Text: Developmental Mathematics, 4^th edition, by Bittinger and Beecher

Math Tutor option from the textbook publisher

Prerequisite: C or better in Prealgebra, MATD 0350, its equivalent knowledge, or a passing score on the MATD 0370 placement test. (The first few chapters of the text cover topics from the Prealgebra course, but those will not be covered those in this course.)

Syllabus: This course covers some, but not all, of the topics in a first-year high school algebra course. It also covers some topics in geometry, statistics, and general problem-solving. The syllabus includes the following chapters and sections: chapter 4 (especially 4.6 and 4.7), 5.1-5.4, Appendices C and D, 6.1-6.9, 7.1-7.2, 7.7-7.8, 8.1-8.8, 11.6-11.7, Appendix E, 12.1-12.5, 12.7, 13.1-13.5, Appendix K, 9 (esp. laws of exponents, scientific notation), 10 (simple factoring, zero product theorem, solving equations by factoring), 14.1, 14.3, 14.6, 15.1, 15.3, 15.5, 15.6. (From Chs. 14 and 15, the student should be able to simplify square roots, use the quadratic formula, solve Pythagorean theorem problems, and sketch a parabola by finding the coordinates of the vertex and knowing whether it opens upward or downward.)

Suggested Schedule

Course Purpose: To prepare students to take MTH 1573, Mathematics for Measrement; MATH 1332, Topics in Mathematics; or MATH 1342, Elementary Statistics. (This course will not prepare students for MATH 1314, College Algebra, or MATH 1324, Math for Business and Economics, nor is it appropriate preparation for MATD 0390, Intermediate Algebra. Students who wish to prepare for Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, College Algebra, Math for Business and Economics, or Trigonometry should enroll in the MATD algebra sequence 0370-0390.)

TASP: While this course is not designed to cover all the topics on the mathematics portion of the TASP test, all the topics in it are relevant to the TASP. Many students who successfully complete this course will be able to pass the TASP, especially if they have done some work in the TASP Study Guide in addition to the work in the course. Ask your instructor or the tutors in Learning Lab for a diagnostic test and some suggested material to review.

Supplemental Materials: Scientific calculator. Usually this will cost between $13 and $20. Although you will not need all the features of such a calculator in this course, you will need several of them in your later math courses. If you will be taking the statistics class later, you will need two-variable statistics on your calculator. If you will be taking the college-credit technical math course later, you will need trigonometric functions on your calculator. Many, but not all, calculators in this price range have both of these types of functions.

Attendance is expected. Students may be dropped by their instructor for excessive absences, for failure to make progress in the course, or for disciplinary reasons. However, if you decide to withdraw from the course, do not expect your instructor to do it for you. You must fill out the withdrawal slip BEFORE THE DEADLINE, which is usually about three or four weeks before the end of the semester.

TASP Warning: If you are taking this course to comply with Texas Academic Skills Program requirements*, then you are required to stay in remediation in order to remain enrolled in your other courses. If you find that you are not able to keep up in this course or that you have missed several classes, talk with your teacher at once about how you can catch up or establish a different acceptable remediation plan. If you withdraw or are withdrawn from this course without participating in an acceptable remediation plan, you will be automatically withdrawn from all of your college courses if this is the only TASP-mandated remediation course that you are taking.

Reinstatement Policy: Students who withdrew or were withdrawn generally will not be reinstated unless they have completed all course work, projects, and tests necessary to place them at the same level of course completion as the rest of the class.

Incomplete grades (I) are given only in very rare circumstances. Generally, to qualify for a grade of "I", a student must have completed 13 weeks of classes, including all exams, homework, and assignments, have a passing grade, and have a personal tragedy occur within the final three weeks which prevents course completion.

Your instructor will provide you with an additional handout which details testing, homework, and grading procedures.

Students who believe that they will need regular extra tutoring are encouraged to register for the Lab Classes or to use the Course Lab Hours. The availability of Lab Classes is fairly limited. Lab Classes are listed in the schedule of classes, or your instructor can give you the information. The Learning Labs will be establishing regular course lab hours which will be free group tutoring sessions for a single course. The days, times and locations for these Course Lab Hours will be announced during the first week of classes. Students who need the extra help and do not have a lab class available are encouraged to regularly attend the Course Lab Hours

Free tutoring is also available at the Learning Labs at most ACC campuses. Audio and Video Tapes that follow each chapter and cover all topics can be checked out for use in the Learning Resource Centers at various campuses. The Computer Centers at Rio Grande, Northridge, Riverside, Cypress Creek, and Pinnacle provide computer tutorials.

Last updated July 29, 1999. Comments, questions, suggestions?