Wake Technical
Community College
Mathematics and Physics Dept.
Mathematics and Sciences Division
Spring
2010
Course Syllabus
Course
MAT 172 & 172A
Sections: 4111/4121
Instructor’s Name
Ms. Rivers
PRECALCULUS TRIGONOMETRY AND LAB
Office Number
BD 463
Office Hours
TTh 12:00 – 2:00
F 10:00 – 10:50
Phone #
532-5564
LECTURE
LAB
CREDIT
3
2
4
Email address
njrivers@waketech.edu
Description
This is the second of two courses designed to emphasize topics which are fundamental to the study of
calculus. Emphasis is placed on properties and applications of transcendental functions and their graphs,
right and oblique triangle trigonometry, conic sections, vectors, and polar coordinates. Upon completion,
students should be able to solve practical problems and use appropriate models for analysis and prediction.
All precalculus topics will be explored numerically and graphically using a graphics and programmable
calculator.
Lab Description
This course is a laboratory for MAT 172. Emphasis is placed on experiences that enhance the materials
presented in the class. The two hours designated for lab activities in Precalculus Trigonometry will be
integrated within the 5 hours of contact time. Lab activities may include, but are not limited to: group
activities; activities designed to improve problem solving and critical thinking skills; activities to collect,
organize and analyze data; activities designed to strengthen communication skills; and activities which
involve the use of technology, which may include graphing calculators, CBLs, and spreadsheets.
Pre/Co-Requisites
MAT 171, a score of 50 or better on the College Algebra portion of the COMPASS placement test, or a SAT
mathematics score of 600 or better. All test scores must be less than 5 years old to satisfy pre-requisites.
MAT 172A is a co-requisite. Students who have not met the prerequisite(s) may not remain registered for
this course.
Required Materials
Textbook:
Title: Precalculus Mathematics for Calculus
Author: Stewart, Redlin, Watson
Date and Edition: 2006-Fifth Edition
Publisher: Brooks/Cole
Technology:
The TI-89 graphing calculator is
required for this course.
Attendance
The college attendance policy, as stated in the General Catalog, will be followed. The last day to withdraw
from a class without a penalty is March 22, 2010. If you attend class beyond that date, you will get a grade
of A, B, C, D, F, WF, or WP as outlined in the divisions policy document. It is the responsibility of the
student to obtain a course withdrawal form, get it signed by the appropriate people (including the instructor)
and submit it to the registrar. You may read the entire Withdrawal Policy and Attendance Policy by visiting
http://mathandphysics.waketech.edu/pol-attendance.php.
Homework, Labs, and Quizzes
Assignments will be made on topics listed on the course schedule found below. These assignments are the
minimum amount of work that students should do daily. Homework may be collected and graded
periodically, at the discretion of the individual instructor. Completing each day’s assignment is essential for
success in the course. Periodic quizzes will be given throughout the semester. There are also numerous
labs for this course; these are designed to help reinforce the concepts covered. Assignments due for a
grade MUST be turned in at the beginning of class on the due date to receive credit – late work is not
accepted.
Supplemental Materials
Due to the fact that several topics will be expanded beyond what is covered in the text, supplemental
materials will be given to each student and used as an addition to the text.
Tests and Exams
There will be four 2 - hour tests given during the semester and a comprehensive final exam. Students will be
given a designated amount of time to complete all tests. The time will begin when the tests have been
passed out. Students who come in tardy will not be given additional time. There will be NO MAKE-UP
allowed on any missed test or daily work, however, the final exam percentage score may be used to replace
the lowest regular test score.
Grading System
The final average for this course will be determined as follows:
Final Average = .10(lab/quiz average) + .10(Instructor’s choice) +.05(WebAssign) +.75(test/exam average)
“Instructor’s choice” may include group activities, projects, etc.
Final letter grades will be based on a 10- point scale.
Communication
Every curriculum student is provided with an official Wake Tech email account through the student portal
(my.waketech.edu). This college-issued email account is to be used for all email correspondence with
instructors and other college officials.
Academic Honesty Agreement
All students will be required to sign a document acknolwdging the schools academic integraty policy in order to
remain in the course. This policy can be found on blackboard or on the department website at
http://mathandphysics.waketech.edu/pol-honesty.php
Using Technology
As part of the requirements of this course, students may be assigned a project that will require students to use a
graphics calculator and/or a computer spreadsheet to answer questions, solve problems, or explore an idea.
This PROJECT is designed: (1) to make students aware that technology is a useful tool in mathematics and (2)
to encourage students to explore their own ideas about problems and solutions using technology as a tool.
Goals of the Course
 Students will master the material outlined in the syllabus.
 Homework and classwork activities will increase the problem solving skills of the students.
 Students will appreciate the applications found in material covered in this course.
 Students will learn to communicate their thoughts and ideas regarding mathematics.
Benchmarks
After completing the course, students should be able to:
 Simplify/evaluate logarithmic and trigonometric expressions.
 Solve equations involving exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric expressions with and without the aid
of a calculator.
 Write functions that model applications.
 Sketch exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions with and without the aid of a calculator.
 Find the symbolic form of an exponential and trigonometric function given in graphical form.
 Use technology and curve fitting techniques to model data.
 Solve applications using triangle laws, vectors, and properties of conic sections.
 Graph equations using polar coordinates.
Additional Learning Resources
 Course instructors are available during office hours.
 The Individualized Learning Center (ILC) provides tutors free of charge.
 Peers are a good source for help. Study groups are encouraged and can meet regularly in the mathematics
lab in the ILC.
 Disability Support Services is available for students who require academic accommodations due to any
physical, psychological, or learning disability. To determine disability eligibility, contact the office at
108-S Holding Hall or call 919-866-5670 (TTY 919-779-0668).
Schedule of Instruction
All problems are ODD unless specified; EOO MEANS EVERY OTHER ODD.
represents a 50-minute class session. This schedule is subject to change.
HOUR
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
SECTION
LAB 1
“ “
4.1
“ “
4.2
“ “
4.3
8
4.4
9
10
“ “
4.5
11
12
“ “
LAB 2
13
14
15
16
17
" “
Focus on
Modeling
Mini-project
“ “
REVIEW
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
TEST 1
TEST 1
6.1
“ “
6.2
“ “
6.3
25
“ “
26
5.1/5.2
27
28
29
30
31
“ “
5.3
“ “
LAB 3
5.4
Each “HOUR” on the syllabus
TOPIC
GROWTH & DECAY
“ “
EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS
“ “
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
“ “
LAWS OF LOGARITHMS
HOMEWORK
EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC
EQUATIONS
“ “
MODELING WITH EXPONENTIAL
AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
“ “
DATA RE-EXPRESSION
EXPONENTIAL MODELS
POWER FUNCTION MODELS
MORE ON EXPONENTIAL AND
POWER MODELS
EXPERIMENTS; GATHER DATA
WORK ON LAB 3
P.366/1-49 EOO,55,59,61,65,67,71,76, 77
P.336/3-23, 27,31,33,39,51,65-71,72,79
P.341/1-5 ALL
P.349/1-33 EOO, 35-63,67,71,79-83
P.356/3-47 EOO, 49-55,63,66
P.379/3,7,9,11,15,19,21,23,25
P.393/1-10 ALL
HANDOUT
P.383/17-51,53-62 ALL -algebraic/use calc. to
round to hundredth, 81-89
P.385/1-8 ALL
MEASURE OF ANGLES
“ “
RIGHT TRIANGLES
“ “
TRIG FUNCTIONS OF ANGLES
P.474/1-45 EOO, 49-69, 73, 75
“ “
P.496/53-57, 63, 65
UNIT CIRCLE/TRIG FUNCTIONS OF
REAL NUMBERS
“ “
SIN & COS GRAPHS
“ “
MODELING PERIODIC DATA
MORE TRIG GRAPHS
P.416/3-19 EOO,23-26 ALL,27,33,45-53,57,59
P.484/1-13,29-59
P.495/1-35, 39-49
P.429/1,11,15,19,23,27-39,41,45,49,51,75,77
P.463/5,7(a,b,c)
P.441/7-23 EOO(calculator)
NOTE: March 22, 2010 is the last day to withdraw from classes with a grade of W. The Spring term ends on May 7, 2010.
32
33
5.5
LAB 4
34
35
“ “
REVIEW
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
TEST 2
TEST 2
6.4
“ “
6.5
“ “
7.1
“ “
7.2
“ “
7.3
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
“ “
LAB 5
7.4
“ “
7.5
“ “
REVIEW
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
TEST 3
TEST 3
8.1
“ “
LAB 6
8.2
8.3
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
8.4
“ “
10.1/10.4
“ “
10.2/10.4
“ “
10.3/10.4
“ “
LAB 7
10.7
“ “
REVIEW
73
74
75-77
78-80
TEST 4
TEST 4
REVIEW
FINAL
EXAM
HARMONIC MOTION
MODELING CIRCULAR MOTION
WITH PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS
“ “
P.451/1,5,9-15,25,29,31,35,37,41
P. 455/7-40, 59
P.516/1-12,15-24,29-42,45-55
P.520/1,2,4-10 ALL, 15a
LAW OF SINES
“ “
LAW OF COSINES
“ “
TRIG IDENTITIES
“ “
ADDITION & SUBTRACTION
FORMULAS
DOUBLE-ANGLE, HALF-ANGLE,
PRODUCT TO SUM FORMULAS
“ “
FORMULAS SUMMARY
INVERSE TRIG FUNCTIONS
“ “
TRIG EQUATIONS
“ “
P.506/1-13 EOO, 19-23,31-37 ALL
P.513/1-33 EOO,37-49 ALL
P.533/1-85 EOO,89,93,95,99
P.539/1-37
P.548/1-73 EOO, 93
P.557/1-45 EOO,53,55
P.568/1-57 EOO,61-71,79,83
P.519/57-67;P.521/11-14 ALL
P.574/1,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11
POLAR COORDINATES
“ “
DISCOVERY LAB
POLAR GRAPHS
POLAR FORM OF COMPLEX
NUMBERS
VECTORS
“ “
PARABOLAS
“ “
ELLIPSES
“ “
HYPERBOLAS
“ “
APPLICATIONS
PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS
“ “
P.586/1-59 EOO
P.595/1-6 ALL,15-35 EOO w/calc,37,39
P.603/1-13 EOO,25-45 EOO
P.615/3,5,9,15-37,41-45,51,55
P.751/7-17,25-45 EOO,49-52 ALL
P.781/5,7,20,22,26
P.759/5-23,29-37, 51
P.781/1,3,19,23,29
P.768/5-19,27,29,37
P.781/9,11,21,25,27
P.807/11-21,29,31,35-41,36, 63
P.627/1-33,43-49
P.811/25-51,69
NOTE: March 22, 2010 is the last day to withdraw from classes with a grade of W. The Spring term ends on May 7, 2010.