The National University of Lesotho

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

M1511 Course outline

Course title: Pre-Calculus Course Code: M1511

Academic year: 2024/2025

Pre-requisite: LGCSE Mathematics pass with B or better or equivalent.

Course 1. Prof. M.Molati Email address: [email protected]

Instructors:
Office number: SCI235

2. Mr. M.J. Seitlheko Email address: [email protected]

Office number: SCI 105b

3. Dr W.D. Poka Email address: [email protected]

Office number: SCI 228

Contact hours per week: 3 lectures (50 minutes each) and 2-hour tutorial (compulsory) = 14 credits

Class size: About 130 each class

Course Offering: First semester

Course description: The course is meant to equip students with the basic knowledge and skills that will enable them cope with the
subsequent calculus courses. The emphasis in the teaching will be geared towards promoting conceptual understanding of the key
ideas required for mathematical problem-solving. In addition, the course aims at exposing students to the power and utility of
mathematics to model the real world.

Course aims

The purpose of this course is to:

- Reinforce and extend basic concepts learnt at high school.
- Prepare students for further studies in calculus.
- Provide a rigorous approach that students need to study other subjects.
- Build new mathematical knowledge through problem solving and other relevant teaching strategies.
- Enhance higher order thinking skills [e.g. critical, analytical, versatile, logical and creative] in mathematical problem-solving.
- Instill the mastery of the language of mathematics by expressing mathematical ideas precisely using correct mathematical
notation.
 Course Objectives

By the end of the course, students are expected to acquire knowledge and skills that will enable them to:

1. Apply definitions, theorems, rules and procedures in solving mathematical problems.

2. Apply elementary computational techniques to other related subjects.

3. Develop mathematical intuition and visualize essential concepts.

4. Apply knowledge learnt to single variable calculus.

5. Demonstrate personal responsibility and consistency in doing work.

TOPIC Course Content Achievement Indicators Estimated
Teaching
Duration
1. Sets  Definition and notation of  Define set, use ellipsis Week:1
set  Describe a set by listing, in words
 Some special sets: subset,  Write sets in set builder notation and inter-
proper subset, equal sets, val notation.
universal set and set  Determine if a set is well-defined, finite or
compliment infinite.
 Set operations:  Determine if sets are equal equivalent or
intersection, union, neither.
difference, symmetric  Use proper notation for element, subset,
difference, Cartesian proper subset, empty set, Universal set.
product.  Find the number of subsets from a univer-
 The set of real numbers: sal set by listing or by using heuristic strate-
natural numbers, whole gies.
numbers, integers, rational  Recognise Venn diagram as a visual repre-
and irrational numbers. sentation of a set and relationships be-
 Properties of real numbers tween sets.
 Find the cardinal number of a set by using
proper notation
 Understand and appropriately use the set
operations of intersection and union and
the conditions of
“ and” and “or”
  Determine the solution set.
 Find the complement, intersection, union,
difference and Cartesian product.
 Define sets of numbers
 Simplify expressions using the order of op-
erations.
2.  Exponents and radicals  Apply the properties of exponents to Week:2
Algebraic Expressions  Polynomial and rational simplify and evaluate expressions.
expressions  Apply properties of rational exponents to
simplify and evaluate expressions.
 Add, subtract, multiply and divide
monomials and polynomials.
 Factor polynomials.
3. Equations and  Quadratic equations  Solve quadratic and other non-linear Week:3
Inequalities  Other types of equations inequalities in one variable.
(radical and absolute value
equations)
 Modelling with equations
 Nonlinear inequalities
 Absolute value inequalities
4. Functions  Relations  Define a relation Week: 4
 Domain, codomain and  Define a function
range of function  Determine whether a relation is a function
 Four ways to represent a or not
function  Describe four ways to represent a function:
 Evaluating a function verbal, table, graphically (geometrically)
 Arithmetic operations on and algebraically.
functions: sum, difference,  Find the domain, range, intercepts
quotient, composition including restrictions on radical and rational
 Properties: constant, even, functions.
odd, increasing and  Describe piecewise functions.
decreasing functions  Use function operations to combine two or
 1-1, onto functions and more functions.
their inverses  Identify a function as one-to-one, onto and
 Piece-wise functions the implications on inverse functions.
 Absolute value functions  Find the inverse of a function and verify
 Graphs of functions functions as inverses by using property of
 Vertical and horizontal line inverse functions.
tests  Demonstrate the use of vertical and
 Transformations of horizontal line tests
functions  Apply function transformations to the
graphs of functions.
Test 1 Date to be announced

5. Polynomial and  Polynomial function Week:

Rational functions (including degrees, zeros  Given Algebraic, numeric or graphical 5&6
and multiplicity) representations, recognize the function as
 Remainder theorem polynomial or rational.
 Factor theorem  Classify a polynomial function by its degree
 Rational zeros and write its coefficients.
 Rational functions  Recognize the characteristics of a
(definition, long and polynomial function.
synthetic divisions)  Identify zeros and multiplicities.
 Apply long and synthetic division to divide
polynomials.
 Apply the remainder theorem to evaluate
polynomials.
 Make the connection between the
remainder theorem and factor theorem.
 List the possible rational zeros of a
polynomial function by using the rational
zeros theorem
 Find all zeros of a polynomial function by
applying the remainder, factor and rational
zeros theorem.
 Find all zeros by factoring if possible.
 Write a polynomial function given its zeros.
6. Exponential  Exponential functions.  Define exponential function. Week 7
functions  Domain and range of  Identify key features of the graphs of expo-
exponential functions nential function including domain, range,
 The number e intercepts and asymptotes.
 Graphs of exponential  Distinguish exponential functions from pol-
functions ynomial functions.
 Exponential equations  Graph exponential functions of any base in-
cluding the number e.
 Solve exponential of any base including e.
 Solve real world problems involving expo-
nential functions.

7. Logarithmic  Logarithmic functions  Define logarithmic function. Week 7

functions  Domain and range of a  Understand the exponential and logarith-
logarithmic function mic functions as inverses of each other and
 Graphs of logarithmic use this fact to convert between exponen-
functions tial and logarithmic form.
 Properties  Identify intercepts, asymptotes domain and
 Solving logarithmic range of logarithmic function.
equations  Graph logarithmic functions of any base.
 Evaluate logarithms of any base without us-
ing a calculator.
 Change logarithms from one base to an-
other using the change of base formula.
  Expand and combine logarithmic expres-
sions using properties of logarithms.
 Solve and logarithmic equations of any
base.
 Solve word problems involving logarithmic
functions.
8. Trigonometric  Angles and their measures  Define trigonometric functions. Week 8&9
functions  Length of the arc  Understand right angle trigonometry and
 The unit circle. the unit circle.
 Trigonometric functions  Use a unit circle to define and evaluate
and their properties trigonometric functions.
 Domain, range and period  Define radian measure.
 Graphs of trigonometric  Convert degree measure into radian
functions measure.
 Inverse trigonometric  Differentiate between the coterminal and
functions the reference angle.
 Find coterminal angles and reference angle
of a given angle.
 Use the unit circle to explain symmetry,
even and odd and period of trig functions.
 Understand the graphs of trigonometric
functions.
 Recognise and find restriction of the
domain of trigonometric functions to find
inverses.
  Find all trigonometric functions given one
terminal point.
 Evaluate trigonometric functions without a
calculator
Test 2 Date to be announced

 Trigonometric identities  Prove the Pythagorean Identity and use it Week :10
9. Trigonometric  Addition and subtraction to solve problems.
identities and formulas  Simplify trigonometric expressions and
equations  Double-angle, half-angle, verify trigonometric identities.
and Product-sum formulas  Prove identities using the addition and
 Trigonometric equations subtraction formulas and use them to solve
problems.
 Solve trigonometric equations.
10. Conics  Parabolas  Differentiate between four conic sections Week :11
 Ellipses circle, parabola, ellipse, hyperbola.
 Hyperbolas  Describe the terms center, foci, vertices
and directrix.
 Graph the conic sections.
11. Counting Techniques  Pascal’s Triangle  Determine Pascal’s Triangle and use to re- Week :12
 Fundamental principles of late the coefficients in the expansion of any
addition and multiplication row of a binomial
 Permutation  Factorial notation
 Combination  Expand a binomial of power 𝑛 > 0 using bi-
 Binomial theorem nomial theorem
  Extended Binomial  Determine a given term in the expansion of
theorem a binomial to power n
Test 3 Date to be announced

Grading and Assessment

The coursework will consist of at least 2 tests, selected tutorial problems, assignments and quizzes.

The overall weighted mean is constituted by coursework mark and exam mark in the ratio 1:2. This weighting may be affected by
online assessment and other factors [as the teaching will be blended according to the university policy]. In this case, students will be
notified about the new weighting.
 References (Recommended)

1. Stewart, J., L. Redlin and S. Watson (2016). Precalculus (6E), Nelson Education.
NB: Latest edition most preferable.
2. M1501 Lecture notes (MACS)
NB: Not all topics are covered here.
3. Vatsa, B., S., Vatsa S. (2009), Discrete Mathematics (4E), New age international limited, New Delhi

NB: This is only recommended for set theory topic

4. Larson, R. (2013). Precalculus (10E), Nelson Education.

5. Hungerford, T. W. and D. J. Shaw (2008). Contemporary precalculus: a graphing approach (5E), Nelson Education.
PLUS any other relevant Precalculus (and related topics) textbooks.

NB: You are allowed to use any other credible sources.