DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA
Fendall Campus, Montserrado County
Republic of Liberia

FACULTY ACADEMIC COURSE WORK PLAN

COURSE OVERVIEW
Course Title: Algebra
Instructor: As Indicated on the Schedule
Credit hours: 3 hours
Course number: Math 101
Section: 1- 2
Class location and Time: Online
Office Hours: As indicated on the schedule
Office location: Science Complex, fendell Campus

TEXTBOOK(S)
Algebra for College Students, 5th edition by Mark Dugopolski, Southern Louisiana University, New
York.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is intended for students in the liberal arts. The emphasis of this course is to obtain
technical proficiency with regard to algebraic manipulation such as the basic operations and
simplifications, to review such concepts as polynomials, functions and their graphs, sets, simple
equation in two variables, systems of equations and inequalities, quadratic equation, probability,
sequences and series, and introduction to matrix algebra.
PRE-REQUISITE
Successful Passed in the University of Liberia entrance exam

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, the students shall be able to identify, define, describe, write, graph,
distinguish, solve, and optimize, problems involving: Sets, systems of linear equations and
inequalities, application to number, digits, age, coin and investment problems, linear inequality in
two variables, systems of linear inequality in two variables, application to linear programming,
matrix algebra, operation of matrix algebra(to include dimension), equality of matrix, inverse of a
matrix, the determinant of a square matrix (introduction to minors of rows and columns for up to
3X3 matrix), properties of matrix, Cramer’s rule, polynomial, addition and subtraction of
polynomials, product and quotient of polynomials, factoring polynomials, differences of squares,
sum and differences of cubes, factoring trinomials, factoring by grouping, synthetic division, long
division, factoring higher order polynomials, sequences and series, arithmetic sequences, the
summation notation and its properties, geometric sequences, geometric series, the binomial
expansion, the Pascal triangle and binomial coefficient, probability, fundamental counting
principles, permutations and combinations, probability (elementary probability), quadratic
equations completing the square, the quadratic formula, equations and roots, discriminant, and
system of quadratic equations

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

Assignment, test and exam

GRADING METHOD:
Activities Point allocation
Test 1 15pts October 26, 2019
Test 2/Mid-Term 20pts November 30, 2019
Test 3 15pts January 18, 2020
Test 4/Exam 40pts
Assignment/Attendance 10pts By the Instructor
Total 100pts

INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD
Chalkboard demonstration, lecture, discussion, problem solving, inquiry (question and answer),
group work, assignment and test.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE REPORTING

Students are required to sign in the attendance copybook (mandatory). Do not sign for another
student.
STUDENTS RESPONSIBILITIES
Students are expected to attend all classes, be on time and participate in the learning activities, sign
the attendance copybook, copy chalkboard summary, ask question on the lesson, do class work, test
and exam, bring required learning aid materials/tools.

MISSED CLASS POLICY

The University policy as written in the student’s Handbook will be applied
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Any student caught cheating on any test or exam will receive a grade of “F” for that test or exam.
(Handbook)
STUDENT PRIVACY
Teacher-student privacy will be respected at the highest level based on professional ethics
(Handbook).

INCOMPLETE GRADE
All incomplete grades should be cleared before the final exam. Students will re-sit the test or exam
only with a valid excuse from Students Affairs Office. (Handbook)

TOPIC/CHAPTER INSTRUCTIONAL
WEEKS
SETS 1
 Definition
 Set relationship
 Set operations
 Venn diagram
SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATIONS AND 2
INEQUALITIES
 Definition and terminology (intuitive
geometric development of concepts of
consistence and independence)
 The substitution method
 The elimination method
SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATIONS AND 3
INEQUALITIES
 The graphical method (the limitation of the
graphical method should be emphasized)
 Applications to number, digits, age, coin and
investment problems
 Linear inequality in two variables
 System of linear inequality in two variables
 Application to linear programming
MATRIX ALGEBRA 4
 Definition of matrix algebra (to include
dimension)
 Operations on matrices
 Equality of matrix
 The inverse of a matrix
MATRIX ALGEBRA 5
 The determinant of a square matrix
 (introduction to minors of rows and columns
for up to 3 X 3 matrix)
 Properties of matrix
 Cramer’s rule
 Using inverse to solve a system of linear
equations in two variables
POLYNOMIAL 6
 Addition and subtraction of polynomials
 Products and quotients of polynomials
 Factoring polynomials
 Differences of squares
 Sums and differences of cubes
POLYNOMIAL 7
 Factoring trinomials
 Factoring by grouping
 Synthetic division
 Long division
 Factoring higher order polynomials
MID-TERM
SEQUENCES AND SERIES 8
 Definition and terminology
 Arithmetic sequences
 The summation notation and its
properties
 Geometric sequences
 Geometric series
PROBABILITY 9
 Definition and motivation
 The fundamental counting principles
 The factorial notation
 Permutations and combinations
 Probability (elementary probability)
QUADRATIC EQUATIONS 10
 Definition
 Completing the square
 The quadratic formula
 Equations and roots
QUADRATIC EQUATIONS 11
 Discriminant
 System of quadratic equations
POLYNOMIAL 7
 Factoring trinomials
  Factoring by grouping
 Synthetic division
 Long division
 Factoring higher order polynomials
MID-TERM
REVIEW 12
FINAL EXAM 13-14