I. MATH 1113, Precalculus

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

Fall, 1998

II. INSTRUCTOR:

NAME: Sean F. Ellermeyer, Ph.D.

OFFICE: BB 418

PHONE: (770) 423-6129, E-mail:

OFFICE HOURS: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m.

III. CLASS MEETING:

MATH 1113/23

Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

IV. REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS:

TEXT: Precalculus by Jonathan Lewin

MATERIALS: TI-83 (preferred) or TI-82 graphing calculator, graph paper.

  1. CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Provides students with the foundations in elementary functions and understanding of mathematics needed to succeed in subsequent mathematics and science courses, especially Calculus. Topics include polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions. Properties, graphs, and applications will be presented. Technology, in the form of graphing calculators and/or computers, will be integrated throughout the course for instruction and study. Required for mathematics and science majors.

VI. RATIONALE:

The faculty of Kennesaw State University endorses the standards for the

preparation of teachers of mathematics proposed by the Mathematical

Association of America (MAA) in A Call for Change: Recommendations for the

Mathematical Preparation of Teachers of Mathematics and by the National

Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) in the Curriculum and Evaluation

Standards for School Mathematics and the Professional Standards for

Teaching Mathematics and subscribed to by the National council for

Accreditation of Teacher Education. Thus, the mathematics courses at Kennesaw State University are designed so that students will:

1. View mathematics as a system of interrelated principles

2. Communicate mathematics accurately, both orally and in writing. They will learn to present their analyses in clear and coherent arguments. They will learn to communicate with their instructor and each other using the language of mathematics.

3. Develop the ability to read and use text and other mathematical materials.

4. Become, as much as possible, independent learners, interpreters, and users of mathematics.

5. Understand the elements of mathematical modeling.

  1. Understand the appropriate use of calculators and computers in doing mathematics.
  2. Have the opportunity to explore a broad range of problems ranging from exercises to open-ended problems and exploratory situations.
  3. Solve problems, think critically, and reflect upon their solutions.
  4. Learn to value mathematics and to feel confident in their ability to do mathematics.
  5. Be provided with a broad range of approaches and techniques (ranging from the application of algorithmic methods to the use of approximation methods, modeling techniques, and heuristic problem strategies) for dealing with problems.
  6. For mathematics education students: Understand the mathematics content necessary to teach grades 8-12 in the schools as envisioned by the MAA and the NCTM.

VII. COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The student will be able to:

  1. Understand and communicate, both orally and in writing, basic concepts of elementary functions, trigonometry, and solving algebraic and trigonometric equations.
  2. Demonstrate mathematical skills and computer techniques for working with elementary functions, solving problems in trigonometry, and solving algebraic and trigonometric equations.

VIII. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Students are expected to remain current in assignments, to participate in class discussions, and to keep a notebook with all class notes and homework assignments. Even though they will not be collected for grading, doing and understanding all of the homework assignments is extremely important. Devoting attention to homework assignments is probably the single greatest factor that will contribute to your success in this course!
  2. Students are expected to work on class-related preparation and homework at least two hours outside of class for each hour in class.
  1. EVALUATION AND GRADING:

There will be three in-class exams and a final exam. In addition, there will be a graded project that will be completed in groups. Approximate Exam and Assignment Due dates are listed below along with the percentage of your final course grade that will be accounted for by each. (The date for the final exam is definite.)

Date / Percentage of Grade
Exam 1 / September 18 / 20%
Exam 2 / October 16 / 10%
Project Due / October 23 / 15%
Exam 3 / November 13 / 20%
Final Exam / Friday, December 11 (8-10 a.m.) / 35%

Final course grades will be determined as follows:

90-100% / A
80-89% / B
70-79% / C
60-69% / D
0-59% / F

There will be no make-up exams given for any reason. If you miss an exam for some legitimate reason such as illness, you must supply some sort of official written excuse (such as a doctor’s letter) stating that you were not able to be in class on the day of the exam. If you are officially excused from an exam, your grade for that exam will be based on your performance on the portion of the final exam devoted to the material on the exam that you missed. If you miss an Exam and have no official excuse, you will be given a zero for the missed exam.

X. ACADEMIC HONESTY: (see attached)

XI. ATTENDANCE:

Attendance in class is highly, highly, highly recommended. If you must miss a class due to some unavoidable problem, it is your responsibility to obtain any notes, homework assignments, and/or announcements that were given in class on the day that you missed.

XII. COURSE OUTLINE:

MATH 1113 Course Outline

  1. Sets
  1. Membership, Inclusion, Operations
  2. Functions, Images, Pre-images, Invertibility, Composition
  1. The Real Numbers ()
  1. The Integers, Rational Numbers, and Irrational Numbers
  2. Ordering of the Real Numbers and Interval Notation
  3. Algebraic Operations
  1. Functions from
  1. Polynomial Functions
  1. Constant Functions
  2. Linear Functions
  3. Quadratic Functions
  4. Higher Degree Polynomials
  1. Rational Functions
  1. Example: Intermolecular Forces
  1. Power Functions
  2. Exponential Functions (and Logarithmic Functions)
  1. Example: A Model for Cholesterol
  1. Trigonometry
  1. Angles
  2. Trigonometric Functions
  3. Trigonometric Relations (Identities)
  4. Inverse Trigonometric Functions
  5. Analytic Trigonometry
  6. Solving Trigonometric Equations

Note: The course outline is subject to change with notice.