MATH 1113-01 Precalculus
MWF 10 am to 11:50 am
Tues. 11 am to 12:50 pm
Boyd 301
Instructor: Anthony J. Giovannitti, Ph.D.
Office: Boyd 325
Phone: 770-838-2579
FAX: 770-836-6890
Email: agiovann@westga.edu
Homepage: http://www.westga.edu/~agiovann/
Office Hours: Monday-Wednesday and Friday 8:30 – 10 a.m.
Prerequisites: Four years of high school mathematics including algebra and trigonometry or consent of department.
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 will be able to demonstrate:
1. An understanding of functions and functional notation, and show 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 show how to find them graphically and algebraically.
6. An understanding of the properties of exponential and logarithmic expressions and solve exponential and logarithimic equations.
7. Show how to find the values of the trigonometric functions from right triangles and circles.
8. How to graph the trigonometric functions.
9. How to prove trigonometric identities.
10. How to use sum, difference, double angle and half angle formulas.
11. How to solve problems that involve triangles using the law of sines and law of cosines.
12. An understanding of polar coordinates and show how to graph functions using polar coordinates.
13. An understanding of how to solve a system of linear equations.
Assessment:
Daily 2-15 problems will be assigned per section and one shall be chosen by the instructor to be graded for 0-2 points. The student will chose an even problem not assigned from each homework section to be graded for 0-2 points for correctness and an extra 0-2 points for difficulty. The homework is due on the following class period unless otherwise instructed.
3 75-minute tests during class periods.
1 Comprehensive Final. (This will be given July 31, 2003 from 10 am to 12 pm in Boyd 301.)
Your course grade is based on these 3 parts as follows:
Homework 100 points
Tests 1-3 300 points
Final* 100 points
*The grade from your final can be used to replace one of your in-class test grades.
Letter grade: A
450>B400>C350>D300>F
Dates:
June 9 First day of Class
June 24 Test One**
July 2 Last Day to withdraw with a W
July 4 Independence Day Holiday
July 8 Test Two**
July 22 Test Three**
July 29 Last Day of Class
July 31 Final Exam: 10 am to 12 pm in Boyd 301
** Subject to change.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic dishonesty is NOT tolerated. It will result in failure on assignment(s) as well as possible disciplinary sanction(s) as stipulated by university rules. State University of West Georgia Student Conduct Code defines academic dishonesty as cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and facilitating or allowing academic dishonesty in any academic exercise.
Cheating: using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids
Fabrication: falsification or unauthorized invention of any information or citation
Plagiarism: representing the words or ideas of another as one's own. Direct quotations must be indicated and ideas of another must be appropriately acknowledged.
Academic dishonesty in any form compromises your grade and lowers the quality of your diploma. A fellow student who cheats may actually lower your grade, sometimes causing unfair and inflated grading scales. I hope each of you values your college education enough to protect yourself from dishonest classmates. If you are aware of cheating taking place, please contact Dr. Giovannitti and proper action will be taken.