MA 154 Fall 2003
Instructor: John LaMaster
home page: http://www.ipfw.edu/math/lamaster
Class Meetings: MWF: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Kettler G49
MWF: 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Kettler G49
Office: Kettler 204U
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday:
12:00 noon – 1:00 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, 1st Edition 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
Graphing Calculator Guide for the TI-83/82 by Carl Swenson
LaborDay: Monday,
September 1
Fall Break: Monday,
October 13 - Tuesday, October 14
Last Day to Withdraw Without
a Letter Grade: Friday, October 31
Thanksgiving Break: Wednesday, Nov. 26 –
Friday Nov. 28
Final Exam: Monday, Dec. 15, 2003 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (If you have a conflict, see me)
Assignments: Homework from the text 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! In addition, there will be 50 points worth of assignments you must complete over the Internet at the Web Site found at http://www.ipfw.edu/math/courses/ma154 (all lowercase). A tutorial is available at this Web Site as well. (Normally, access to this site costs $20 per student.)
Quizzes: Occasional section 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.
The final is comprehensive. Mark your calendars NOW:
Monday, Dec. 15, 2003 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (If you have a conflict, see me.)
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 4%). 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. 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. You may be given a brief attendance quiz over the assigned reading to earn your attendance credit. A missed class may be made up by attending two tutoring sessions (documented).
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.
Internet (e-grade)
Assignments 50 Attendance &
Participation 25 Quizzes (your highest 4
scores at 25 points each) 100 Chapter Exams (3@
100 points each) 300 Comprehensive Final
Exam 150 Total 625
Grading:
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)