Precalculus Course Syllabus

Course overview

Catalog Description:
Precalculus: Topics include elementary theory of functions and equations, analytic geometry, vectors, introductory logic, mathematical induction, sequences and finite series. 4 credits. (4 lecture).

Course Intent: This course is intended primarily to prepare students for calculus course. It can also be used for general mathematics credit.
Audience: This course is for students who need a background for taking a beginning calculus course.
Course Learning Outcomes:
• Solve equations and inequalities.
• Develop and use various problem-solving techniques.
• Study functions as ordered pairs .
• Given an algebraic equation determine its geometric graph.
• Review synthetic division .
• Develop partial fraction decomposition.
• Find the zeros of real functions.
• Solve polynomial equations.
• Summarize the six basic trigonometric (identifies).
• Introduction to vector (2 and 3 dimensional).
• Introduce DeMoivre’s theorem.
• Prove various trigonometric identities .
• Apply the law of cosines and the law of sines for various situations.
• Name points in coordinate geometry using polar coordinates.
• Recognize geometric formulas relating to circles , parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas.
• Use translation of axes, rotation of axes, and polar equations of conics .
• Introduce the Binomial theorem .
• Recognize the use of arithmetic and geometric sequences.
• Understand mathematical induction .

Getting ready

Prerequisites:
Math 1314: Pass with a “C” or better.
Math 1316: Pass with a “C” or better.
Co-requisites: Graphing Calculator required. TI-83 or TI- 84, Plus or Silver Edition recommended.
Required Material: Precalculus by Larson/Hostetler, Sixth Edition, Houghton Mifflin, 2004
ISBN-13: 978-0-618-31434-8

Instructor guidelines and policies

Attendance: It is the student’s responsibility to attend class and record all notes. Attendance will be taken daily. If a student is absent from class it still remains the student’s responsibility to secure the notes from one of the other members of the class and to submit any required assignments

Assignments: No late assignments will be accepted.

Make-up Exams: No make-up exams will be given for any reason. One of the four major test grades (the lowest grade) will be dropped.

Cell phones and beepers: All cell phones and beepers must be turned off during lecture.

GRADE DETERMINATION: *Four major tests will be given with the lowest grade being dropped. The computer assignments will add up to 20 points to the total of the three test grades and the final that will count as two test grades. .

Your grade will be determined by the following	Details	Points (if applicable)	Percent of Final Average
Exams	Four exams will be given	100/test	60
Computer Assignments	Maple 10 Problems	100	10
Final Exam	Dec. 12, 10 -12:00 AM	100	30
	Total:		100%

LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT:

Letter Grade	Final Average in Percent
A	100-90%
B	89-80%
C	79-70%
D	69-60%
F	59-%

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA): Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.

Tentative Instructional Outline:

Week Number	Reading Assignment	Reference Chapters
1	Review: Topics include the following: Graphs and Graphing Utilities, Lines in the Plane and Slope, Functions (As sets of Ordered Pairs), Polynomial Functions of Higher Degree, Polynomial and Synthetic Division	Ch.1.1,1.2,1.3 1.7,1.8
2 NO CLASS 9/03/07	Review: Real Zeros of Polynomial Functions. This unit concludes with Partial Fraction Decomposition. Review: Trigonometric Function (The Unit Circle)	Ch: 2.5, 2.7 4.2
3	Review: Graphs of Sine and Cosine Functions, Graphs of Other Trigonometric Functions, Inverse Trigonometric Functions. Using Fundamental Identities	Ch.,4.5,4.6 4.7,5.1
4	Verifying Trigonometric Equations, and Sum and Difference Formulas .	Ch. 5.2-5.5
5	Review TEST 1
6	This unit includes Law of Sines,	Ch.6.1
6	Law of Cosines, Vectors in a Plane,	Ch. 6.2-6.3
7	Vectors and Dot Products , and DeMoivre’s Theorem.	Ch.6.4-6.5
8	Review TEST 2
9	Topics include Lines, Introduction to Conics ( Parabolas , Ellipses)	Ch.10.1 – 10.3
10	Hyperbolas , Rotation of Conics,	Ch.10.4-10.5
11	Parametric Equations, Polar Coordinates	Ch.10.6-10.7
12	Graphs of Polar Equations and Review	Ch.10.8
	Review TEST 3
13	This unit contains Sequences and Summation Notation, Arithmetic Sequences,	Ch.9.1-9.2
14	Geometric Sequences, Mathematical Induction, and The Binomial Theorem.	Ch.9.3-9.5
15	Review TEST 4
	Review for Final
16	FINAL EXAM WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12, 10-12:00 AM

HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PRECALCULUS MATH 2412
PROBLEM ASSIGNMENTS

			MAPLE10
CHAPTER	PAGE	PROBLEMS	Problems
1.1	9	Read
1.2	21	15,25,89
1.3	36	31,49,67,77
1.7	75	41,49
1.8	83	19,43,61
2.5	160	11,21,25,33,37,47,69,85,89
2.7	184	5,15,27,39,47
4.2	278	1-51 E.O.O.
4.5	307	27-61 E.O.O.
4.6	318	1-37 E.O.O. 39-47 Odd
4.7	328	1-85 E.O.O.
5.1	359	1-111 E.O.O.
5.2	367	1-55 E.O.O.
5.3	376	1-41 Odd,45,51,55,59
5.4	384	1-35 Odd, 39,47,51,53,59,65,69
5.5	394	1-53 Odd,95,97,99
Review	399	1-85 E.O.O.
6.1	416	1-33 E.O.O.35,39,43
6.2	423	1-15 Odd,23,27,31,39,41
6.3	436	1-75 E.O.O.
6.4	447	1-41 Odd
6.5	457	1-113 E.O.O.
Review	461	1-107 E.O.O.
10.1	704	1-49 Odd
10.2	712	1-51 Odd
10.3	722	1-47 Odd
10.4	732	1-37 Odd
10.5	740	7,11,17,19,23,27,33,45,51
10.6	747	1-51 E.O.O
10.7	754	1-69 E.O.O.
10.8	762	1-55 Odd
Review	772	1-98 E.O.O.
9.1	621	1-101 E.O.O.
9.2	631	1-73 E.O.O.
9.3	640	1-85 E.O.O.
9.4	652	7,13,,15,29,35
9.5	659	1-53 E.O.O.
Review	686	1-107 E.O.O.