Pre-Calculus MATH 119.xxx Fall 2013 Days (beginning time ending time) [Draft 2] INSTRUCTOR Name of instructor Title of instructor OFFICE Department of Mathematics 3rd floor, Room 7800 York Road E-MAIL OFFICE HOURS COURSE DESCRIPTION [We need to check the following]: The concept of function, exponential, logarithmic, circular and trigonometric functions, systems of linear equations, vectors in two space, lines, conic sections, and polar coordinates. Prerequisites: One year of plane geometry, one-half year of trigonometry, and one of the following: two years of algebra or DVMT 110 or MATH 102 or MATH 103 or MATH 109 or University placement above the developmental level. GenEd I.C. or Core: Mathematics. 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 - 1 -
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: Michael Sullivan, Precalculus, 9th edition (Upper Saddle River NJ: Prentice Hall, 2012). By purchasing the program online from the website www.mymathlab.com. An electronic version of the textbook is embedded in the online purchase. Whatever way you register for MyMath, you also need a class code, which is this: abc12345 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 [25%] of your final grade. After each test, an additional homework will be generated automatically based upon the questions that a student may have answered incorrectly in that particular test. The due dates for those homework assignments will be announced separately. BLACKBOARD Outside of class, I will keep in contact with students via the computer program Blackboard. On Blackboard, you will also find important information regarding the course. Therefore, you should check your Blackboard account for this course regularly throughout the semester. To get into your Blackboard account, use the following URL and then click the title of this course: bbweb.towson.edu REQUIRED CALCULATOR A graphing calculator is required for this course. On Blackboard, I have posted separate instructions as to the make and model of graphing calculator that I recommend. - 2 -
LECTURES AND LABS [We need to go over the following]: s take place twice a week. The labs are always held in LI 232. The lab is open ten 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. test. The lab will be open only at these times: Tuesday 3:00-5:00 Wednesday 12:00-2:00 Thursday 10:00-12:00; Friday 9:00-1:00 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 5. Test 2 takes place during Week 9. Test 3 takes place during Week 12. The Final Exam takes place during Final Exam. - 3 -
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: http://www.towson.edu/aac/locationsandschedules.asp - 4 -
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 1990. To learn how to arrange for any appropriate accommodations, students with disabilities should visit the Disabilities Support Services (DSS) webpage at this URL: http://www.towson.edu/dss 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. - 5 -
DETERMINATION OF YOUR GRADE Test 1 GRADED COMPONENTS Test 2 Test 3 Final Exam Online homework Attendance 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. - 6 -
Week 1 (02 September 06 September) Syllabus and course outline. Section 1.1: The Distance and Midpoint Formulas Section 1.3: Lines Homework #1, which covers A.1: Algebra Essentials and A.2: Geometry Essentials due on 09 September at 8:00 a.m. Week 2 (09 September 13 September) Section 2.1: Section 2.2: The Graph of a Function Section 2.3: Properties of Homework #2, which covers Sections 1.2, 1.3, and 1.5 due on 16 September at 8:00 a.m. Week 3 (16 September 20 September) Section 2.4: Library of Functions; Piecewisedefined Section 2.5: Graphing Techniques: Transformations Section 2.6: Mathematical Models: Building Homework #3, which covers Sections 2.1 and 2.2 due on 23 September at 8:00 a.m. - 7 -
Week 4 (23 September 27 September) Section 3.3: Quadratic Functions and Their Properties Section 3.4: Build Quadratic Models from Verbal Descriptions Section 3.5: Inequalities Involving Quadratic Test 1 (covers Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and Chapter 3) Homework #4, which covers Sections 2.3 and 2.4 due on 30 September at 8:00 a.m. Week 5 (30 September 04 October) Section 4.1: Polynomial Functions and Models Section 4.2: Properties of Rational Section 4.5: The Real Zeroes of a Polynomial Function 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 6 (07 October 11 October) Section 5.1: Composite Section 5.2: One-to-One Functions; Inverse Homework #6, which covers Sections 2.5 and 2.6 due on 14 October at 8:00 a.m. Homework #6, which covers Sections 2.7 and 3.1 due on 17 October at 8:00 a.m. - 8 -
Week 7 (14 October 18 October) Section 5.3: Exponential Section 5.4: Logarithmic Section 5.5: Properties of Logarithms Test 2 (covers Chapter 4 and Chapter 5) Homework #7, which covers Section 4.1 and 4.2 due on 21 October at 8:00 a.m. Week 8 (21 October 25 October) Section 5.6: Logarithmic and Exponential Equations Section 5.7: Financial Models Section 5.8: Exponential Growth and Decay Models; Newton s Law; Logistic Growth and Decay Models Homework #8, which covers Sections 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5 due on 28 October at 8:00 a.m. Week 9 (28 October 01 November) Section 6.1: Angles and Their Measure Section 8.1: Right Triangle Trigonometry; Applications Section 8.2: The Law of Sines Section 8.3: The Law of Cosines Section 6.2: Trigonometric Functions: Unit Circle Approach Test 2 (covers Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5) - 9 -
07 November Last day to drop courses with an automatic grade of W. Last day to change to pass/fail option or to audit option. Week 10 (04 November 08 November) Test 3 (covers Chapter 6 and Section 8.1) Section 6.3: Properties of the Trigonometric Section 6.4: Graphs of the Sine and Cosine Section 6.5: Graphs of the Tangent, Cotangent, Cosecant, and Secant Homework #9, which covers Sections 5.1 and 5.2 due on 11 November at 8:00 a.m. Homework #10, which covers Section 5.3 due on 13 November at 8:00 a.m. Week 11 (11 November 15 November) Section 6.6: Phase Shift; Sinusoidal Curve Fitting Homework #11, which covers Sections 5.4 and 5.5 due on 18 November at 8:00 a.m. - 10 -
Week 12 (18 November 22 November) Test 4 (covers Chapter 6 and Section 8.1) Section 7.1: The Inverse Sine, Cosine, and Tangent Section 7.2: The Inverse Sine, Cosine, and Tangent Functions (Continued) Test 3 (covers Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, and 5.5) Week 13 (25 November and 26 November) Section 7.3: Trigonometric Equations Section 7.4: Trigonometric Identities Homework #12, which covers Sections 5.7 and 6.1 due on 02 December at 8:00 a.m. 27 November - 29 November Thanksgiving Recess: no class. Week 14 (02 December 06 December) Section 7.5: Sum and Difference Formulas Homework #13, which covers Sections 5.7 and 6.1 due on 09 December at 8:00 a.m. - 11 -
Week 15 (09 December 11 December) Section 7.6: Double-angle and half-angle Formulas Section 7.7: Product-to-Sum and Sum-to- Product Formulas None. 12 December 18 December Final exams - 12 -