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LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
MATHEMATICS, ENGINEERING, and COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
ALEKS Pilot
Fall 2015
MAT 95  INTRODUCTION TO ALGEBRA
4 Lecture Hours, 1 Computer Lab Hour, 1 Tutoring Lab Hour, 0 Credits
________________________________________________________________________
Catalog Description:
This course has a problem solving approach that emphasizes the importance of mathematical
reasoning in addressing real-world problems drawn from diverse disciplines. Topics include
arithmetic (signed numbers, fractions, decimals and percents), elementary algebra (solving first
degree equations and inequalities, rules of exponents, equations of lines) and basics of geometry
(area and perimeter of triangles, rectangles, squares, trapezoids and circles), as well as numeracy
(estimation, unit analysis). The course is intended for students with little or no algebra background.
Instructional Objectives:
During this course, the instructor expects to:
1. Provide students with the arithmetic skills necessary to solve real world problems
involving whole numbers, fractions and decimals.
2. Familiarize students with proportional reasoning, enabling them to solve a wide variety
of applied problems, and providing a natural introduction to solving one variable
equations.
3. Develop the students’ number sense, providing them with skills in estimation and unit
analysis.
4. Thoroughly reinforce students’ signed number skills, not only in performing arithmetic
operations but also in the areas of exponents and scientific notation.
5. Familarize students with the basics of plane geometry, in particular providing them with
formulas for calculating the areas and perimeters of familiar geometric figures, and with
the Pythagorean Theorem.
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6. Introduce students to numerical/algebraic relationships between two variables, fostering
their ability to visualize these relationships as graphs in the xy-coordinate plane.
7. Reinforce and expand students’ equation-solving abilities: Linear equations with one and
two unknowns, absolute value equations, and linear inequalities.
8. Introduce fundamental algebraic objects and properties: Polynomials, exponents, and
distributive law, combining like terms.
Performance Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Solve real life problems requiring a full range of arithmetic skills.
2. Solve challenging real life problems involving ratios, proportion and percents.
3. Perform estimates, and judge whether more elaborate and precisely calculated solutions
to problems are numerically reasonable.
4. Make calculations with signed numbers in a variety of different settings.
5. Compute areas and perimeters of basic two-dimensional geometric figures, and to use the
Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of the third side of a right triangle given the
lengths of two other sides.
6. Appreciate elementary numerical/algebraic relationships between two variables and to
understand how such relationships can be visualized as planar graphs.
7. Solve elementary equations in both one and two variables as well as linear inequalities.
8. Understand/master algebra fundamentals as generalizations of arithmetic, establishing a
base upon which to build the sequel course, MAT96.
Required Textbook: Pre-Algebra and Introductory Algebra by J. Miller, M. O’Neill and N.
Hyde, McGraw-Hill, 2013, first edition.
Required Online Access: www.aleks.com. New copies of the required textbook contain an
online access code.
Evaluation:
The purpose of a grading system is to give students, and those that will read their transcripts, an
accurate record of their performance in this course. The role of the Mathematics, Engineering &
Computer Science Departments is to provide a fair, valid, and reliable structure for assessing
student achievement.
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Categories:
Math Lab Work ……..…………………….. 5%
Instructor’s Test and Quizzes......................
10%
Two Departmental Exams………………… 30%
Departmental Final Exam…………………
35%
Pie Homework………………………………. 20%
The minimum passing score for the course is 74. A student with a class average of 74 or
above (Departmental Final Exam included) and a score of at least 60 in the Departmental
Final Exam will pass the course.
If a student has a failing class average (less than 74) or has scored below 60 in the Departmental
Final Exam, then the student receives either an F or an R grade, as appropriate.
Academic Integrity
This class will be conducted in compliance with LaGuardia Community College’s academic
integrity policy.
Attendance
The maximum number of absences will be 9 hours. Unexcused absences beyond this maximum
will result in a grade of WU or F.
Explanation of Grading Categories
1.
2.
Professor’s tests/quizzes
Your professor will develop and administer two tests and several quizzes during the
semester.
Lab work
You will meet with a tutor one hour every week and work on lab sheets containing
problems that will enhance your computational skills. You are encouraged to work
together and learn from each other.
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Students are required to bring to the tutoring lab a copy of the relevant lab sheet. The lab
sheets for the ALEKS sections are available at:
www.lagcc.cuny.edu/MEC/MAT095-and-MAT096-Lab-Sheets/
The completed sheets must be submitted to your instructor.
3.
Departmental exams
Two one-hour departmental online examinations, each consisting of 15 free-choice
questions will be given online on ALEKS. The first exam will cover material from
objectives 1 to 3 and the second departmental exam will cover material from objectives 1
to 6.
4.
Departmental Final Exam
This exam will be given on ALEKS in two one-hour parts. The first part will be given
during the last week of classes and the second during finals week. Each part will consist
of of 15 free-choice questions.
5.
Pie Homework
Students will work online on an “ALEKS pie” for each course objective. Credit will be
given for each mastered topic. The total grade weight of all objectives is 15%. Another 5%
will be given for the overall course pie mastery at the end of the semester.
Note: Calculators and other electronic devices are NOT allowed in this course.
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COURSE OUTLINE FOR MAT95
ALEKS Pilot Fall 2015
Note: The following syllabus is a guide for classroom instruction. It is subject to
change based on the College’s academic calendar.
Week
Lesson
TOPIC
Section
Suggested Textbook problems
Pie Homework
1
1-2
3-4
5
Introduction to whole numbers
Addition and subtraction. Perimeter
Rounding and estimating
1.2
1.3
1.4
p. 10: 11,15,19,26,29,35,37,38,43,47
p. 22: 13,18,26,47,55,59,62,109,113
p. 32: 14,19,21,28,33,38,39,53
Objective 1 Pie:
Whole Numbers
6
7-8
9
Multiplication of whole numbers. Area
Division of whole numbers
Exponents and order of operations
1.5
1.6
1.7
p. 43: 10,15,18,20,21,33,43,54,87,88
p. 54: 11,14,28,40,42,46,72,80,90
p. 63: 12,17,24,32,47,58,68,73,82,87
88,91
Objective 1 Pie:
Whole Numbers
10
Professor’s Test 1
Lab Sheet # 1
Integers, absolute value and opposite
Addition and subtraction of integers
2.1
2.2-2.3
Objective 2 Pie:
Integers
Multiplication and division of integers
Order of operations with integers
2.4
2.5
p. 90: 25,27,33,38,41,50,55,62
p. 97: 9,15,24,33,40,47,60,63
p. 103: 10,13,21,27,39,42,44,46,53
p. 111: 13,19,32,35,43,46,51,61,64
p. 119: 4,10,13,20,32,34,37,41,49,52
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
p. 138:33,40,41,46,61,63,68,73,80,84
p. 145: 9,13,23,27,29,33,47,51,57,58
p. 151: 12,17,25,43,50,61,62,63
p. 156: 11,17,19,25,27,37,40,42,44
p. 164: 10,15,17,19,21,24,29,33,38
Objective 3 Pie:
Solving Equations
4.1
p. 184: 7,10,17,20,34,47,52,57,66,70
73,75,85,89,92
p. 197: 7,9,15,20,41,44,53,61,74,79
p. 210: 9,14,17,23,25,41,43,60,64,67
Objective 4 Pie:
Fractions and
Mixed Numbers
2
3
11
12-13
14
15
Lab Sheet # 2
4
16
17
18
19
20
Simplifying and combining like terms
Addition and subtraction properties
Multiplication and division properties
Solving equations with multiple steps
Translating phrases and sentences
21
Lab Sheet # 3
Departmental Exam 1
5
22
23
24-25
Introduction to fractions and mixed
numbers
Simplifying fractions
Multiplication and division of fractions
4.2
4.3
Lab Sheet # 4
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6
26
27-28
29
30
LCD and equivalent fractions
Addition and subtraction of fractions
Order of operations with fractions
Solving equations containing fractions
4.4
4.5
4.7
4.8
p. 220: 9,10,13,17,26,31,37,47,53
p. 229: 13,23,29,33,37,42,46,51,56
p. 252: 9,11,16,31,37,38
p. 260: 10,12,18,33,37,38,44,48,51
Objective 4 Pie:
Fractions and
Mixed Numbers
5.1
5.2
5.3
p. 287: 5,10,13,24,46,57,65,81,84,89
p. 295: 9,14,16,28,37,41,46,52,57
p. 307:10,13,20,31,33,35,55,71,81,83
Objective 5 Pie:
Decimals
5.4
5.5
p. 320: 19,27,29,36,41,46,48,54
p. 333: 9,12,14,22,23,29,32,71,73
Objective 5 Pie:
Decimals
5.6
p. 343: 12,15,19,20,35,36,40
6.1-6.2
6.3
6.4
6.6
6.7
p. 362:9,11,15,27 p.372:8,9,19,31,33
p. 381: 11,17,35,40,65,67,69,72
p. 394:14,21,32,38,43,48,52,57,61,68
p. 412:11,14,15,20,21,27,37
p. 424:15,18,19,23,33,35,36,40,49,52
15.1
12.1-2
12.3
12.4
p. 1022: 16,19,20,111,112,114
p. 818:35,38,65,66 p.823:11,13,35,36
p. 831: 15,19,27,29,31,33,39,40
p. 837: 17,21,24,28,38,41,53,54,59
Objective 7 Pie:
Roots and
Exponents
9.7
10.1
10.2
p. 655: 23,25,38,39,40,43,44,48,50
p. 677: 7,9,11,12,16,17
p. 691: 10,13,19,21,23,26,28
Objective 8 Pie:
Equations and
Inequalities
Lab Sheet # 5
7
31-32
33
34-35
Decimal notation and rounding
Addition and subtraction of decimals
Multiplication of decimals. Applications
Lab Sheet # 6
8
36
37-38
39-40
Division of decimals
Fractions, decimals and order of
operations
Solving equations with decimals
Lab Sheet # 7
9
10
41
42
43
44
45
Ratios and rates
Proportions and applications
Percents, fractions and decimals
Percent equations
Percent applications
45
Lab Sheet # 8
Departmental Exam 2
46
47
48
49
Square roots and Pythagorean theorem
Properties of exponents
Negative exponents
Scientific notation
50
Lab Sheet # 9
Professor’s Test 2
Objective 6 Pie:
Ratio, Proportion
and Percent
11
51
52
53-54
Linear inequalities
Rectangular coordinate system
Linear equations in two variables
Lab Sheet # 10
12
55-59
60
Cumulative review for
the Departmental Final Exam
Departmental Final Part 1
Fall 2015