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

EXAM DATES FOR SPRING 2023 BY NUMBER

  1. Wednesday, Feb. 1; 25 minute
  2. Friday, Feb. 24; 50 minutes
  3. Friday, March 24; 25 minutes
  4. Friday, April 14; 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. Jan. 9 through Jan. 13: Course info, classroom environment, sometimes always
    2. Jan. 18 through Jan. 20: Sometimes vs always, commutative property
    3. Jan. 23 through Jan. 27: Equivalent expressions, distributive property, expanding and factoring
    4.  Jan. 30 through Feb. 3: Polynomials, Exam 1, and more sometimes vs always
    5. Feb. 6 through Feb. 10: Percent change and growth and decay factor
    6. Feb. 13 through Feb. 17: Finish percent change, solving equations, and analyzing different strategies for solving equations
    7. Feb. 20 through Feb. 24: Solving equations continued, conditional, contradiction, identity, literal equations, and Exam 2
    8. Feb. 27 through March 1: Literal Equation Continued and Spirit day
    9. March 6 through March 10: Spring break
    10. March 13 through March 17: Systems of equations
    11. March 20 through March 24: Forms of lines and Exam 3
    12. March 27 through March 31: Forms of lines and graphing 
    13. April 3 through April 7: Intro to functions, linear functions, and linear functions in context
    14. April 10 through April 14:  Linear, exponential or neither, and Exam 4
    15. April 17 through April 21: Linear, exponential or neither 
    16. April 24 through April 26: Final exams

    Monday, March 20 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.