Basic Mathematics for the Sciences MATH 115 (Fall 2013)

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1 INSTRUCTOR Stanley Max Adjunct Faculty OFFICE Department of Mathematics 3rd floor, 7800 York Road Basic Mathematics for the Sciences MATH 115 (Fall 2013) Section 006 (MW 1:00 1:50) Section 101 (MW 4:00 4:50) WEB SITE click on tab labeled Course material OFFICE HOURS The four hours during which I am in the computer lab (in Linthicum Hall) are my office hours. I am there at the following times: Monday: 2:00 4:00 Wednesday: 2:00 4:00 COURSE DESCRIPTION Intended primarily for students in biology, natural sciences, environmental studies, medical technology, and nursing. Functions and equations: linear, quadratic, exponential, trigonometric. Applications of concepts and skills to the life and physical sciences are stressed. Not open to those who successfully completed MATH 119. Prerequisites: two years of algebra or MATH 102 or MATH 109, and one year plane geometry

2 LEARNING GOALS This University core course is designed to meet these four learning goals: Construct and evaluate logical arguments Apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies to solve mathematical problems Recognize and apply mathematics in contexts outside of mathematics Organize and consolidate mathematical thinking through written and oral communication COURSE OBJECTIVES As a result of taking this course, students should learn about various types of mathematical functions, especially those of a linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, or trigonometric nature. Students should also learn how to apply such functions to solving realworld problems in the life and physical sciences as well as in personal finance. ONLINE HOMEWORK Twelve online homework assignments, conducted through a program called MyMath, will be due. This is an important feature of the course. You can access this program in one of two ways: By purchasing a new book at the Towson University bookstore, where the book comes packaged with an access code. The course is taught using this textbook: Robert Blitzer, MATH 115 Basic Mathematics for the Sciences, Towson University edition (Upper Saddle River NJ: Prentice Hall, 2014). By purchasing the program online from the website An electronic version of the textbook is embedded in the online purchase. However you register for MyMath, you also need a class code. Each section of the course has its own code, which is the following: Section 006 (MW, 1:00 pm - 1:50 p.m.): max65973 Section 101 (MW, 4:00 pm - 4:50 p.m.): max29061 The due dates for the twelve online assignments are indicated in the schedule of topics further on in this syllabus, and they are also listed in your MyMath account when you log onto it. All the online homework assignments averaged together will count towards 19% of your final grade. REQUIRED CALCULATOR A graphing calculator is required for this course. On my website, I have posted separate instructions as to the make and model of graphing calculator from which I will teach in this course

3 LECTURES AND LABS The labs are always held in LI 232. The lab is open 28 hours a week, and a requirement of the course is that you attend lab one hour a week. During the labs, students will work on online homework, with instructors and lab assistants available to answer questions. You will be assigned a specific hour when you are expected to be in the lab every week doing homework and taking the test during test week. If you need additional time to do homework, you may visit the lab at any other hour when the lab is open. However, the students assigned for that hour will get priority for computer use. test. The lab will be open only at these times: Monday: 10:00 12:00, 2:00 4:00, and 7:00 8:00 Tuesday: 9:30 11:30 and 2:00 7:00 Wednesday: 10:00 12:00 and 2:00 4:00 Thursday: 9:30 11:30 and 1:00 5:00 Friday: 8:00 12:00 During the week of the test no homework is due, and the lab will be open only for the TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS The testing for the course consists of three online tests and one online final exam. These tests and final exam are held in the lab (that is, LI 232, as just noted). Take note of the following examination schedule: Test 1 takes place during Week 6. Test 2 takes place during Week 10. Test 3 takes place during Week 15. The Final Exam takes place during Final Exam

4 ATTENDANCE Attendance will be taken at the beginning of every lecture and lab, and will count for 10% of the course grade. Students remain responsible for all instructional activity conducted in each class. Regarding absences, the university catalog makes this statement: It is policy of the university to excuse the absences of students for the following reasons: illness or injury when the student is unable to attend class religious observance where the nature of the observance prevents the student from attending class participation in university activities at the request of university authorities (e.g., Intercollegiate Athletics, Forensics Team, Dance Company, etc.) compelling verifiable circumstances beyond the control of the student Students requesting an excused absence must provide documentation to the instructor two weeks prior to the scheduled absence when known in advance or as soon as possible when not known in advance. PREPARING FOR EXAMS AND LEARNING THE MATERIAL To learn the material and prepare for the exams in this course, above all you should attend class regularly. Furthermore, the online homework assignments provide an excellent learning source, besides being an important component of the course grade. If you would like to practice the material further, which I recommend that you do, you should work on the exercises at the end of every section. Answers to the odd-numbered exercises and answers to all the chapter tests are provided at the back of your textbook. TUTORING The Academic Achievement Center (ACC) makes tutoring services for this course available on a drop-in basis and by appointment. You can receive tutoring at the Mathematics at 7800 York Road, Room 105. For detailed information, look at the ACC s website, located at this URL:

5 DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES Towson University is committed to providing equal access to its programs and services for students with disabilities, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with disabilities Act of To learn how to arrange for any appropriate accommodations, students with disabilities should visit the Disabilities Support Services (DSS) webpage at this URL: If you are a student with disabilities, then you have the responsibility to let me know that you have needs in this area. You will need a memo from DSS authorizing accommodations

6 DETERMINATION OF YOUR GRADE GRADED COMPONENTS Test 1 15% Test 2 18% Test 3 18% Final Exam 20% Online homework 19% Attendance 10% FINAL GRADE CUT-OFFS (where x is your overall score) A 93% x 100% A- 90% x < 93% B+ 87% x < 90% B 83% x < 87% B- 80% x < 83% C+ 76% x < 80% C 70% x < 76% D+ 66% x < 70% D 60% x < 66% F 0% x < 60% SCHEDULE OF TOPICS The rest of the syllabus contains a detailed list of the textbook sections that we will go over in class, as well as exam dates and the sections with which the exams will deal

7 Weeks 1-2 (August 28 September 6) Syllabus and course outline. Section 1.1: Graphs and Graphing Utilities Homework #1, which covers Chapter P and Section 1.1 due on September 9 at 8:00 a.m. Week 3 (September 9 September 13) Section 1.2: Linear Equations and Rational Equations Section 1.3: Models and Applications Section 1.5: Quadratic Equations Homework #2, which covers Sections 1.2, 1.3, and 1.5 due on September 16 at 8:00 a.m. Week 4 (September 16 September 20) Section 2.1: Basics of Functions and Their Graphs Section 2.2: More on Functions and Their Graphs Homework #3, which covers Sections 2.1 and 2.2 due on September 23 at 8:00 a.m

8 Week 5 (September 23 September 27) Section 2.3: Linear Functions and Slope Section 2.4: More on Slope Review for Test 1. Homework #4, which covers Sections 2.3 and 2.4 due on September 30 at 8:00 a.m. Week 6 (September 30 October 4) Section 2.5: Transformations of Functions Section 2.6: Combinations of Functions; Composite Functions Test 1 (covers Chapter P and Sections 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4) Week 7 (October 7 October 11) Section 2.7: Inverse Functions Section 3.1: Quadratic Functions Homework #5, which covers Sections 2.5 and 2.6 due on October 14 at 8:00 a.m. Homework #6, which covers Sections 2.7 and 3.1 due on October 16 at 8:00 a.m. Week 8 (October 14 October 18) Section 4.1: Exponential Functions Section 4.2: Logarithmic Functions Homework #7, which covers Section 4.1 and 4.2 due on October 21 at 8:00 a.m

9 Week 9 (October 21 October 25) Section 4.3: Properties of Logarithms Section 4.4: Exponential and Logarithmic Equations Review for Test 2. Homework #8, which covers Sections 4.3 and 4.4 due on October 28 at 8:00 a.m. Week 10 (October 28 November 1) Section 4.5: Exponential Growth and Decay: Modeling Data (portion) Section 5.1: Angles and Radian Measure Test 2 (covers Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4) November 6 Last day to drop courses with an automatic grade of W. Last day to change to pass/fail option or to audit option. Week 11 (November 4 November 8) Section 5.2: Right Triangle Trigonometry Section 5.3: Trigonometric Functions of Any Angle Homework #9, which covers Sections 4.5 and 5.1 due on November 11 at 8:00 a.m. Homework #10, which covers Sections 5.2 and 5.3 due on November 13 at 8:00 a.m

10 Week 12 (November 11 November 15) Section 5.4: Trigonometric Functions of Real Numbers; Periodic Functions Section 5.5: Graphs of Sine and Cosine Functions Homework #11, which covers Sections 5.4 and 5.5 due on November 18 at 8:00 a.m. Week 13 (November 18 November 22) Section 5.7: Inverse Trigonometric Functions Section 6.1: Verifying Trigonometric Identities Homework #12, which covers Sections 5.7 and 6.1 due on December 2 at 8:00 a.m. Week 14 (November 25 November 26) Catch up and review. Thanksgiving Week no lab. Week 15 (December 2 December 6) Section 5.8: Applications of Trigonometric Functions time permitting Test 3 (covers Sections 4.5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.7, and 6.1)

11 Week 15 (December 9 December 11) Review for comprehensive Final Exam. No lab this week. Extra-credit Homework #13, which covers Sections 5.1 and 5.8 due on December 9 at 8:00 a.m. December 12 December 18 Final exams

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