of the final examination.
Grading policy:
Each of the first three examinations is worth 20%; home work is 20%and the final examination is worth 40% of the
final course grade. The final course grade (call it FCG) will be calculated using the formula:FCG = Average of the best five grades (final counting double).
Letter grade will be assigned to the FCG.
Grade legend: 90% - 100% - A, 80% - 89% - B, 70% - 79% - C, 60% - 69% - D, below 60% - F.
Final Examination :
The final examination is departmental and consists of 33 multiple-choice problems. The problems cover
only the material required in this course.
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BEGINNING OF SEMESTER ADVISEMENT
Students are advised about the pre-requisites for the above class and how they are related to their major
and the next class to take in mathematics.
“Students who repeat a course for a third time or more may soon face significant tuition/fee
increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. Please ask your
instructor/counselor about opportunities for tutoring or other assistance prior to considering
course withdrawal or if you are not receiving passing grades."
END OF SEMESTER ADVISEMENT
Students are advised on the future courses in mathematics and how they are related to their majors. All
questions were answered.
FINAL GRADE OF FX
Students who stop attending class and do not withdraw themselves prior to the withdrawal
deadline may either be dropped by their professor for excessive absences or be assigned the
final grade of “FX” at the end of the semester. Students who stop attending classes will receive a
grade of “FX”, compared to an earned grade of “F” which is due to poor performance. Logging
into a DE course without active participation is seen as non-attending.
Please note that HCC will not disperse financial aid funding for students who have never
attended class. Students who receive financial aid but fail to attend class will be reported to the
Department of Education and may have to pay back their aid. A grade of “FX” is treated exactly
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Chapter 1 WHOLE NUMBERS
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
Standard Notation
Addition
Subtraction
Multiplication
Division
Rounding and Estimating; Order
Solving Equations
Applications and Problem Solving
Exponential Notation and Order of Operations
Chapter 2 INTRODUCTION TO INTEGERS & ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
Integers and the Number Line
Addition of Integers
Subtraction of Integers
Multiplication of Integers
Division of Integers and Order of Operations
Introduction to Algebra and Expressions
Like Terms and Perimeter
Solving Equations
Chapter 3 FRACTION NOTATION: MULTIPLICATION & DIVISION
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
Multiples and Divisibility
Factorizations
Fractions and Fraction Notation
Multiplication and Applications
Simplifying
Multiplying, Simplifying, and More with Area
Reciprocals and Division
Solving Equations: The Multiplication Principle
Chapter 4 FRACTION NOTATION: ADDITION, SUBTRACTION, AND MIXED NUMERALS
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
Least Common Multiples
Addition, Order, and Applications
Subtraction, Equations, and Applications
Solving Equations: Using the Principles Together
Mixed Numerals
Addition and Subtraction of Mixed Numerals; Applications
Multiplication and Division of Mixed Numerals; Applications
Chapter 5 DECIMAL NOTATION
5.1
5.2
5.3
Decimal Notation, Order, and Rounding
Addition and Subtraction of Decimals
Multiplication of Decimals
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5.4 Division of Decimals
5.5 Using Fraction Notation and Decimal Notation
5.6 Estimating
5.7 Solving Equations
5.8 Applications and Problem Solving
Chapter 6 PERCENT NOTATION
6.1 Ratio and Proportion
6.2 Percent Notation
6.3 Percent and Fraction Notation
6.4 Solving Percent Problems Using Percent Equations
6.5 Solving Percent Problems Using Proportions
6.6 Applications of Percent
6.7 Sales Tax, Commission, Discount, and Interest
Chapter 7 DATA, GRAPHS, AND STATISTICS
7.1 Averages, Medians, and Modes
7.2 Tables and Pictographs
7.3 Bar Graphs and Line Graphs
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