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MATH 1730 Syllabus

Course Syllabus

MATH 1730 - Pre-Calculus

5 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This is a single course for preparation for Calculus.  The course includes an analysis of functions and their graphs, trigonometric and inverse trig functions and their graphs, solving equations and applications involving functions, polar coordinates, and vectors.

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Calculate and interpret slope of a line
  • Graph lines using concepts of points, slope, and intercepts
  • Find equations of lines using concepts of points, slope, and intercepts
  • Connect concepts of equations of lines and graphs of lines
  • Connect concepts of equations of circles and graphs of circles
  • Demonstrate an understanding of functions and their graphs
  • Use and apply linear and quadratic functions
  • Apply properties of functions
  • Solve systems of equations in 2 and 3 variables
  • Decompose partial fractions
  • Transformations of functions
  • Solve and graph nonlinear inequalities
  • Graph and analyze polynomial functions
  • Graph and analyze rational functions
  • Solve polynomial and rational inequalities
  • Find roots of polynomial functions
  • Solve and graph exponential and logarithmic functions
  • Use properties of logarithms to solve equations
  • Use the Binomial Theorem
  • Introduction and Understanding of Angles and Their Measures
  • Study of the Unit Circle Approach to Trigonometric Functions
  • Apply the Properties of Trigonometric Functions
  • Study the Graphs of the Sine and Cosine Functions
  • Study the Graphs of the Tangent, Cotangent, Cosecant, and Secant Functions
  • Explore Phase Shifts and Sinusoidal Curve Fitting
  • Convert radians to degrees and degrees to radians
  • Compute arc length on a circle
  • Define a trigonometric angle and its component parts
  • Know the definitions of the six trigonometric functions
  • Know the sign of each trigonometric function in each quadrant
  • Find the values of the six trigonometric functions
  • Reduce angles to functions of an acute angle
  • Use and graphs of inverse trig functions
  • Solving trigonometric equations
  • Memorize and use the basic trigonometric identities
  • Solve problems using right triangles and distinguish between angles of elevation and depression
  • Use Cofunctions and their identities
  • Use the Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines
  • Determine the correct number of significant digits when rounding sides of a triangle
  • Given an angle, find one of its functions
  • Given a function of an angle, find the angle
  • Find the values of trigonometric functions by using a calculator
  • Prove other identities using the basic identities
  • Solve trigonometric functions using the basic identities
  • Convert rectangular and polar coordinates
  • Graph polar equations
  • Vectors, direction, and magnitude
  • Use the Dot Product of vectors
Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

ACT Math sub-score of 21 or equivalent, or completion of MATH 1005 with a B or higher, or completion of MATH 1130 or MATH 1710 with a C or higher.

Course Topics:
  • Graphs of Lines and Circles
  • Functions and Their Graphs
  • Systems of Equations
  • Linear and Quadratic Functions
  • Polynomial and Rational Functions
  • Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
  • Trigonometric Functions
  • Analytic Trigonometry
  • Applications of Trig Functions
  • Polar Coordinates and Vectors
Specific Course Requirements:
  • Ability to use the email and the discussion components of Desire2Learn.
  • The textbook is not required, however an access code for MyMathLab must be purchased for Sullivan’s Precalculus, 10th ed. Pearson Publishing.
  • Graphing Calculator is required.  (Students will need the Graphing Calculator for Calculus, as well).

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."

Supplementary Materials:

A graphing calculator is required for the course. 

Hardware and Software Requirements:

Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.

Minimum software requirements can be found here.

Common applications you might need:

Web Resources:

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)

The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook

Student Resources:
  • Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
  • Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading

Testing Procedures:

The Mid-term and Final Exams are proctored and must be taken at any TBR Testing Center.  Students must call and make an appointment to take the exams.  Links to make the appointments are available in eLearn.

Grading Procedures:
  • 40 Homework Assignments – 30%
  • 14 Quizzes – 30%
  • 1 Proctored Midterm Exam – 20%
  • 1 Proctored Final Exam – 20%

Final grade will be calculated as follows:

 Final Average = .30(HW Avg) + .30(Quiz Avg) + .20(Proctored Midterm Exam) + .20(Proctored Final Exam)

Homework and quizzes are graded immediately in MyMathLab and feedback is given.

 

Grading Scale:
90-100%A
80-89.9%B
70-79.9%C
60-69.9%D
under 60%F

Graded Items:

DescriptionPoints
40 Homework Assignments30%
14 Quizzes30%
Mid-term Exam Proctored20%
Final Exam Proctored20%
Discussion ForumsFor possible extra credit - Each module will include a Question/Answer forum for engaging the class in content discussion and asking questions. Additionally, each module will have an End-of-Module Question to Ponder. This will be a thought-provoking and critical thinking exercise, with real-life application relating to the content of that module. Active participants (throughout the semester) whose final grade is borderline, will move to the next letter grade.
Total100%

 

Assignments and Projects:
Class Participation:

Students are expected to spend the same amount time viewing online lectures as they would in a traditional face-to-face classroom.  This includes reading the sections from the online textbook, viewing associated video lectures, and studying the related PowerPoint presentations that summarize the sections.  Weekly homework assignments will be due (with hard due dates) every Friday.  Weekly quizzes will also be assigned and due on Saturday.  Quizzes are designed to summarize the week’s content highlights.  Individual Study Plans will be developed from the quizzes in MyMathLab indicating what students need to work on in preparation for the Midterm and Final Exams.  Students are also encouraged to participate on the Discussion Board.  By asking or answering relative and appropriate questions throughout the semester students may earn extra credit at the end of the semester.  Additionally, End-of-Module Question to Ponder will be posted to invoke thoughtful responses and critical thinking regarding the previous module’s content.  Here is how the Extra Credit will apply:  if the final course average is “borderline” and the student has been an active participant on the Discussion Board throughout the semester, their grade will move up to the next letter grade.  Otherwise, they will keep the earned grade.

Late Policy:

This is a fast-paced course and content builds. If a student gets behind significantly, it will be very difficult to get back on course.  Homework assignments and quizzes may be extended with proper documentation for excused absences on past due work. The exams must be taken as per the TN eCampus exam schedule.

Course Ground Rules

The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:

RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Read the document in its entirety here.

1. Standards of Conduct:

  • Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.

2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:

  • In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.

Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
  • to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
  • or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution.  Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course
  • Communicate with other students
  • Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
  • Keep abreast of course announcements
  • Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
  • Address technical problems immediately:
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.


Last Revised on July 12, 2021