Math 91-Fundamentals of Decimals and Fractions-Fall 09

Section 1331-MWF 9-9:50a-Voc 37

Prerequisite:  Math 90 or placement

Course Description:  The course begins with a short review of the whole number system using basic computational skills. The course covers the meaning of decimals and fractions, and the four basic operations using them: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  Special emphasis will be placed on thought problems including life skills. The course will conclude with an introduction to prime factoring, exponents, basic geometry, and order of operations.

Textbook: Fundamental Mathematics, 4^th edition, by Marvin L. Bittinger

Calculator:  A calculator will not be allowed on all exams.  It is important for you to strengthen your arithmetic skills as you work with fractions and decimals.  I will let you know which exams calculators will be allowed on.  Some in class work will allow the use of calculators, on these occasions I will bring a class set with me so everyone has access to the same calculator.

Math Lab/Tutorial Center:

• The Math Lab is located in Science 201.  Drop-in tutoring is available there; there is a math instructor on staff every hour to assist you as well as computers for your use.

·         The Tutorial Center is located in the communications building; drop in tutoring and one-on-one tutoring is available there with a referral signed by me.

Grading:

Your grade will be computed as follows:

Exams:

·         There will be 4 chapter exams.

• Ch1: week 5, Ch2: week 9, Ch3: week 12, Ch4: week 15; exact exam dates will be announced in class and posted on my website at least one week prior to the exam.
• You may use your late exam coupon to make-up one exam without a penalty; all additional make-up exams will be assessed a 10% penalty.  You have one week to do this.
• I will provide all materials needed to take exams; you must use a pencil, you are allowed to use your multiplication tables, and prime numbers chart.  I will let you know when a calculator is allowed.
• If you know you will be absent on an exam day you can arrange to take the exam early. This goes for students involved in sports or other campus activities and any other situations when you must be absent on an exam day.
• There are no re-take exams to improve your exam grade.

Homework&In-Class work:

·         Homework will be collected each day.

·         Each section of homework is worth 10 points. Five problems will be graded from each section the other five points will be given for how many of the other problems you complete.

·         Staple all papers together and put your name and the class number at the top of each page.

·         Points will be deducted for a list of answers with no work and problems that are not written out.

·         You may turn in late homework assignments using your late assignment coupons.  Staple the late coupon to the late assignment, make sure to write your name on the late coupon.

·         You have until the last day of class, December 9^th, to turn in late assignments using your late coupons.

·         In class assignments cannot be made up and are not announced, you must attend class to participate.

 Final Exam:

·         The final exam is comprehensive and mandatory (i.e. you fail if you don’t take the final exam). 

·         You may not make-up the final exam and the final exam cannot be taken prior to finals week.  But arrangements can be made to take the final at another time when I am giving a final (see final exam schedule on website and come talk to me to make arrangements). 

·         Final exam week is Dec. 11^th through the 17^th, we will be assigned a day and time during this week for our final exam.

·         Final exam date and time:   

·         (Note:  During finals week we do not meet for our usually scheduled class time instead we have a 1hr and 50min time assigned for the final exam.)

Extra Credit: 

·         You may turn in your late coupons for their face value for extra credit.

·         1 point of extra credit will be applied to your homework point total for every time you attend a tutoring session in the Tutorial Center or study in the Math Lab up to a maximum of 3 pts per week.

·         Your extra credit that is generated from visiting either the Tutorial Center or the Math Lab will need to be recorded on an extra credit record sheet and will require you to obtain a signature for verification; this sheet will be due the day of the final exam and the points will be applied to your homework total at that time.

·         All extra credit will be added into your homework point total.

Attendance Policy:

• Attendance is taken using a check-in method at the beginning of class; if you are late it is your responsibility to check-in at the end of class.
• I reserve the right to drop anyone from this course who misses 9 class sessions.
• I only drop people on census and progress report dates; your name will be crossed off  the role sheet if you are dropped.  If you don’t hear your name called or see your name on the roll sheet please see me.  NOTE!  I will only drop you if you have violated my attendance policy at the time of the progress report; this means it is your responsibility to drop the class if you can no longer attend, DO NOT ASSUME I WILL DO IT FOR YOU!
• WebAdvisor can be used to determine if you have been dropped from a course.
• If you wish to be added back into the class you must meet with me to discuss the reason for the drop and what changes will take place for you to re-enroll in the course. 
•  If you have an emergency of some sort, come and talk to me about it so we can work around missed class time. I classify emergencies as extended illnesses that can be proven with a doctor’s note, a death in the family, jury duty, or any other situation you can’t get out of.
• Contact Information:

I suggest you find someone in class that you can contact in case of absence.

Name:                                                                                                         

Contact number:                                                                                       

E-mail:                                                                                                         

 Academic Dishonesty (Cheating) Policy:

·         The following is a list of what I consider to be cheating on a test or quiz in this course:   By providing or receiving information by showing another student your paper, by giving another student information, by taking information from another student’s paper or by bringing in or consulting notes when they are not allowed.

·         There is also an outside of class form of cheating which is to ask other students what is on the exam before you take the exam. After you take the exam is the time to speak with others who have taken the exam.

1^st offense: If you are caught cheating you will receive a grade of zero on that test or quiz.

2^nd offense: You will receive a grade of zero on that quiz or test and be referred to the Vice President of Student Personnel for disciplinary action by the Student Discipline Committee (serious or repeated offenses may result in suspension from the college).

Miscellaneous:

·         Please no food during class time as it can be distracting for those of us who are hungry. 

·         Please turn cell phones & pagers off (or to vibrate) while in class. If your cell phone or pager rings accidentally in class, please turn it off immediately and return the call outside of class time. 

·         Do not continuously walk in and out of class answering phone calls, this is distracting and unnecessary.  If you are that busy and are needed with that much frequency you might as well not be in class that day and I will ask you to leave. 

·         Cell phones, PDA’s, and other electronic devices may not be on your desk during a test.

Expected Student Outcomes:

Upon the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate the following skills and abilities:

A. Solve expressions including integers, whole numbers, decimals, and percent.

B. Solve expressions including fractions, ratios, and proportions.

C. Solve graphics and expressions including geometry and measurement.

D. Apply math to real-world problems involving integers, whole numbers, decimals, percent, fractions, ratios, proportions, geometry, and measurement.

My Expectations:

·         I expect that you will do your best to be on time and do the work assigned in this class.

·         I expect that you will not be disruptive to your peers by talking out of turn or having conversations that do not pertain to this class.

·         I expect that you will come to class prepared: pencil, paper, etc.

·         I expect that you will inform me of days when you must be absent or leave early.

·         I expect that you will keep all work returned to you so you can use it as a study tool.

*This syllabus and all dates herein are tentative and subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

**Please see my website if you have any questions about due dates or exam dates**