Math 115
Precalculus Mathematics

Instructor

Ernest Boyd, Wissink 273, 389-1452
Office Hours:

Textbook

Precalculus by Stewart, Redlin and Watson, 5th Edition

Course Content

We will look at problems using algebra and trigonometry that will prepare the student for calculus. We will examine functions graphically, computationally and symbolically as they help us represent real-world information. We will study polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric and inverse trigonometric functions. We will also work problems using conic sections, systems of inequalities, matrices, vectors and complex numbers. Students will be introduced to graphing functions with Microsoft Excel, Mathematica and WinPlot. Prerequisites for Math 115 are four years of basic high school mathematics.

Schedule

12:00 - 12:50 pm, MTHF in Wissink Academic Computer Center Room 116

Tests

Monday, Feb. 12
Tuesday, Mar. 20
Thursday, Apr. 19

Final exam

Wednesday, May 9, 10:15 - 12:15 pm

Grading Policy

Each test will be graded on its own scale normalized to 100%. The final will also be graded on a scale normalized to 100%. All of the homework and quizzes collected will be totaled and graded as one test. At the end of the semester the five grades will be averaged and compared to the average of the scales. Grading will reflect the mathematical correctness of the answer and the quality of the presentation in terms of completeness and organization. Late assignments will be penalized. Active participation in the class discussions will also be factored into the evaluations. Make-up tests will be given only in special cases, when an excused absence has been prearranged. Incompletes will follow the university's policy as expressed in the student bulletins and the faculty handbook. No incomplete will be given to repeat the entire course.

MSU provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in educational programs, activities or services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodation to participate in class activities or meet course requirements should first register with the Office of Disability Services, located in 0132 Memorial Library, telephone 389-2825, TDD 711 and then contact me as soon as possible.



Homework Assignments

  1. Page 10 #11-14, 19, 24, 26, 29-32, 39, 40, 55-60, 74.
  2. Page 21 #15, 16, 21, 29, 39, 47, 51, 63, 67, 83, 85.
  3. Page 31 #9, 16, 21, 25, 31, 35, 37, 47, 51, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 75, 83, 93, 101, 111, 112.
  4. Page 41 #7, 11, 23, 25, 37, 41, 49, 51, 61, 62, 63, 67, 69, 77, 78.
  5. Quiz Friday, Jan. 19.
  6. Page 55 #19, 21, 41, 43, 45, 49, 57, 61, 75, 76, 82, 83. Hand in 76 and 82 on Thursday, Jan. 25.
  7. Page 68 #42, 44, 49, 50, 53, 58, 63, 64, 68, 71, 75, 80, 81. Hand in 42, 50, 58, 64, 68 on Monday, Jan. 29.
  8. Hand in your estimate of the height of the bell tower using similar triangles showing the measurements and calculation you used. Hand in no later than Feb. 2.
  9. Page 84 #25, 39, 55, 59, 69, 75.
  10. Page 109 #25, 30, 41, 46.
  11. Hand in these problems on Friday, Feb 2.
  12. Page 99 #84, 89, 94, 97. Hand in #84, 94 on Monday, Feb. 5.
  13. Page 120 #19, 23, 27, 31, 49, 51, 68, 69. Hand in #68 on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
  14. Page 127 #23, 24, 35, 36. Hand in #24, 36 on Thursday, Feb. 8.
  15. Page 155 #23, 27, 33, 43, 47, 49.
  16. Page 168 #49.
  17. Page 179 #23, 27, 28, 38.
  18. Page 190 #1, 3, 5, 9, 13, 15, 61, 63, 65, 67.
  19. Page 201 #13, 17, 23, 35, 59.
  20. Page 211 #23, 29, 34, 35.
  21. Review Page 131 #21, 23, 27, 33, 45, 67, 73, 80, 81, 85, 91, 107, 127, 132, 136. Page 234 #32, 44, 48a-c, 53, 55, 62.
  22. Page 220 #18, 19, 33, 34, 37, 39.
  23. Page 231 #33, 39, 40, 41, 48. Hand in #40, 48 along with the graphs of the functions and inverses on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Also hand in page 236 #56.
  24. Page 262 #28, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36. Hand in #34, 36 on Thursday, Feb. 22.
  25. Page 280 #23, 25, 28, 31, 36. Hand in #28, 36 on Friday, Feb. 23.
  26. Page 313 #43, 47, 49, 56, 62, 63. Hand in #56, 62 on Monday, Feb. 26. Also hand in page 235 #48.
  27. Page 336 #11, 13, 25, 29, 31, 35, 37, 43, 55, 56, 66, 68, 69.
  28. Page 349 #5, 7, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 27, 49, 55, 57, 72.
  29. Page 357 #23, 25, 27, 35, 41, 45, 51, 57, 63, 64.
  30. Hand in this problem on Tuesday, Mar. 6.
  31. Page 366 #19, 23, 31, 34, 39, 43, 50, 57, 64, 69, 71, 74. Hand in #34, 50, 74 on Tuesday, Mar. 6.
  32. Page 379 #3, 9, 18, 21, 26, 28, 35. Hand in #18, 26, 28 on Tuesday, Mar. 6.
  33. Review Page 317 #35, 68, 69, 73. Page 383 #8, 36, 46, 57, 86, 90, 94.
  34. Page 407 #21-29 odds, 32. Hand in #32 on Tuesday, Mar. 27.
  35. Page 416 #3-21 odds, 27-35 odds, 64, 68. Hand in #64, 68 on Thursday, Mar. 29.
  36. Page 429 #19, 25, 33-36, 59, 60, 63, 64, 75, 76. Hand in #34, 36, 76 on Monday, Apr. 2.
  37. Page 441 #41-47. Hand in #42, 44 on Tuesday, Apr. 3.
  38. Hand in your estimate of the height of the bell tower using h + x*tan(π/180*θ) showing the measurements and calculation you used. Hand in no later than Apr.6.
  39. Quiz in class on Friday, Apr. 6.
  40. Page 475 #49, 51, 53, 57, 59, 69, 75, 77, 79, 84.
  41. Page 484 #3, 5, 9, 19, 21, 39, 44, 53, 54, 60, 63.
  42. Page 496 #9, 13, 15, 27, 30, 45, 47, 49, 57, 61, 62, 63, 68. Hand in #68 on Tuesday, Apr. 10.
  43. Page 507 #32, 37, 40. Hand in #40 on Tuesday, Apr. 10.
  44. Page 514 #37, 39, 43, 44. Hand in #44 on Thursday, Apr. 12.
  45. Page 533 #9, 17, 35, 48, 59, 62.
  46. Page 539 #1, 5, 23-29, 41, 43, 55.
  47. Page 548 #5, 7, 19, 21, 37, 51, 91, 94.
  48. Review Page 455 #7, 15, 23, 39, 65. Page 518 #41, 64. Page 572 #51, 57, 59, 63.
  49. Page 557 #3, 5, 7, 9, 19, 22, 31, 37, 39, 45, 56. Hand in #56 on Friday, Apr. 27.
  50. Page 568 #9, 17, 19, 23, 29, 37, 44, 47, 63, 71, 72, 81, 82. Hand in #44, 72, 82 on Tuesday, May 1.
  51. Page 586 #3, 5, 21, 25, 29, 35.
  52. Page 595 #15, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 33.
  53. Page 289 #13, 19, 29, 33, 61.
  54. Page 603 #15, 27, 31, 41, 51, 59, 65, 71, 77, 83, 87.

Mathematica and Excel Supplements

  1. Excel spreadsheet for Stewart, 5th Ed., page 11 #74
  2. Solving a Quadratic Equation
  3. Graphing Functions in Mathematica
  4. Graphing Functions in Excel
  5. Slope of the Secant Line
  6. Concavity
  7. Compound Interest and Euler's Number
  8. Sigmoid Data
  9. Semi-Logarithm Plot
  10. Logarithmic Scales
  11. Atmospheric Pressure
  12. Semi-log or log-log
  13. Graphing Trigonometric Functions
  14. Plotting y = A*sin(b*x - c)
  15. Adding Cosine Waves
  16. Adding Travelling Cosine Waves
  17. Clockwork Art
  18. Plotting in Polar Coordinates
  19. Discrete Logistic Equation

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