Math 175 - Pre-Calculus

Shippensburg University - Fall 2009


·  Instructor: Paul Taylor

·  Phone: 477-1705

·  email: pttaylor (at) ship.edu

·  Lectures:

·  Section 3: DHC110-MWF, 11:00-11:50, MCT258-R, 10:00-10:50

·  Section 4: DHC110-MWF, 10:00-10:50, MCT258-R, 9:00-9:50

·  Office Hours: MCT281 - M 3:30-4:30, T 10:00-11:00, T 1:30-3:00, R 1:30-3:00

·  Suggested References:

·  Larson and Hostetler, Precalculus: A Concise Course

·  Larson and Hostetler, Precalculus (7th ed)

·  Course Web Page: http://webspace.ship.edu/pttaylor/175/175home.html


·  Worksheets


CALCULATORS
Students are required to have a graphing calculator for this course. TI-83 or TI-84 is the standard calculator. Demonstrations and instruction will be done using this calculator. You may use a different calculator with comparable abilities, but no instruction will be available for their specific use.


TEXTBOOK
We will be following Larson and Hostetler and the assigned exercises will be drawn from that book (Concise Course is slightly cheaper, while 7th edition is easier to find used). You are not required to purchase this textbook. However, it is highly recommended that you acquire a textbook or study guide as a source of extra practice problems and as a reference in addition to your class notes.


TOPICS OUTLINE

·  Functions and graphs

·  Exponential and logarithm functions, properties, equations and applications

·  Trigonometric functions, properties, graphs and applications

·  Trigonometric identities and equations


STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

·  Attend class every day, arrive on time.

·  Be attentive in class and ask any questions you have.

·  If there is a concept with which you need extra help, or if you find yourself falling behind, tell me about it. Come to office hours for extra help, or send me an email explaining your concerns. The sooner the better.

·  When working in class, stay on the task at hand and maintain a reasonable volume.

·  Be responsible for any material or announcements if you miss class.


GRADE WEIGHTING
Homework will be weighted as 10% of the final grade, and four Midterms and a Final exam will count equally in the remaining 90% (18% each). Your percentage grade will be converted to a letter grade according to the following scale.

Letter Grade

A

A-

B+

B

B-

C+

C

D

F

Final Percent

93 -100

90-92

87-89

83-86

80-82

77-79

70-76

60-69

less than 60


HOMEWORK
For each section there will be a worksheet of practice problems. We will usually spend time at the end of class working on these worksheets. Each Wednesday, you are required to submit the completed worksheets from the previous week. Your homework will be assigned a mark of 5 or 10 depending on completeness, neatness and punctuality. To receive a 10, you must meet the following requirements:

·  Submit on time. Late assignments receive a 5.

·  Try every problem. Every worksheet due that day must be submitted with at least 2/3 of the problems attempted to receive full credit.

·  Show your work. A simple list of answers, with no work shown, risks losing points.

·  Be neat. The questions should be in order. The pages should be attached by a staple or paperclip, not torn or folded. Submissions which are not stapled or paper clipped will receive a 5.

·  If you do your work on loose leaf, you need only submit your work and not the question sheets.


MIDTERMS
There will be four midterm exams. Material covered will be announced in class and on this web page. They will occur in class on Friday, every three weeks. The tentative dates are 9/18, 10/9, 10/30 and 11/20. You will be allowed your calculator during the exams, but no book or notes. If you anticipate a conflict with any of these dates, you must inform me at least one week in advance, or no accommodations will be given.

Midterm 2 – Practice Test – Midterm 2 will cover sections 1.6-1.9, 2.1, 2.6, 3.1

Midterm 3 – Practice Test – Midterm 3 will cover sections 3.1-3.5

Midterm 4 – Practice Test – Midterm 4 will cover sections 4.1-4.8


FINAL EXAM
The final exam will be longer and contain problems from the entire course. As with the midterm exams, you will be allowed your calculator but no books or notes. In addition for 1/5 of your total exam grade, your final score will replace any lower midterm exam scores.


POLICY REGARDING MISSED WORK
If you are going to miss an exam or a homework deadline, inform me beforehand as soon as possible and at least one week in advance. We will then be able to arrange an alternate test time or deadline.
If you miss a homework deadline because of sudden, unexpected reasons, inform me as soon as possible by email. You may be required to provide written documentation (ie. doctor note, note from parents, etc.).
If an exam is missed without prior notification, no make-up exams will be given under any circumstances. Your final exam score will be used for the missed midterm as per the policy described above in the Final Exam section.


ACADEMIC DISHONESTY It is the policy of Shippensburg University to expect academic honesty. Students who commit breaches of academic honesty will be subject to the various sanctions outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog.


Last modified: Tue Aug 18, 2009

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