MATH 164  PRECALCULUS

SPRING 2005

Instructor:  Dr. R. P. Webber

Office and hours:  Barlow 204, MWF, 10 - 10:50; MF 2 - 2:50; T, 2 - 3; and by appointment or coincidence

Telephone:  395-2192

email:  webberrp@longwood.edu

Course description:  A study of functions with an emphasis on exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions in order to prepare the student for calculus.  3 credits.

Course objectives:  By the end of this course, the student will:

·        Be able to solve linear, quadratic, and rational inequalities;

·        Understand f(x) notation;

·        Be able to calculate the domain and range of a function;

·        Determine the basic symmetries of a function;

·        Graph polynomials, rational functions, trig functions, log, and exponential functions, and the conic sections;

·        Understand the definitions of the trig functions as circular angles;

·        Evaluate the trig functions at standard values without use of a calculator;

·        Understand the role of logarithms and exponential functions in manipulating and solving equations;

·        Recognize the basic conic sections.

Text:  Faires and DeFraza, Precalculus, 3rd edition.  Thompson/Brooks Cole, 2004. 

Calculator:  A calculator is not required in this course, but a graphing calculator such as the TI-83 will certainly help.  It is easy to become too dependent on a calculator.  You should think of the calculator as a tool to be used in computationally challenging problems, in approximating solutions, and in verifying results, not as a primary tool for problem solving.  I will give specific rules for using or not using calculators on tests.

Course requirements and grading:  There will be three tests and one composite quiz grade, of which you may drop one.  The resulting three marks, counted equally, will comprise 48% of your course grade.  Your composite class participation grade will count 15%, your project will count 15%, and the final exam will count the remaining 22%.  The grading scale goes by tens:  90 - 100, A; 80 - 90, B; 70 - 80, C; 60 - 70, D; below 60, F.

Homework:  Problems will be assigned regularly, and everyone is expected to do them.  They will not be collected without warning, and it is your responsibility to do all of the assigned problems.  Feel free to work with others on the homework problems, and ask me about problems that you cannot solve.

Quizzes:  There will be frequent daily quizzes.  Quizzes are always at the beginning of the period, take about ten minutes, and are open book and notes.  Often they consist of a homework problem or two.  No excuses will be accepted for missing quizzes, and there will be no makeups.  You will receive a grade of 0 for missed quizzes, regardless of the reason for absence.  However, you may drop one quiz grade.  The remaining quiz grades will be counted equally to compute your composite quiz grade.

Class participation:  Often you will be asked to work in groups in class.  Working in small groups of three or four, you will be asked to solve a problem and present your results to the class.  Each group will receive a grade on that day's work.  Each member of the group will receive the same grade, except a member who is absent, who will receive a grade of 0.  Missed class participation sessions cannot be made up, but you will be allowed one absence from a class participation session without penalty.  All remaining group grades will be counted equally to determine your composite group grade.

Attendance:  Your attendance is expected at all classes.  Makeup tests will be given reluctantly, and then only upon presentation of a doctor's excuse.  Makeup tests are always more difficult than regular tests, regardless of the reason for absence.  You may not make up missed class participation sessions or quizzes.

You need to be on time for each class.  Coming into class late is disruptive to other students and to the teacher.  In addition, quizzes are given at the start of the period, and no extension is given for tardiness.  Similarly, you should not leave during class, even temporarily.  Get your drink of water before class starts.  Leaving briefly and then returning is rude and disconcerting to others in the class and to the teacher.

Honor code:  I subscribe to the Longwood honor system, which, among other things, assumes you do not cheat and that you take responsibility to see that others do not.  Infractions will be dealt with harshly.  A student who is convicted of an Honor Code offense involving this class will receive a course grade of F, in addition to any penalties imposed by the Honor Board.

Course schedule:

Week 1  Jan 17 – 21

1.1 – 1.2:  Inequalities

Week 2  Jan 24-28

1.3 – 1.7:  Symmetry; f(x) notation; linear and quadratic functions

Week 3  Jan 31 – Feb 4

1.8 – 2.4:  Piecewise and step functions; arithmetic of functions

Week 4  Feb 7 – 11

2.5:  Inverse functions; review; TEST

Week 5  Feb 14 – 18

3.1 – 3.3:  Polynomial functions

Week 6  Feb 21 – 25

3.4:  Rational functions

Week 7  Feb 28 – Mar 4

4.1 – 4.5:  Circular functions; sine and cosine

Week 8  Mar 7 – 11

4.6:  Trig identities; review; TEST

Spring Break

 

Week 9  Mar 21 – 25

4.7 – 4.9:  Right angle trig; laws of sines and cosines

Week 10  Mar 28 – Apr 1

4.9 – 5.2:  More trig applications; exponential functions

Week 11  Apr 4 – 8

5.2 – 5.3:  Logarithmic functions and properties

Week 12  Apr 11 – 15

5.4:  Exponential growth and decay; review; TEST

Week 13  Apr 18 – 22

6.1 – 6.3:  Parabolas and ellipses

Week 14  Apr 25 – 29

6.4:  Hyperbolas; review

Monday May 2 11:30 – 2:00

FINAL EXAM