Math 128 Precalculus & Trigonometry Online

Math 128 Precalculus & Trigonometry Online

GREAT BASIN COLLEGE

FALL SEMESTER 2015

Online Math 128 Precalculus & TrigonometrySection 10015 credits

Course ID: owens97122

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

Includes equations, relations, functions, graphing; polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and circular functions with applications; analytic trigonometry; matrices and determinants; and binomial theorem. It is recommended that students have completed prerequisites within two years of enrolling in this course. Prerequisite: Must have completed Math 96 or Math 97 or earned a satisfactory score in Accuplacer, or SAT/ACT tests for placement into Math 126 or Math 128.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The overarching goal of this course is to provide you with a solid foundation for the study of calculus. We spend a good portion of the course studying basic functions that will appear in calculus as well as familiarizing ourselves with topics from analytic geometry such as the study of conic sections and the binomial theorem. We will also touch on some topics from linear algebra: matrices and determinants. In order to cover the material, we will be completing 4 sections a week. This is a 5-credit course, so as you would expect, it is intense and comes with a hefty workload. Students may spend 15 hours or more a week on this course.

LEARNING OUTCOMES & MEASURES

Upon completion of MATH 128, a student should be able to do the following.

Learning Outcome / Measure
Solve a variety of equations and inequalities including linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, absolute value, logarithmic, and exponential / ALL exams
Graph a variety of functions including linear, quadratic, polynomial, absolute value, rational, greatest integer, exponential, logarithmic and piecewise-defined functions by finding domain, range, zeros, intercepts, asymptotes, and describing symmetries / ALL exams
Solve systems of equations with two or three variables using substitution, addition, Cramer’s Rule, Gaussian elimination, or the inverse of a matrix. (Gaussian elimination and matrix inversion optional) / Final
Perform operations on complex numbers and matrices (Matrix inversion is optional.) / Final
Solve a variety of real-world problems involving quadratics, linear systems of equations, exponential and logarithmic functions / Ch. 3 & 4, 7 & 8, Final
Perform operations on functions, find the domain and range of a function as well as the inverse and difference quotient / Ch. 1 & 2, Ch. 3 & 4, Ch. 7 & 8, Final
Use synthetic division, the Division algorithm, Remainder Theorem, and Factor Theorem to factor polynomials / Chapters 3 & 4 Exam, Final
Compute values of the six trigonometric functions and their inverses / Ch. 5 & 6, 7 & 8 Exams, Final
Verify and use trigonometric identities / Ch. 5 & 6, 7 & 8 Exams
Graph and analyze parametric equations, trigonometric functions, conic sections, vectors, and polar equations and convert between the Cartesian and polar coordinate systems / Ch. 5 & 6, 7 & 8 Exam, Final
Perform operations with vectors and use vectors to solve real-world problems / Ch. 7 & 8 Exam, Final
Solve trigonometric equations and right or oblique triangles / Ch. 7 & 8 Exam, Final
Express complex numbers in trigonometric form and perform operations with them / Ch. 7 & 8
Describe and define arithmetic and geometric sequences and make effective use of sigma notation / Final
Use the Principle of Mathematical Induction and apply the Binomial Theorem / Final

Mastery of topics will vary from student to student, but for most students, doing the homework, watching the lectures, and reading the textbook are all critical for mastery. Do not expect to gain mastery through telepathy or osmosis. If you do nothing, expect nothing. If you do the work, expect some gain in mastery.

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Instructor: Lynne OwensAddress:Great Basin College

Office:MCML 1361500 College Parkway

Phone:775-753-2152Elko, NV 89801

Fax:775-738-8771

E-mail: (preferred method of contact: WebCampus email)

Office Hours:M, W 11am – 12:30pm, 3pm– 4pm or by appointment.

I will respond to emails/calls M – F, 8am – 5pm. I am unavailable evenings, weekends, and holidays.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Reliable and dependable computer and internet access

Scanner access

MyMathLab Homework Management System (comes with a free eText of Precalculus A Right Triangle Approach, 5th ed., by Lial, Hornsby, Schneider, and Daniels): ISBN 032119991X

Scientific calculator (Graphing calculators cannot be used on your exams.)

OPTIONAL MATERIALS

Some students prefer having a physical text rather than the online version. This is a more expensive option, but it will be cheaper if you bundle the text with access code to MyMathLab.

Hardback text + access to MyMathLab ISBN 0321828089

Three-hole punch book (not returnable) + access code to MyMathLab ISBN 0321828070

Hardback text alone ISBN 0321783808
Three-hole punch alone (not returnable) ISBN 032179530X

COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS

This course is online; therefore you must have reliable and dependable access to a computer and the internet as well as the following software packages. (For technology tips on using MyMathLab go to the last two pages of this syllabus.)

• A web browser (An up-to-date version of Google Chrome, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox)
• Adobe Acrobat Reader (free)
• Adobe Flash Player (free)
• Microsoft Word

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION

Each week, you will have homework problems and lectures due in MyMathLab. I have recorded the lectures for this course and have embedded them in your homework. It is assumed that every week you are also reading the textbook sections that correspond to your homework assignments. The book, homework, and lectures are all located in MyMathLab, not WebCampus.

COMMUNICATION

The overwhelming majority of our communication will be through WebCampus email. Here are some tips for effective communication.

• Be civil and respectful in your conversations with fellow students and me.
• Check WebCampus for announcements and emails regularly.
• If you need assistance with a topic, please be specific as you can by providing me with the particular problem you are trying to solve. It is much more effective and efficient to tell me “I am having trouble factoring x2- x – 6,” rather than the more general statement of “I am having trouble factoring.” MyMathLab has an “Ask your instructor” button in all of the homework sets. If you click on that, MML sends me both the problem and your question.
• If you’re having trouble with a due date it is always best to contact me BEFORE an assignment is due rather than after.

GRADING

Your grade is based on 56 homework assignments (there are 59 assignments, but your lowest 3 scores get dropped), 4 exams (there are 5 exams, but your lowest score is dropped, not the final exam score),one syllabus quiz. The quiz isweighted 2%, the homework 28% and the exams 70%. To find your grade at any given time, you will take 2% of the average of the quizzes score, 28% of the average of the homework score, and 70% of the average of your exam scores and sum those values together. Here is the formula.

Grade = 0.02(average of quiz scores) + 0.28 (average of homework scores) + 0.70(average of exam scores). Recall that the average is found by adding the scores and dividing by the number of scores. Please note: Your grades will appear in MyMathLab not WebCampus. If you have a question about any grade, you have 48 hours after the due date of the particular assignment/test to contact me in writing about your grade issue.

Grade Distribution

90% - 100%A

80% - 89%B

70% - 79%C

60% - 69%D

Below 60%F

Please consult the Great Basin College catalogue for information regarding incomplete or “I” grades.

HOMEWORK

All homework is done in the website MyMathLab. You will need to purchase access to this site at the GBC Bookstore or go to and under “Student” click on “Get Registered”. You will need three pieces of information: an email address, the course ID, and either the access code or a credit card to purchase the access code. Click on “OK! Register now.” At this point you will need to input the course ID which is owens97122. If you have used MyMathLab before, you already have an account so enter your username and password. If you have not used MyMathLab before, click on “Create” under “Create a Pearson Account”. If you have already purchased an access code, click on “access code” and enter your code. If you need to purchase the access code click on the dollar amount and finish paying for the course. For those of you awaiting financial aid, MyMathLab grants a 14-day temporary pass. Use this so you can still do your homework while awaiting funds.

Homework is due every Friday by 11:59 pm. I have chosen Fridays as your due date in hopes that you will look at your work during the regular work week and be able to contact me or the ASC if you need assistance. In the rare occasion of a Friday holiday, your homework will be due on the Saturday following the holiday. Late homeworkis not accepted. Your first three missed/late assignments will be dropped, no questions asked. After your 3 dropped assignments, you will earn a score of zero on any further missed/late assignments. Remember, time management is your responsibility, so please do not request exceptions to this policy in such situations. Please contact me in the event of family emergencies.

Reviewing past work

If you would like to review past work for studying purposes, click on the Gradebook tab in MyMathLab. You will see three time options for viewing old assignments/tests: Past 2 weeks, Past month, Entire course to date. Just select the appropriate time frame and then click on the assignment you wish to review.

HOMEWORK AND EXAM DUE DATES

Week / Material / Due Date
1 / 1.1, 1.3, 1.7, 1.8 / Friday, September 4, 2015
1 / Syllabus Quiz (WebCampus) / Tuesday, Sept. 8
2 / 2.2-2.4, 2.6 (omit 2.5) / Fri. Sept. 11
3 / 2.7, 2.8, 3.2, 3.3 (omit 3.1) / Fri. Sept. 18
4 / Chapters 1 & 2 Exam / Tues. Sept. 22
4 / 3.4 - 3.5, 4.1 - 4.2 (omit 3.6) / Fri. Sept. 25
5 / 4.3 – 4.6 / Fri. Oct. 2
6 / 5.1 – 5.4 / Fri. Oct. 9
7 / Chapters 3 & 4 Exam / Tues. Oct. 13
7 / 6.1 – 6.4 / Fri. Oct. 16
8 / 6.5 – 6.6, 7.1 – 7.2 (omit 6.7) / Fri. Oct. 23
9 / 7.3 – 7.6 / Saturday, Oct. 31
10 / Chapters 5 & 6 Exam / Tues. Oct. 27
10 / 8.1 – 8.4 (omit 7.7) / Fri. November 6
11 / 8.5, 8.7 -9.1 (omit 8.6) / Fri. Nov. 13
12 / 9.3, 9.5 (omit 9.2,9.4, 9.6) / Fri. Nov. 20
13 / Chapters 7 & 8 Exam / Tues. Nov. 24
13 / 9.7, 10.1 – 10.2 (omit 9.8) / Sat. Nov. 28
14 / 10.3 – 11.2 / Fri. December 4
15 / 11.3 – 11.5 / Fri. Dec. 11
16 / FINAL EXAM / Tues. Dec. 15

All exams are due by 11:59pm of the given due date; however, please check with your testing center/proctor for hours of operation.While all effort will be maintained to adhere to the syllabus, dates may be subject to change due to unforeseeable events (acts of nature, for example). You will be notified of any changes, so please stay in touch. Check WebCampus regularly for announcements or emails.

QUIZZES

There is only one quiz in this course, the syllabus quiz. It is the only assignment that you will do in WebCampus. It is located in the Week 2 Module in WebCampus. After the due date, I will import the grade from the syllabus quiz to MyMathLab so that all your grades will be in a single place.

EXAMS

Like your homework, your exams are done online in MyMathLab. Your exams must be supervised by a proctor, and only the proctors have the passwords that will enable you to access your exams. If you will be taking your exams at a Great Basin College campus or at Nevada State High School, we already have proctors in place. If, however, you are not near a GBC campus or are not a student at NSHS, please provide me with the name and email address of someone (not a relative or friend—a boss or a teacher is a good choice) willing to serve as a proctor. Do this soon—do not wait until your first exam is due to provide me with this information. Please be aware that other institutions may charge for proctoring your exams.

You have an exam every two chapters. All exams, except the final have a time limit of 4 hours; for the final the time limit is 8 hours. It is highly unlikely that you will need 4 or 8 hours for your exam; the regular semester exams have 12 -20 questions, and the final 35. Unlike the homework, you are allowed only 1 attempt on the exams. Exams are due on the Tuesdays. Late exams are not accepted. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of missing an exam, this will be the exam that you drop, so please do not request to turn in late work. There are reviews for each of the exams. You can use these as practice exams. These reviews do not count towards your grade.

Use of your book, notes, websites (other than the test site), cellphones, or any other device (outside of your testing computer) that can access the internetis not allowed while taking exams. One exception: For the Chapter 7 & 8 Exam and the final, you will get a formula sheet for some of the trigonometric identities. The proctors will provide you with this sheet. For your own use, you can download it—it’s in the Week 8 Module.

Because computers cannot assess partial credit, it is important that I see your work on exams. In that sense, please treat your exams like regular pencil and paper exams and write down your work. You will turn in your work using the drop boxes in WebCampus. To turn in your work:

1. Make sure your work is legible and the problems are numbered.
2. Immediately upon completing your test, scan your work and save it as JPG file. I will not accept PDF files. Do not change your work after you have completed the test; if you missed problems on your test do not go back through your test and write down the correct answers on your paper. I want to see the work you did that supports the answer you put into the computer. If your scanner only uses PDF format, you will need to convert your work to JPG format by using the following websites to convert to JPG format. or
3. Upload your scanned work into the drop box in WebCampus.

If you fail to meet any of these conditions, I will not look at your work, which in turn means you will not be eligible to receive partial credit where deserved.

A Word about Late Homework/Exams

Whenever you request an extension for homework or exams, you are asking to be treated differently from all the other students in the course. Since this is inherently unfair, I do not accept late homework. However, you do get to drop 3 of your homework assignments and one exam score (not the final). If you are in a situation where you cannot get your work in on time, those assignments/exam will be the one(s) dropped. Also, all of your work for this course is available on the first day of class. This means you could take your final exam on the first day of class if you so desired. If you know in advance of a conflict, say your fifth cousin is getting married on the day an exam is due, you should exercise the option of turning your work in early rather than attempting to turn in work late.

Attendance Policy/Withdrawing from Class

Since this is an online class, there is no physical class that meets. Attendance in this context is participating fully in the homework management system—viewing the lectures and completing your homework and exams on time.

The last date you can withdraw from this class is Monday, November 2, 2015. I will not withdraw you from this course; that is your responsibility. If you fail to turn in your withdrawal paperwork by that time, you will receive whatever grade you have earned by the end of the semester.

MYMATHLAB vs. WEBCAMPUS

We use two management systems in this course, MyMathLab and WebCampus. This is not meant to cause confusion; WebCampus is just not yet user-friendly for doing math. Here’s the difference between the two systems. Your book, homework, lectures, and grades all live in MyMathLab. Use WebCampus to communicate with me and/or other students via the GBC Coffeehouse or through email or to submit written work to me. I will primarily communicate with you in WebCampus. If the college website is down, will give you direct access to WebCampus independent of the college website.

EXPECTATIONS

Remember, this is a 5-credit course. It is two courses jammed into one. Depending on your level of comfort with the material, you can expect to spend 15 hours or more per week in this class. This class by itself is the equivalent of having a part-time job.

Every week, my expectation is that you are reading the appropriate sections in your textbook, viewing the lectures, and completing your homework.

I will communicate with you through WebCampus, so please check your email and announcements regularly.

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

Great Basin College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to qualified students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A qualified student must furnish current verification of disability.

This course is designed to be compatible with most universalscreen readers. If you are a student needing video and/or audio captioning, GBC's Disabilities Office will provide captioning for you in this course.

The Disability Service Office, located in the Leonard Student Life Center, will assist qualified students with disabilities in securing the appropriate and reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services. For more information or further assistance, please call775-753-2271.