MA 154 Fall 2002
 
          Instructor:   John LaMaster
                              home page: http://www.ipfw.edu/math/lamaster

 

Class Meetings:   MWF: 1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. Kettler G47

                              MWF: 2:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Kettler G47

 

                Office:   Kettler 204U

 

    Office Hours:   Monday: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
                              Tuesday and Thursday: 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.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 153 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. 

 

             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, exponential, and trigonometric 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:   Student's Solutions Manual (this is highly recommended, however).

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

Important Dates

 

Labor Day: Monday, September 2

Fall Break: Monday, October 1 4 - Wednesday, October 15

Last Day to Withdraw Without a Letter Grade:  Friday, November 1

Thanksgiving Break: Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29

Final Exam: Monday, December 16, 2002 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (If you have a conflict, see me)
 

  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 http://www.ipfw.edu/math/lamaster/courses.htm so if you miss a class, 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!

 

          Quizzes:   Occasional quizzes worth 25 pts. each will be given, usually announced a day in

advance. There will be no make-up quizzes; however, you can drop all but the top four quizzes.

 

            Exams:   There will be three chapter exams, worth 100 points each. Tentative dates are:

            Exam #1 (over Sections 7.1, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 5.4, 6.4, 6.5): Fri, Sept. 20

            Exam #2 (over Sections 6.6, 6.7, and the remaining part of Chapter 7): Fri., Oct. 25.

            Exam #3 (over Chapter 8, Sections 10.1 to 10.3, and most of Chapter 11): Wed., Dec. 4

                       

The final exam date is not tentative: Monday, December 16, 2002 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (If you have a conflict, see me.) The final is comprehensive. Mark your calendars NOW.

 

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   Since much of the learning in this course occurs interactively during class time,

                  and   attendance is vital and is part of the course grade (roughly 7%).   You are expected to

  Participation:   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 40 attendance points available, and 40 class meetings which are not test days. You cannot earn your attendance credit if you are not here for the entire class meeting. 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 cause to be marked absent.

 

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.  After taking a quiz individually, I may randomly select one group member's work to represent the efforts of the entire group.

 


         Grading:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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)