Elementary Algebra

INSTRUCTIONAL AND EVALUATION METHOD:

Grading will be de termined by 4 exams covering the course material, a comprehensive final exam and homework.

Exams: There will be four (4) unit exams and a comprehensive departmentalized final exam, each counting
100 points. If an exam will be missed due to a documented school sponsored event, the student must contact
the instructor before the scheduled absence and make arrangements to take the exam early. If the student does
not contact the instructor before the scheduled absence or misses the exam for any reason other than a school
sponsored event, a make-up exam will be given at the end of the semester over the missed material. Students
may only take one make -up exam, given at the end of the semester. If the student does not miss any exams, the
student has the option to retake one exam at the end of the semester. The score on the retake will be the score
recorded for that exam material.

Homework: Homework will be assigned on line using My Math Lab and graded on a scale of 0-10. Homework
not completed will receive a zero. Two homework grades will be dropped before averaging at the end of the semester.

FINAL EXAM: 10:15 - 12:15 Monday, May 2

COURSE GROUNDRULES:

All students attending Walters State Community College, regardless of the time and location of the class, must abide by the rules and regulations outlined in the current Walters State Catalog/Student Handbook and the current Walters State Timetable of Classes. A copy of the Catalog/Handbook and the Timetable of Classes may be obtained from the admissions office on the main campus or at any of our off-campus sites.

Students should attend the first day of class or contact the instructor prior to the first class. Failure to do this may result in the student being dropped from the class.

Your instructor counts absences from the first scheduled meeting of the class and reports absences for financial aid and on the final grade report. Good attendance is vital to success in this course. It is your responsibility to inform your instructor in advance of a planned absence and to make arrangements for make up work.

If your instructor al lows you to take a test in the WSCC library in Morristown, you MUST make an appointment. Contact Mrs. Beth Dixon at phone number 423-585-6872 or e-mail. After Mrs. Dixon has given you an appointment, then inform your instructor of the testing date and time to ensure that the test is available. You MUST show a current photo ID for testing.

Students with a disability that may impact their learning are requested to call and/or meet with Mrs. Ann Bowen, in the office of Services for In dividuals with Disabilities . The office is located in the College Center (CCEN) 210. Phone: 423-585-6893.

Students receiving any type of financial aid or scholarship should contact the Financial Aid Office before making any changes to their schedule. Schedule changes without prior approval may result in loss of award for the current term and future terms.

WSCC recognizes the importance of portable electronic communication devices for those students with emergency needs or activities. These devices must not interfere with, or disrupt, the instructional process. Pagers must be set so that they will not produce an audible sound during classroom instruction or exams. Cellular phone use during classroom instruction or exams is prohibited. Cellular phones must be turned to the non-audible mode until after class, at which time calls can be received or checked. The college has the responsibility to ensure the classroom remains relatively free from interruption and disturbance. In the event of an emergency the student should exit the room quietly and with as little disruptions as possible.

The college prohibits plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty. If any student behaves in a disruptive manner, the instructor can order the student to leave the classroom for a period of time.

CATA LOG DESCRIPTION OF COURSE:

This course extends the topics of DSMP 0700 and includes problem solving with algebraic expressions including simple trinomial factoring, and linear equations, inequalities, and functions. Satis factory completion of this course allows the student to exit to DPSM 0850 Intermediate Algebra. (Prerequisite: admission is only by the college assessment and placement procedure or successful completion of DSPM 0700 Basic Mathematics) 3 credits

COURSE OUTCOMES: The student will develop and demonstrate the ability to:

1. Verbally, numerically , graphically, and symbolically represent functions.
2. Graph, analyze, and solve linear equations using multiple approaches .
3. Graph and solve linear inequalities .
4. Solve absolute value equations.
5. Perform basic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of polynomials.
6. Solve a system of linear equations in two variables graphically.
7. Factor polynomials.
8. Solve real world problems integrated throughout the course.
9. Use calculators and computers in learning and doing mathematics.

Upon successful completion of DSPM 0800, the student will enroll in DSPM 0850 - Intermediate Algebra

**Please take DSPM 0850 as soon as possible. Some students delay and forget what they have learned in DSPM 0800. However, state rules do not allow students to drop back and re-take DSPM 0800 after they have passed the course.**

COURSE CONTENT:

Chapter 1 – Real Numbers and Algebra
1.3 Integer Exponents
1.4 Modeling Data with Formulas
1.5 Visualization of Data
Supplement: Geometry

EXAM 1

Chapter 2 – Linear Functions and Models
2.1 Functions and Their Representation
2.2 Linear Functions
2.3 The Slope of a Line
2.4 Equations of Lines and Linear Models

EXAM 2

Chapter 3 – Linear Equations and Inequalities
3.1 Linear Equations
3.2 Linear Inequalities
3.3 Compound Inequalities
3.4 Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities

Chapter 4 – Systems of Linear Equations
4.1 Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables

EXAM 3

Chapter 5 – Polynomial Expressions and Functions
5.1 Polynomial Expressions
5.2 Polynomial Functions and Models
5.3 Multiplication of Polynomials
5.4 Factoring Polynomials
5.5 Factoring Trinomials
5.6 Special Types of Factoring ( Difference of Squares only )

EXAM 4