MA 112: Precalculus AlgebraDr. Maria Byrne

Instructional Laboratory 0140

As you enter, please introduce yourself to a couple other people in

the class. Pick up a syllabus.

Today We Will

• Go over syllabus.

• Take pre-test.

For next Wendesday: read 1.1 – 1.2 in book.

Your Instructor

• Instructor: Dr. Audi Byrne

Dr. Audi ByrnePhD in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame

Dr. Audi ByrneResearch area in biomathematics.

(Dynamical systems and modeling. )

Cellular automata

Multi-cellular Systems

Stochastic Processes

Contacting Your Instructor

• Office: ILB 452

• Office Hours: 11:00am-12:00pm daily And by appointment.

• E-mail: abyrne@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

Course Information

• Course webpage• www.southalabama.edu

Math and StatisticsFaculty and Staff

Audi Byrne

link to personal homepage

teaching

MA 112

• http://www.southalabama.edu/mathstat/personal_pages/byrne/MA112.htm

Course Information

Bulletin Description:

Study of use of variable quantities to interpret information about relationships that can be expressed in mathematical terms. Linear, polynomial, absolute value, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions with emphasis on numerical, graphical and algebraic properties and applications and use in modeling real world situations. Systems of linear equations. Credit for both MA 112 and MA 115 not allowed. Prerequisite: C or better in DS 090 or sufficient mathematics placement test score. Core Course.

Course Information

Learning Objectives1. Recognition of function model groups by name,

equation, and general graph shape: linear, quadratic, cubic, general polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic.

2. Vocabulary used to describe graphs: domain, range, increasing, decreasing, x-intercept, function zero, y-intercept, maximum, minimum, asymptote,vertical, horizontal, axis, scale, coordinates.

3. Real number line and solving inequalities to describe number sets on that line.

Your textbook

• Text: J. Douglas Faires and James DeFranza, PreCalculus, Brooks/Cole, Florence, 4th edition (2007). ISBN-13: 978-0-495-01269-6. Solutions to odd exercises begin on page 365.

• Coverage: Chapters 1 – 3, and 5 (omitting 1.5).

PreCalculus, 4th edition by J. Douglas Faires and James DeFranza

COURSE TOPICS COVERED:Chapter 1 – Functions (4 weeks)

1.1 Introduction

1.2 The Real Line

1.3 The Coordinate Plane

1.4 Equations and Graphs

1.6 Functions

1.7 Linear Functions

1.8 Quadratic Functions

Chapter 2 – New Functions From Old (2.5 weeks)

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Other Common Functions

2.3 Arithmetic Combinations of Functions

2.4 Composition of Functions

2.5 Inverse Functions

Chapter 3 – Algebraic Functions (4 weeks)

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Polynomial Functions

3.3 Finding Factors and Zeros of Polynomials

3.4 Rational Functions

3.5 Other Algebraic Functions

3.6 Complex Roots of Polynomials

Chapter 5 – Exponential and Logarithmic Functions (2.5 weeks)

5.1 Introduction

5.2 The Natural Exponential Function

5.3 Logarithm Functions

5.4 Exponential Growth and Decay

Attendance

• Come to class. – Preparation for exams.– Occasional bonus points for attendance.– Frequent quizzes.– Worksheets – Student questions and answers.– Explanations.– Assignments

Attendance

Regular attendance is important in this course. It is your responsibility to get any assignments or notes missed during an absence. Roll will be taken randomly throughout the semester. Leaving early and arriving late count as a ½ class period absence. If you miss more than 4 lectures, I will decrease your final grade by one letter for each additional lecture that is missed.

Quizzes

• Questions are preparation for the exams.

• Often self-corrected in class.

• Occasional bonus points for correct answers.

Quizzes

Quizzes will be given occasionally in class. Quizzes afford the opportunity to earn bonus points that can be applied to the next exam. Questions will frequently be taken directly from the homework. No make-ups will be given.

Homework

Problems from the text will be assigned with each book section in class and can also be found on the course webpage. A subset of the assigned homework problems will be collected and graded via online submission. Successful online submission of (correct) homework solutions will represent 17% of your final grade.

HomeworkCompleting and mastering homework

problems is essential for success in this course. It is your responsibility to learn how to solve all the problems by the homework due-date, or shortly thereafter. If you do not know how to do a homework problem, do not get behind. It is recommended that any questions on the homework be promptly addressed with other classmates, at the tutoring lab or during my office hours.

HomeworkHomework Worksheets: Problems are

frequently worked out in class, and group work on homework is encouraged. To facilitate group work, class time will be occasionally allotted to work in groups and homework problems may be distributed on worksheets.

HomeworkOnline homework submission: A subset of

homework problems will be collected and graded online. After you complete your homework assignment, you will enter your solutions to a selected number of problems using the E-College system of the university.

Online homework submissionInstructionsTo submit your homework solutions online, login to the E-

college webpage from the USA portal at www.usaonline.southalabama.edu/ using your JAG ID # and E-college password.

You will have 48 hours to submit the homework from the time that it is assigned. Homework solutions cannot be submitted before the homework is assigned and cannot be submitted after the 48 hour submission time period has elapsed. A list of the homework problems whose solutions must be submitted on-line and the homework assignment times can be found in the course syllabus below. Assignment times may change in which case you will be notified in by e-mail.

Course Grade is Based on Exams

There will be three exams and a comprehensive final.

Exam I: Chapter 1 9/14/09Exam II: Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 10/19/09Exam III: Chapter 3 and Chapter 5 11/23/09Final: 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. 12/04/09

Make-Up Exams

If one exam is missed for any reason, the final exam grade will replace the missed regular exam grade. NO MAKEUPS WILL BE GIVEN. If more than one exam is missed, the score for that exam will be zero. If all regular exams are taken, a better final exam will replace the lowest exam grade.

Grading

• Your final grade will be computed from your homework score (H), three exams (E1, E2, E3) and final (F) as follows:

Final Grade = (H + E1 + E2 + E3 + 2F)/6.

• The 10-point grading scale will be used. A letter grade is assigned to a course average as follows:

A(90-100) B(80-89) C(70-79) D(60-69) F(0-59)

• It is my policy not to release grade information over the phone or via e-mail and I do not post grades. Final grades will be available from PAWS. Please do not call the department secretary for grade information, as they are not authorized to release such information.

Tutoring lab:

The department offers a tutoring lab in Room 456 to all student taking mathematics and statistics classes. There is no lab fee. Please check the bulletin board outside ILB 325 for details.

Disabilities

If you have a specific disability that may qualify you for academic accommodations:

Visit the Office of Special Student Services.

Don’t Drop Without Dropping By

The last drop day for the course is October 23rd. If you get to the point where you are considering dropping the course, please speak with me, the department chair (Dr. Carter) or the assistant to the chair (Dr. S. Mishra) before dropping.

Now time for the

Pre-test