MA 107 - 001
Precalculus
Spring 2018
Time and Place: MWF 9:35 - 10:25 AM, SAS Hall Room 1102
Instructor: Mallory McMahon
Office:
Email:
Office Hours:
MMC Hours:
Teaching Assistant:
TA Office Hours:
SAS 4121
memcmaho@ncsu.edu
Tuesday 9:00-10:00, Friday 3:00-4:00, and by appointment.
Thursday 8:30-10:30.
Amanda Reeder (areeder@ncsu.edu)
Monday 10:30-11:30 and Wednesday 1:30-2:30 (Cox Hall Rm 406)
Text: Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry, Burns-Williams, 1st Edition. Students will purchase the
PDF version of the book through our online homework portal, WebAssign, at http://webassign.ncsu.
edu. The course content of the book is also available on Moodle once the semester starts. The Moodle
site is where the interactive features of the book are found and where students will find the majority of
their work.
Course Materials: In addition to purchasing access to WebAssign, each student is required to submit
5 blue books before the first exam. Blue books can be purchased at the university bookstore. Do not
write anything in or on the blue books. Blue books should be turned in to the TA, Amanda.
Homework: Homework will be assigned, submitted, and graded online via the WebAssign homework
portal. You must register and pay for the use of WebAssign at http://webassign.ncsu.edu.
Homework due dates are: January 21, February 4, March 13, April 3, April 19. Homework
must be submitted by the 11:59PM deadline on the due date to avoid penalty. If the assignment is not
completed by the due date, you have 14 days to request a 24-hour extension. Any problems completed
during the extension incur a 50% penalty.
Module Pre-tests & Try-Its: Module Pre-tests are designed to test your familiarity with the material
before it is taught and give you an idea of the objectives of each module. The Pre-tests are due at
9:30am the day we are scheduled to begin a new module (see Class Schedule for these dates).
The Try-Its are designed to test your understanding of the material after we have learned it and give you
a chance to earn back lost points. All Pre-tests and Try-Its can be found on the Moodle page.
Any points missed on a Pre-test can be earned back by completing additional Try-Its.
Attendance: The university requires an attendance record for all 100 and 200 level classes, so attendance
will be taken. Attendance will be taken using a seating chart; if you sit in the wrong seat you will be
marked absent, no exceptions. If you need to change your seat at any time during the semester, you
must speak with Amanda so she can amend the seating chart. Attendance does not factor in to your
course grade. However, any student with 5 or fewer absences will have their lowest test grade
replaced by their final exam grade, if it is to their advantage.
Exams: We will have five exams during the semester:
Test 1 (Modules 1-6): Monday, February 5
Test 2 (Modules 7-11): Wednesday, March 14
Test 3 (Modules 12,13,15): Wednesday, April 4
Test 4 (Modules 14,16-18): Friday, April 20
Final Exam (All Modules): Monday, April 30, 8:00-11:00 AM.
1
The use of a scientific calculator (no graphing capabilities) is permitted on all exams.
Make up exams will be granted on an individual basis, depending on the circumstance, and must be
requested before the exam date. Appropriate documentation will be required to excuse the absence,
such as a doctor’s note. The make up exam will be scheduled for a time that is convenient for the
instructor, not necessarily the student.
Grading: The grade for this course will be distributed as follows:
Module Pre-Tests & Try-Its
Homework
Midterm Exams
Final Exam
10
10
50
30
%
%
% (12.5 % each)
%
In accordance with NCSU policy, the +/− grading system will be used. To maintain fairness, I do not
round or curve final grades.
Letter
A+
A
A-
Numeric
[98, 100)
[92, 98)
[90, 92)
Letter
B+
B
B-
Numeric
[88, 90)
[82, 88)
[80, 82)
Letter
C+
C
C-
Numeric
[78, 80)
[72, 78)
[70, 72)
Letter
D+
D
D-
Numeric
[68, 70)
[62, 68)
[60, 62)
Letter
F
Numeric
[0, 60)
Disability Services: Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities.
In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services
for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. For more information on NC
State’s policy on working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for
Students with Disabilities Regulation (REG02.20.1)
Course Policies: The use of laptops, cell phones and other electronic devices is not permitted during
class unless prior approval is given by the instructor. If a student misses a class session, it is the student’s
responsibility to get notes from a classmate.
Class Schedule (see next page): Any class day with a starred Module (i.e. *Mod 1) indicates that
the Pre-Test quiz for that Module is due at 9:30am on that day.
Additional Resources:
• Free tutoring is available through the department Multi Media Center (SAS 2105) on a drop-in
basis, Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. For more information, see https://www.
math.ncsu.edu/mmc/tutoring.php
• One-on-one free tutoring is available through the Undergraduate Tutorial Services. For more information, see http://www.ncsu.edu/tutorial_center
• For supplemental reading, I suggest using the free online book Openstax, provided by Rice University. There is a link to the book on the Moodle Page.
How to Win at MA107:
? Before Class: Watch videos, read text and take Pre-test for the upcoming Module.
? During Class: Be present, take notes, and actively participate by asking questions.
? After Class: Keep up with the WebAssign homework, do the Try-Its for additional practice and to
earn back lost Pre-test points.
? When you feel yourself falling behind: come to office hours, drop by the MMC, or set up an
appointment at the Tutorial Center.
2
Date
Jan 8
Jan 10
Jan 12
Jan 15
Jan 17
Jan 19
Jan 22
Jan 24
Jan 26
Jan 29
Jan 31
Feb 2
Feb 5
Feb 7
Feb 9
Feb 12
Feb 14
Feb 16
Feb 19
Feb 21
Feb 23
Feb 26
Feb 28
Mar 2
Mar 5-9
Mar 12
Mar 14
Mar 16
Mar 19
Mar 21
Mar 23
Mar 26
Mar 28
Mar 30
Apr 2
Apr 4
Apr 6
Apr 9
Apr 11
Apr 13
Apr 16
Apr 18
Apr 20
Apr 23
Apr 25
Apr 27
Apr 30
Day
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon-Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Text
*Mod 1
*Mod 2
*Mod 3
Mod 1-3
*Mod 4
*Mod 5
Mod 4-5
*Mod 6
Mod 1-6
*Mod 7
*Mod 8
*Mod 9
*Mod 10
*Mod 11
Mod 7-11
*Mod 12
*Mod 13
*Mod 15
Mod 12, 13, 15
*Mod 14 & *Mod 16
*Mod 17
*Mod 18
Mod 14, 16-18
Topic
Intro to Course
Functions overview, domain, range, difference quotient
Algebra of functions
MLK Jr. Day- No Class
Graphs of functions
Review of Modules 1-3
Piece-wise defined functions
Graphing by translations
Finish material from Modules 4-5
Writing functions for modeling
Module 6 continued
Test Review: Modules 1-6
Test 1: Modules 1-6
Quadratic functions
Continue Module 7
Polynomials
Finish material from Modules 7-8
Rational functions; domain and vertical asymptotes
Continue with Mod 9; end behavior and more asymptotes
Finish material from Modules 8-9
Composing functions
Finish material from Module 10
Inverse functions
Finish material from Module 11
Spring Break- No Classes
Test Review: Modules 7-11
Test 2: Modules 7-11
Exponential functions
Finish material from Module 12
Logarithms
Finish material from Module 13
Logarithmic functions
Finish material from Module 15
Spring Holiday- No Class
Test Review: Modules 12, 13, 15
Test 3: Modules 12, 13, 15
Using exponential and logarithmic models
Angles and arcs
Finish material from Module 17
Right triangle trigonometry
Finish material from Module 18
Test Review: Modules 14, 16-18
Test 4: Modules 14, 16-18
Final Exam Review
Final Exam Review
Final Exam Review
Final Exam: All Modules
3