Call Number: 47113
Section Number: WC801
Classroom: West Charleston D Building, Room 211
Class Meeting Times: Tuesday 8:00AM—9:20AM and
Thursday 8:00AM—9:20AM (exception: CSN Holidays and Breaks)
MATH 126 Precalculus I 3 (3,0,0,0)
A rigorous discussion of algebra concepts necessary for calculus
is the focal point of this course. Topics include an indepth
investigation of algebraic functions and their graphs
and solutions of systems of equations. Prerequisite: MATH
096 or MATH 097 both with a grade of C or better; or a
satisfactory ACT/SAT/Placement Test Score. Note: This
course serves as a prerequisite course for MATH 127 and is
essential for students planning to take calculus.
Name: Davis Finley
Office: West Charleston H Building, Room 101P
Telephone: (702) 651-5713
Email: davis.finley@csn.edu
Web:
http://www.nevada.edu/~finley
Precalculus: Concepts Through Functions, A Right Triangle Approach to Trigonometry by Michael Sullivan and Michael Sullivan, III
a non-graphing scientific calculator to use taking exams
You must use graph paper to do graphing homework problems.
There will be four exams in this class: Exam #1, Exam #2, Exam #3, and the Final Exam. Each will have a maximum possible score of 100 points.
If you miss Exam #1, Exam #2, or Exam #3, you may take a make-up for it, subject to the following:
There is no make-up Final Exam.
There will be restrictions on the use of electronic devices during exams. Be prepared to take exams without the use of a graphing calculator, a telephone, a music player, a computer, or any other electronic device whose use I decide to ban.
There is no extra credit.
At the end of the semester, your course score will be calculated by averaging your four exam scores. The maximum possible course score is 100.
If your course score is
For the Fall, 2008, semester, the last day to
If you have a documented disability that may require assistance, you will need to contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) for coordination of your academic accommodations. The DRC is located in Student Services on each campus. The phone numbers for each DRC office are: West Charleston 651-5644, Cheyenne 651-4045, and Henderson 651-3795. For students that would like to perform community service or earn extra money, stop by the DRC to fill out a job interest card. This office hires students as note takers, proctors, scribes, and lab assistants as needed.
Homework is assigned in class. Each homework assignment must be submitted at the beginning of class on its due date. Late homework will not be accepted.
Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. You are expected to have read and understood the current issue of the student handbook (published by Student Services) regarding student responsibilities and rights, and the intellectual property policy, for information about procedures and about what constitutes acceptable on-campus behavior.
Class attendance is required. You are responsible for everything that you miss if you are absent, regardless of the reason for your absence.
Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late homework, make-up exam, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.
| Date | Section Number | Section Title |
|---|---|---|
| August 26 | F.1 | The Distance and Midpoint Formulas |
| F.2 | Graphs of Equations in Two Variables; Intercepts; Symmetry | |
| F.4 | Circles | |
| August 28 | 1.1 | Functions |
| September 2 | 1.2 | The Graph of a Function |
| September 4 | 1.3 | Properties of Functions |
| September 9 | 1.4 | Library of Functions; Piecewise-defined Functions |
| September 11 | 1.5 | Graphing Techniques: Transformations |
| September 16 | 1.6 | Mathematical Models: Constructing Functions |
| September 18 | 2.1 | Properties of Linear Functions |
| 2.2 | Building Linear Functions from Data | |
| September 23 | Exam #1 | |
| September 25 | 2.3 | Quadratic Functions and Their Zeros |
| September 30 | 2.4 | Properties of Quadratic Functions |
| October 2 | 2.5 | Inequalities Involving Quadratic Functions |
| October 7 | 2.6 | Quadratic Models |
| October 9 | A.11 | Complex Numbers |
| 2.7 | Complex Zeros of a Quadratic Function | |
| October 14 | 2.8 | Equations and Inequalities Involving the Absolute Value Function |
| October 16 | 3.1 | Polynomial Functions and Models |
| October 21 | Exam #2 | |
| October 23 | A.3 | Polynomial Division |
| A.5 | Synthetic Division | |
| October 28 | 3.2 | Properties of Rational Functions |
| 3.3 | The Graph of a Rational Function | |
| October 30 | 3.4 | Polynomial and Rational Inequalities |
| November 4 | 3.5 | The Real Zeros of a Polynomial Function |
| November 6 | 3.6 | Complex Zeros; Fundamental Theorem of Algebra |
| November 11 | Veterans Day—no class | |
| November 13 | 4.1 | Composite Functions |
| November 18 | Exam #3 | |
| November 20 | 4.2 | One-to-One Functions; Inverse Functions |
| November 25 | 4.3 | Exponential Functions |
| 4.4 | Logarithmic Functions | |
| 4.5 | Properties of Logarithms | |
| November 27 | Thanksgiving Day—no class | |
| December 2 | 4.6 | Logarithmic and Exponential Equations |
| December 4 | 4.8 | Exponential Growth and Decay; Newton's Law; Logistic Growth and Decay |
| December 9 | 10.1 | Systems of Linear Equations: Substitution and Elimination |
| 10.6 | Systems of Nonlinear Equations | |
| December 11 | Final Exam | |