SYLLABUS
PRECALCULUS / MA 223
SPRING SEMESTER 2008
OFFICE:Room # 101 PHONE NUMBER: (318) -357-3174 ext. 129 E-mail address:Mjamil@lsmsa.edu
CLASS: Room # 204(8:00 TR) / 245(2:00 MWF)
INSTRUCTOR: Mazhar Jamil
TEXT: Advanced Mathematics (A Precalculus Course) by Brown & Robbins
COURSE This pre-calculus course consists of the study of five major topics: Sequences and
DESCRIPTIONS: series, Functions and their graphs, Conic Sections, Matrices and Determinants, and Logarithms. These topics may overlap topics traditionally covered in Algebra II or III to some extent.
COURSE In order to demonstrate that a student is in the process of achieving the major
REQUIREMENT: course objectives, the student must be able to work problems on major tests and quizzes similar to those problems regularly assigned as homework. 5% grades are taken from homework assignments, homework is an integral part of the course and provides the means by which the student can learn mathematical concepts. It is doubtful that the student will be able to pass the course without working the homework assignments.
ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to be present on time to every class. Attendance, including
tardiness (after 15 minutes tardiness become an unexcused absent), will be recorded and turned in daily. Three tardiness will accumulate to one unexcused absent and according to the school policy 4 unexcused absent will result in a failing grade in the course. Students should note that absence from class, excused or unexcused, does not give students the right to postpone quizzes or tests that follow and from the submission of homework. It is the student's responsibility to look into the schedule or find out from the classmates what was done in class and also about the homework. Unexcused absences and tardiness will negatively affect the final grade.
RULES FOR TEST 1. If any student has legitimate reason for being unable to take a test on any of the
TAKING: scheduled test days, that student must notify Mr. Jamil at least 2 days before the exam unless excused by the school.
2. If a student fails to take an exam or quiz on the scheduled test date without previously notifying Mr. Jamil, 10% points will be taken off of that student's test grade, and NO bonus points will be available for that student.
GRADING There will be Six tests and a final. Test #6 will be a take home test. This test will be
PROCEDURE: the cumulative review chapters 1-5 (pg. 186-187), and cumulative review chapters 11-16 (pg. 599-601). As we complete the chapters, student must submit the cumulative review within one week. Late submission (for another week) of the work will cause a ten point deduction. After that the student will receive a zero for the test. Students are encouraged to submit the tests even for zero points because it prepares them for the final. Pop quizzes and assignments will be administered throughout the course. One test and a quiz will be dropped before the final grade is given. Any test may be cumulative. The final exam will be comprehensive. The break-up is as follows:
Tests...........................................................50%
Pop quizzes.................................................10%
Assignments / Blackboard………….………5% / 10%
Class participation..........………….………..5%
Final............................................................20%
OFFICE HOURS: M 8:00 – 10:00 & 11:00 – 12:00 T 9:30 – 11:45 & 2:15 – 4:00 (by appointment only)
W 9:3 0 – 10:00 & 11:00 – 12:00 R 10:00 – 11:00 & 2:15 – 4:00 (by appointment only)
F 9:30 – 10:00, 11:00 – 12:00
GUIDED STUDY: Mondays 4:00 – 5 :30 Room #242
READING ASSIGNMENT
WEEK DATE TOPICS IN TEXT
1 8/14/2008 Finite Sequence & Series Read Chapter 1, 13.1, 13.2;
2 8/21 Infinite Sequence & Series 13.3, 13.4, 13.5:
3 8/28 Limits, Infinite Series 13.6; 13.7
4 2/4/2008 Mardi Gras Holiday
5 2/11 Limits 16.1, Hand out
2/14/2008 TEST #1
6 2/18 Review of Chapter 1 1.2, 1.3; 1.4, 1.5;
7 2/25 Polynomials 1.6, 1.7, 2.1
8 3/3 Polynomials 2.2, 2.3
9 3/10 Polynomials 2.4, 2.5
3/11/2008 TEST #2
3/13/2008 End of the 1st grading period
10 3/17/2008 Easter Holiday
11 3/24 Applications 2.6, 2.7
12 3/31 Inequalities 3.1, 3.2;
13 4/7 Inequalities 3.3, 3.4, 3.5
14 4/14 Functions & Graphs 4.1, 4.2; 4.3, 4.4,
15 4/21 Composition of Functions 4.5, 4.6
Inverse Functions
4/22/2008 TEST #3
16 4/28 Exponential & Logarithmic Fns. 5.1, 5.2; 5.3, 5.4;
17 5/5 Exponential Equations & Applications 5.5, 5.6, 5.7
5/8/2008 Test #4 due in class
18 5/12 Matrices & Vectors 12.1, 12.2;
Applications of Vectors 12.3, 12.4;
Determinants & Applications 12.7, 12.8, 12.9
5/15/2008 FINAL EXAM