Course Outline for Mathematics 204
Prealgebra

Effective: Fall 2022
SLO Rev: 03/01/2021
Catalog Description:

MTH 204 - Prealgebra

90.00 Hours

May be repeated 99 time(s)
This noncredit course is part of a noncredit certificate of competency in Preparation for Statistics and Liberal Arts Math. This course is free and students may repeat this course until mastery of the skills is met. This is a great class for students who are transitioning to college, who are unsure of their abilities, or who have been out of school for while and want some more mathematics preparation before transitioning to college-level math. This course covers the same content as MTH 204A, 204B, 204C, and 204D combined: Whole numbers, integers, rational and decimal numbers, percent, geometry, graphing, and problem solving.
1702.00 - Mathematics Skills
Pass/No Pass/Satisfactory Progress
Type Hours
Lecture 72.00
Laboratory 18.00
Total 90.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. perform computations on whole number, integers, fractions, and decimals without a calculator;
  2. model arithmetic operations on whole number, integers, fractions, and decimals;
  3. apply the commutative, associative, and distributive laws to evaluate expressions;
  4. apply the order of operations in evaluating algebraic expressions;
  5. interpret operations and variables in algebraic expressions;
  6. create, interpret, and solve simple linear equations;
  7. write a fraction in simplest form;
  8. write a fraction as a decimal;
  9. write a decimal as a fraction;
  10. round a decimal to the indicated place value;
  11. translate between words and the mathematical symbols for variables and operations;
  12. solve applications using percentages;
  13. find area, circumference, diameter, and radius of a circle;
  14. find the area and perimeters of rectangles and boxes;
  15. determine the appropriate unit in the US Customary System and the Metric System for a given situation;
  16. solve multi-step applications;
  17. graph a point in the Cartesian plane;
  18. graph a linear function using a table of values or a point and the slope.
Course Content:
  1. Whole numbers
    1. Definition
    2. Place value
    3. Rounding
    4. Modeling whole numbers
  2. Integers
    1. Definition
    2. Modeling integers
  3. Fractions
    1. Definition
    2. Modeling fractions
    3. implifying fractions
    4. Write a fraction as a decimal
    5. Write a fraction as a mixed number
  4. Decimals
    1. Definition
    2. Place values
    3. Modeling decimals
    4. Writing a decimal as a fraction
    5. Rounding to an indicated place value
  5. Computations with Whole Numbers, Integers, Fractions, and Decimals
    1. Addition
    2. Subtraction
    3. Multiplication
    4. Division
    5. Natural number exponents
    6. Order of operations
    7. Modeling arithmetic operations on whole numbers, integers, fractions, and decimals
  6. Laws
    1. Associative
    2. Distributive
    3. Commutative
  7. Expressions
    1. Variables
    2. Translating from words to algebraic expressions
    3. Combining like terms
    4. Removing parentheses
    5. Evaluating
  8. Equations
    1. Solving linear equations
    2. Translating from words to a linear equation
  9. Percents
    1. Converting between percents, decimals, and fractions
    2. Solving percent applications
  10. Financial applications
    1. Calculating tip
    2. Calculating discount/mark-up amount
    3. Solving for the original value
    4. Multi-step problems
  11. Geometric applications
    1. Perimeter and area
      1. Rectangles
      2. Triangles
      3. Circles
    2. Volumes of rectangular boxes
    3. Units
      1. US Standard Customary System
      2. Metric System
      3. Converting units within the same system
      4. Converting units between systems
    4. Multi-step problems
  12. Graphing 
    1. The Cartesian plane
      1. Plotting points
      2. Identifying quadrants
    2. Linear relations
      1. Slope
      2. Y-intercept
      3. Graph a linear relation given:
        1. Table of values
        2. A point and the slope
        3. Equation
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Lecture/Discussion
  2. Group Activities
  3. Class and group discussions
  4. Problem Solving
  5. Distance Education
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Evaluate: -2+5(1+(-3)(4))^2
  2. A business person ordered a salad and a glass of iced tea for lunch. If the salad cost $5.98 and the iced tea cost $1.49, how much did the business person pay if the tax rate is 7.25% and a 15% tip was left?
  3. You bought a 20 ounce package of strawberries for $2.71. What was the price per pound for the strawberries?
  4. A rectangular lawn has an area of 16 square meters. If the length is 10 meters longer than the width, determine the dimensions of the lawn.
  5. Using the graph provided, determine the slope of the line connecting point A to point B.
  6. Farmer Ben has only ducks and cows. He can't remember how many of each he has, but he doesn't need to remember because he knows he has 22 animals. He also knows that the animals have a total of 56 legs. Assuming that each animal has all of their intended legs intact and no extra limbs, how many of each animal does Farmer Ben have?
  7. Model 3+7 on a number line.
  1. Homework
  2. Class Work
  3. Assigned activities
  4. Pre and post testing
  5. Exams/Tests
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. critically analyze mathematical problems using a logical methodology;
  2. communicate mathematical ideas, understand definitions, and interpret concepts;
  3. increase confidence in understanding mathematical concepts, communicating ideas and thinking analytically.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Marecek, L., M. Anthony-Smith, A Mathis (2020). Prealgebra 2e OpenStax.
  • Scientific calculator
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
This noncredit course is part of a noncredit certificate of competency in Preparation for Statistics and Liberal Arts Math. This course is free and students may repeat this course until mastery of the skills is met. This is a great class for students who need to review basic math skills. This course covers the same content as MTH 204A, 204B, 204C, and 204D combined: Whole numbers, integers, rational and decimal numbers, percent, geometry, graphing, and problem solving.
Discipline:
Mathematics-Basic Skills: Noncredit, Mathematics*, or