MATH 118 Precalculus
JOHN FELICE ROME CENTER, LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO
COURSE CODE: "MATH 118"
COURSE NAME: "PRECALCULUS"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring Semester 2013
SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR: Gatto Renato, rgatto1@luc.edu
HOURS: TTH 17:00-18:15
UNITS: 3.00
PREREQUISITES: Math 117 (College Algebra) with a grade of “C-” or
better, or Math Placement Test.
OFFICE HOURS: TTH 18:15-19:15 by appointment
COURSE AIMS:
The main objective of the course is to provide an understanding of selected topics
in calculus of one variable and their applications. Conceptual and computational
skills will be developed, with emphasis on understanding concepts.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Functions and change with an emphasis on linear, quadratic, exponential, and
logarithmic functions and their graphs. Specific geometry topic include concavity
and how transformations affect graphs. Topics in trigonometry include radians,
sinusoidal functions, identities, sum/difference formulas, double/half angle formulas,
and trigonometric equations. Other topics include polar coordinates.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The student will have built a strong foundation to studying Calculus.
TEXTBOOK:
“Algebra and Trigonometry”, Sheldon Axler, 1th Edition, Wiley, ISBN 978-1118-08841-8.
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
There will be 2 exams each carrying 20% of the final grade, a final examination (comprehensive) worth 40%, and homework worth 10%. The remaining 10% is associated with attendance and class participation:
2 Exams..................................................40%
Final Exam .............................................40%
Homework .............................................10%
Attendance and Class Participation .......10%
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
The grade scale is as follows:
A: 90%-100% (The student demonstrates complete, accurate, and critical knowledge of all the topics, is able to make
appropriate connections among different parts of the subject matter, uses the appropriate language and terminology
correctly and rigorously and is autonomous in his study)
B: 80%-89% (The student has a somewhat accurate knowledge of the subject matter and uses clear logic in his/her
arguments)
C: 70%-79% (The student has the essential knowledge of the subject matter, understands the topics, and can express
it in a simple language)
D: 60%-69% (The student has a superficial, mnemonic knowledge of the subject matter, is uncertain and makes errors
in the presentations)
F: below 60% (At best, the students has a superficial knowledge of some of the topics discussed in the course. He
makes serious errors in the presentations).
Numerically, the final grade is computed as follows: G=0.20 E1 + 0.20 E2 + 0.4 F + 0.1 H + 0.1 A,
where G is the final grade, E1 the score in the first exam, E2 the score in the second exam, F the score in the final,
H the average score in the homework, and A is the score associated with attendance and class
participation. The conversion between numerical grade and letter grade is described by the following table:
A 100 - 93
A- 92 - 89
B+ 88 - 86
B 85 - 81
B- 80 - 78
C+ 77 - 75
C 74 - 71
C- 70 - 68
D+ 67 - 63
D 62 - 60
F 59 - 0
-ADDITIONAL CLASS POLICIES:
Cheating is not tolerated (please see the University Catalog for the policy regarding
academic dishonesty).
Coming late to class or leaving early will be possible only with permission of the instructor.
No make-up exams will be given.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance will contribute to the final grade. Full credit for attendance will be given to people
with two or fewer unexcused absences. Three or more absences will result with a proportional
reduction of the grade.
SCHEDULE
Week 1. REVIEW OF INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA: Real line, algebra of the real
numbers, inequalities, intervals, and absolute value, coordinate plane.
Week 2. FUNCTIONS AND THEIR GRAPHS: Functions, function transformations and
graphs, composition of functions.
Week 3. FUNCTIONS AND THEIR GRAPHS: Inverse functions,
a graphical approach to inverse functions.
Week 4. COMBINING ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY: Lines, quadratic expressions and
conic sections. POLYNOMIAL AND RATIONAL FUNCTIONS: Integer exponents.
Week 5. EXPONENTS AND LOGARITHMS: Exponents and exponential functions.
EXAM 1. POLYNOMIAL AND RATIONAL FUNCTIONS: Polynomials, rational
functions.
Week 6. EXPONENTS AND LOGARITHMS: Exponents and exponential functions,
logarithms as inverses of exponential functions.
Week 7. EXPONENTS AND LOGARITHMS: Applications of logarithms, exponential
growth.
Week 8. "e" AND THE NATURAL LOGARITHM: Defining "e" and "ln", approximations
and area with "e" and "ln", exponential growth revisited.
Week 9. TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS: The unit circle, radiants, cosine and sine.
EXAM 2.
Week 10. TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS: More trigonometric functions, trigonometry
in right triangles, trigonometric identities.
Week 11. TRIGONOMETRIC ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY: Inverse trigonometric
functions, inverse trigonometric identities, using trigonometry to compute
areas.
Week 12. TRIGONOMETRIC ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY: The law of sines and the law
of cosines, double-angle and half-angle formulas, addition and subtraction
formulas. APPLICATION OF TRIGONOMETRY: Transformations of
trigonometric functions, polar coordinates. FINAL EXAM.
