Math 1100 Algebra I

PURPOSE OF MATH 1100

The purpose of all of the developmental mathematics courses is to support student success academically and beyond by advancing critical thinking and reasoning skills. Specifically in Algebra I, as a team, we will create and critique explanations and justifications.  We will also determine which tools/strategies are needed to complete an argument.  A theme throughout the semester is to examine statement to determine if it is sometimes true of always true.  Then justify the claim with examples if the statement is sometimes true or complete explanation of every possibility if the statement is always true.

The Developmental Math Program in the Department of Mathematics at Western Michigan University offers Math 1100, a mastery-based algebra course covering the arithmetic foundations of algebra, properties of real numbers, linear equations and inequalities and systems of linear equations.

This course serves solely as a prerequisite course.  Math 1100 does not satisfy any general education or essential studies requirement.

COURSE INFORMATION

• Course syllabus
• Attendance policy
• Class participation points rubric
• Course notebook
• Resources
• graphing calculator directions (TI 83/84)
• Calculator basics
• Graphing basics
• Graphically solving
• Scatter plots and linear regression
• Grid paper or select a size
• Handshake online game
• Tower of Hanoi online game links
  • illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=40
  • http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/hanoi.swf
• Tips for success

EXAM DATES FOR Spring 2022 BY NUMBER

1. Wednesday, Feb. 2; 25 minute
2. Friday, Feb. 25; 50 minutes
3. Friday, March 25; 25 minutes
4. Wednesday, April 13; 50 minutes

If you are unable to attend class on any exam day you must notify Mrs. Thayma Lutz (269) 387-4524  before the exam, so that she can assist you in a timely manner.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE BY WEEK

1. Course info, classroom environment, sometimes always
2. Sometimes vs always, commutative property
3. Equivalent expressions, distributive property, expanding and factoring
4.  Polynomials, Exam 1, and more sometimes vs always
5. Percent change, growth and decay factor
6. Finish percent change, solving equations, analyzing different strategies for solving equations
7. Solving equations continued, conditional, contradiction, identity, literal equations, Exam 2
8. Literal Equation Continued and Spirit day
   
9. Spring break: March 7 through March 11
10. Systems of equations
11. Types of lines
12. Types of lines, graphing and Exam 3
13. Intro to functions, linear functions, linear functions in context
14. Linear, exponential or neither
15. Linear, exponential or neither and Exam 4
16. Linear, exponential or neither
17. Final exam week

Monday, March 21 is the last day a student can process an officially withdrawal from a class to avoid a failing grade.

ALGEBRA VIDEOS

There are many online videos on Algebra I topics. As with anything viewed on the Web, one should first sift through and determine which information is of value and actually correct. The director of the Developmental Mathematics Program recommends Algebra I students view the Khan Academy videos for Pre-Algebra and Algebra I.