Monday - Thursday 10 am - noon
Friday 10 am - noon (Online by appointment only. Please email me to schedule an appointment.)

Required Textbooks and Materials:

Elementary Algebra, 2nd Edition, by Openstax, 2020.

This is an open source text, available for free online at: https://openstax.org/details/books/elementary-algebra-2e

-All materials will be free and posted to the course's Blackboard page.

-While it is not required, students may find a calculator helpful. Students may use a TI 30 XS or a basic four function calculator. No other calculators will be allowed. The testing center and instructor will not provide calculators, if the student wishes to use one, they must bring their own. 

Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will learn how to solve linear equations and applications

2. Students will determine the slopes, intercepts, equations and graphs of lines

3. Students will solve systems of equations in two variables by substitution and addition

4. Students will add, subtract, multiply, divide and factor polynomials

5. Students will translate, develop a strategy and solve related application problems

6. Students will utilize an outline learning system to demonstrate math proficiency

Core Objectives:

- Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and/or visual communication.

-Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.

-Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts.

Lecture Topic Outline:

Chapter 1  Foundations

• 1.1 Introduction to Whole Numbers

• 1.2 Use the Language of Algebra

• 1.3 Add and Subtract Integers

• 1.4 Multiply and Divide Integers

• 1.5 Visualize Fractions

• 1.6 Add and Subtract Fractions

• 1.7 Decimals

• 1.8 The Real Numbers

• 1.9 Properties of Real Numbers1.10 Systems of Measurement

Chapter 2  Solving Linear Equations and Inequalities

• 2.1 Solve Equations Using the Subtraction and Addition Properties of Equality

• 2.2 Solve Equations using the Division and Multiplication Properties of Equality

• 2.3 Solve Equations with Variables and Constants on Both Sides

• 2.4 Use a General Strategy to Solve Linear Equations

• 2.5 Solve Equations with Fractions or Decimals

Chapter 4  Graphs

• 4.1 Use the Rectangular Coordinate System

• 4.2 Graph Linear Equations in Two Variables

• 4.3 Graph with Intercepts

• 4.4 Understand Slope of a Line

• 4.5 Use the Slope-Intercept Form of an Equation of a Line

• 4.6 Find the Equation of a Line

• 4.7 Graphs of Linear Inequalities

Chapter 5  Systems of Linear Equations

• 5.1 Solve Systems of Equations by Graphing

• 5.2 Solving Systems of Equations by Substitution

• 5.3 Solve Systems of Equations by Elimination

• 5.4 Solve Applications with Systems of Equations

• 5.5 Solve Mixture Applications with Systems of Equations

• 5.6 Graphing Systems of Linear Inequalities

Chapter 6  Polynomials

• Introduction

• 6.1 Add and Subtract Polynomials

• 6.2 Use Multiplication Properties of Exponents

• 6.3 Multiply Polynomials

• 6.4 Special Products

• 6.5 Divide Monomials

• 6.6 Divide Polynomials

• 6.7 Integer Exponents and Scientific Notation

Chapter 7  Factoring

• Introduction

• 7.1 Greatest Common Factor and Factor by Grouping

• 7.2 Factor Trinomials of the Form x2+bx+c

• 7.3 Factor Trinomials of the Form ax2+bx+c

• 7.4 Factor Special Products

• 7.5 General Strategy for Factoring Polynomials

• 7.6 Quadratic Equations

Important Dates to Remember: 

01/21/2025 First Class Day

02/05/2025 Census Date 

02/24/2025 Final day to drop without penalty 

03/07/2025 All assignments from chapter one and two and Midterm One due at 4PM

March 10-14, 2025 Spring Break – no classes 

04/04/2025 All assignments from chapter four and five and Midterm Two due at 4PM

04/18/2025 Good Friday – campus closed 

04/18/2025 Final Day to drop with penalty 

05/09/2025 All assignments from chapter six and seven and the Final Exam due at 4PM

05/15/2025 Last Class Day May 15 

05/15/2025 Final grades for graduates due by 4:00 pm 

05/16/2025 Final grades for all others due at noon 

05/16/2025 Spring Commencement 

Let x be the averaged final grade. Please note that the second letter “D” denotes this is a developmental math course. 

Homework: 30%

Quizzes: 10% 

Chapter Tests: 10% 

Midterm Exam One: 15%

Midterm Exam Two: 15%

Final Exam: 20% 

Policies:

-This syllabus is subject to change as needed throughout the semester. Any major changes will be accompanied by an announcement in class, via email, or posted on Blackboard.

-All relevant information about this course will be communicated to students using announcements posted on Blackboard. You will receive an email copy of each announcement but replies to those emails will not be monitored nor receive a response.

-Students should use their LSCPA email to communicate with the instructor; any communications from personal email accounts (gmail,yahoo,etc.) will be ignored.

-Students must use appropriate email etiquette when corresponding with the instructor; for example, complete sentences and a full subject line with your name and course name. Voice mail messages should be clearly spoken identifying students' name, course, and return phone number.

-Emails or messages determined by the instructor to be rude or disrespectful will not be responded to and will possibly be forwarded to the student’s department chair or program coordinator.

-Students may check their grades in their Blackboard gradebook. If the student wishes to discuss their grades, they may email the instructor and request an appointment to meet with the instructor or see the instructor during scheduled office hours. The instructor will not discuss any grades over email or phone calls.

-The instructor will not discuss a student’s grades with anyone besides the student unless the instructor is given permission by LSCPA officials to do so.

-Students are responsible for informing the instructor if they are unable to access any course materials. There will be no late work or credit given for assignments missed for this reason.

-No late work, extensions or make-up work will be accepted. Please do not ask. 

-If the instructor sees a need, she may require the quizzes and chapter tests be taken in a proctored environment. If this change occurs, the instructor will notify the students prior to the due dates. 

-Attendance (including that in online courses) will be taken into account when determining borderline grades. 

-While this is an online course, students will be required to come to LSCPA’s campus to take three exams. All instruction will be delivered in an online format and all other assignments, besides the midterm and final exams, will be available online. Students are notified of this requirement on the first day of class to allow ample time for testing arrangements to be made. Please see course expectations below. 

-Attendance (including that in online courses) will be taken into account when determining borderline grades. 

-While this is an online course, students will be required to come to LSCPA’s campus to take three exams. All instruction will be delivered in an online format and all other assignments, besides the midterm and final exams, will be available online. Students are notified of this requirement on the first day of class to allow ample time for testing arrangements to be made. Please see course expectations below. 

Course Expectations: 

Blackboard/MyOpenMath: 

All of your course materials and assignments are accessible through MyOpenMath via Blackboard. You will not need to sign up for or log on to any outside website, as everything will be integrated fully into Blackboard. MyOpenMath is an open-source program and does not require any access code or payment before using. If this is the only course you are taking this semester, or if all of your other classes use open-source (OER) resources, you should consider opting out of the Seahawk Book Bundle program.

Students are only given three deadlines for the semester: 

All assignments from chapter one and two are due 03/07/2025 at 4 PM. 

All assignments from chapter four and five are due 04/04/2025 at 4 PM. 

All assignments from chapter six and seven are due 05/09/2025 at 4 PM. 

Students may work at their own pace as long as the assignments are completed by the given deadline. I have provided an “Assignment Schedule” in the “Course Documents” folder to help students stay on track.  All assignments are available on the first day of class so students may work as far ahead as they like (including exams). 

Please note that all assignments in this course must be worked in order as they appear in Blackboard. You must complete the homework (practice problems) before you can access the corresponding quiz. You must complete the quizzes before you can take the corresponding chapter test. You must complete the chapter tests before you can take the Midterm or Final exams. Failure to complete the chapter assignments will prevent you from accessing the exams. Please plan accordingly. No late work will be accepted and no extensions will be given for students unable to access the exam(s) for this reason. 

Homework (Practice Problems):

The homework sets must be worked in order, and multiple versions of each problem will be offered until a correct answer has been reached. You can even continue practicing new versions of each problem after getting a correct answer if needed (I recommend practicing each problem multiple times until mastery is achieved). 

Quizzes and Chapter Tests:

The quizzes and chapter tests will be taken outside of class time and will not be proctored. Quizzes will have a 1 hour time limit and Chapter Tests will have a 1.25 hour limit. Quizzes will have 3 attempts and the best score will be used in the students gradebook. Chapter tests will have 1 attempt. If a student should experience technical difficulties during a chapter test that result in an incomplete test, then the student will be allowed a ONE time retake. This is a one time courtesy per semester and does not apply to any other assignments. The student must email the instructor within 24 hours of the first attempt  to receive another attempt. 

 ***Despite the lack of proctoring students are expected to take these tests and quizzes under the same conditions as the midterm and final exams (meaning, the student only uses scratch paper, a pencil, and an approved calculator). The purpose of this is to allow students to appropriately prepare for the exams in a low stakes and low stress environment. Students who study  this way are far more likely to do well on the exams and thus pass the course.***

Mid-Term and Final Exams:

Please see “Testing Policies and Expectations” in the “Welcome” module in the course Blackboard for all exam requirements. 

The Mid-Term and Final Exams must be taken on campus, in the testing center located in the Student Success Center building. Please check the hours of operation for the testing center before scheduling your exams. If you are unable to make it to campus due to any unusual yet verifiable circumstances (out-of-state travel for work, overseas military deployment, etc.), you must let the instructor know as soon as possible so other exam proctoring arrangements can be made. Failure to notify the instructor at least 5 business days in advance (with the exceptions of extraordinary circumstances) will result in a zero for the exam. The exams will be given on paper. Students must show all their work. Partial credit may be given for correct work. Any and all partial credit is at the instructor's discretion. 

***In the event a student does not take one of the midterm exams (for any reason), the student will earn a zero on the exam. At the end of the semester the instructor will use the score the student earns on the final exam to replace the grade of zero. ***

***In the event a student does not take both of the midterm exams, the student will earn zeros on both of the exams. At the end of the semester the instructor will use the score the student earns on the final exam to replace the first midterm exam grade. The second midterm exam grade will remain a zero.***

PLEASE NOTE:
 

As an online student, you are granted the freedom and  responsibility for scheduling and taking your exams at your convenience. Choosing to wait until the day of the deadline will not allow enough time to reschedule your exam in the event of an emergency. I highly recommend students schedule their exams at least 3 days prior to the deadline to allow themselves plenty of time in case something were to happen. (We all know that flat tires, car troubles, and illness wait for exam days). I will not offer any other make-up exams or testing alternatives once the exam deadlines have passed. If you miss one exam for any reason you will be given the chance to replace the grade with the score you earn on the final. There will be no extensions, make-up exams or extra credit outside of the opportunity listed above. Please do not ask.