MA 112: Precalculus Algebra Dr MA 112: Precalculus Algebra Dr. Maria Byrne Instructional Laboratory 0140 As you enter, please introduce yourself to a couple other people in the class. Pick up a syllabus.

For next Wendesday: read 1.1 – 1.2 in book. Today We Will Go over syllabus. Take pre-test. For next Wendesday: read 1.1 – 1.2 in book.

Your Instructor Instructor: Dr. Audi Byrne

Dr. Audi Byrne PhD in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame

Multi-cellular Systems Dr. Audi Byrne Research area in biomathematics. (Dynamical systems and modeling. ) Cellular automata Stochastic Processes Multi-cellular Systems

Contacting Your Instructor Office: ILB 452 Office Hours: 11:00am-12:00pm daily And by appointment. E-mail: abyrne@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

Course Information Course webpage www.southalabama.edu Math and Statistics Faculty and Staff Audi Byrne  link to personal homepage  teaching  MA 112 http://www.southalabama.edu/mathstat/personal_pages/byrne/MA112.htm

Course Information Bulletin Description: Study of use of variable quantities to interpret information about relationships that can be expressed in mathematical terms. Linear, polynomial, absolute value, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions with emphasis on numerical, graphical and algebraic properties and applications and use in modeling real world situations. Systems of linear equations. Credit for both MA 112 and MA 115 not allowed. Prerequisite: C or better in DS 090 or sufficient mathematics placement test score. Core Course.

Course Information Learning Objectives Recognition of function model groups by name, equation, and general graph shape: linear, quadratic, cubic, general polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic. Vocabulary used to describe graphs: domain, range, increasing, decreasing, x-intercept, function zero, y-intercept, maximum, minimum, asymptote,vertical, horizontal, axis, scale, coordinates. Real number line and solving inequalities to describe number sets on that line.

Your textbook Text: J. Douglas Faires and James DeFranza, PreCalculus, Brooks/Cole, Florence, 4th edition (2007). ISBN-13: 978-0-495-01269-6. Solutions to odd exercises begin on page 365. Coverage: Chapters 1 – 3, and 5 (omitting 1.5).

PreCalculus, 4th edition by J. Douglas Faires and James DeFranza

COURSE TOPICS COVERED: Chapter 1 – Functions (4 weeks) 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The Real Line 1.3 The Coordinate Plane 1.4 Equations and Graphs 1.6 Functions 1.7 Linear Functions 1.8 Quadratic Functions Chapter 3 – Algebraic Functions (4 weeks) 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Polynomial Functions 3.3 Finding Factors and Zeros of Polynomials 3.4 Rational Functions 3.5 Other Algebraic Functions 3.6 Complex Roots of Polynomials Chapter 5 – Exponential and Logarithmic Functions (2.5 weeks) 5.1 Introduction 5.2 The Natural Exponential Function 5.3 Logarithm Functions 5.4 Exponential Growth and Decay Chapter 2 – New Functions From Old (2.5 weeks) 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Other Common Functions 2.3 Arithmetic Combinations of Functions 2.4 Composition of Functions 2.5 Inverse Functions

Attendance Come to class. Preparation for exams. Occasional bonus points for attendance. Frequent quizzes. Worksheets Student questions and answers. Explanations. Assignments

Attendance Regular attendance is important in this course. It is your responsibility to get any assignments or notes missed during an absence. Roll will be taken randomly throughout the semester. Leaving early and arriving late count as a ½ class period absence. If you miss more than 4 lectures, I will decrease your final grade by one letter for each additional lecture that is missed.

Quizzes Questions are preparation for the exams. Often self-corrected in class. Occasional bonus points for correct answers.

Quizzes Quizzes will be given occasionally in class. Quizzes afford the opportunity to earn bonus points that can be applied to the next exam. Questions will frequently be taken directly from the homework. No make-ups will be given.

Homework Problems from the text will be assigned with each book section in class and can also be found on the course webpage. A subset of the assigned homework problems will be collected and graded via online submission. Successful online submission of (correct) homework solutions will represent 17% of your final grade.

Homework Completing and mastering homework problems is essential for success in this course. It is your responsibility to learn how to solve all the problems by the homework due-date, or shortly thereafter. If you do not know how to do a homework problem, do not get behind. It is recommended that any questions on the homework be promptly addressed with other classmates, at the tutoring lab or during my office hours.

Homework Homework Worksheets: Problems are frequently worked out in class, and group work on homework is encouraged. To facilitate group work, class time will be occasionally allotted to work in groups and homework problems may be distributed on worksheets.

Homework Online homework submission: A subset of homework problems will be collected and graded online. After you complete your homework assignment, you will enter your solutions to a selected number of problems using the E-College system of the university.

Online homework submission Instructions To submit your homework solutions online, login to the E-college webpage from the USA portal at www.usaonline.southalabama.edu/ using your JAG ID # and E-college password. You will have 48 hours to submit the homework from the time that it is assigned. Homework solutions cannot be submitted before the homework is assigned and cannot be submitted after the 48 hour submission time period has elapsed. A list of the homework problems whose solutions must be submitted on-line and the homework assignment times can be found in the course syllabus below. Assignment times may change in which case you will be notified in by e-mail.

Course Grade is Based on Exams There will be three exams and a comprehensive final. Exam I: Chapter 1 9/14/09 Exam II: Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 10/19/09 Exam III: Chapter 3 and Chapter 5 11/23/09 Final: 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. 12/04/09

Make-Up Exams If one exam is missed for any reason, the final exam grade will replace the missed regular exam grade. NO MAKEUPS WILL BE GIVEN. If more than one exam is missed, the score for that exam will be zero. If all regular exams are taken, a better final exam will replace the lowest exam grade.

Grading Your final grade will be computed from your homework score (H), three exams (E1, E2, E3) and final (F) as follows: Final Grade = (H + E1 + E2 + E3 + 2F)/6. The 10-point grading scale will be used. A letter grade is assigned to a course average as follows: A(90-100) B(80-89) C(70-79) D(60-69) F(0-59) It is my policy not to release grade information over the phone or via e-mail and I do not post grades. Final grades will be available from PAWS. Please do not call the department secretary for grade information, as they are not authorized to release such information.

Tutoring lab: The department offers a tutoring lab in Room 456 to all student taking mathematics and statistics classes. There is no lab fee. Please check the bulletin board outside ILB 325 for details.

Disabilities If you have a specific disability that may qualify you for academic accommodations: Visit the Office of Special Student Services.

Don’t Drop Without Dropping By The last drop day for the course is October 23rd. If you get to the point where you are considering dropping the course, please speak with me, the department chair (Dr. Carter) or the assistant to the chair (Dr. S. Mishra) before dropping.

Now time for the Pre-test