Math 2412: Precalculus
CRN #28054 – Fall 2014
Room 320 / 7:00 pm-9:00 pm / TTh
4 hour lecture course / 64 hours per semester/ 16 Weeks
Textbook: Precalculus, 5th Edition, by Robert Blitzer
ISBN-13: 9780321837349
Catalog Description: Precalculus. Topics include elementary theory of functions and equations, analytic geometry, vectors, introductory logic, mathematical induction, sequences and finite series. 4 credits. (4 lecture)
Prerequisites: Math 1314: Pass with a “C” or better.
Math 1316: Pass with a “C” or better.
Instructor: Professor Oscar Castro
Email: oscar.castro@hccs.edu
Sch. Off: (713) 718-5511
Course Intent: This course is intended primarily to prepare students for calculus. It can also be used for general mathematics credit.
Audience: This course is for students who need a background for taking a beginning calculus course.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, a student should be able to:
1.
Develop and use various problem-solving techniques.
2.
Recognize functions as ordered pairs.
3.
Determine the graph of an algebraic equation or function.
4.
Understand synthetic division.
5.
Develop partial fraction decomposition.
6.
Find the zeros of real functions
7.
Solve polynomial equations.
8.
Utilize the six basic trigonometric functions.
9.
Verify various trigonometric identities.
10.
Apply the Law of sines and the Law of cosines for various types of situations.
11.
Find the powers and roots of complex numbers using DeMoivre’s Theorem.
12.
Understand basic vectors (2 dimensional).
13.
Convert points in a rectangular coordinate system to polar coordinates.
14.
Recognize algebraic formulas relating to circles, parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas.
15.
Use translation of axes, rotation of axes, and polar equations of conics.
16.
Recognize the use of arithmetic and geometric sequences.
17.
Use summation notation to represent a series.
18.
Understand and use the Binomial theorem.
19.
Understand mathematical induction.
20.
(Optional) Understand the basic concepts of limits.

Course Outline: Instructor will cover the course topics in the order listed below.
However, the instructor may choose to organize topics in any order, but all material must be covered.
APPROXIMATE TIME TEXT REFERENCE
Unit I – Algebra (Review) Sections: {1.2 – 1.5, 1.7,
1.9, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6}
Section: 7.3 Unit I – Partial Fractions
(8 hours)
Topics include the following: Graphs and graphing utilities, lines in the plane, slope, functions, polynomial functions of higher degree, synthetic division, real zeros of polynomial functions, and the intermediate value theorem. The unit concludes with partial fraction decomposition.
Unit II – Trigonometry (review) and Analytic Trigonometry
Sections: {4.2, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7}
5.1 – 5.5
(10 hours)
This unit contains Trigonometric Functions, the unit circle, graphs of the trigonometric functions, inverse trigonometric functions, verifying identities, sum and difference formulas, double angle and half-angle formulas, sum-to-product and product-to-sum formulas, and solving trigonometric equations.
Unit III – Applications of Trigonometry
(10 hours)
Sections: Chapter 6
This unit includes Law of Sines, Law of Cosines, Polar coordinates, graphs of Polar equations, DeMoivre’s Theorem, vectors, and the dot product.
Unit IV – Conic Sections and Analytic Geometry Sections: Chapter 9
(12 hours)
Topics include the ellipse, the hyperbola, the parabola, rotation of axes, parametric equations, and conic sections in polar coordinates.
Unit V – Sequences, Induction, and Probability
(14 hours)
Sections: 10.1 – 10.5
This unit contains Sequences and summation notation, arithmetic sequences, Geometric
Sequences and Series, Mathematical Induction, and The Binomial Theorem.
Unit VI – Introduction to Calculus (Optional)
(6 hours)
Sections: 11.1 – 11.4
This optional unit contains an introduction to limits using tables and properties, continuity, and an introduction to derivatives.

Departmental Policies:
1.
Each instructor must cover all course topics by the end of the semester. The final exam is comprehensive and questions on it can deal with any of the course objectives.
2.
Each student should receive a copy of the instructor’s student syllabus for the course during the first week of class. The syllabus should also be available online.
3.
A minimum of three in class tests and a comprehensive final examination must be given. The final examination must be taken by all students.
4.
All major tests should be announced at least one week or the equivalent in advance.
5.
The final exam must count between 25 percent and 40 percent of the final grade.
6.
The final course average will be used in the usual manner ( A = 90–100; B = 80-
89; C = 70-79; D = 60-69; F = below 60).
7.
An open book or a take home major test may be given at the discretion of the instructor.
8.
Any review sheet should be comprehensive and the student should not feel that classroom notes, homework, and test may be ignored in favor of the review sheet for any examination.
Resource Materials: Any student enrolled in Math 2412 at HCCS has access to the
Academic Support Center where they may get additional help in understanding the theory or improving their skill. The Center is staffed with mathematics faculty and student assistants, and offers tutorial help. A Chapter Tests preparation video CD comes with the text. A Student’s Solution Manual and MyMathLab are also available.
Suggested Methods: It is helpful to begin each class with questions concerning the material discussed and the assigned homework problems. In presenting new material, it is suggested that an explanation be followed by students working examples in class.
Students should be encouraged to work the review exercises at the end of each chapter.
Also, they should be encouraged to visit the Academic Support Center at their respective colleges.
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA): Any student with a documented disability
(e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at their respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
Student Conduct: Students will be expected to treat each other and the instructor courteously and with respect. In class, please greet each other pleasantly, refrain from activities which may be distracting to others, and participate honestly in group work and exams. If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the instructor or with other students, please discuss your concerns with the instructor. If such discussion does not produce a resolution to your concern, feel free to contact the department chair. Any student who proves to be disruptive to the learning process of others will be removed from class and dealt with by the administration.

Student Responsibilities: Consider being a student as a part-time or full-time job. It is each student’s job to learn. With this job, the student has the responsibility to participate in class, ask relevant questions, seek help when needed, and submit assignments when they are due. Treat each deadline as you would an interview: do not miss a deadline.
Expect to spend a minimum of 2-6 hours per week, in addition to class time, studying mathematics. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to make up any work assigned, get notes or handouts, and determine if any pertinent announcement were made during your absence.
Academic Honor: Every student in the class is expected to exhibit a high degree of ethical standards as concerns the work in this class. Every graded assignment in this course(homework/quiz, library assignment, or test) is to be entirely your own work unless otherwise stated. Any violation of this policy will result in a minimum penalty of failure of the assignment and a maximum penalty of expulsion from the college. If you are uncertain as to whether you may work with another person on an assignment, ask the instructor. It is also expected that if you see another person cheating in any way, you will report it to the instructor.
Makeup Exams/Quizzes: Makeups are given at the discretion of the instructor and only in the case of verified medical or other documented emergencies. Notify your instructor, if possible, before the test is given. There will be NO makeups for missed quizzes.
REMEMBER: The instructor is not required to accommodate you.
Final Grade: The final grade will be based on the following method:
E = Exam Average
Q = Daily Average(includes quizzes, daily work, etc.)
F = Final Exam Score
Grade = 0.25Q + 0.50E + 0.25F
By the second week of school, each student will have a calendar to cover all quizzes, exams, and the final exam. Grades of A, B, C, D, or F will be assigned according to department al policy. The grade of ‘I’ is given only in exceptional circumstances. When a student for good reason misses too much work or the final exam and notifies the instructor promptly, the instructor may give the grade ‘I’(incomplete) and specify what work shou ld be completed to remove the ‘I’ grade. The ‘I’ will become an ‘F’ if not replaced after one full semester.(Refer to the student handbook.)

Tentative Instructional Outline: PRECALCULUS Oscar J. Castro
F ALL , 2014 TT C LASS
Week
No.
Objective
Details
1
8/26 Intro, Sec. 1.1
1.1(11n), Read Sections 1 to 4
Example:11n, Start with n=1 and do every 11 th
1.2(7n) 1.3(7n) 1,4(7n)
8/28 Secs 1.2 to 1.4
2
9/2 Secs 1.5, 1.7, 1.9
9/4
3
9/9
Sec 2.4 Quiz #1
Secs 2.5 & 2.6
9/11 Sec 7.3 Quiz #2
4
9/16 Secs 4.2 & 4.5
9/18 Sec 4.6 Test #1
5
9/23 Secs 4.7 & 5.1
9/25 Sec 5.2 Quiz #3
6
9/30 Secs 5.3 & 5.4
10/2 Sec 5.5 Test #2
7
10/7 Sec 6.1 & 6.2
10/9 Secs 6.3 & 6.4
8
10/14 Sec 6.5 & Quiz #4
19/16 Secs 6.6 & 6.7
1.5(2n) !.7(8n) 1.9(6n)
2.4(4n) Quiz on all Chap 1 sections above
2.5(4n) 2.6(6n)
7.3(3n) Quiz on Chap 2 sections
4.2(5n) 4.5(5n)
4.6(5n) Test on Chaps 1,2,7 sections
4.7(6n) 5.1(4n)
5.2(5n) Quiz on 4.2, 4.5, 4,6, 4.7
5.3(5n) 5.4(4n)
5.5(7n) Test on C4 secs and C5 secs
6.1(4n) 6.2(4n)
6.3(6n) 6.4(3n)
6.5(6n) Quiz on 6.1 to 6.4
6.6(5n) 6.7(4n)

9
10/21 Test #3 Test on Chap. 6
10/23
10
10/28 Sec 9.3 Quiz #5
10/30
11
11/4
11/6
Secs 9.1 & 9.2
35
Secs 9.6 Problems
Test #4
9.1(4n) 9.2(4n)
9.3(4n) Quiz on 6.5, 6.7, 9.1, 9.2
9.4(4n) 9.5(5n)
9.6(2n)
Test on Chapter 9
12
11/11 Secs 10.1 & 10.2 &
10.3
10.1(5n) 10.2(5n) 10.3(6n)
11/13 Secs 10.4 & 10.5
13
10.4(2n) 10.5(4n)
11.1(4n) Quiz on C10
11/18 Sec 11.1 Quiz #6
11/20 Sec 11.2 & 11.3
14
11.2(4n) 11.3(3n)
11/25 Sec 11.4 Quiz #7 11.4(3n) Quiz on 11.1 to 11.3
11/27 NO CLASS
15
12/2 Test #5
12/4 Final Exam Review
16
12/7 Instruction Ends
12/11 FINAL EXAM
THANKSGIVING
Chaps 10 & 11
All Sections Makeup work
No Class
Comprensive; Scantron Req; 7 pm
12/15 GRADES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS
I
MPORTANT DATES
: 8/24 L
AST DAY FOR DROP
/
ADD
/
SWAP
10/31
LAST DAY FOR ADMIN
/
STUDENT WITHDRAWAL
4:30
PM