Decker Spring 04

Homework Assignments

 

Math 078 – Instructor Decker  - spring 2004                                                                                                                       version 2     2/3/04

Basic Math Skills.  Mon/Wed 10:30-11:50 room 231 Thames Campus

 

Office hours in room 9 of the Mohegan faculty annex: mon 3:30 –4:30, thurs 10-11:30, Wednesday from 8-8:30 in room 232 at the thames campus

Office phone – 892-5747

Email – jdecker@trcc.commnet.edu

 

Updates to this COURSE CONTENTS may be found on http://webct.ctdlc.org under the course contents menu (the backpack icon).  Announcements about class cancellations will appear under the ANNOUNCEMENTS menu on webct.

 

Math pro 5 mathematics software that comes with the textbook is at http://www.mathpro5.com  . The course codes are 11191 for the 4th edition and 11240 for the 3rd edition.

 

Class            sections          homework problems assigned

                     discussed       in text for this section

day 1   mon 1/26   section 1.1- 1.4; tips for success, place value, adding, subtracting.

 Place value section:1.2.  p.15 #59, 61, 77.  

 Chapter review p. 101 #1 -12 all, 13-39 odd, 28

   

 

day 2   wed 1/28,  was canceled because of snow

 

day 3    mon 2/2   1.5- 1.7 rounding, multiplying, dividing.

 Rounding section 1.5: p. 49 # 71, 72, 75. 

Chapter review  p. 102  41-58 all, 59-81 odd, 82-84 all, 85-107, also 92,94,96.

 

day 4    wed 2/4   1.8 – 1.9     exponents and order of operations, introduction to variable and algebraic expressions. 

exponents section 1.8 p. 85 #1-89 every other odd, also 91, 93, 95, 97, 98

variables section 1.9 p. 93 #1-60 every other odd, 66-68 all,

chapter review p.105 #109-139 odd.

 

day 5    mon  2/9  2.1-2.3 Intro to integers, adding integers, subtracting integers.

Intro to integers section 2.1 p. 117 #1-101 every other odd,103-114 all

Integrated review – integers.  Page 137 #1-34 all. 

 

Feb 5 – Last day of add/drop and partial tuition refund

 

day 6    wed  2/11     2.4 and 2.5 multiplying and dividing integers, order of operations.

Multiplying and dividing section 2.4: p. 143, 1-111 every other odd, 113-134 all.

Order of operations section 2.5: p. 1-91 every other odd.  92-104 all, 107-117 odd, 118

Chapter 2 cumulative review p. 165 #1-50 all.

 

Feb 16 No Classes – presidents’ day

For the remainder of the sections, do every other odd problem in the exercises.

day 7 wed 2/18  sections 3.1-3.3  

 

day 8   mon 2/23     sections 3.4 and 3.5

 

day 9   wed 2/25       REVIEW

  

 

day 10   mon 3/1      TEST ON CHAPTERS 1, 2, and 3

 

day 11   wed 3/3        sections 4.1-4.3

 

day 12   mon 3/8      sections 4.4-4.6

 

day 13   wed 3/10     sections 4.7 and 4.8

 

March 14-21 Spring Break

 

day 14   mon 3/22    sections 5.1-5.3

 

day 15   wed 3/24      sections 5.4-5.6

 

day 16   mon 3/29    sections 5.7 – 5.8

 

day 17   wed 3/31     REVIEW CHAPTERS 4 AND 5

 

April 1, last day to withdraw from classes without instructor’s signature

 

day 18   mon 4/5     TEST CHAPTERS 4 AND 5

 

day 19   wed 4/7       sections 6.1-6.3

 

April 9-11,  no class, spring recess,

day 20   mon 4/12      sections 6.4-6.5

 

 

day 21   wed 4/14   sections 7.1-7.2

 

day 22   mon 4/19      sections 7.3 – 7.4

 

day 23   wed 4/21  section 7.5 – 7.6   

 

day 24   mon 4/26  sections 8.3 – 8.4

 

April 26, last day to withdraw from classes – instructor signature required

 

day 25   wed  4/28     REVIEW CHAPTERS 6, 7 and SECTIONS 8.3, 8.4

 

day 26   mon 5/3       TEST CH 6, 7, 8.3, 8.4

 

day 27   wed  5/5     REVIEW

May 10 – last day of all classes at TRCC

day 28   mon 5/10    REVIEW

May 11- 19, exam period

 

day 29    wed  May 12   FINAL EXAM during the usual class period– REQUIRED OF ALL. 

 

 

May 23rd   – Commencement

 

May 24 – grades available on the web – go to http://www.online.commnet.edu which is the secure login site for three rivers community college (also  accessible from the secure student login link on the three rivers home page: http://www.trcc.commnet.edu)

 

 

SYLLABUS

Math 078 Basic math skills    

Course # 10904 Monday/Wednesday 10:30-11:50, Thames 231

Spring 2004

Instructor:  June Decker

Office: Room 9, Mohegan campus second floor faculty annex, 860-892-5747

Email: jdecker@trcc.commnet.edu

Office Hours: Mondays 3:30-4:30, Thursdays 10-11:30 in my office #9 mohegan

                       Wednesdays 8-8:30 room 232 Thames campus

 

Course Description: Math 078  3 CREDIT HOURS  BASIC MATH SKILLS
Prerequisite: Acceptable placement score
This course focuses on basic arithmetic and pre-algebra skills. Topics include: whole numbers, fractions, decimal numbers, proportions, ratios, percents, perimeter, area, volume, applications, signed numbers, algebraic expressions and equations. (Course does not count towards the minimum requirements for graduation.)  One must receive a C or better in math 078 to enroll in Math 090, Basic Algebra.  If you do not receive a C or better, I  suggest that you take math 078 a second time so you can build a solid mathematical foundation which will help you succeed in future courses.

 

Three Rivers Community College login: http://www.trctc.commnet.edu

 

Direct login to web ct: http://webct.ctdlc.org/.  Use the CONTENTS menu on webct to view projects and daily homework. Use the COMMUNICATION menu to post homework questions to the bulletin board or to email privately to other people in the course (go to internal mail, then “browse” to get email addresses). The ANNOUNCEMENTS menu will contain news such as upcoming tests, what to do if classes are cancelled, changes in office hours….

 

Text book: Prealgebra, 4th edition, by Elayn Matin-Gay, published by prentice hall. The companion web site is found at   www.prenhall.com/martin-gay.  You will be able to take generic quizzes on this site.

 

Math Pro 5 login: http://www.mathpro5.com, use course number is 11191.  (if you use math pro 5 from the 3rd edition, and 11191 doesn’t work, try 11240)

Math pro 5 allows you to take quizzes on-line to replace missed or poor quiz grades, shows you how to solve problems, presents a short video of the author teaching the material, and gives you practice tests. 

 

TASC is the college’s free tutoring and academic success center – sign up for a free tutor or drop in as needed to either the Mohegan (892-5745) or the Thames (885-2311) center located in the library at either campus. TASC’s email is:

TASC@trcc.commnet.edu

There are two grading options.  I will determine your grade each way and use whatever method gives you the higher grade at the end of the semester.

 

OPTION A.  TRADITIONAL GRADING :

          3 tests each worth 100 points  (50% of the total grade)

          1 final exam worth 200 points (33% of the total grade) (mandatory)

           4 projects or problem sets worth 25 points each (17 % of the total grade)

          

The number of possible points is 600. 

                                     93% of 600 = 558, so you need 558 or more points for an A

                                     90% of 600= 540, so you need 540 or more points for an A-

                                     87% of 600=522, so you need 522 or more points for a B+

                            in this manner, the given number of points for each grade is as follows:

                                    83% - 498 pts – B

                                    80%- 480 pts – B-

                                    77% - 462 pts – C+

                                    73% - 438 pts – C

                                    70% - 420 pts – C-

                                    Below 420 points – No Credit

 

 

 

OPTION B. USING COMPUTER QUIZZES AND PRACTICE TESTS

 800 possible points can be earned this semester

                               Points each         points total (% sum total out of 800 pts)

  1. Final exam -    200                          200  (25%)    -    mandatory - in class
  2. 3 tests         -    100                          300  (37.5%)  -  in class, make-ups are rare
  3. 40 quizzes   -       3                          120  (15%) – take the math pro 5 quizzes

                                                                                   at the end of each section

  1. 4 projects      -     25                         100  (12.5%) -  points deducted for lateness
  2. 8 practice tests-  10                           80  (10%) -  take the math pro 5 end of

                                                                                chapter tests as practice tests

                                                                                      and redo them as often as you like

 

Other opportunity to earn points:  post one substantive homework question or response on the Web Ct discussion feature for 10 points. Do more than 40 section quizzes.

 

Semester grades will be based on the following points out of 800:

800-744   A           743-720  A-

719- 696  B+         695-664  B       663-640   B-

639- 616  C+         615-584  C      583-560  C-

Below 560 points – No Credit

 

 

TESTS: There will be three in-class tests each worth 100 points.  Make up tests will be granted sparingly.  You must come to class and take these tests to earn the points.  You may take the test at any of my classes.  The lowest test will be replaced by your grade on the final exam, if such replacement will improve your grade. Should you miss a test, that will be a zero and will, therefore be the lowest grade and will be replaced by your grade on the final exam.  It would be almost impossible to pass if you miss two tests. No calculators allowed on tests.


The FINAL EXAM is worth 200 points.  You must earn at least 80 out of 200 points on the final exam to pass the course, even if you already technically have enough points to pass the course.  (That is, you must earn at least a 40% on the final exam)  No calculator allowed on the final exam.

 

PRACTICE TESTS and QUIZZES on math pro 5 – take the quizzes at the end of each section and the tests at the end of each chapter to earn points.  If you show a good faith effort to do all the problems and answer most of the problems correctly, you will receive the 3 points for that section.   In particular, you will receive 3 points for the section quiz if you score between 75% and 100%, 2 points if the score is between 50% and 74%, 1 point if it is between 25% and 50%.  DO NOT FRET OVER THE STRICT SCORING ON MATH PRO 5.  DO NOT BE CONCERNED IF THE PROBLEM IS MARKED WRONG, EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW IT IS CORRECT – you can still earn a perfect score if you have a problem marked incorrectly by the computer. Remember, what matters is whether you are working problems and learning the math. Nevertheless, you can learn a good habits from the unforgiving scoring on math pro 5, because it provides good training for us to learn to be precise.

 

PROJECTS will be assigned 4 times during the semester.  You may receive help of any kind on the projects.  However, you must understand and be able to explain what you submit.  Projects may be problem sets to be handed in and graded. 

 

HOMEWORK from the textbook will be assigned for each section. I will not grade the homework, though we will go over some of the homework problems at the start of each class and on the discussion feature of Web Ct.

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.  I presume that everyone in class wishes to learn the math in the course, realizes that cheating of any kind undermines that goal, and everyone will, therefore, be honest about what they know and do not know.  When you hand in your work, you are saying that you understand what you have written and could reproduce what you have written.   When you take a test, you may not receive assistance of any kind.  If I determine that someone has “cheated”, the person will receive a zero for the work and there will be no option for replacing that zero with another grade. If the cheating is flagrant, the person will fail the course.  Academic dishonesty  will be reported to the academic dean.