Download Syllabus - Black Hills State University

BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY
Department of Mathematics
COURSE SYLLABUS
Semester and Year: Fall 2009
Course Meeting Time and Location: 2-2:50, Mon-Fri, Jonas Room 168
Course Prefix, Number and Title: Math 115 Pre-Calculus, Credits 5.0
Instructor: Dr. Daniel Swenson
Office: Jonas 161
Office Hours: MWF 9-9:50, Tuesday 3-3:50
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: (605)-642-6425
Course Text: Mark Dugopolski, Fundamentals of Precalculus, 2nd Edition, Pearson
(Addison Wesley)
Course Description:
(Catalogue) A preparatory course for the calculus sequence. Topics include:
polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions and their
graphs; systems of equations, inequalities and complex numbers. (In addition), this
course includes introduction to series and sequences with emphasis on arithmetic
and geometric sequences, and conic sections.
Prerequisites and/or Instructor's Assumptions:
The instructor assumes all students possess algebra skills at the intermediate
algebra level, and that this has been demonstrated by either successful completion of
an intermediate algebra course, or placement test results at the college algebra level.
If a student has not taken the placement exam, which placed the student in college
algebra, and/or taken intermediate algebra at BHSU, it is the student’s
responsibility to inform their instructor within the first week of class. Failure to do
so will be construed as misrepresentation of information to the instructor and will
fall within the guidelines as set forth by the BHSU statement of student
responsibilities, rights, and freedoms in the Student Handbook.
Instructional Methods: Lecture and class discussions.
Calculator Policy:
The Black Hills State University Mathematics Department REQUIRES students to
purchase, rent, or borrow a graphics calculator, TI-82 or 83 will suffice.
Attendance Policy:
By university policy, enrollment in a class implies the
responsibility for attending each class session. Students will be allowed to make up
graded work if an absence is due to participation in university-sponsored activities,
provided prior notification of the impending absence has been given to the
instructor.
Cheating and Plagiarism Policy:
A student who, in connection with his or her studies, disrupts a class, plagiarizes,
cheats, or otherwise violates reasonable standards of academic behavior may, at the
discretion of the faculty member involved, have his or her enrollment canceled
and/or be given a reduced or failing grade.
In this course you are expected to perform to the utmost of your abilities in an honest
and sincere manner. Cheating & plagiarism will not be tolerated. Academic
misconduct will be dealt with per BOR regulations.
Test Makeup Policy:
Except in the case of a documented emergency, or an absence caused by a
university-sponsored activity, NO MAKEUP TESTS ARE ALLOWED. Also, except
in the case of a documented emergency, or an absence caused by a universitysponsored activity, NO MAKEUP OR LATE HOMEWORKS ARE ALLOWED.
The burden of proof regarding the absence rests with the student. Students that
were absent with a documented emergency or a documented university sponsored
activity must see their individual instructor to make arrangements for taking a
makeup examination.
Goals and Objectives of the Course:



To prepare students for subsequent courses in calculus.
This course meets the requirements for the Board of Regents General
Education Goal #5.
General Education Goal #5:
Students will understand and apply
fundamental mathematical processes and reasoning.
 Student Learning Outcome 1: Use mathematical symbols and
mathematical structure to model and solve real world problems.








Students will identify, discuss the merits of and use appropriate
models to explain real world mathematical concepts and principles
related to polynomials, exponential functions, logarithmic functions
and trigonometric functions on exams and on classroom activities.
Students will demonstrate appropriate levels of reasoning skills to use
mathematical models to solve real world problems at the college
algebra level on exams and on classroom activities.
Student Learning Outcome 2: Demonstrate appropriate
communication skills related to mathematical terms and concepts.
Students will identify and contrast important differences between
functions and relations on exams and on classroom activities.
Students will determine the domain and range of given functions on
exams and on classroom activities.
Students will solve for zeros, intersections and local extremes of
polynomial functions on exams and on classroom activities.
Students will demonstrate key operations involving exponential,
logarithmic and trigonometric functions on exams and on classroom
activities.
Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of sequences and
series on exams and on classroom activities.



Student Learning Outcome 3: Demonstrate the correct use of
quantifiable measurements of real world situations.
Students will recognize inverse functions and the importance of
inverse functions in solving everyday problems on exams and on
classroom activities.
Students will identify, practice and use-problem solving skills
appropriate to the pre-calculus level math on exams and on classroom
activities.
Related Technology Outcomes:



Students will use graphing calculators to graph mathematical
equations related to lines, parabolas, circles, polynomials and rational
functions on exams and on classroom activities.
Students will use calculators to solve problems related to logarithmic,
exponential functions and trigonometric functions on exams and on
classroom activities.
Students will use graphing calculators to solve problems of
appropriate complexity on exams and on classroom activities.
Student Evaluation Procedures:
Final grades will be based on the results of four unit examinations (15% each),
homework (15%), and a comprehensive final examination (25%). Grading will be
by letter grades as follows: 90-100=>A; 80-89=>B; 70-79=>C; 60-69=>D; 0-59=>F
Unit Outline:
Unit I: Functions and Graphs - Linear and Quadratic Functions (Chapter 1).
Unit II: Polynomial and Rational Functions (Chapters 2).
Unit III: Trigonometric Functions (Chapter 3).
Unit IV: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions (Chapter 4).
ADA Statement
“Reasonable accommodations, as arranged through the Disabilities Services
Coordinator, will be provided students with documented disabilities. Contact the
BHSU Disabilities Services Coordinator at 642-6099 (room 022 in the Student
Union) for more information.”
Academic Freedom and Responsibility
“Under Board of Regents and University policy student academic performance may
be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters
unrelated to academic standards. Students should be free to take reasoned
exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve
judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content
of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students who believe that an
academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of student
opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards should contact the chair of the
department in which the course is being taught to initiate a review of the
evaluation.”
Tentative Schedule:
Week 1: Introduction to Real Numbers, inequalities, and equations of graphs.
Week 2: Introduction to Linear equations in two variables, functions, graphs of
relations and functions,
Week 3: Transformation and symmetry, operations with functions and inverse
functions.
Week 4: Exam #1 (September 23rd (Tentatively)), Quadratic functions, complex
numbers, zeros of polynomials.
Week 5: Theory of equations, and miscellaneous equations, graph of polynomial
equations.
Week 6: Graph of polynomial equations and Rational Functions and Inequalities
Week 7: Exam #2(October 14th (Tentatively)), Introduction to angles and their
measurement, sine and cosine functions..
Week 8: Graph of sine and cosine functions, introduction to other trigonometric
functions and their graphs, and inverse trigonometric functions.
Week 9: Right triangle trigonometry, Trigonometric identities and Conditional
trigonometric equations.
Week 10: Conditional trigonometric equations (continued) and Law of sines and
cosines.
Week 11: Exam #3 (November 10th (Tentatively)), Exponential functions and their
applications.
Week 12: Logarithmic functions and their applications.
Week 13: Rules of Logarithm.
Week 14: Rules of Logarithm (continued), more applications to logarithm and
exponential functions.
Week 15: Exam #4 (December 9th (Tentatively)) and Review for Final.