2021-2022 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Apr 19, 2024  
2021-2022 Pierce College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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MATH 051 Fundamentals of Arithmetic (5 credits)



Prerequisite Satisfactory placement test score or instructor permission.

Course Description
Fundamental operations with whole numbers, fractions and decimals. Solve problems including percent, ratio and proportion, measurement, and geometric figures. Introduction to signed numbers, measures of center, and interpretation of basic data graphs.

Student Outcomes
Numbers and Operations with Numbers (Content A)
1. Read and write whole and decimal numbers and identify digit place values. Convert from English words to numbers and from numbers to English words.
2. Perform the four basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) with whole numbers without a calculator including using the correct order of operations.
3. Perform the four basic operations with any rational numbers expressed in fractional notation without a calculator.
4. Perform the four basic operations with the rational numbers expressed in decimal notation without a calculator.
5. Convert between rational numbers expressed in fractional notation and decimal notation without a calculator.
6. Perform techniques of rounding with decimal numbers.

Percents, Ratios, and Proportions, Basic Geometry (Content B, C, and D)
7. Solve basic problems involving ratios, proportions and percents without a calculator.
8. Solve a variety of application problems, including the following: Solve application problems involving percents including simple interest formula. Solve application problems involving proportions, such as scale drawings or geometric similarity.
9. Determine the perimeter and area of rectangles, triangles, and circles. Determine the volume of rectangular boxes and cylinders. Express these solutions with the correct units. Determine these solutions with no outside references (that is, memorize these geometric formulas).

Signed Numbers (Content E)
10. Place signed numbers in numerical order.
11. Perform the four basic operations with the signed numbers without a calculator.

Measurement (Content F)
12. Determine the appropriate measuring unit within the U.S. and the Metric systems.
13. Convert between units of measurement within the U.S. and the Metric systems.

Statistics (Content G)
14. Create graphs to represent data and interpret data represented in basic statistical graphs.
15. Calculate mean, median, and mode given data.

Writing
16. Use appropriate units when answering application problems. Express solutions to problems correctly in phrases when appropriate. Use mathematical terms and vocabulary correctly.

General Skills
17. Participate actively and responsibly in course activities.
18. Communicate methods of solutions and solutions to problems for the clarity of the receiver, including units as appropriate.
19. Estimate solutions to a variety of problems, and apply estimation to judge the reasonableness of calculated solutions.
20. Perform basic operations with a calculator.



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