Metropolitan Campus
Business & Technology Unit
Autumn/2005
MATH-1580
PRECALCULUS
Credits: 05
Section(s) Day(s) Time Rm
82022 M W 5:30-7:45 pm Hum 210
Instructor: Dr. Joseph Arendt
Office: HUM 202 (math lounge)
Mailbox in Part-Time Office, Sci Tech Building, Room 118
Phone: (216) 987-4123
E-mail Address: joseph.arendt@tri-c.edu
Office Hours: After class, or by appointment.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Intensified course designed to prepare students for calculus. Study of real numbers, equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, sequences and series, theory of equations, systems of equations and inequalities, mathematical induction, conic sections, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions, complex numbers. Applications and activities to build skills in problem solving are also included.
Lecture Hours: 05 Laboratory Hours: 00
COURSE PREREQUISITE(S):
MATH-1180 Intermediate Algebra for Technologies; or MATH-1200 Intermediate Algebra; or sufficient score on assessment test; or departmental approval: previous trigonometry course in high school or college.
PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of MATH-1580 Precalculus, the student should be able to:
A. Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental concepts of algebra.
B. Solve linear and higher degree equations and inequalities including those involving absolute value.
C. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of elementary analytical geometry.
D. Demonstrate a knowledge of polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions, including their definition, domain, graphs, operations and inverses.
E. Solve equations involving trigonometric expressions and prove basic trigonometric identities and apply them in problem solving.
F. Demonstrate knowledge of the definition, notation, and algebra of complex numbers in standard trigonometric form and use this knowledge in problem solving.
G. Demonstrate an understanding of the algebraic definition, geometric representation and properties of vectors and their application.
H. Determine, graph and analyze the equations of conic sections.
I. Sketch the graphs of polar equations and plane curves represented by parametric equations.
J. Solve systems of linear and non linear equations.
K. Use the principle of mathematical induction to demonstrate proofs.
L. Apply the binomial theorem.
M. Demonstrate the knowledge of the definition and notation of sequences and series including the sum and general terms for arithmetic and geometric progressions.
N. Use the graphics calculator and/or computer as a tool to assist in the computation and analysis of problems.
INSTRUCTOR'S EXPECTATIONS:
I expect regular attendance, selected homework announced weekly in class to be turned in on time, and ability to explain and use main concepts from this course. Careful reading of my Grading Policy will show that attendance by itself is not part of the grade. Only test scores and homework grades are used. Nevertheless, material from all lectures will appear in the homework and tests, so excellent attendance is highly recommended, and regular attendance fit well with success of students in the previous semester.
The Academic Credit section states, “two hours of significant student study outside of class for each one hour in class.” Please be aware that Precalculus is a five credit course, so it takes considerable more time and effort than a typical three credit math course.
TEXTBOOK/INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:
Pre-Calculus: Graphing, Data, and Analysis, 3rd Edition by Sullivan and Sullivan, Pearson Education, Inc., (c) 2004.
A graphing calculator is required. The Texas Instruments TI-83 orTI-83 Plus is recommended, while there are other similar models in the TI line that may also work but may also have some differences so be sure to bring the manual if you have questions on those. If a graphing calculator other than these is chosen, the student will have to learn to use it himself or herself. Dr. Arendt is only familiar with the model listed, but how to use some other models can vary wildly.
ATTENDANCE:
Regular class attendance is required. An instructor may withdraw a student for excessive absence if the student has missed the equivalent of one week of instruction unless arrangements satisfactory to the instructor can be made by the student to demonstrate that he/she can make acceptable academic progress (College Policy).
WITHDRAWAL:
Students may withdraw from any semester course prior to the end of the twelfth week of the full term, or 80 percent of any instructional part of term. Specific withdrawal dates are available by term in the Campus Admissions and Records Offices or published in the schedule of courses.
Up to the last day of the twelfth week of the semester, a student may withdraw from a course(s) for any reason. Withdrawal from a course prior to the last day of the second week of the semester will have no notation made in permanent records--withdrawal thereafter will be noted with a "W."
If a student misses class time for the equivalent of one week of instruction, an instructor has the option to withdraw the student for excessive absence. The instructor may elect not to exercise this option, however, and it is the student's responsibility to make sure that an official withdrawal takes place.
All transactions involving withdrawal from courses shall be done in writing and on forms provided by the college. A student's failure to attend classes shall not constitute an official withdrawal. The withdrawal date for this summer course without a record on the transcript is September 12, 2005. The withdrawal date with a W grade on the transcript is November 18, 2005.
TESTS, QUIZZES & HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
There will be four regular tests, plus a cumulative final exam. Homework to be collected will be a selection taken from what is on the syllabus, and the selection will be announced in class two classes before the due date. The lowest of the four regular tests will automatically be excluded. The final exam must not be missed, and will not be replaced with any other test score.
FINAL EXAM:
Monday, December 12, 2005, 5:30 pm, HUM 210. The Final Exam is two hours long.
MAKE-UP POLICY:
Only for a verifiable doctor’s excuse will a make-up test be scheduled. This is a strict requirement, but keep in mind that one of the four regular tests will be dropped as explained in the Grading Policy/Scale. For assigned homework, it will be accepted late with a penalty of the instructor’s discretion until that material is covered on an exam, after which that late homework will not be accepted.
GRADING POLICY/SCALE:
A grade of A for 90%-100%; B for 80%-89%; C for 70%-79%; D for 60%-69%; F for 0-59%.
Lowest score of four regular tests (not including the final) will be dropped. The final exam is mandatory. No other test score will substitute for it.
20% each (for 60% total) Three regular tests (after lowest dropped)
5% Homework
35% Final exam
Consider if one had 90% on each of the four tests and 90% on the homework, but missed the final exam. One of the four regular tests automatically goes away. This then works out to (90%)(0.2) + (90%)(0.2) + (90%)(0.2) + (90%)(0.05) = 58.5%. That is under 60%, so it is an overall grade of F! This means one can be going into the final exam with a low grade of A, but merely by missing the final exam get an F! Taking the final exam is vitally important!
INCOMPLETE (I) GRADES:
A notation of "I" indicates that a student has not completed all course requirements as a result of circumstances judged by the instructor to be beyond the student's control. A student must complete all course requirements no later than the end of the sixth week of the academic term following the semester in which the "I" was noted. Failure to complete such requirements will result in an "F" (failing) grade.
ACADEMIC CREDIT:
In order to award one (1) semester hour of college credit, the Ohio Board of Regents requires two hours of significant student study outside of class for each one hour in class for the equivalent of an academic semester (16 weeks).
DISABILITIES
Students with disabilities at Cuyahoga Community College are expected to take an assertive role in communicating with faculty and staff members about their need for reasonable accommodation.
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please contact me as soon as possible.
Please communicate to the instructor any disability that might prevent taking the test in the classroom in the same time period as the other students early in the class well before the test itself is taking place. For my courses, under no circumstances will a regular classroom test or the final exam be given as a take-home test to be done without supervision overnight or over several days. Instead, a different location and time will be provided to students with disabilities who require it, with more time allowed or other requirements that they might have.
If you want to talk to me, I can be reached at arendtj@att.net
Last modified October 1, 2005