Course Syllabus – Spring 2007

Course Number: MATH 1113

Course Title: Precalculus

Hours Credit: 4 hours

Prerequisites: Four years of high school mathematics including algebra and trigonometry or consent of department.

Instructor: Varies (multiple sections)

Instructor Office Hours: Varies (at least 10hrs/week)

Course Description: This course is designed to prepare students for calculus, physics, and related technical subjects. Topics include an intensive study of algebraic and transcendental functions accompanied by analytic geometry. Credit for this course is not allowed if the student already has credit for MATH 1413 or 1634.

Topics: Functions and Their Graphs, Polynomial and Rational Functions, Exponential and Logarithmic Equations, Trigonometric Equations, Analytic Trigonometry, Applications of Trigonometric Functions, Polar Coordinates and Systems of Equations.

Text:Precalculus by Robert Blitzer

Learning Outcomes: Students should be able to demonstrate:

1. An understanding of functions and how to graph functions
2. An understanding of operations on functions including function composition
3. An understanding of polynomial and rational graphs, including intercepts and asymptotes
4. An understanding of how to find the zeros of polynomials and factoring polynomials
5. An understanding of inverse functions and how to find them graphically and algebraically
6. An understanding of the properties of exponential and logarithmic expressions and
7. An understanding of how to solve exponential and logarithimic equations
8. An understanding of how to find the values of the trig functions from right triangles and circles.
9. An understanding of the graphs of the trigonometric functions
10. An understanding of how to prove trigonometric identities
11. An understanding of how to use sum, difference, double angle and half angle formulas
12. An understanding of how to solve triangles using the law of sines and law of cosines
13. An understanding of polar coordinates and graphs
14. An understanding of how to solve a system of linear equations

Grading Methods: Tests, Quizzes, Final Exam, Homework; Percentages decided by instructor

Grading Scale:

• A= 90-100%
• B= 80-90%
• C= 70-80%
• D= 60-70%
• F= below 60%