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 justify the claim with examples if the statement is sometimes true or complete justification 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.

COURSE INFORMATION

EXAM DATES FOR spring 2020 BY NUMBER

  1. Friday, Jan. 24 (Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes); Thursday, Jan. 23 (Tuesday and Thursday classes);  25 minutes
  2. Wednesday, Feb. 19 (Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes); Tuesday, Feb. 18 (Tuesday and Thursday classes);  50 minutes
  3. Friday, March 20 (Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes); Thursday, March 19 (Tuesday and Thursday classes); 25 minutes
  4. Wednesday, April 8 (Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes); Tuesday, April 7 (Tuesday and Thursday classes); 50 minutes

If you are unable to attend class on any exam day you must notify Dr. Eisenhart (269) 387-4117 or (269) 873-8194 before the exam or a make-up may be denied.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE BY WEEK

    1. Course info, rates and ratios
    2. Unit analysis, sometimes verses always
    3. Sometimes verses always, meaning of fractions, analyzing justifications and Exam 1
    4. Analyzing and writing justifications, order of operations, and commutative property
    5. Distributive property and solving symbolically
    6. Solve symbolically
    7. Solve symbolically, Exam 2, and percent change
    8. Percent change and spirit day
    9. Spring break
    10. Equivalent expressions
    11.  Function notation, Exam 3, linear verses exponential functions
    12. Linear verses exponential functions and models
    13. Linear verses exponential 
    14. Linear verses exponential and Exam 4
    15. Solving graphically
    16. Final Exam

    Monday, March 16 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.