MTH-140: Precalculus

Nara Yoon

Fall, 2020

E-mail: [email protected]
Class Hours: MW 2:25-3:40 pm
Office Hours: MWF 12-12:50pm and by appt.
Online Classroom/Office: https://adelphiuniversity.zoom.us/j/99594392720

Course Description
Learn advanced mathematical concepts based on High School Mathematics. Study diverse basic
functions and relations including quadratic functions, polynomial, rational functions, exponential
and logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions, conic sections, and mixtures/transformations
of them. Understand their properties, and find their roots, extrema, asymptotes, and discover
their applications. This course can be a decent preparation to study Calculus.

Class Learning Goals

• Multiply and factor polynomial expressions.

• Simplify algebraic expressions.

• Solve linear/quadratic equations/inequalities.

• Express functions in functional notation.

• Graph functions in the rectangular coordinate system.

• Combine functions and determine their inverses.

• Graph and analyze polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions.

• Measure angles in radians.

• Understand the six trigonometric functions, both in terms of right triangles and as coordi-
nates of points on the unit circle.

• Graph and analyze trigonometric functions Manipulate trigonometric expressions using

trigonometric identities.

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 MTH-140: Precalculus

Required Materials
• Webassign access for homework submission (class key: adelphi 0994 0438)
• Textbook titled "Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus" (7th edition) written by Stewart,
Redlin, and Watson.
If you buy an access to Webassign, an electronic copy of the textbook is included. Otherwise,
you can purchase a (loose-leaf) copy of the book at the book store, which includes a WebASsign
access. Also, if you purchase Cengage Unlimited, you can rent a copy of the textbook for $7.99.
• graphic calculator (e.g. TI-83 or TI-84)

Grading Policy
• 35% of your grade will be determined by homework (HW).
The homework will be assigned, submitted and (mostly) auto-graded online at WebAssign
(http://www.webassign.net). You can try a problem up to 5 times before due, and only the final
answer will be graded. The purpose of the homework is to understand better what has been
learned from the class, not just to match the answer. Therefore, if you are not sure about your
logic of problem solving (regardless of the correctness of answer), study/review the relevant
material and then solve the problem again. (Don’t simply guess, especially for multiple-choice
questions.) Late homework will not be accepted.
• 40% of your grade will be determined by 2 midterm exams (20% each).
• 25% of your grade will be determined by the final exam.
All exams are closed-book, and are proctored through Zoom. (Further instruction will be
given later.) A make-up exam can be given, ONLY when (i) a valid excuse is communicated to
the instructor at lease 1 hours before start, and (ii) the excuse is verifiable by an official document
(e.g., a medical certificate). The first midterm and the final exam will cover all the material taught
from the first class day to the day right before the exams. The second midterm will cover the
material taught after the first midterm.
• Additional 5% of your grade will be determined by “active" attendance. (Extra credits)
To gain the credits, upload the proof of your attendance by submitting the images of your
note at Moodle. (You won’t get any point just by attending the class at Zoom.) The note doesn’t
have to include all the material, but required to include (i) quick summary of the material on
your own style, (ii) the examples we worked during the class (show that you didn’t just watch-
ing). Each day the perfect score will be 5. The average of the daily scores will be reflected to the
the final course grade.

Overall class grade will be assigned based on this table. Below 60 will be F.
100 ≥ (A+) ≥ 97 97 > (A) ≥ 93 93 > (A-) ≥ 90
90 > (B+) ≥ 87 87 > (B) ≥ 83 83 > (B-) ≥ 80
80 > (C+) ≥ 77 77 > (C) ≥ 73 73 > (C-) ≥ 70
70 > (D+) ≥ 67 67 > (D) ≥ 63 63 > (D-) ≥ 60

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Course Structure (topics are tentative and subject to change.)

day contents
01/27 Ch. 1 Introduction
02/01 2.1 Functions
02/03 2.2 Graphs of Functions
2.3 Getting Information from the Graph of a Function
02/08 2.6 Transformations of Functions
02/10 2.7 Combining Functions
2.8 One-to-One Functions and Their Inverses
02/15 3.1 Quadratic Functions and Models
02/17 3.2 Polynomial Functions and Their Graphs
3.3 Dividing Polynomials
02/22 3.6 Rational Functions
02/24 4.1 Exponential Functions
4.2 The Natural Exponential Function
03/01 4.3 Logarithmic Functions
03/03 4.4 Laws of Logarithms
4.5 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
03/08 4.6 Modeling with Exponential Functions
03/10 Spring Mini-break; no classes
03/15 Prepare for Midterm 1
03/17 Midterm 1
03/22 5.1 The Unit Circle
03/24 5.2 Trigonometric Functions of Real Numbers
5.3 Trigonometric Graphs
03/29 5.4 More Trigonometric Graphs
03/31 6.1 Angle Measure
6.2 Trigonometry of Right Triangles
04/05 6.3 Trigonometric Functions of Angles
04/07 6.4 Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Right Triangles
7.1 Trigonometric Identities
04/12 7.2 Addition and Subtraction Formulas
04/14 7.3 Double-Angle, Half-Angle, and Product-Sum Formulas
Prepare for Midterm 2
04/19 Midterm 2
04/21 11.1 Parabolas
04/26 11.2 Ellipses
04/28 11.3 Hyperbolas
11.4 Shifted Conics
05/03 Spring Mini-break; no classes
05/05 11.5 Rotation of Axes
05/10 Prepare for Final
05/12 Makeup day; no classes

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Student Access Office (SAO)

If you have a disability that may significantly impact your ability to carry out assigned course-
work, please contact the Student Access Office, (formerly the Office of Disability Support Ser-
vices) located in Post Hall, First Floor, 516-877-3145, [email protected]. The staff will review your
concerns and determine, with you, appropriate and necessary accommodations. When possi-
ble, please allow for a reasonable time frame for requesting ASL Interpreters or Transcription
Services; a minimum of four (4) weeks prior to the start of the semester is required.

Student Counseling Center (SCC)

The SCC provides confidential and professional mental health counseling services, resources,
and referrals to support the academic and personal success, health, and well-being of Adel-
phi students without additional charge. Counselors are available to help students cope with a
variety of stressors and personal issues that may interfere with their academic and personal expe-
riences. The Center also supports students who may be feeling suicidal or in crisis. To schedule
an appointment, please call (516) 877-3646, email [email protected] or stop by the SCC. If you
need immediate assistance, walk-in services are available during the fall and spring semesters
Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-7:00pm; Friday 8:30am-4:00pm. Additional information can also be
found by visiting https://scc.adelphi.edu.

Need support when the SCC is not available? For 24/7 emergency counseling, referral, or assis-
tance, please contact:
• Long Island Crisis Center (516) 679-1111
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-TALK (8255)
• Crisis Text Line: Text 741741
• Adelphi Office of Public Safety:
• Off campus: (516) 877-3511
• On campus: Extension 5 on any campus phone
• 911 (for immediate health-related emergency)

Learning and Writing Centers (LWC)

The Learning and Writing Centers assist students in all disciplines to become more effective
and confident writers and scholars. Peer tutors are available for free for students of all levels.
Appointments are recommended, and can be reserved online at
https://adelphi.mywconline.com/index.php, accessible through our E-campus service tab. The
most timely information for students is available through the LWC Instagram account:
https://www.instagram.com/au_lwc/. More information is available on Youtube. If you are
interested in learning more about the services available at the Learning and Writing Centers,
visit https://writing.adelphi.edu/ or https://learning.adelphi.edu. Call 516.877.3200 or stop by
our locations any time.

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Honor Code Statement

Students enrolled in this course are expected to abide by the Adelphi University Honor Code.
The purpose of the Honor Code is to protect the academic integrity of the University by encour-
aging consistent ethical behavior in assigned coursework by students. Following is excerpted
from the Student Honor Code.

The Code of Academic Honesty

The Code of Academic Honesty prohibits behavior that can broadly be described as lying, cheat-
ing, or stealing. Violations of the Code of Academic Honesty will include, but not be limited to,
the following:

• Fabricating data or citations

• Collaborating in areas not approved by the professor

• Unauthorized multiple submission of one’s own work

• Sabotage of others; work, including library vandalism or manipulation

• Plagiarism

• The creation of unfair advantage

• The facilitation of dishonesty

• Tampering with or falsifying records

• Cheating

• Other forms of academic dishonesty

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