MATH 208, March 2015

WEEK ONE LECTURE

Welcome to five weeks of college algebra, Algebra I, the first of two courses in college
algebra that will fulfill your math academic requirement. Ugh, many of you are
probably saying -- I dont need math except as a course requirement. Ill never use it
again. However, one of my objectives is to show you how this course relates to things
you do every day.
In this course we focus on fundamental skills you need to understand to be effective in
todays business world. We will discuss numbers, linear equations, exponents and
inequalities in our five weeks together. We will use the text, exercises and MyMathLab
(MML) to sharpen your understanding and skills, but we will also use discussion
questions to relate our class work to real world problems so that you can see how the
concepts we are learning will be useful in your daily lives and workplace.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica: Algebra is a branch of mathematics in which
the operations and procedures of addition and multiplication are applied to variables
rather than specific numbers. So, while 2 + 2 = 4 is math, x + y = 4 is algebra because x
and y can have different values. Can you figure out what combinations of x and y will
satisfy this simple formula?

Week One Basics. Please read your syllabus for details on this weeks assignments.
There is a lot to accomplish this first week, including orientation and first use of
MyMathLab (MML).
One requirement of all courses at UOP is participation. You may earn participation
credit for a message posted in response to any of the learning activities. Under
Recommended Learning Activities you will find two or more DQs, a terminology no
longer used at UOP (now called First Messages). These should be your primary resource
for posting materials to be considered for participation.
When you come across problems or concepts you do not understand, please post
your concern to the Classroom forum. Your classmates, and I, can probably help
your understanding. Remember, there are no stupid questions we have all
struggled with the same things at one time or another!
I want to discuss MyMathLab (MML) because of its importance as a core tool of our
learning experience.

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MATH 208, March 2015

WEEK ONE LECTURE
MyMathLab (MML): MML is the tool we use for algebra exercises, homework
assignments, study and the Final Exam. You will find it under the Assignments tab.
Start with the Orientation to familiarize yourself with how the software works. Please
note that MML is very fussy about the form of the answer, so youll want to give some
time to being sure you understand the MML language.
MML starts each weeks learning by identifying several concepts that are the objectives
for that week. You will work through the Study Plan practice until you are comfortable
with that objectives material, then try the QuizMe to test whether you truly have
mastered that concept. There is no limit to the number of time you can cycle through
practice/QuizMe to master the concept. Mastery is demonstrated by correctly solving 3
of the 5 problems in the QuizMe.
After you have mastered approximately 66% of the concepts, you will be allowed to take
the weekly Checkpoint, a test of the weeks material. One attempt only.
It is important to note here that earning the privilege of taking the Checkpoint
does not automatically earn you full credit for the Study Plan. Study Plan scoring
is based on the number of Mastery Points earned divided by the total number of
Mastery Points presented each week.
Practice: Each objective or concept will offer 10 to 20 practice problems to hone your
skills before taking the QuizMe. You can access this Practice as many times during the
week as you want stop and start to meet your progress and your personal schedule.
Note the help aids along the right hand side of the work screen.
Help Me Solve This this tab will take you step-by-step through the problem you
just tried to work; then will give you another problem of the same type, but with
different values.
View an Example this tab will take you step-by-step through a problem of the
same type, but not the same problem. I like this format better, because it gives
you the solution technique, but not a new problem. I would advise you to print
out as many of these view examples as you think you need, but mark on them
which section of the text this problem came from this information does not print
out, and helps you organize your notes and your recovery ability.
Textbook this tab will take you to the section of the text that applies to this
problem type.
Print this table will ask you whether you want to print out this problem, or the
entire homework assignment. This can be useful if you have commute time or

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MATH 208, March 2015

WEEK ONE LECTURE
breaks during your day when you could be familiarizing yourself with the
assignment problems, perhaps even solving those you understand.
Also note a number in italics in the upper-right-hand corner of the work screen this
number is the reference to the problem type in the Text, and looks like 1.1.61 where 1.1
is the Chapter/Section of the text, and 61 is the problem number in the Exercises for
that chapter/section. When you go to the referenced problem, you will see a header that
identifies the portion of the Chapter for this problem, which will allow you to navigate to
the material that explains the concept.
Once you have earned sufficient Mastery Points, your will be allowed access to the
Checkpoint, the weekly quiz. For this element of MML, you will not have any help aids
as you are being tested to determine how well you have mastered the weekly concepts to
solve algebraic problems. This element of MML also is preparing you for the Final Exam,
for which there will be no help aids so work through the Checkpoint, learn how much
Study Plan practice you should do before trying next weeks Checkpoint; and gain the
experience of not knowing whether you got the answer right before moving on!
I guarantee you that if you follow this regimen faithfully, you will do fine in the course!
Remember that MML is a tireless instructor, and will work with you and work with you
over and over until you master a concept!!

WEEK ONE LEARNING:

This weeks material contains the building blocks for the course. I cannot emphasize
enough the importance of learning this material to set the stage for what follows.
Without an understanding of the basics, the rest of this course can become a nightmare.
Numbers, Variables, and Expressions: This section introduces you to the definition of
numbers, but more importantly to the concept of variables. Remember above, when I
said that algebra is just math with variables?
A couple of examples:
Evaluating an expression: x + 4 = 12 Can you solve this? x = 12 4

x = 8

Using words to describe an equation: When we add 4 plus twice 4, our answer is 12.
Fractions: I do want to emphasize fractions, since fractions will be a big part of this
course and MTH209. Fractions are common in algebra, as you will see. Fractions are
also common in the real world (one-half gallon of orange juice, one-quarter pound of
butter [but Im only making a 1/3rd portion of the recipe!?!], 25% [one-quarter] of the
adult minimum daily requirement of Vitamin C, and on and on).

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MATH 208, March 2015

WEEK ONE LECTURE
I would spend some serious time learning about fractions. Many students are
intimidated by fractions, but there is no need to be but you must understand them!
If you cannot put your mind around fractions, try Chapter 1.2 of the Text; and if that
doesnt resolve your fears, post a question in the Classroom, with an example of what
specific issues are not understood. Well work with them until youve got it!!
I cannot emphasize enough that fractions must be understood and their
manipulation to be practically automatic for success in this class.
Exponents and Order of Operations: Exponents are the result of multiplying the same
number or variable by itself, over and over again:
3 3 = 9;
a a = a2;

3 3 3 = 9 3 = 27
a a a = a3

Then we have the ORDER OF OPERATIONS, which is the order in which you do
mathematical operations so that we can all get the same answer!!
There is a simple sentence that is going to help us remember the order of operations:
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally or PEMDAS.
This simply means we [1] do everything in Parenthesis, [2] compute the value of any
Exponential expressions, [3] Multiply/Divide beginning left working to right, [4]
Add/Subtract, again beginning left working to right.
If you do not follow the Order of Operations, you will likely get the wrong answer!!
Real Numbers and the Number Line: Im going to focus on the Number Line. We can
construct one very simply:
--|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|--4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
If I tell you to add 2 to 1, then to subtract 5, you can do the math: 2 + 1 5, but you can
also use the number line and count the values with positive numbers to the right and
negative numbers to the left. This simple mechanism comes in very handy when you
have an expression or equation with several values, and a mixture of + and signs; and
most particularly when we deal with inequalities. Trust me on this!!
Addition and Subtraction: While we have probably learned addition and subtraction
since we were very young, it is surprising how confusing this can get in an algebra class!
For example:
-2 + (-4) = ?? Look at the number line!! Start at two places to
the left of zero, then move four more places left? Or right?

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MATH 208, March 2015

WEEK ONE LECTURE
Multiplication and Division: Similar issues, but we should have learned much of this
many years ago.
And, finally
Properties of Real Numbers: While this material is important, I do not want you to get to
worrying about the definitions. Do not bother to memorize the definitions refer to your
notes when such a question is asked. Learn to do the operations
Commutative:

a + b = b + a

Associative:

(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)

Distributive:

a(b + c) = ab + ac

And, finally
Simplifying and Writing Algebraic Expressions: Weve learned a lot this week, and now
we put it together, so to speak:
Simplifying: 3x + 2x + x = (x)(3 + 2 + 1) = 6x
Remember that you can only combine like terms:
3x + 2x + 1 = 5x + 1 This is not the same as the example above!!

TIMS SUMMARY FOR WEEK ONE:

Let me repeat this mantra: It will be critical for you to put in your time in this first
week START EARLY AND OFTEN! This is where you learn the basics, and if you do
not master the concepts and the mechanics, you will find it very difficult to keep up with
the remainder of the material.
Here is a tip from a student in one of my prior classes:
The most important tip I could pass on is do the exercises. Make time for all of the
exercises and go through them until you understand why you are doing what you are
doing, not just how to do it. It is so important to start in Chapter One and methodically
work your way through all of the problem types in order to grasp an understanding of why
you do certain things and the order that they need to be completed. It is very important
that you start in Chapter One and continue through since all of the following chapters build
upon what is learned in the prior chapter.
The more time you spend with the Text and MML (including the Study Plan), the
greater your understanding of the material, and the higher your chances of

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WEEK ONE LECTURE
considerable success (higher grade) than if you treat MML as an enemy and not a
friend!! ;-))

This weeks reading assignment is Chapter 1. There is a lot of material here, but dont be
intimidated by the amount of material to cover. When you come across problems or
concepts you do not understand, you will find that your classmates can help if
you post your problem to the Classroom. If you continue to have trouble, you may
post a private note, and we can determine how we might bring you up to speed.

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