Faculty Syllabus
NCBM-0270 Algebra Foundations
Lance Erickson
Credit Spring 2026
Section(s)
NCBM-0270-013 (18118)
LEC MW 9:00am - 9:55am RRC RRCA 8112Z5P2
Readings
Required Materials/Software
This is a First Day™ class. The cost of required course materials, including software access, has been added to your tuition and fees bill.
Supplemental Materials: 2 inch - 3 ring binder for the required lecture notes and written homework, rectangular coordinate graphing paper, non-graphing scientific calculator
Other Technology: Access to a webcam and microphone are required for this course. Eligible students can check out required technology at https://www.austincc.edu/students/student-technology-services.
CALCULATOR
Students need a non-graphing scientific calculator (has a LOG or LN key and the fraction display). If a student cannot purchase one, calculators are available from the library. Graphing calculators and cell phone calculators are not allowed.
First Day Access
To enhance your learning experience and provide affordable access to the right course material, this course is part of an inclusive access model called First Day™. You can easily access the required materials for this course through Blackboard. Austin Community College includes the discounted price as a course fee in your registration fees for this course.
ALEKS
The majority of the course takes place in the ALEKS software. Each day after group instruction you are assigned a Module to work on in class. The Module is due on the same day. Students are expected to show their work from the Module on “Module/Homework Answer Sheets” (directions to be provided in class) and these are kept in the portfolio binder. In addition to the in-class Modules, there are homework problems assigned to you in ALEKS and a written homework handout that you will complete by the next class.
It is critical to your success in the course to stay on top of the work as we move through the semester. Your grade for the ALEKS Modules in the ALEKS gradebook is an average of the percentage of the topics completed at the end of each day. The topics that are not completed in the previous Modules, can prevent new topics from being available until you complete the prior topics. This will require you to complete twice the amount of work in a short period of time to get back on track.
It is expected that you should be able to complete all topics by working on Modules during the ALEKS work portion of class and by working 2 - 3 hours daily outside of class to complete the ALEKS homework and written homework assignments. This requires you to reserve daily time to access ALEKS outside of class time in order to complete your work.
Course Subjects
Calendar Spring 2024
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Day 1 |
Properties of Addition and Multiplication, Introduction to Inequalities and Exponents, Introduction to PEMDAS (order of operations) |
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Day 2 |
Evaluating Algebraic Expressions, Multiplying Algebraic Expressions, Introduction to Factorization, Introduction to Factoring |
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Day 3 |
Introduction to Fractions, Fraction Multiplication, Fraction Division |
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Day 4 |
Fraction Addition and Subtraction, Exponents and Order of Operations with Fractions, Introduction to Decimals, Converting between Decimals, Fractions, and Percentages |
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Day 5 |
Converting Fractions to Decimals, Reading Graphs, Introduction to Integers, Signed Number Multiplication and Division |
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Day 6 |
Integer Addition and Subtraction, Signed Fraction and Decimal Addition and Subtraction, Combining Like Terms |
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Day 7 |
Exponents and Order of Operations with Integers, Evaluating Expressions with Signed Numbers, Advanced Distributive Property, Addition of Fractions with Variables |
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Day 8 |
Additive Property of Equality, Multiplicative Property of Equality, Using the Percent Equation, Solving a Two-step Equation |
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Day 9 |
Test Day |
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Day 10 |
Solving Equations with Several Occurrences of the Variable, Translating a Phrase into an Expression, Applications involving Percentages |
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Day 11 |
Translating into Equations, Geometric Applications, Word Problems: two unknowns, consecutive integers, Solving for a Variable |
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Day 12 |
Introduction to Inequalities, Solving Inequalities, Rectangular Coordinate System |
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Day 13 |
Graph Linear Equations in Two Variables, Graphing with Intercepts |
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Day 14 |
Slope and Rate of Change, Slope and y-Intercept, Parallel and Perpendicular lines |
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Day 15 |
Exit Exam |
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Day 16 |
Writing Equations of Lines, Applications: Real-world Equations and Graphs, Introduction to Systems of Two Linear Equations |
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Day 17 |
Test Day |
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Day 18 |
Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Substitution and Applications, Introduction to Power Rules for Exponents |
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Day 19 |
Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Elimination and Applications, Choosing a Method to Solve a System of Linear Equations |
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Day 20 |
Advanced Exponent Rules, Exponent Rules with Negative Exponents, Scientific Notation |
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Day 21 |
Introduction to Polynomials, Multiplying Polynomials |
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Day 22 |
Test Day |
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Day 23 |
Greatest Common Factor, Factor by Grouping, Factor with the ac Method |
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Day 24 |
Factor Difference of Squares, Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring, Applications with Quadratic Equations |
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Day 25 |
Square Root Property, Pythagorean Theorem, Quadratic Formula |
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Day 26 |
Introduction to Rational Expressions, Multiply and Divide Rational Expressions, LCD of Rational Expressions |
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Day 27 |
Add Rational Expressions, Solve Rational Equations and Proportions |
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Day 28 |
Test Day |
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Day 29 |
Review |
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Day 30 |
Final |
Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to:
1. Simplify numerical and variable expressions involving rational numbers.
2. Solve equations.
3. Relate algebra concepts to real-world situations.
1. Concepts and skills associated with whole numbers, integers, fractions, and decimals.
a. round numbers and use rounding to estimate values
b. perform the four basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)
c. identify the order relation between two whole numbers
d. simplify exponential expressions with whole number exponents
e. find the square root of perfect squares and estimate irrational square roots to one or two decimal places
f. use the order of operations to simplify expressions involving whole numbers, whole number exponents, square roots of perfect squares, grouping symbols, and the four basic arithmetic operations
2. Concepts and skills associated with fractions
a. simplify fractions to lowest terms
b. convert between mixed numbers and improper fractions
c. convert between fractions and decimals
3. Concepts and skills involving expressions and equations in one variable
4. Simplify numerical and variable expressions using distributive properties, order of operations, and combining like terms.
5. Solve linear equations in one variable involving integers, decimals and fractions.
6. Concepts and skills involving graphing
a. interpret graphs and analyze data
b. plot points given coordinates & tables
Office Hours
T Th 12:55 PM - 1:30 PM Round Rock Acclerator
NOTEM W 11:50 AM - 1:30 PM Round Rock Campus Accelerator
NOTET Th 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Round Rock Campus Accelerator
NOTEPublished: 01/15/2026 10:44:12