Christian Brothers University

Math 151 Departmental Syllabus
Numerical Concepts for Elementary Teachers

Catalog Data This course includes concepts essential to mathematics for elementary school teaching candidates. Topics include: set theory, numbers and numeration, number theory, rational numbers and problem solving. This course does not meet the general education requirement in mathematics.
Prerequisite: MATH 100 or equivalent.

Textbook Mathematics for Elementary Teachers, A Contemporary Approach, Seventh Edition, Gary L. Musser, William F. Burger and Blake E. Peterson, Wiley, 2006.

Calculator Policy You must use a calculator on assignments and occasionally on tests.


Prerequisites You should have fundamental skills in high school mathematics.

Goals You will learn topics in basic mathematics that you will teach in elementary school. You will gain a broad background in this subject. This will allow you to lead your students in learning basic mathematics.


Syllabus
Topic Chapter
Introduction to Problem Solving
Process and strategies 		      1
Sets, Whole Numbers and Numeration
Sets as a basis for whole numbers
Whole numbers and numeration
The Hindu-Arabic system
Relations and functions 		      2
Whole Numbers: Operations and Properties
Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
Ordering and exponents 		      3
Whole Numbers Computation - Mental, Electronic and Written
Mental math, estimation and calculators
Written algorithms for whole-number operations
Algorithms in other bases 		      4
Number Theory
Primes, composites and tests for divisibility
Counting factors, greatest common factor and least common multiple 		      5
Fractions
The set of fractions
Fractions: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division 		      6
Decimals
Operations with decimals 		      7
Tests       4
Final Exam The final exam is comprehensive and departmental.

Resources The Math Center located in Science 116 and 151 offers free tutoring in calculus.

Attendance You must attend class regularly.