CHAMPLAIN  -  ST. LAWRENCE

201-BNX-05 :  Introduction to College Mathematics

Fall 2001

General Objectives

The object of this course is to prepare the student for college level mathematics courses.  We will cover all the topics a student must know to be successful in calculus as well as any other mathematics courses he may take after that.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to understand and use standard mathematical notation, solve problems involving real valued functions and/or trigonometric ratios, solve problems involving second degree relations representing conics, and solve geometric and trigonometric problems involving circles and right triangles.

Teaching Method

The course is given in an interactive lecture form, with frequent interludes for you to try out the ideas being considered.

Course Content

1.       Review of Basic Algebra – exponents and radicals, algebraic expressions, special products and factoring, equations, inequalities, absolute value, coordinate geometry, lines.

2.       Functions – functions, graphs of functions, quadratic functions, composite functions, inverse functions.

3.       Polynomials – division of polynomials, graphs, rational functions, roots and factors.

4.       Exponential and Logarithmic Functions – exponential functions, applications of exponential functions, logarithmic functions, laws of logarithms, applications of logarithms.

5.       Trigonometric Functions – angles, trigonometry of right-angle triangles, trigonometric ratios of any angle, the law of sines and the law of cosines, trigonometric functions and their graphs.

6.       Analytical Trigonometry – trigonometric identities, trigonometric equations, addition and subtraction formulas, double angle and half angle formulas, inverse trigonometric functions.

Evaluation

There will be 10 short quizzes (usually once a week), 4 term tests and a final examination.  Quizzes will determine 10% of the final grade, the tests 10% each and the final examination 40%.  A student missing a quiz or a test will be given zero (0). 

Absences, Rules & Regulations

Attendance is mandatory and a maximum of 7 absences will be tolerated (explained and/or unexplained). More than the 7 absences may mean failure in the course.

St. Lawrence Campus has definite regulations concerning cheating, plagiarism and the quality of written English, which are clearly indicated in The Student Handbook and the St. Lawrence Campus Prospectus.  It will be assumed that all students have read and understood these rules and regulations.

Textbook:

Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus (Third Edition) by James Stewart, Lothar Redlin, & Saleem Watson,  Brooks/Cole (1998).