Math 140 – Hybrid Format
Syllabus Winter 2007
Math 140 Syllabus
Precalculus - Hybrid
(# Credit Hours: 5 # Class Hours/Week: 5)
Time: MW 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Building /Class Room: James McDivitt Hall
Room _____
Instructor: Mona Baarson
Office: JM 246
Phone: 796 – 8579
E-mail: baarsonmonag@jccmi.edu
Office Hours:
My office hours and class schedule for the semester are as follows, on the next page. If these times change, I will give you a new schedule.
Office Hours / Class Schedule Winter 2007
for Mona Baarson
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Friday |
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8:00 |
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8:30 |
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CLASS PREPARATION AND DEPARTMENT MEETINGS ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ |
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9:00 |
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9:15 |
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9:30 |
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10:00 |
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10:30 |
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11:00 |
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11:30 |
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12:00 |
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12:25 |
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1:00 |
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1:30 |
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2:00 |
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2:30 |
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3:00 |
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3:30 |
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4:00 |
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4:30 |
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5:00 |
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5:30 |
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6:00 |
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6:30 |
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7:00 |
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7:30 |
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8:00 |
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8:30 |
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8:55 |
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Other office hour times are available by appointment.
Purpose and Learning Objectives
"The function of education is to teach the student to think intensively and critically.
Intelligence plus character.... that is the goal of education."
Dr. Martin Luther King
Course Description:
Major emphasis is on the concept of functions. The students will study polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric and inverse trigonometric functions, their properties, graphs, and related equations and applications. Additional topics include systems of equations, matrices, conic sections, sequences and series, and probability. A graphing calculator will be used extensively.
Prerequisite(s): Math 131 or equivalent
Course Goals: The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of functions, advanced concepts of algebra and trigonometry. We will also learn to use problem solving techniques to obtain a sense of how and why algebra is used, and to be able to relate these problems and use the learned problem solving techniques to real life applications. This course also will have an extensive use of the TI-83 Plus graphing calculator. Great emphasis will be placed on understanding of terms, concepts, principles and theories rather than cramming and memorization.
Performance Objectives:
I. Core Course Objectives
1. Simplify polynomial, radical , and rational expressions, and algebraic expressions involving radicals, integer exponents, rational exponents, trigonometric functions, combinations, permutations, factorials, series, sequences, and matrices using appropriate algebraic properties, algebraic skills, and algorithmic processes.
2. Use appropriate algorithmic processes (this includes processes that involve matrices) to solve:
• linear, absolute value, quadratic, radical, rational, exponential, and logarithmic equations
• linear, absolute value, polynomial, and rational inequalities
• linear and nonlinear systems of equations
• trigonometric and inverse trigonometric equations
3. Manipulate and identify functions graphically, symbolically, and numerically.
4. Solve application problems involving many different subject areas using algebraic processes, counting techniques, and the binomial theorem.
5. Apply fundamentals of right triangle trigonometry and solve application problems.
6. Use appropriate technology (such as a graphing calculator) to enhance the understanding of objectives.
7. Have an awareness of the historical background of topics covered in the course.
II. Associate Degree Outcomes
All courses at Jackson Community College address one or more institutionally defined
Associate Degree Outcomes (ADOs). MTH 140 contributes to the following outcomes:
· The ability to comprehend and use information including written and oral forms
· Computational Skills and understanding appropriate to the program of study
· Critical thinking and problem solving
· Facility in the use of computers and other technologies appropriate to the program of study
· A knowledge of science and technology
1) Thou shalt not divide by zero.
2) Thou shalt not put other textbooks before thee in math class.
3) Thou shalt show thy work, check thy work and confirm that thy results are reasonable.
4) Remember thy test days and prepare for them wholly.
5) Thou shalt honor the correct order of operations.
6) Thou shalt not do thy math homework in ink.
7) Thou shalt commit the facts of arithmetic to memory.
8) Thou shalt do unto one side of an equation what thou doest to the other.
9) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy original problems; thou shalt copy thy problems accurately and legibly.
10) Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s paper, not anything that is thy neighbor’s.
Course Information and Requirements
Attendance and Withdrawal Policy
"A person who neglects his education "Education is the best
neglects his most valuable and provision for old age."
vulnerable resource. He neglects Aristotle
his future."
1. Office Hours: I will give you a handout with my posted office hours. I will always be available to you during these times. I strongly encourage you to come to me first to get help outside
of class. Please do not ever get behind because of lack of understanding. I always
want to do my best to help you understand this thing called math. If your available
time and \mine do not match, then there are other alternatives for help outside of
class. If I am not in my office during the posted time, I will leave a note as to my
whereabouts. Also always feel free to leave messages on my phone mail . I will
return your calls.
2. Tutoring: Math Tutoring Help is available Monday - Friday in the Math Lab, located in
McDivitt Hall, Room 244/245. When a schedule for the semester available,
I will provide everyone with one. Also in the math lab, there are video tapes
available to be viewed in the Lab that correspond to the given course. There is also
Computer Tutorial Programs available for some of the courses as well.
Besides tutorial help from the Math Lab, there are also personal tutors available through the Center for Student Success. If you feel that you need a personal tutor, please come see me and I will put you in touch with the person in charge of this service.
3. Study Groups: I strongly encourage you to make a friend or friends in class that you can get
together with outside of class. One of the best ways to study and to learn is by
helping one another. Like “they” say, “Two heads are better than one.”
From the three items above, I hope it is obvious that your success is of utmost importance to all of us here. There is never a need to feel lost because of lack of understanding. There are so many ways for you to obtain math tutoring outside of the regular classroom. There is always some type of math help available. As long as you are being responsible for your learning by attending class, doing the assigned homework and other classroom activities, asking questions in class, and seeking help outside of class from the instructor, the tutoring services and your fellow classmates, success will be yours!!!
4. You are responsible for the homework assignments. The way they are to be done and turned in is outlined
in the pages of the syllabus. Do the homework assignments before attending lectures. The lecture periods
will be used to clarify and re-emphasize previous material and to introduce new material. If you fail to come
to class, you will not only miss the lectures, but will also miss the quizzes and the homework review. You will
consequently receive a poor grade, not because you cannot do math, but because you failed to show up in
class. Remember, there is a strong positive correlation between attendance and performance. It has also
been determined that for each hour spent in class, one should spend at least two hours studying and
reviewing outside of class. Be sure to allow time to do your coursework, to ensure success.
5. Calculators: Graphing Calculators (TI-3 Plus preferred) are required for MTH 131, 132,
140, 151, 154, and 251. For MTH 110 and MTH 120, a calculator is not required,
but it would be advisable to have a scientific calculator that performs the basic
operations (add, subtract, multiply, and divide), percents and fractions. (In the past,
a TI-30 has been a good choice.)
6. Attendance is required and will be taken in some fashion daily (either by roll call or quiz). Attendance
will be included in the quiz grade. Quizzes count 15% of your grade. I will drop 3 quizzes at the end of the semester. If you do not plan to attend lectures regularly, you are advised to withdraw.
7. You bear the sole responsibility for your withdrawal from this course just as you did when you registered for
the course. The last day to withdraw is _____________________.
8. Classroom Behavior: As stated in the Student Handbook, “misconduct for which students or visitors are
subject to discipline are as follows:
1) Dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the College.
2) Forgery, alteration, or misuse of College documents, records or
identification.
3) Obstruction or disruption of teaching, lecturing, research,
administration, disciplinary procedures, or other authorized
activities on College premises...”
I would like to specifically address the highlighted words in this section:
If I ever have any suspicions of dishonesty, the students involved will receive no credit for that particular assignment.
I will not tolerate the classroom teaching/learning process to be disrupted. When I am teaching, I expect my students to be actively listening , in order to answer questions I may ask of them. Talking to one another while I am teaching is not permitted. If you have a question while I am lecturing, ask that question of me, not your friend beside you. If you feel the need to come to class and visit with your friends, I will ask you to leave class and not return until you've met with me to discuss a plan for improved classroom behavior. If your behavior does not improve after this, then I will visit with the dean of students or the dean of instruction to determine appropriate measures to be taken at that time.
It is extremely important for each student to be in class on time. Not only is the class disrupted by latecomers, the late student misses out on enough time to take quizzes, misses being counted for attendance, and any instructions given at the beginning of class.
It is also extremely important that students do not get up and leave in the middle of class . (It is very disruptive ,to my teaching and others learning, for students to get up and leave or wander in and out of class at any given time.)
I will not tolerate the learning process of any student to be interrupted by lack of respect and consideration from a small few.
The use of cell phones, walkie talkies, beepers, pagers, any electronic communication device is not permitted in the classroom. I ask that you turn the sounds that they make completely and totally off!!! These devices are not to disrupt class at any time for any reason. If the situation is so extreme that it warrants disrupting the entire class with your communication, then I ask that rather than disrupt class in that manner, perhaps you need to stay home and take care of your business. This perhaps sounds exceptionally rude and for that I apologize. However, this has become a severe problem to the learning process and we will no longer condone the behavior of people who feel the need to be rude to the entire class. If one of these devices ever disrupts my class, I will ask you to leave class for that session and I will report the disturbance and your dismissal from class to the Dean of Students. If the behavior happens more than once, you will be dismissed from class and will not be able to return until you have made a visit to the Dean of Students, she notifies me that you will be returning to class, and you and I meet to discuss a plan for improved classroom behavior.
It takes all of us working together in a positive fashion to get the most out of our class. I am looking forward to sharing with you, a very positive and rewarding semester of mathematics. Not only do I look forward to your success, but I also hope you enjoy the learning process along the way.
Course Materials
The following are the required materials for Math 140 Precalculus Hybrid Format:
Textbook:
Precalculus
Graphs and Models, third edition,
by Bittinger, Beecher, Ellenbogen, and Penna
ISBN: 0-321-27906-9
Publisher: Addison Wesley
MyMathLab (www.mymathlab.com)
(An access card is required.)
We will be using MyMathLab/CourseCompass for all of our homework assignments.
Your textbook, if purchased at the Jackson Community College Bookstore,
was bundled with several resources, including MyMathLab.
In the MyMathLab package, you will find a Student Access Card.
Please Note:
If you did not purchase your textbook at the Jackson Community College Bookstore, you will need to purchase MyMathLab separately. You can do this online using a credit card or the bookstore will order it for you.
Calculator:
Graphing Calculator is required - TI-83 Plus is recommended
The TI-84 Plus is recommended for the course. This is the calculator that is used in the textbook examples and illustrations, thus it would be to your
advantage to have the same model. I will be able to assist people in the
usage of their calculators if they have a TI-83 Plus, TI-84 Plus, TI-85
or TI-86.
If you have any other calculator, you will need to learn it on your own.
The following materials are not required, but will be a great asset to the online student taking Math 140 Precalculus. These are excellent resource materials to facilitate the self-teaching of the material.
Student's Solutions Manual
(ISBN: 0-321-28794-0)
Provides step-by-step solutions for every odd numbered exercise in the text
Digital Video Tutor
(ISBN: 0-321-28887-4)
Complete set of digitized videos on CD-ROMs