MA 153 Summer II 2003

Class  Meetings: Monday - Thursday: 12:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.  Kettler G45
Instructor: John LaMaster
home page: http://www.ipfw.edu/math/lamaster
Office: Kettler 204U
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
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. Note: If this course is not review material, it is an unwise choice to compress what is normally done in 15 weeks in Fall and Spring into an accelerated 6 week summer session. 
Objective:

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. 

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 is on the mathematical modeling of real-life problems using linear, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, and rational functions. Students develop their reading, writing, and questioning skills in an interactive classroom setting
Required: Functions Modeling Change by Connally, Hughes-Hallett, Gleason, et al. 

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 (http://www.ipfw.edu/math/graphcalc.html) can help you obtain and use a grapher. 
(I will be using the TI-83 Plus)
Optional:

Graphing Calculator Guide for the TI-83/82 by Carl Swenson

Student's Solutions Manual

Syllabus: Most of the first five chapters of the text plus chapter 9 and section 8.1
Assignments: Homework will be regularly assigned. These problems are to be prepared for discussion during the next class period. Completion of the assignments is essential for understanding the material presented in lectures. 

Assignments will be posted on the course Web Site listed at http://www.ipfw.edu/math/lamaster/courses.htm so if you miss a class (shudder), you can come prepared the next day. However, to be safe, get the phone number of someone else in the class and just call them to see what you missed!

Internet Homework: There will be Internet assignments worth 10 points each using e-grade software. Go to the page http://egrade2.brownstone.net/pilot2/classes/LaMaster/
You must register first in the class.
Exams:

There will be two Chapter Exams plus a comprehensive final. 

The following dates are tentatively planned: 
Chapter Exam #1:
Sections 1.1, 1.3; 2.1-2.3; 3.1-3.4, 4.1 --Thursday, July 10
Chapter Exam #2: Sections 4.2-4.8, 5.1-5.3 -- Thursday, July 24
Final Exam: Section 5.5, 8.1, Chapter 9 and comprehensive -- Thursday, August  7 

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.  Each student is allowed one make-up exam.

Attendance and
Participation:
Since much of the learning in this course occurs interactively during class time, attendance is vital and is part of the course grade (roughly 9%).   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. There are 42 attendance points available, and 21 class meetings that are not test days. You cannot earn your attendance credit if you are not here for the entire class meeting. 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.  
Grading:
Chapter Exam 1  100
Chapter Exam 2  100
Homework 

100

Attendance  42
Comprehensive Final Exam 118
Total points  460
90% -100% A
80% -90% B
70% -80% C
60% -70% D
<60% F
 

If you have or acquire a disability and want to find out about what special services and accommodations are available, you may contact Services for Students with Disabilities in Walb 118, telephone 481-6557 (voice/TDD)