Math 351: Pre-algebra
Spring 2016 (#14710)
Instructor: Patrick Quigley
Course Description: This course is designed for those needing a rapid review of arithmetic before taking a more advanced course. The
fundamentals of arithmetic computations with whole numbers and decimals will be discussed very briefly. Computations with fractions and
integers will be covered in depth. Problem solving techniques involving ratio, proportion, percent, geometric formulas, and linear algebraic
equations will be applied to real world situations.
Student Learning Outcomes: Students who successfully complete Math 351 will be able to:
1. demonstrate mastery of the computational skills necessary for them to succeed when they move on to Math 251.
2. demonstrate the critical thinking skills necessary to set up and solve word problems at the appropriate difficulty level.
3. demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to use geometric formulas to calculate perimeters, areas, and volumes.
Class Attendance: This class meets Mondays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:50 p.m. in room SM-303. Daily class attendance is expected in this
course and is important for your success. Excessive absences (six or more instructional hours) may result in your being dropped from the
class. Arriving to class late, or leaving class early will be counted toward your total time absent. If you wish to withdraw from the class, it
is your responsibility to do so before the deadlines. The last day to drop the class with a refund is January 31, and the last day to drop the
class without a ‘W’ is February 7. The last day to petition for the pass/no pass grading option is February 24, and the last day to drop the
class with a ‘W’ is April 12.
Classroom Etiquette: Students are expected to be on time and remain until class is dismissed. If you are tardy or must leave early, please
enter or depart quietly. No food or drinks other than water are allowed in the classroom. Make certain that all cell phones are turned off
before entering the classroom. Listening to music and texting are not allowed during class. By district policy, all cigarette and/or tobacco
products are prohibited within or on all college facilities and properties. This includes but is not limited to the burning of any type of
cigarette, cigar, or pipe. Electronic cigarettes (vapor) and smokeless/chewing tobacco are also prohibited.
Academic Honor Code: Saddleback College students are responsible for regulating their own conduct in accordance with the Code of
Conduct approved by the Board of Trustees. The Code of Conduct is outlined in the Student Handbook (www.saddleback.edu/media/pdf/
handbook.pdf; pages 39-40) and the College Catalog (www.saddleback.edu/uploads/cc/14-15/intro.pdf; pages 24-25). It is each student’s
responsibility to adhere to an academic honor code, which upholds the integrity of the institution and the educational process so all students
have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic abilities. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Penalties for academic
dishonesty range from a score of zero on the assignment in question up to expulsion.
Special Needs: If you have a disability which requires accommodations, you need to contact Disabled Students Programs and Services
(Student Services Center: room 113; 949-582-4885) immediately, and bring me notification of the necessary accommodations as soon as it
is available. All information will remain confidential. I can not make testing accommodations without advance notification, generally one
or two weeks before each exam. You should schedule your accommodated tests on the same days that the tests will be given in class. It is
strongly suggested that you schedule all of your accommodated tests, especially the final exam, at the beginning of the semester.
Textbook: Your textbook is one of your most important resources. The text for this semester is Pre-algebra 1st edition by Messersmith,
Perez, and Feldman, McGraw-Hill, 2013. I expect you to read the appropriate sections before they are discussed in class.
Calculators: You will need a simple calculator for some homework problems near the end of the semester. They will also be necessary for
some exam questions. Simple calculators will be provided to you on those exams.
Homework: Homework is an essential part of the learning process. You are responsible for understanding all assigned homework
problems. Assignments will be collected with the exam covering that material. Late homework will not be accepted. To be complete,
homework sections must be clearly labeled, and the work shown should be comparable to that demonstrated in class. Homework is
considered as part of your semester grade only in borderline cases.
Quizzes: There will be at least eleven take-home quizzes each of which is worth 10 points. Your ten highest quiz scores will contribute to
your semester grade. Quizzes will be distributed in class, and will also be available online. Each quiz is due by the end of class on the
announced due date. Quizzes may be turned in early, but late quizzes will not be accepted.
Exams: There will be three approximately one-hour midterm exams each of which is worth 100 points. Your two highest midterm scores
will contribute to your semester grade. All students are required to take the midterm exams at the scheduled times. There will be no
alternative midterm exam times except when accommodating disabilities or in the event that an exam date is rescheduled. The final
exam is worth 100 points and will be held on Monday, May 23 from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. On exams you must show all work, as
demonstrated in class, in order to receive full credit.
Semester Grade: Your grade in this course is based upon the sum of your final exam score, your two highest midterm scores, and your ten
highest quiz scores. That means that your semester grade is calculated out of a total of four hundred points. Your semester grade can be
determined using the grading scale below. In borderline cases, the completion of homework assignments may be considered in your favor.
No extra credit is available for this course.
F: 0-239 points
D: 240-279 points
C: 280-319 points
B: 320-359 points
A: 360-400 points
Contact: My office is room SM-363, my office phone number is (949) 582-4948, and my e-mail address is [email protected]. I
post class materials on Blackboard™ (socccd.blackboard.com) and have some materials at www.saddleback.edu/faculty/pquigley. You
should familiarize yourself with ‘MySite’ at mysite.saddleback.edu so that you will be able to receive important e-mails and gain access to
your semester grades. This semester my office hours are Mondays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in SM-363 and Tuesdays and Thursdays from
10:00-11:30 a.m. in LRC-212. For additional help when I am not available, the Learning Resources Center (LRC-212) offers free tutoring.
Tentative Syllabus
Date
Jan. 25
Feb. 1
Feb. 8
Feb. 15
Feb. 22
Feb. 29
Mar. 7
Mar. 14
Topics
§1.1
§1.2
§1.3
§1.4
§1.5
§1.6
§1.7
Description
Place Value and Rounding
Introduction to Integers
Adding Integers
Subtracting Integers
Estimating a Sum or Difference
Multiplying Integers and Estimation
Dividing Integers and Estimation
§1.8
Exponents, Roots, and Order of Operations
§2.1
§2.2
§2.3
§2.4
§2.5
§2.6
Introduction to Algebra
Simplifying Expressions
Solving Linear Equations Part I
Presidents' Day - Holiday
Solving Linear Equations Part II
Solving Linear Equations Part III
Solve Applied Problems Involving One Unknown
Exam 1
§3.1
§3.2
§3.3
§3.4
§3.5
§3.6
Chapters 1 and 2
Introduction to Signed Fractions
Writing Fractions in Lowest Terms
Multiplying and Dividing Signed Fractions
Adding and Subtracting Like Fractions and Finding LCD's
Adding and Subtracting Unlike Fractions
Operations with Mixed Numbers
§3.7
§3.8
Order Relations and Order of Operations
Solving Equations Containing Fractions
Mar. 21
Mar. 28
§4.2
§4.3
§4.4
Spring Break - Holiday
Rectangles, Squares, Parallelograms, and Trapezoids
Triangles
Volume and Surface Area
Apr. 4
Exam 2
§5.1
§5.2
§5.3
Apr. 11
Apr. 18
Apr. 25
May 2
May 9
May 16
Chapters 3 and 4
Reading and Writing Decimals
Rounding Decimals
Adding and Subtracting Signed Decimals
§5.6
§5.9
Writing Fractions as Decimals
Square Roots and the Pythagorean Theorem
§6.1
§6.2
§6.3
§6.4
§6.5
Ratios
Rates
Proportions
Solve Proportions
Solve Applied Problems Involving Proportions
§7.1
§7.2
Exam 3
§7.3
§7.4
§7.5
Using U.S. Customary Measurements
The Metric System: Length
Chapters 5 and 6
The Metric System: Capacity and Weight (Mass)
Solve Applied Problems Involving Metric Units
Metric - U.S. Customary Conversions and Temperature
§8.1
§8.2
§8.3
§8.4
Percents, Fractions, and Decimals
Compute Basic Percents Mentally
Use an Equation to Solve Percent Problems
Solve Applications Involving Percents
§8.5
More Applications with Percents
May 23 Final Exam
Homework Problems
§1.1: 1-17 odd, 19-69 every other odd
§1.2: 1-67 every other odd
§1.3: 1-51 odd, 53-89 every other odd
§1.4: 1-75 odd
§1.5: 1-25 odd
§1.6: 1-65 odd, 79-89 odd
§1.7: 1-39 odd, 51-57 odd
Putting It All Together: 1-37 odd, 43-49 odd
§1.8: 1-45 odd, 47-99 every other odd
Review Exercises: 1-73, 79-87, 93-101, 105-139 odd
§2.1: 9-17 odd, 19-75 every other odd
§2.2: 1-51 odd, 53-93 every other odd
§2.3: 9-65 odd
§2.4: 1-21 odd
§2.5: 29-69 odd
§2.6: 3-15 odd
Review Exercises: 1-67 odd
§3.1: 1-69 odd
§3.2: 1-67 odd, 69-97 every other odd
§3.3: 1-55 odd, 67-83 every other odd
§3.4: 1-55 odd, 57-107 every other odd
§3.5: 1-57 odd, 59-75 every other odd
§3.6: 1-127 every other odd
Putting It All Together: 1-63 odd
§3.7: 1-93 every other odd
§3.8: 1-89 every other odd
Review Exercises: 1-129 odd
§4.2: 1-37odd, 51,53,57,61,63,65
§4.3: 1-19 odd
§4.4: 1-7 odd, 21-29 odd
Review Exercises: 11-17 odd, 37, 39
§5.1: 1-93 every other odd
§5.2: 1-69 every other odd
§5.3: 1-95 every other odd
Putting It All Together: 1-37 odd
§5.6: 1-55 odd, 57-93 every other odd
§5.9: 1-43 odd
Review Exercises: 1-31, 55-67, 99-105 odd
§6.1: 1-65 odd
§6.2: 1-59 odd
§6.3: 1-55 odd
§6.4: 1-45 odd
§6.5: 1-39 odd
Review Exercises: 1-59 odd
§7.1: 1-65 odd
§7.2: 1-79 odd
§7.3: 1-65 odd
§7.4: 1-67 odd
§7.5: 1-77 odd
Review Exercises: 1-115 odd
§8.1: 1-121 every other odd
§8.2: 1-99 every other odd
§8.3: 1-79 odd
§8.4: 1-59 odd
Putting It All Together: 1-33 odd
§8.5: 1-63 odd
Review Exercises: 1-96 odd
Chapters 7 and 8 (7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.)
Note 1: "Every Other Odd" means skipping alternating odd problems. Example: "1-21 every other odd" means problems 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21.
Note 2: The "Review Exercises" and "Putting It All Together" problems are recommended, but not required.