1HENRY FORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE

MATHEMATICS DIVISION COURSE SYLLABUS

MATH 080: BEGINNING ALGEBRA

(3 cr.hrs)

Winter 2015

Instructor: Dr. Jodie Rose

Weebly: http://math080hfccprofessorrose.weebly.com
Contact Information:
Telephone: (313) 845-9631 (Division Secretary - leave message)
E-Mail: jrose@hfcc.edu, or jodierose11@yahoo.com
Office: H-205
Office Hours: Immediately before and after class
Catalog Course Description: This course is intended as a developmental course for students who need to
develop skills in beginning algebra topics. Topics covered include solutions of linear equations and inequalities,
an introduction to graphing linear equations, polynomial operations, factoring, properties of integer exponents,
and solutions to quadratic equations by factoring. Techniques of problem solving and applications are included
throughout the course. A calculator is required. Access to an online homework management system is also
required.
2Prerequisite:

A grade of C or better in Math 074 or a satisfactory score on the placement test.

Course Goals
1.
To develop in students a basic understanding of algebraic concepts, principles and methods.
2. To develop in students elementary algebraic skills necessary for success in subsequent mathematics
courses and other courses requiring mathematical skills
3.
To develop in students the problem-solving skills needed to interpret, analyze and solve applied
problems requiring beginning-level algebraic skills
Core Course Topics and Objectives
1. Expressions
a. Simplify expressions using the order of operations.
b. Evaluate simple exponential expressions.
c. Evaluate algebraic expressions.
d. Translate a phrase or sentence into an algebraic expression.
e. Use the commutative and associate properties to simplify algebraic expressions by combing like terms.
f. Use the distributive property to simplify algebraic expressions.
2. Solving Linear Equations
a. Solve linear equations using the addition property of equality.
b. Write a phrase or sentence as an addition linear equation.
c. Solve linear equations using the multiplication property of equality.
d. Solve linear equations using both the multiplication and addition properties of equality.
e. Translate a phrase or sentence into a linear equation.
f. Solve a linear equation containing fractions, decimals, parentheses, or all of these.
g. Translate a word problem into a linear equation and solve it, giving a clearly labeled unknown
variable, detailed work, and complete answer with the interpretation of the solution.
h. Check the answer to a word problem or a linear equation.
i. Use formulas to solve problems.
j. Solve a formula for one of its variables.
Revised for Fall 2013

k. Formulate and solve percent equations.

l. Formulate and solve percent increase and decrease problems, including discount and mark-up
problems.
m. Solve linear inequalities using the multiplication and addition properties of inequality.
n. Express the solution of a linear inequality as an inequality, on a number line, in set builder notation, and
in interval notation.
o. Translate a word problem into a linear inequality and solve it.
3. Graphing Linear Equations
a. Plot ordered pairs of numbers in a rectangular coordinate system.
b. Write a given data set in ordered-pair form and create a scatter plot.
c. Determine whether a given ordered pair is a solution to a given equation in two variables.
d. Given the equation, find the missing coordinate of an ordered-pair solution.
e. Given the equation of a line, find a solution of the equation and represent it as an ordered pair.
f. Determine whether a given equation is linear.
g. Graph a linear equation by finding and plotting ordered pairs of solutions.
h. Match an equation with its graph given a set of linear equations and corresponding graphs.
i. Given a linear equation in two variables, calculate the coordinate missing from an ordered pair and explain
the meaning of the coordinates in the context of a word problem.
j. Identify the x- and y-intercepts of a graph.
k. Find the x- and y-intercepts of a line algebraically.
l. Graph a linear equation by finding and plotting intercepts.
m. Interpret the meanings of x- and y-intercepts in word problems.
n. Find the slope of a line given two points on the line.
o. Write the equation of a line in slope-intercept form.
p. Find the slope of a line given its equation.
q. Use slopes to determine whether two lines are parallel, perpendicular, or neither.
r. Solve word problems by identifying slope as a rate of change.
s. Write the equation of a line in slope-intercept form given the slope and the y-intercept.
t. Find the equation of a horizontal or vertical line given conditions on that line.
u. Use the slope-intercept form to graph a linear equation.
v. Solve a system of linear equations by graphing. (Optional)
4. Polynomial Functions and Exponents
a. Evaluate exponential expressions.
b. Simplify exponential expressions using the laws of exponents.
c. Determine which rules of exponents to use to simplify an expression.
d. Determine whether a polynomial is a monomial, binomial, or trinomial.
e. Determine the degree and coefficient of a term and determine the degree of a polynomial.
f. Evaluate polynomials.
g. Simplify polynomials by combining like terms.
h. Add, subtract, and multiply polynomials.
i. Multiply binomial squares and the sum and difference of two terms.
j. Convert numbers from forms using decimal notation to scientific notation and vice versa.
k. Multiply and divide numbers given in scientific notation.
l. Divide a polynomial by a monomial.
5. Factoring Polynomials
a. Factor polynomials by factoring out the greatest common factor.
b. Factor four-term polynomials by grouping.

c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

Factor trinomials using the grouping method.

Factor perfect-square trinomials and the difference of two squares.
Apply the appropriate factoring strategy to factor a polynomial.
Solve quadratic equations by factoring.
Solve application problems that can be modeled by quadratic equations.

AssessmentofAcademicAchievement:
Allstudentswillberequiredtocompleteacomprehensivefinalexaminationthatassessesthelearningofallcourseobjectives.
Thisexammustbeweightedinamannersothatthisexamscoreisworthaminimumoffifteenpercent(15%)ofthefinalcourse
grade.InselectedsemestersthisexammaybeacommonexamadministeredtoallsectionsofMath080.
Allstudentswillberequiredtocompleteonlinehomework.Thisonlinehomeworkmustbeweightedinsuchamannersothatitis
worthbetweensixpercent(6%)andtwelvepercent(12%)ofthefinalcoursegrade.
Alladditionalassessmentofstudentachievementislefttoinstructordiscretion.

GeneralCourseRequirementsandRecommendations:

Studentsmustbringacalculatortoallclasssessions.ForstudentswhowillnotbetakingmathcoursesbeyondMath080,any
scientificcalculatorwillbesufficient.ForstudentswhowillbetakingMath110orhigher,theMathematicsDivisionusesand
recommendsthatstudentsusetheTI83/84Plusgraphinggalculator.

Textbook and Materials

Beginning Algebra, 6th Ed., by Elayn Martin-Gay

(Pearson/Prentice Hall; ISBN-10: 0-321-7841-X| ISBN-13: 978-0-321-78491-9)
Students are required to have a scientific calculator.
The Students Solution Manual is available in MyMathLab.
MyMathLab use is required in this course, and an access code will be packaged with a new textbook.
The MyMathLab student access code can also be purchased separately at the bookstore or through the
publisher when registering online for MyMathLab.
MyMathLab Instructors Course ID: Math080Fall2014Section3(CourseID:rose74909),or
Math080Fall2014Section6(CourseID:rose00078)

3Core Course Topics Textbook Coverage

Chapter 1
Chapter 2

Review of Real Numbers:

Section 1.4
Section 1.8: Cover only Objective 2
Equations, Inequalities and Problem Solving:
Sections 2.1 2.7 (Omit mixture problems in section 2.7),
Section 2.9 (Omit compound inequalities)

Chapter 3
Chapter 4

Graphing:
Sections 3.1-3.4, Section 3.5 (Cover only objectives 1, 2, and 5)
Solving Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities: (Highly Recommended)
Section 4.1
Chapter 5
Exponents and Polynomials: Sections 5.1 5.5
Section 5.6 (Cover only objective 1)
Chapter 6
Factoring Polynomials:
Sections 6.1 6.4, Section 6.5 (Cover only objective 1),
Integrated Review (p. 402 405)
Sections 6.6 6.7
Note: The Integrated Review Problems found on pgs 108-109, 221-222, and 404 - 405 should be assigned in
addition to the normal homework assignments.
Revised for Fall 2013

INSTRUCTIONAL POLICIES:
Attendance:
Henry Ford College requires students to actively participate in their learning with regular and sustained
interaction. Since student success depends on active engagement, students who have NOT attended an entire
class session by the College's Never Attended reporting date deadline will not be permitted into the class even if
they are already enrolled in the class. Online students will be considered as Never Attended if they have not
logged on or it they have only logged on without actively engaging in academically-related activities. All of the
above students will be assigned a Never Attended grade on their record.
The Mathematics Division requires students to actively participate in their learning. Since student success
depends on this active engagement, a student who has not attended class by the College's Never Attended
reporting date will not be permitted into the class.
Attendance will be taking on each day of class and a daily participation grade will be given.
Grading Procedures: There will be 4 tests, each worth 20% of your grade.
participation will also be worth 20% of your grade.

Your homework and

Missed Examination\Quizzes: Missed exams will only be excused if evidence of a compelling reason for
absence is provided. Unexcused missed exams will be given a zero. No makeup exams will be
given for excused missed exams. Rather, the final will be weighted double, 42% of the final
grade. Only one excused missed exam will be permitted. The final exam cannot be missed.
Drop Policy:
College Policy: Students may officially drop a class and receive a DR grade anytime up until the official
College deadline. If a student stops attending without officially withdrawing, the instructor may record either
an E or a DR grade.
Instructor Policy: I will give a DR grade up to the final day of class if requested.
Academic Dishonesty:
College Board of Trustees Policy #8500 (adopted 3/17/97):
...It shall be the policy of the College that determination of the fact of academic dishonesty by a student shall
be a matter of individual judgment by the instructor. The instructor may administer a penalty up to, and
including, failure in the particular course...
Instructor Policy: I will assign a zero to any exam where there has been cheating.
MATHEMATICS DIVISION POLICY ON CUT-OFF DATE FOR STUDENT DROP-DOWNS
Registered students may only drop-down (move-up) to another full-semester math class within the first three
weeks of the Fall and/or Winter Semesters. During the fourth and fifth weeks of the Fall and/or Winter
Semesters, registered students may only drop-down (move-up) to a twelve-week course. In the Spring and/or
Summer semesters, students have only one and one-half weeks to drop-down (move-up) to another class.
In order to drop-down (move-up), a student must:
1. Obtain the written permission of his/her current instructor stating that the student was misplaced.

2. See the Math Associate Dean for assistance in finding an appropriate section. The Math Associate Dean
will select a section with fewer than 32 students to which to add the student and contact the Registration
Office.
The Math Associate Dean will exercise due consideration with respect to classroom size and total contractual
load, and will notify the teacher of the section in a timely manner.
Homework assignments: All assignments will be completed through MyMathLab.

Anticipated Schedule:
Date
Topic Covered
1/13
Introduction and Information, Chapter 1
1/15
Chapter 1, 2.1
1/20
2.2
1/22
2.3
1/27
2.4/2.5
1/29
2.6
2/3
2.7
2/5
2.9
2/10
Test Review/3.1
2/12
Test 1 on Chapters 1 and 2
2/17
3.2
2/19
3.3
2/24
3.4
2/26
3.5
3/3
Test Review/5.1
3/5
Test 2 on Chapters 3 and 4
3/17
5.2
3/19
5.3
3/24
5.4 & 5.6
3/26
5.5
3/31
Test Review/6.1
4/2
Test 3 on Chapter 5
4/7
6.2
4/9
6.3
4/14
6.4
4/16
6.5
4/21
6.6
4/23
6.7
4/28
Final Test Review
4/30
Final Test Review
Final Exam
5/4 for 8:10-9:30 class. Exam begins at 7:55
5/4 for 9:40-11:00 class. Exam begins at 9:50
All Final Exams will be held in room L-228

Revised for Fall 2013

Whats due

Chapters 1 & 2 Homework Due

Chapter 3 & 4 Homework Due

Chapter 5 Homework Due

Chapter 6 Homework Due