Math 150 Syllabus
Course title and number
MATH 150
Term
Fall 2015
Class times and location
 Sections 525-530: MWF 12:40-1:30pm BLOC 166 (lab in different location on Tues or Thurs)
 Sections 531-536: MWF 1:50-2:40pm BLOC 166 (lab in different location on Tues or Thurs)
 Sections 537-542: MWF 11:30-12:20pm BLOC 457 (lab in different location on Tues or Thurs)
 Sections 549-554: MWF 9:10-10:00am BLOC 169 (lab in different location on Tues or Thurs)
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Name
Phone number
e-mail address
Office
Office hours
Help Sessions
Week in Review
Ben Lynch, PhD
Department of Mathematics: 845-3261
brlynch@math.tamu.edu
Blocker 205C
MW 3:00 – 4:30pm; T 10:00 – 11:30pm
http://www.math.tamu.edu/courses/helpsessions.html
http://www.math.tamu.edu/courses/weekinreview.html
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PREREQUISITES
Description: Trigonometry and Linear Systems.  Graphs, functions, college algebra and trigonometry, linear
systems and vectors.
Calculator Policy: No calculators, cell phones, or other electronic devices are allowed on quizzes or exams. It
is recommended that you do as much of your online homework without the use of a calculator as you can.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
This course is focused on quantitative literacy in mathematics found in both business and everyday life. Upon
successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
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Perform operations (adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing) on real numbers, complex numbers,
functions, exponents, radicals and vectors
Graph relations, functions, and vectors
Solve an equation, a system of equations, and inequalities
Identify characteristics of a particular function
Comprehend and solve an application problem (time-to-do work, distance = rate time, mixtures)
Understand the importance of domain and be able to find the domain
Apply exponential functions and logarithmic functions
Understand and apply basic trigonometry
TEXTBOOK AND/OR RESOURCE MATERIAL

Online Textbook: PreCalculus (WebAlg) - 1e by David Manuel, Michael Stecher, and Patti Wells,
which will be accessed via WebAssign, your online homework system.
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Classroom Supplies: Portable web-enabled device (smart phone, tablet, laptop)
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Class Notes: Found on Dr. Lynch’s webpage. http://www.math.tamu.edu/~brlynch
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Lab: Attendance in your lab section is required, and you must attend the lab section in which you are
enrolled. Lab sessions are led by a teaching assistant (TA) and meet once a week, every week,
including the first week, depending upon your section number. You will be meeting in small sections to
ask math questions of the TA, take quizzes, and take individual exams. You will be assigned to a group
during the second week’s lab.
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WebAssign: All online homework will be completed in the online system WebAssign.
o Everything you will need to know about creating an account and logging in is available here:
http://www.math.tamu.edu/courses/eHomework/. Notice the important links on this web site:
WebAssign Login Page, Student Help Request Form (this is where you go if you are having any
trouble with WebAssign), Student Information Page and FAQ. Now go to the Student
Information Page and read the Math 150 link and ALL the links under Student Help Links.
o A WebAssign account has an access fee and you will need to “purchase access online” during
the first two weeks of school. After that, you risk being locked out of the system and missing
important assignments.
o Do not wait until the last minute to complete your WebAssign homework. Technical difficulties
will not be an excuse for missing a WebAssign deadline.
o There will be no makeup homework assignments, since at the end of the semester when
final grades are calculated your 2 lowest homework grades are dropped.
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Learning Catalytics (LC): You are required to have a Learning Catalytics account and a web-enabled
device. If you are enrolled in Overcoming Math Misconceptions: PreCalculus Bootcamp or have a
current Pearson’s MyMathLab account then you already have access to Learning Catalytics. Otherwise
you will need to purchase an account at https://learningcatalytics.com/ for $12 per 6 months or $20 per
12 months. LC will be used regularly in the classroom and will count as the major part of your
participation grade.
EXAM SCHEDULE AND POLICIES
ODD SECTION NUMBERS
Exam I September 22 and 23
Exam II October 20 and 21
Exam III November 17 and 18
EVEN SECTION NUMBERS
Exam I September 23 and
Exam II October 21 and 22
Exam III November 18 and 19
SECTIONS COVERED
1A – 2B
3A – 5A
5B – 8D
Comprehensive Final Exam Schedule: Sections 1A – 8D
 Sections 525-530: Monday, December 14, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. BLOC 166
 Sections 531-536: Tuesday, December 15, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. BLOC 166
 Sections 537-542: Wednesday, December 15, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. BLOC 457
 Sections 549-554: Monday, December 14, 8 – 10 a.m. BLOC 169
Exams: For your exams, you will need to bring your Texas A&M student ID, a #2 pencil and an eraser. You
will also need a standard Aggie Scantron form for your lab exams and for your comprehensive final exam.
For your 3 regular exams, you will be taking part of your exam (multiple-choice) in lab and part of your exam
(workout) in lecture. The comprehensive final exam will be multiple choice and taken in the lecture room. No
calculators, cellphones, or other electronic devices are allowed.
Make-Up Exams: No make-ups will be given without written evidence of an official University excused
absence and timely notification to the instructor (see University Student rules). According to the student rules,
“the student must notify his or her instructor in writing (acknowledged e-mail message is acceptable) prior to
the date of absence if such notification is feasible. In cases where advance notification is not feasible (e.g.
accident, or emergency) the student must provide notification by the end of the second working day after the
absence. This notification should include an explanation of why notice could not be sent prior to the class.” For
injury or illnesses too serious or contagious for a student to attend class, you must provide confirmation of a
visit to a healthcare professional affirming date and time of visit. The Texas A&M University Explanatory
Statement for Absence from Class Form will NOT be accepted. All make-ups will be given in the rooms and at
the times found at http://www.math.tamu.edu/courses/makeupexams.html. You must take the make-up exam at
the earliest possible time that does not conflict with your TAMU class schedule, and this time must be arranged
with your instructor. Also, you must bring your student ID and show up within 15 minutes of the start time to
take the exam. If you miss an agreed upon make-up date, then you will need another excused absence to
reschedule the exam.
Quizzes: Most quizzes will be given as a worksheet to be completed in assigned groups each week.
Additionally, announced or unannounced quizzes may be given during lecture if the instructor feels it is
appropriate. There will be no makeup quizzes, since your lowest quiz grade will be dropped at the end of
the semester.
Group Work (in lab): Each week in lab you will complete a group worksheet (or group quiz). You will be
assigned to a group the second week of class. Group work means that you need to work together as a team to
answer all of the questions in a manner that each of your group members understands how to do each problem.
The problems should NOT be divided among the group so that each member individually works a problem.
Each member of the group should come to lab prepared to contribute to solving the worksheet. Class notes, the
textbook, calculators, electronic devices, or other class material are not allowed during the group worksheets. If
there is a problem with the group or one member does not contribute to the group work, please bring it to the
attention of the TA or instructor.
GRADING POLICIES
The course will be calculated based on the following percentages and grading scale.
Activity
Percentage
Range
Exam I,II,III
45% (15% each)
90 – 100%
Quizzes
15%
80 – 89%
Participation/LC
5%
70 – 79%
Homework
10%
60 – 69%
Final Exam
25%
0 – 59%
TOTAL
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
Grade Confidentiality and Disputes: Due to confidentiality, grades will not be discussed via phone or email,
only in person. All grade disputes must be dealt with at the time you receive them. Once you leave class with
any graded paper you accept its grade, unless there is a totaling error. If the grade was not totaled correctly, you
have one week from when the paper was first returned to the class to get the correction made.
COURSE TOPICS (Tentative weekly schedule)
WEEK
1
TOPIC
Introduction, real numbers, exponents, radicals,
polynomials
Polynomials, rational expressions, complex numbers,
solving equations
REQUIRED READING
Sections 1A – 1C
3
4
Solving equations, solving inequalities
Review, EXAM 1 (1A – 2B), Rectangular coordinate
system
Sections 2A – 2B
Section: 3A
5
Graphs of equations, linear equations and inequalities in
two variables, functions
Sections 3A – 4A
6
Graphs of functions, transformations of functions,
extreme function values, combinations of functions
Sections 4B – 4E
7
Combinations of functions, inverse functions,
polynomial functions
Sections 4E – 5A
8
9
Review, EXAM 2 (3A – 5A), Rational functions
Rational functions, exponential functions, logarithmic
functions
Logarithmic functions, exponential and logarithmic
equations, applications of exponentials and logarithms,
systems of linear and non-linear equations
Angles and circles, trigonometric functions and their
graphs, trigonometric identities
Review, EXAM 3 (5B – 8D), Inverse sine functions,
inverse trigonometric functions
Law of sines and cosines, solving trigonometric
equation
Solving trigonometric equations, vectors, scalar
multiplication, vector addition, vector length, dot
product, Review for Final Exam
Section 5B
Sections 5B – 5D
2
10
11
12
13
14/15
Sections 1C – 2A
Sections 5D – 7B
Sections 8A – 8D
Sections: 8E – 8F
Sections 8G – 8H
Sections 8H – 9E
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides
comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires
that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable
accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please
contact Disability Services, in Cain Hall, Room B118, or call 845-1637. For additional information visit
http://disability.tamu.edu
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
All Aggie Honor Code violations will be reported. Examples include, but are not limited to, copying another
individuals work, allowing someone to copy your work, bringing unauthorized materials into an exam, or
having someone else complete your assignments. Online homework, individual quizzes, and examinations are
to be taken individually. You may not discuss the contents of an exam or quiz until they are returned. Material
from the class such as exams, quizzes, etc. may not be shared or posted online in any form. Sanctions for
violating these policies could range from receiving a 0 on the assignment to receiving an F for the course, as
well as any sanctions deemed necessary by the Aggie Honor Council.
“An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.”
For additional information please visit: http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu
Suggestions for Success in the Course:
 Attend all your classes and labs (simple, but effective advice)
 Bring your class notes with you
 Review your class notes and the Learning Catalytics sessions
 Study the online textbook
 Come to office hours to ask questions
 Complete all your WebAssign homework
 Keep up with the course
 Form a study group with other members of the class
 Check Dr. Lynch’s webpage: http://www.math.tamu.edu/~brlynch
Places to Receive Additional Help:
 Help Sessions are a place to see homework-type problems worked and a place to get online homework
help. Help Sessions usually start about the second week of school. Help session information can be
found at http://www.math.tamu.edu/courses/helpsessions.html.
 Weekly reviews will be given by Math 150 instructor Prof. Sherry Scarborough using Learning Catalytics. This includes an exam review on the week of your exam. WIR is not held the week immediately after an exam week. On my Math 150 web page are links to previous Week-In-Reviews. The WIR starts
the second week of school. See http://www.math.tamu.edu/~scarboro/150fall2015wir.html for this semester's WIR.
 To make sure you are prepared for the course you can take the optional course: Overcoming Math Misconceptions: PreCalculus Bootcamp ($95.70). This is a no credit class that is not required and will not
count towards your GPA, but will be a useful resource to help prepare you for the course. For more information see: http://www.math.tamu.edu/~sherry.scarborough/bootcamp2015.html.
 Get a personal tutor (a list is available outside Blocker 227)
Helpful links
 Academic Calendar
 Final Exam Schedule
 On-line Catalog
 Religious Observances
http://registrar.tamu.edu/General/Calendar.aspx
http://registrar.tamu.edu/General/FinalSchedule.aspx
http://catalog.tamu.edu/
http://dof.tamu.edu/content/religious-observance