Math119-02             College Algebra and Trigonometry                            Fall 2001


Daily Syllabus     Peter Greim's home page    MACS home page    Registrar's page   Citadel home page    
 

Class Mo, Tu, We, Th,  Fr  10:00-10:50  TH 303

P. Greim, Thompson 329, Tel. 953­5035, E­mail: peter.greim@citadel.edu
http://macs.citadel.edu/~greimp

Office hours  are posted at my door and at my class schedule  web page. You can read it as long as you are using a Citadel terminal. The class schedule will give you an idea which times might be available if you need to make an appointment.

Text: Algebra and Trigonometry
by Michael Sullivan (Prentice Hall)
5th ed. 1999

Covered material:  Sections 1.1 - 9.4

Goal

To be successful in Calculus, the courses building on it, and most other Mathematics courses you may take later, you need a good working knowledge of functions and their graphs and some basic skills in (arithmetic and) algebra and trigonometry. The purpose of this course is to help you achieve that.

Calculators

You will need to be familiar with your own graphing calculator. Check with your department which calculator you will need in later courses.
I am going to use the HP48G or the TI83, but any other will do as long as you know how to use it
For some questions on tests you may not, and for the gateway exams (see below) you will not, be allowed to use graphing calculators.

Grades

are based on the final, 4 tests, and homework assignments and quizzes. Each test counts 100 points; homework and quizzes count 200 points together, for a total of 600. The final exam counts 200 points.  You'll receive 0.5,  resp. 1.25 percentage points extra credit for each correctly solved problem of the week or problem of the month. (See Prof. Trautman's webpage http://155.225.48.46/potw/potw.htm, and look out for weekly, resp. monthly, announcements on the classroom bulletin boards.)  I will follow the usual 10% per grade scheme and not grade "on a curve". However, if after grading a test the statistics show a particularly bad performance of the whole class at one problem, I may adjust that problem's weight within the whole test.

Missing a test unexcused will result in a score of zero. I will not allow you to miss a test because of a lack of preparation. If your absence is excused, I may choose to drop it and prorate the other test and homework scores, or give you a make-up test.

You can check your standing in the course in a file on the Novell network under CitNov Files: \Groups\Departments\Macs\Private\Greim\your_score\119\119scores-(date).xls .
You'll need to know your code number to identify your record. It will be on your first returned paper.

Keep in mind that your ticket to MATH 131 is a grade of  C or better in this course!

Gateway exam

You need to pass three basic skills exams by getting eight out of ten answers correct. You may take the exams repeatedly (different versions, of course), but you have to pass each once to pass the course. Don't put it off! Take it right after we've covered the corresponding sections! Believe me - it's a pity seeing a B- or C-student fail the course just because of a failed gateway exam, attempted too late in the semester. You can look at the topics and samples of the gateway exams at Prof. Chen's web site.
Exam times are now posted at  http://macs.citadel.edu/~chenm/119.dir/GW.dir/schedule.html .

Homework

Since its total weight is only 25%, you can ignore the homework and still make a "C" in the course, right?
Wrong. You don't even have a remote chance to pass the course without doing the homework. Not only will it enable you to test your understanding of the material you saw in class - you will learn through practice.

I'll check on your homework on the second day after it was assigned by either collecting it or quizzing you on it. I suggest you work the homework problems the day they are assigned; I'll reserve some time for your questions during the following class period.
When you work problems, first try to do them by yourself. After that, whether you succeed or not, you may discuss them with others. You will learn from talking about mathematics. However, do not copy homework from others. I want you to understand a problem solution (either through own research or discussion) and then formulate it in your own words. Discussing a problem solution with a classmate, understanding it, and then formulating it in your own words is allowed. Copying a solution from others is not.

There is now software on the Novell network that will allow you to take practice quizzes. Details to follow.

Occasionally I may let you do or redo part of a test as take-home. In that case you are completely on your own - almost. I am the only person with whom you may discuss a test problem before turning it in.

Help

is available: you may work with other students, see me after class, during office hours, or make an appointment (or just drop by my office, taking a chance that I may be busy).  There is also individual and group tutoring (at no cost) in the Math Lab. See Jeff Ragan on the first floor. I’m on campus Thursday nights  – make an appointment.

One last advice: when you are getting behind (or can't even get started right) - let me know right away. I'll go out of my way to help you if you try. Your grade will be based on your success - not on your effort. However, your effort will determine how much I help.

Daily Syllabus

Check the updates of the web course calendar for homework!
"Homework" is the homework assigned on the day when the corresponding section is covered in class. The due date is two days later!
The calendar is tentative and I will modify it as necessary as the class progresses.