Textbook and Materials  
Text Developmental Mathematics
6th Edition
by Bittinger and Beecher
© 2005 Pearson - Addison Wesley

 

Note! icon This course includes downloadable chapters. There is no need to buy a printed version of the textbook. If you wish to purchase a printed version of the textbook at an additional cost, feel free to visit the online bookstore, Follett Express.

 

Tutorials
The Getting Started Tutorial in Course Home is required viewing for this class. The MATH Guidebook expands on the Tutorial and should be printed, read, and kept as a handy reference for this class. Your Syllabus, the Getting Started Tutorial, and the MATH Guidebook form the basis for your Orientation Exam in Week 1.

MyMathLab
MyMathLab (MML), which is powered by CourseCompass, is included with your course. Please use the MyMathLab item under Course Home to access MML. You must use the Install Wizard in MyMathLab to download the needed players for the software to work. The software is upgraded periodically -- if you took a MML course in a previous term, make sure to check with the Install Wizard that you are using the newest version of the MathXL Player.

Elluminate
Live help is available via Virtual Office Hours with your instructor and the Live MATH Open Tutoring Center. Both use the Elluminate Software. Instructions on how to take advantage of these features can be found in announcements by your instructor and the Live MATH area each week.

Steps to access the MML Textbook
You can access the textbook pages via the HUB, or from within CourseCompass, either via the Textbook button or from within Homework and Study Plan exercises. Your Course Schedule will tell you which pages you must read each week.

Calculator / Graphing Utility
The required calculator for this course is the Texas Instruments Graphing Calculator Model TI-83 Plus or TI-84. A TI-89 or equivalent may also be used. For a free online tutorial for the TI-83 Plus, click here; and for the TI-89. click here. Graphing utilities with equivalent functionalities may also exist online.

Additional Materials
Additional materials are available for you in DocSharing to print out. 

 

 

 

 
 
Course Description  

MATH032 -- Introduction to Algebra:
This course provides students the critical elements of algebra for linear equations and polynomials.  Starting with a foundation of arithmetic with real numbers, the course will study the addition and multiplication rules of solving linear equations.  The goal of the course will be to ensure a solid understanding of the basic elements of algebra. (Credits do not count toward graduation.)
 

MATH092 and MATH102 -- Basic Algebra:
This course will provide students with the skills and analysis necessary to successfully solve a variety of basic algebra problems.  Starting with polynomials, the course will focus in on factoring skills and using technology to solve certain types of problems.  The course will also include graphing linear equations.  Students will apply their skills to a variety of application problems to see the real world nature of algebra. (Credits from MATH092 do not count toward graduation; credits from MATH102 do count toward graduation.)
 

MATH104 and MATH114 -- Algebra for College Students:
At the conclusion of this course students will exhibit mastery of the following topics in Algebra:  solving linear equations, graphing linear equations, polynomial operations, positive and negative integer exponents, factoring, systems of linear equations, radical and rational expressions, quadratic equations, evaluating and graphing functions, identifying various functions by their graph, and various application problems. (Credits from MATH114 count toward graduation of most bachelor degree students; credits from MATH104 do not count toward graduation of students.)

DeVry University Online course content is constructed from curriculum guides developed for each course that are in alignment with specific Terminal Course Objectives. The Terminal Course Objectives, or more commonly "TCO's", define the course objectives that the student will be required to comprehend and demonstrate a clear understanding of by course completion. The TCO's that will be covered in detail each week can be found in the Objectives section for that particular week. Whenever possible, a link will be made from a particular assignment or discussion back to the TCO's that it emphasizes.  

A note about the course syllabus and general course layout...

 

All student objectives, assignments or expectations can be identified by either a light blue shaded background or bolded blue text.

 

 
 
Terminal Course Objectives During your progression through the MyMathLab powered course sequence of Introduction to Algebra (MATH032),  Basic Algebra (MATH092 or MATH102) and Algebra for College Students (MATH104 or MATH114) you will cover all of the following Terminal Course Objectives (TCOs). 
  • MATH032 covers TCOs 1 - 8

     
  • MATH092 and MATH102 cover TCOs 1 - 17

     
  • MATH104 or MATH114 cover TCOs 1 - 26 
     

 

1

Given the various sets of numbers, identify their elements and the relationships between those sets (Natural, Whole, Integer, Rational, and Real numbers).
2

Given an integer, determine all factors as well as the prime factorization.
3

Complete arithmetic with numbers in decimal form, fractional form, and as mixed numbers, as well as in absolute value.
4 Given a problem involving percentages, properly convert percentages to decimal or fractional form and vice versa and evaluate.
5

Given a mathematical expression with a mixture of rational numbers combined with operators and grouping symbols, properly evaluate the value of the expression.
6

Given a description of an algebraic expression in words, provide the proper expression.
7

Complete arithmetic with real numbers as well as in absolute value.
8

Given a linear equation in one variable, properly determine the solution.  Also solve linear equations involving multiple variables for a specified variable.
9

Given data from a dataset, determine the measures of central tendency.
10

Given a linear inequality in one variable, properly determine the solution.
11 Given numeric and algebraic expressions involving integer exponents, simplify and/or evaluate those expressions.
12

Given fixed decimal values and expressions, convert the values into scientific notation.
13

Given one or more polynomials, identify those polynomials and simplify expressions involving the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and/or division (by monomials only) of those polynomials.  Also, evaluate algebraic expressions involving one variable.
14

Given various algebraic expressions, factor those expressions using the appropriate techniques.
15

Given a simple quadratic equation, properly determine the solutions by factoring.
16

Given a linear equation in two variables, graph that equation.
17

Given data concerning a linear relationship, determine the equation of the line.
18 Given a rational term, expression, or equation, perform the indicated operations and simplify or solve.
19

Given a quadratic equation, properly determine the solutions using various methods.
20 Given a system of two linear equations in two variables, find the solution of the system.
21

Given a mathematical expression with radical numbers, simplify the expression.
22

Given a relation, determine whether it is a function, introduce function notation, find x and y intercepts, and identify the axis of symmetry, if any.  Also, find the maximum, minimum, and vertex by algebra and/or the graphing calculator.
23

Given the equation of polynomial, rational, exponential, or log function, sketch the graph of the function by using the graphing calculator.  Use the calculator to identify the inverse of these functions as well.
24

Given two polynomial functions, find their sum or difference.
25

Given a real-world applied problem, such as population growth, evaluate at specific points.  Graph exponential and logarithmic functions.
26

Evaluate logarithmic functions including those with a change in base.

 

 
 
Course Schedule  

The Course Schedule for your course is your roadmap to success, and one of the most critical documents in this course. Download the Course Schedule for your course by clicking the links below -- these documents can also be found in Doc Sharing.

MATH032 Course Schedule

MATH092 and MATH102 Course Schedule

MATH104 and MATH114 Course Schedule

For your convenience, a course completion log is included with each Course Schedule. Check off each assignment as you complete it. You can use the MML Gradebook and record the date you complete each assignment and the score you earned. This will help keep you focused. Each schedule also includes a detailed summary of the assignments you are expected to complete each week. Feel free to work ahead!

If you finish one course early and begin working on the next course in the sequence you will have to then download the new course schedule. 

The MML (MyMathLab) courses are self-paced: this means you may work faster than the suggested weekly outline in your course schedule, but try not to work slower.

  • You are encouraged to finish more than one course this term.
     
  • You are required to progress to the next course until you finish MATH114 or MATH104.
     
  • Exception: If you are an associates degree student and your terminal math course is MATH102, you are required to progress to the next course until you finish MATH102.
     
  • MML assignments from an unfinished course may be transferred to a following term, if they correspond to assignments used in the current version of the course. However, beginning with the Spring 2007 Semester, only coursework from the previous session will be transferred to the next session. 
     
  •  If you have questions about the assignments that were transferred, contact your instructor immediately!

 
 
Grading Policy
 

The maximum score in this class is 1200 points. The categories which contribute to your final grade are weighted as follows:

 

Assignment

Points

Weighting

Threaded Discussions / MATH Live

0

0%
Orientation Exam

60

5%

Homework

180

15%

Chapter Exams

640

53%
Final Exam

320

27%
Total Points

1200

100%

 

The courses in the MML sequence are all self-paced. All MML assignments for the course you are enrolled in, including all MML Homework Assignments, MML Chapter Exams and the MML Final Exam must be completed by Sunday, 11:59 pm MT (Mountain Time) of Week 8.

You must complete the Final Exam and have obtained an overall course average of 80% or above in order to pass the course .

 

Letter Grade

Points

Percentage

A

1080 - 1200

90% to 100%

B

 960 - 1079

80% to 89%

F

below 960

Below 80%

 

Summary of Grading Categories 

Orientation Exam: The Syllabus, Getting Started Tutorial, and MATH Guidebook form the basis of the Orientation Exam. The Orientation Exam is the only Exam you will take in eCollege. It is located in Week 1, and must be submitted by Sunday, 11:59 P.M. Mountain Time (MT) of Week 1. You only have one attempt for this exam.

Practice and Tutorials: You have access to a large number of practice and tutorial problems within MyMathLab, generated by your personal study plan. While not included in your overall grade, these problems are required for you to help you master prerequisite and new skills and concepts, and prepare you for passing exams.

Entry Exam, Chapter Pretests, and Practice Final Exam: These tests are not included in your overall grade. Instead, they ensure that you have mastered all the prerequisites required to move on to a new skill set. The Entry Exam and the Chapter Pretests can be taken four times before you must contact your instructor for additional retakes. You should review them and correct your mistakes using the resources in your Study Plan and the TDAs before a retake. A score of 80% on your Entry Exam is required to unlock the first Chapter Pretest in your course. You will take a Chapter Pretest once as a preview exercise, which also unlocks the Chapter HW for that chapter. You should not attempt to take a Chapter Pretest for a score of 80% until after you have completed all the HW for that chapter to a grade of 100%. A final score of 80% is required on the Chapter Pretest before you may attempt the Chapter exam. The Practice Final Exam is optional and may be taken once.

Homework: Homework is assigned for the new chapters you study in each course in MML. Your HW assignments will unlock after you have taken the Chapter Pretest for that chapter set once with a score of zero. You must score 100% on each HW assignment to progress to the next HW assignment within a chapter. You must complete all HW assignments for a chapter before you attempt a serious take of the Chapter Pretest. HW assignments are unlimited re-takes. Homework is a required and graded component in this course. Any HW assignments you have not completed by 11:59 pm MT (Mountain Time) on Sunday of Week 8 will receive a grade of zero.

Chapter Exams
Before you can progress to a chapter exam, you must have completed all the chapter HW to a score of 100%, and passed the Chapter Pretest with a score of 80% or better. You must score 80% or better on each of the four Chapter Exams to pass the course. Each Chapter Exam may be taken up to three times. Chapter Exams are graded components of the class. Only the highest grade counts for each exam.

Final Exam
The Final Exam can be taken up to two times. The Final Exam is a graded component of the class. Only the highest grade counts. You must have successfully completed all tests and HW assignments in the course before you can attempt the Final Exam. The Practice Final Exam is optional - you have to enter it before you can take the Final Exam, but you do not have to pass it with an 80% or better. Its purpose is to generate a final Study Plan for you so you can effectively review before taking the Final Exam.

Threaded Discussions
In the Discussion areas of the course, you, as a student, can interact with your instructor and classmates to explore questions and comments related to the content of this course. Weekly discussions will always close Sunday, 11:59 P.M. Mountain Time (MT). The weekly discussions are not a graded component of the class. Your participation is encouraged but optional. 

MATH Live
Your instructor will schedule two hours of live sessions each week. Please check your instructor's office hours. In addition, you may visit the open tutoring sessions offered at a variety of times throughout the week. Your participation is encouraged but optional.

 
 
Undergraduate Course Policies and Procedures: MML Courses

When are grades calculated, and how can I view my grades?

  • Your MML Gradebook calculates the individual grade for each assignment as you complete it, and your Overall Average for all the assignments you have completed to date.
  • Your instructor will enter zeros for all missing assignments at the end of Week 8 -– until that time, incomplete assignments are not included in the Overall Average computed by MML.
  • You will not pass the course if you are missing any chapter exam or the final exam. Your overall average must be 80% or better after zeros for missing grades are entered.

What should I do if a discrepancy is found with my grade?

1.  Double-check the error and try to determine what caused it.

2.  Send your instructor an email explaining your findings. 

3.  Trust that any error in grading will be corrected quickly. 

What if I cannot get my work submitted on time?

  • If you have an emergency that will cause your work to be late, please contact your instructor immediately so that arrangements can be made.
  • If a technical problem in MML prevents you from meeting the scheduled due date, please email your instructor immediately and contact the MML Technical Support Team at 1-888-695-6577 during the following hours (all times Eastern):
         Monday through Thursday 9am-10pm
         Friday 9am-5pm
         Sunday 5pm-10pm
  • If a technical problem in eCollege prevents you from meeting the scheduled due date, please email your instructor immediately and contact the eCollege Help Desk at 1-800-594-2402.

How can I get extra credit?

  • It is the policy of DeVry University that extra credit will not be allowed in any of its classes, online or onsite, for any reason.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a violation of the Academic Integrity code of this institution and will not be tolerated.  The plagiarism policy applies to every aspect of DVUO coursework including threaded discussions, exams, quizzes, essays, assignments, etc.  It is important that students fully cite any text they apply to their work. 

If you copy from, rely on, or paraphrase from your text or from any other source, you must include in-text citations. For any source other than your text, you must also include the proper reference material including the full URL and date accessed if the source is the web. Failure to do so is a violation of DeVry Academic Standards. Instructors are required to follow the DeVry Academic Integrity policy. Refer to your student handbook for details.

Tutorial iconHow to Avoid Plagiarism

For a complete explanation of DeVry University Online's Academic Integrity Policy, please see the Policies item under the Course Home tab.  For additional information see your student handbook (available in the student services website).

APA Policy and Style Guidelines

Beginning with the Fall 2006 Session A, all undergraduate students should use APA citation format for all DeVry Online assignments and projects. If you have questions, we recommend using the following APA reference materials:

This tutorial provides a resource for citing references in papers using the 5th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2001).

The following is covered within the tutorial: the purposes of APA documentation, guidelines and examples on how to cite original sources in the text of your paper using parenthetical citations, and how to format the reference list and an entire paper.

This website provides answers to frequently asked questions and lists APA manuals, style guides, and software available for sale.

Two good references are Concise Rules of APA Style and the 5th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2001).