PRE-CALCULUS SYLLABUS

Lee Wells – Instructor

GOALS

·         To nurture students’ appreciation for mathematics and develop critical thinking ability

·         To prepare and motivate students to take Calculus

TEXTBOOK: Pre-Calculus with Limits (Larson, Hostetler, Edwards. Published by Houghton Mifflin)

TOPICS

• Functions and Their Graphs
• Polynomial and Rational Functions
• Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
• Trigonometric Functions
• Analytic Trigonometry
• Vectors
• Sequences, Series, and Probability
• Analytic Geometry
• Parametric and Polar Equations
• Limits

MATERIALS (Bring to every class meeting!)

• 3-ring binder dedicated to Pre-Calculus
• Textbook                                              
• Pencil(s) (not pen) and eraser!
• Graphing calculator (TI-8x)

HOMEWORK

• Assigned every class period (very few exceptions) and posted online
• May or may not be collected
• Assessed on effort and completion
• Students completing ALL assignments in a quarter will earn 2% on their quarter grade.
• Students missing FOUR assignments will lose 4% on their quarter grade.
• Students will lose 0.25% on their quarter grade for each HW missed beyond 4.

Grades will be based total accumulated points in the following two categories:

QUICK QUIZZES (10 pts.)

• Usually 2 or 3 per week
• Questions/problems will be similar to HW.
• Scores < 10 will be assigned a letter grade (A = 9.7; B = 9; C = 8; D = 7; F = 6.5)

QUIZZES (40-60 pts.) and TESTS (80-100 pts.)

• Quizzes may be unannounced. Tests, which cover more material, will always be announced.

• A test or quiz can be made up before or after school in the case of an excused absence. Please refer to the Student Handbook for guidelines for make up work. Make up arrangements are the responsibility of the student.