Credits: 2 (will not transfer)
Prerequisites: none
Instructor: Jeff Baumgartner
Schedule: M W F 3:00 to 4:05
Location: M W F Computer lab in Kropf Center, K120
Text: Aleks Worktext for Basic Mathematics, by Hutchison, Bergman, and Hoelzle, McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2000.
ALEKS, McGraw-Hill (trademark of Aleks Corporation)
Resources: Basic Mathematical Skills with Geometry, by Streeter, Hutchison, and Hoelzle, 5th ed., WCB/McGraw-Hill, 2001.
Office Hours: M – F 10:00 – 11:00 and 4:00 – 5:00
Location: C17 (Charles Hall)
Phone: 8131
Hesston College Mission Statement
Hesston College educates and nurtures each student within Christ-centered community, integrating thought, life, and faith for service to others in the church and the world.
Course Description
A review of operations on negative and positive whole numbers, decimals, and fractions; measurement and geometry; rates, ratios, proportions, and percents; basic descriptive statistics, and beginning algebra. Activities emphasize solving application problems and using the scientific calculator. Provides a review for the math competency exam.
Course Objectives
Students will demonstrate an ability to understand and apply pre-algebra Mathematics.
Course Activities
Basic Math is a self-paced course. Students will take a pre-test using Aleks (Assessment and Learning using Knowledge Spaces), a web based learning system. Upon completing this initial assessment students will use Aleks and, as needed, additional review in the worktext or the text on reserve in the library in order to review material for chapter exams which are similar to the Math competency exam. Listed below are the chapter exams with the chapters from the text Basic Mathematical Skills with Geometry, by Streeter, Hutchison, and Hoelzle, which is on reserve in the library
- Chapter Exam 1 corresponds to Chapter 1, sections 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and Chap. 4, section 8 in our text.
- Chapter Exam 2 corresponds to Chapter 1, sections 3, 4, 6, 7, and Chap. 2, sections 1 and 2 in our text.
- Chapter Exam 3 corresponds to Chapters 2 and 3 in our text.
- Chapter Exam 4 corresponds to Chapter 4 (except section 4) in our text.
- Chapter Exam 5 corresponds to Chapters 5 and 6 in our text.
- Chapter Exam 6 corresponds to Chapter 8 in our text.
- Chapter Exam 7 corresponds to Chapters 9 and 10 in our text.
- Chapter Exam 8 corresponds to Chapter 1 section 8, Ch. 4 sections 4 and 8, Chapter 7 as well as the review sheet
The following is a description of the correspondence between Chapter exams and chapters in the worktext.
- Chapter Exam 1 corresponds to Chapter 1 and Chapter 6, section 2.
- Chapter Exam 2 corresponds to Chapter 1, see especially sections 1.27 and 28.
- Chapter Exam 3 corresponds to Chapter 2.
- Chapter Exam 4 corresponds to Chapter 3.
- Chapter Exam 5 corresponds to Chapter 4.
- Chapter Exam 7 corresponds to Chapter 5 (though there is additional material on the exam which is not covered in the worktext).
- Chapter Exams 6 (Measurement and Statistics), 7 (Introduction to Algebra), and 8 (Introduction to Geometry) will require you to make use of both Aleks and the Streeter text on reserve in the Library.
My suggestion is that you work
with Aleks using the worktext and textbook as a resource for further
study. Take the pre-tests from the book on reserve for the chapters
that correspond to the exam on which you are working. When you feel
ready, take an exam. If you score 80% or higher on the exam, you may
apply the score to your final grade and go on to the next exam.
Students will make use of Aleks,
the worktext, and the textbook on reserve. These resources are to
help you learn course material. The instructor will be available during
class and office hours to serve as a resource for your learning. You
should expect to spend a significant amount of time outside of class
studying for exams using Aleks, your worktext, and the textbook on
reserve in the library.
Evaluation
The following guidelines will be used to determine the student’s final grade for the course. The student will receive the highest grade for which all standards have been met.
To earn a grad of |
Complete exams |
Exam average |
Aleks completion |
Memory work exam average |
Pass math comp exam |
A |
1-8 |
90% |
S |
85% |
yes |
B |
1-8 |
80% |
S |
75% |
yes |
C |
1-6, 8 |
70% |
S |
65% |
no |
D |
1-6 |
50% |
S- |
50% |
no |
S means satisfactory progress and completion.
Note: it is possible to pass the math comp. exam (and thereby meet the graduation requirement for the A.A.A.S. degree) without passing the basic math course.
Exams
There are three types of exams in the course.
- Chapter exams
Chapter exams, as previously mentioned, may be taken whenever you are prepared. These exams will be similar to the pre-test exams in the text and to your work with Aleks but will include more word problems and fewer simple calculations. An exam must be repeated if the score is less than 80% on the first or second attempt. Each exam may be repeated, up to a total of four exams, in order to improve your average. The best of the four scores will be used for grading purposes. You may take several exams in one day over different chapters. You can not retake an exam over the same chapter on the same day; you must review and wait until the next class session. - Non-graded trial exams
A memory work exam and a shortened version of the math competency exam will each be given twice during the course. The score on these practice exams do not affect your grade. They are simply given to provide practice in taking the exams and to give you a progress report. - Final Exams
a. The final memory work exam is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 10.
b. The math competency exam, which is the final exam for this course, will be given on Thursday, Dec. 16 from 1:00 – 2:50.
Attendance
Attending all class sessions is required in order to do well in the course. Attendance will be monitored and absences noted. Please notify the instructor in advance if you know you will be absent because of field trips, choir tours, athletic contests, or other school related activities. In cases of illness and emergency, notify the instructor as soon as possible.
Use of a calculator
Each student is required to have available a simple hand-held calculator for all class sessions. A scientific calculator would be useful because it can be used in other courses. However, nothing more than a simple calculator is required. It is assumed that the calculator will be used at any and all points in the course including exams with the exception of the memory exams.
Special Needs
Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent full demonstration of abilities should contact the instructor personally as soon as possible to discuss any accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate equal educational opportunity.
Disclaimer
The dynamics of the course may necessitate the contents of the syllabus to change. Thus, the syllabus is subject to change with the approval of the instructor.
Math Facts-- to be memorized!
- Addition facts through 9 (like 2 + 7 = 9, 9 + 7 = 16, etc.)
- Multiplication facts through 9 (like 2 x 6 = 12, 8 x 9 = 72, etc.)
- Common fraction and decimal equivalents:
7/8 = .875 5/6 ≈ .833 6/8 = 3/4 = .750 4/6 = 2/3 ≈ .666 5/8 = .625 3/6 = 1/2 = .500 4/8 = 1/2 = .500 2/6 = 1/3 ≈ .333 3/8 = .375 1/6 ≈ .166 2/8 = 1/4 = .250 1/8 = .125 - Other symbols (including calculator keys):
√ means square root ± means plus or minus (sign change on calculator) ≠ means not equal ≈ means approximately equal › means greater than ≥ means greater than or equal to < means less than ≤ means less than or equal to - Basic formula for percent:
Amount = percent x base - Roman numerals to ten, as well as fifty, one hundred and
one thousand:
I = one II = two III = three IV = four V = five VI = six VII = seven VIII = eight IX = nine X = ten L = fifty C = one hundred M = one thousand - Key temperatures:
Boiling point of water: 212°F and 100°C F = Fahrenheit and C = Celsius Freezing point of water: 32°F and 0°C - Standard abbreviations for various measurements:
inch = in. feet = ft yard = yd mile = mi meter = m liter = L gram = g kilo = k ounce = oz pound = lb quart = qt milli = m degrees Fahrenheit = °F degrees Celsius = °C gallon = gal - Metric prefixes and facts:
milli = one one-thousandth (so 1000 millimeters = 1 meter, etc.) centi = one one-hundredth (so 100 millimeters = 1 meter, etc.) kilo = one thousand (so 1000 meters = 1 kilometer, etc.) 1 cm3 = 1 cc = 1 ml, where cc = cubic centimeter - Customary units, facts and conversions:
1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints = 16 cups = 128 oz = 231 in³ 1 mile = 1760 yards = 5280 feet 1 yard = 3 feet = 36 inches 1 foot = 12 inches 1 ton = 2000 pounds 1 pound = 16 ounces - Relationships and facts of angles:
a right angle measures 90° a straight angle measures 180° the sum of the angles in a triangle = 180° the angle subtended in a full circle = 360° - Relationships and facts of squares and cubes
perimeter of square: P = 4s, where s = side length area of square: A = s² volume of cube: V = s³ - Relationships and facts of any rectangle (including squares)
and rectangular prisms:
perimeter of rectangle: P = 2L + 2W, where W = width and L = length area of rectangle: A = LW volume of rectangular prism: V = LWH, where H = height length of diagonal: D = √(L² + W²)
(The Pythagorean Theorem is usually written as a² + b² = c², where a and b are the lengths of the two shorter sides and c is the length of the hypotenuse.) - Relationships and facts of triangles:
perimeter of triangle: P = s1 + s2 + s3, where s1, s2, and s3 = side lengths area of triangle: A = ½bh, where b = base length and h = height - Relationships and facts of circles, cylinders and spheres:
pi = Π ≈ 3.14 circumference of a circle: C = Πd, where d = diameter C = 2Πr, where r = radius area of a circle: A = Πr² volume of a cylinder: V = Πr²h, where h = height volume of a sphere: V = Πr³