Math 150, Section A Instructor: Jeff Lucas
Monday--Friday 8:00-8:50 Office: Main 129A
Science Building 101 Office hours: M, W, F 10-12
and by appointment
Text and Materials
The text to be used in the class is Precalculus, 6th Edition by Larson and Hostetler. We will cover basically the entire text. Some sections will not be covered but we will cover material from all chapters of the text. Students should also have access to a graphing calculator.
Course Description
This course will prepare students for the calculus sequence. Material covered will include real number systems, relations and functions, equations and inequalities, trigonometry, and analytic geometry.
A website has been developed which can be accessed from any
computer with access to the Internet. The website will be used to list homework
assignments, messages from the instructor, and other documents of interest to
students in the class, such as handouts or assigned projects. The website is
located at http://www.geocities.com/freakndoh/Math150home.htm.
Grading
Each student’s grade is determined based on results of homework, quizzes, tests and the final exam. The lowest quiz score and the lowest homework score will be dropped when determining final grades. The weight of each type of work is as follows:
Homework--10%
Quizzes--25%
Tests--45%
Final Exam--20%
Tests will be taken in the testing center/math lab. After a review session covering the exam topics, the exams will be made available to students for three days. It is the student’s responsibility to see that the exam is completed by its due date (see syllabus for exam due dates). Make-up tests will not be given except in extraordinary circumstances. If it is necessary to miss a test or the final exam, please contact the instructor as soon as possible to arrange for taking the test at another time. “Not being quite ready” is not sufficient grounds for missing an exam. Quizzes will be given at the end of the class time on the days they are scheduled. They will be given on Fridays and cover material from that week.
Homework
Homework will be assigned each day in class. The problems assigned are intended to help students practice concepts learned in class. Homework will be collected each week throughout the quarter and graded. Generally, time will be taken at the beginning of each class to go over homework problems. Problems assigned for homework will typically be the basis of the quizzes.
Class Attendance
Class attendance, while strongly encouraged, is not mandatory. However, it should be noted that the best way to keep up with class material and have interaction between students and the instructor is to attend class regularly. No points will be given or deducted for attendance (or failure to attend). Any material missed due to absence, however, will be the responsibility of the student. The instructor will be available to answer specific questions, i.e., what is the homework assignment, what will the test cover, questions on specific concepts. He will not, however, be available to do a recap of material missed.
Plagiarism
It is assumed that all students’ work will be their own. Homework, tests, and exams are not group projects. Evidence of plagiarism will result in a grade of 0 for the assignment and possible disciplinary action.
Grades
The following will be the distribution of grades for the quarter:
92-100 -- A
89-91 -- A-
85-88 -- B+
81-84 -- B
78-80 -- B-
74-77 -- C+
70-73 -- C
67-69 -- C-
63-66 -- D+
59-62 -- D
56-58 -- D-
0-55 -- F
Course Outline
While not set in stone, this is the basic outline for class sessions this quarter. There is always the chance that some topics will go faster and some slower than expected, but this is the general framework in which the class will operate.
T 9/20---Section 1.1-1.2
W 9/21---Section 1.3-1.4
Th 9/22---Section 1.5-1.7
F
9/23---Section 1.8, Quiz #1
T 9/27---Section 2.1
W 9/28---Section 2.2
Th 9/29---Section 2.3
F 9/30---Section 2.4, Quiz #2
T 10/4---Section 2.6
W 10/5---Section 2.7
Th 10/6---Section 3.1, Review for Exam #1
F
10/7---Section 3.2
T 10/11---Section 3.4
W 10/12---Section 3.5
Th 10/13---Section 4.1-4.2
F 10/14---Section
4.3, Quiz #3
T 10/18---Section 4.5-4.6
W 10/19---Section 4.7-4.8
Th 10/20---Section 5.1, Review for Exam #2
F 10/21---Section 5.2
T 10/25---Section 5.4
W 10/26---Section 5.5
Th 10/27---Section 6.1
F 10/28---Section 6.2, Quiz #4
T 11/1---Section 6.4
W 11/2---Section 6.5
Th 11/3---Section 7.1, Review for Exam #3
F 11/4---Section 7.2
T 11/8---Section 7.4
W 11/9---Section 7.5
Th 11/10---Section 10.1, Quiz #5
F 11/11---NO CLASS
T 11/15---Section 10.3
W 11/16---Section 10.4
Th 11/17---Section 10.5, Review for Exam #4
F 11/18---Section 10.6
T 11/22---Section 10.9
W 11/23---Section 9.1
Th 11/24---NO CLASS
F 11/25---NO CLASS
T 11/29---Section 9.4
W 11/30---Review for Final Exam, Quiz #6
Th 12/1---Review for Final Exam
Finals Week M 12/5---Final Exam, 8:00-10:00
Additional Assistance
To the best of my ability, I will make myself available
before, during, and after class, in my office, or via e-mail and phone. Do not hesitate to seek out additional help
if you need it. There are also videos
and CD-ROM’s available through the library and Math Lab that can provide
additional instruction. Again, if you
feel you need extra help, ASK!!!
Questions
Are expected and encouraged. Despite widely held beliefs, there is no such thing as a stupid question. The only way I will know if things are not being explained or understood well enough is if questions are asked. So, ask before it’s too late.