MA 153 Summer 2006

                          

Instructor:		John LaMaster
Web Sites:		John’s Home Page: http://www.ipfw.edu/math/lamaster Course Home Page: http://users.ipfw.edu/lamaster/ma153/s06summerma153.htm
Class Meetings:		MTWR: 10:00 a.m. – 11:45p.m. Kettler 220
Office:		Kettler 264
Office Hours:		Monday and Wednesday: 8:15 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.  Tuesday and Thursday: 9:15 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.  Also by appointment or chance.
Reachable:		481-5430 (office/voice mail)  481-6821 (Math Dept)  481-6880 (FAX)  email: lamaster@ipfw.edu
Prerequisites:		MA 113 with C or higher or placement by departmental exam. This course is primarily intended for students who have completed two years of high school algebra.
Objectives:		This course serves both as a preparation to the calculus sequences and as a terminal course for students who need only this level of mathematics.  Students develop their reading, writing, and questioning skills in an interactive classroom setting.
Content:		This course presents the concepts of precalculus from four points of view: geometric (graphs), numeric (tables), symbolic (formulas), and written (verbal descriptions). The emphasis of the course is on the mathematical modeling of real-life problems using linear, exponential, quadratic, power, polynomial and rational functions.
Tentative Schedule:		May 15 to May 18 Sections 1.1 – 1.5, 2.1 – 2.4 May 22 to May 25 Sections 2.4 – 2.6, 3.1 – 3.4 May 30 to June 1 Test 1, Sections 4.1 – 4.2 June 5 to June 8 Section 4.3, Sections 5.1 – 5.3, 5.5, 8.1 June 12   Section 9.1 June 13 to June 15 Test 2, Sections 9.1 – 9.4 June 19 to June 21 Sections 9.4 – 9.6 June 22 Final Exam
Required:		The text Functions Modeling Change, 2nd Edition  by Connally, Hughes-Hallett, Gleason, et al.
		An access code for e-Grade learning software for Functions Modeling Change, 2nd Edition (available behind the counter for $27.50 in the Kettler bookstore or online at http://he-cda.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-107237.html#precalculus for $14.95)
		You will be required to use a graphing calculator for activities and assignments in and out of class. The You will be required to use a graphing calculator for activities and assignments in and out of class. The Assistance with Graphing Calculators Web Page can help you obtain and use a grapher. The TI-83 Plus or TI-84 Plus (or Silver Editions of these)  are the tools of choice, since these interface with the TI-Navigator System.
		Note: You can rent a TI-83 Plus for $10 at Walb Student Union 225 (481-6586).
Optional:		Student's Study Guide by Cannon Graphing Calculator Guide for the TI-83/82 by Carl Swenson

 

 

Important Dates Memorial Day Holiday: Monday, May 29 Test 1 (Tentatively most of Chapters 1 -3): Tuesday, May 30 Test 2 (Tentatively most of Chapters 4, 5, and  Section 8.1): Tuesday, June 13 Last Day to Withdraw: Friday, June 9 Final Exam (Chapter 9 and Comprehensive): Thursday, June 22

 

Attendance/ Participation/Reading Quizzes: Since much of the learning in this course occurs interactively during class time, attendance is vital and is part of the course grade (roughly 6.8%). You cannot earn your attendance credit if you are not here for the entire class meeting, which means that you are in your seat at 10:00 (and logged in to TI Navigator*, when used) and staying until class ends at 11:45. You are expected to not only attend all class meetings, but participate in your group and contribute to the learning environment of the class as a whole. If you are blatantly not participating in class (such as doing homework for other classes, reading the newspaper), you may be physically here, but this is worse than being absent, since it lowers the class morale. To earn complete points for attendance on a particular day, you will be required to do more than just “show up.” For example, you may be asked to answer some questions correctly about the assigned reading due that day or submit work from class activities to earn your participation credit. If you miss a class, use the Web Site to check what you missed so you come prepared for class. A missed class may be made up by attending two hours of (free) university tutoring, which must be documented (including date, duration, and signature of the tutor).

*Don’t log in as someone else. I can tell when it happens.  The consequence is that you are dropped from the class system that day.

 

Your group sinks or swims together. It is important that all members of the group participate and learn the material.  If all members of your team score 90% or above on a chapter test, each will receive 5 bonus points.

Internet Access: Part of your semester fees went toward giving you Internet access.  Make sure your account is activated now. Call the Help Desk at 481-6030 if you have questions or need assistance.

 

Assignments: Homework problems from the text will be regularly assigned, but not collected each day. These problems are to be prepared for discussion during the next class period. Completion of the assignments is essential for understanding the material.  In addition to, you will be required to complete Internet assignments online using eGrade. A tutorial is available at this Web site as well. (See the General Course Information for more details.)
 

Quizzes: Occasional section quizzes worth 25 pts. each will be given, usually announced a day in advance. You can drop all but the top four quizzes. For this reason, there will be no make-up quizzes for any reason. Don’t ask. The answer is no.

 

Exams: There will be two chapter exams, worth 100 points each. The final exam is comprehensive and is given the last class meeting, Thursday. June 22.   Unexcused absences from exams shall result in a score of zero.  If an absence is unavoidable and deemed legitimate, you must contact me within 24 hours of the exam (if possible, in advance) in order to schedule a make-up.