Prerequisites: MATH 1414 with a C or higher Or appropriate score on the ACC Higher Level Mathematics Placement Test. 

Importance of Prerequisites: This is not a review course.  If you do not have current knowledge of the material in our MATH 1414 College Algebra for Precalculus, please ask your instructor about changing to a different course to better prepare for MATH 2412.

Required Materials  

This is a First Day™ class. The cost of required course materials, including an online version of the textbook and ALEKS, has been added to your tuition and fees bill.

Textbook: College Algebra & Trigonometry, 2nd Edition by Miller & Gerken. McGraw-Hill (ALEKS software) ISBN: 9781260260441 (hardcover), 9781264248841 (spiral bound), or 9781264248667 (ebook) 

Pairing your Blackboard with ALEKS is required for online homework.

Use of Graphing Utilities:  We will use graphing calculators and/or graphing software when their use enhances the understanding of a mathematical idea.  Graphing calculators are not required for this course. However, it is required that you have access to some technology that allows you to graph functions and find their zeros.  Most ACC faculty are familiar with the TI family of graphing calculators. Hence, TI calculators are highly recommended for student use. Other calculator brands can also be used. Your instructor will determine the extent of calculator use in your class section.

Technology rentals : https://www.austincc.edu/students/student-technology-services.

Course Calendar 

Note: Schedule changes may occur during the semester. Any changes will be announced in class and posted as a Blackboard Announcement.

Important Dates

Last day to withdraw: April 27, 2026 (Monday) 

Holidays: Spring Break : March 16 - 22 (Monday - Sunday)

(Please note these are the ONLY holidays this semester.)

Making Time to Learn

We learn math by thinking about and working on mathematical problems, which takes time. Practice is crucial in a math course. To ensure that you have adequate time, set aside 8-12 hours per week outside of class time to practice and study for this course.  Ask for help immediately when something isn’t clear.  

Getting Help

ACC provides several free resources for students who need help; descriptions and links are below:  

Office hours: Another name for office hours is “student hours.” This is the time your instructor has set aside to answer student questions, so feel free to drop by if you have questions. Office hours may be virtual or on campus; see information above. 

Instructional Associates: Instructional Associates specific to the course you are taking are available for tutoring. To make an appointment, go to https://sites.google.com/a/austincc.edu/math-students/meet/list and then click on your course. 

Learning Labs: The ACC Learning Labs provide tutoring in math and other subjects. To schedule an appointment, go to https://www.austincc.edu/students/learning-lab. This site includes information about in person and virtual tutoring options.

Academic Coaching: Academic coaches offer extra support to students with study strategies; they want to help you learn to be an active participant in your own learning process. For more information or to make an appointment with an academic coach, go to https://www.austincc.edu/students/academic-coaching. 

ACC Student Services: Services are offered in many areas, including Academic, Financial, Personal, and Technology Support.  For more information, go to https://www.austincc.edu/student-support. 

Grade

Grade Components

Tests (3 tests and the comprehensive final exam) : 80%

Written Homework: 10%

ALEKS online homework : 10%

The final course grade will be calculated as follows :

80% of the 4 tests average + 10% of 10 best written homework average + 10% of 27 best ALEKS homework average

Grading Scale

A: 90 - 100

B: 80 – 89

C: 70 – 79

D: 60 – 69

F: < 60

Where can I find my grades? 

Grades will be posted on Blackboard > Gradebook. 

What will we do in this class? 

Tests: There will be a total of 4 tests including the final exam. Tests will be given in the scheduled class time on the designated dates.

Written Homework: A written homework assignment will be given on a weekly basis in general. The problems are from your textbook, and are listed on the Blackboard > Written homework. Though it is strongly recommended for you to work on as many problems as possible, 10 problems from each set will be selected to be graded. You are expected to show all your work on papers in detail showing your thought process to receive full credits. Once you are done, organize your work, scan right side up, and upload on the Blackboard by the set due date. A late submission will be given the deduction of 5 points if submitted within 3 days, 10 points after 3 days from the due date.

ALEKS online homework : ALEKS online homework for each section can be found on the Assignment tab. The due dates are set up so that all the sections that will be covered on the next test are all due on the same day when the test is given. Any homework done past due dates will be accepted and counted in with 10% of deduction when the final course grade is calculated. ALEKS homework will be graded by the system, not by the instructor. 

Written work for tests and written homework will NOT be accepted if submitted by email or any other means.

What happens if I miss something? 

Dropped Grade Policy: At the end of the semester, the lowest of the written homework, and 3 lowest ALEKS homework will be dropped. If your final exam grade is not the lowest of all four tests, it will replace the lowest of the first 3 tests.

Late Work Policy :  Any late written homework receives a deduction of 5 points, if submitted within 3 days from the due date, and 10 points if submitted after 3 days from the due date. A late ALEKS homework will be counted with a deduction of 10% of the grade.

Missed Exam Policy:  There will be no make-up for the comprehensive final exam. Make-up is limited to one per semester. For the first 3 tests, if you have to miss an exam for some reason, you have to make a request within 24 hours from the scheduled date and time. Otherwise, it will be counted as zero and your final exam grade will replace it.

Attendance/Class Participation Expectations and Policy: Regular and punctual class and laboratory attendance is expected of all students. If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class.

About Your Course

Instructional Methodology: 

Classroom Section: This course is taught in the classroom primarily as a lecture/discussion course.

Synonym: 17753 Section: 012

Meeting location: RRC8 8211.00             Meeting times: TTh 1:30 - 3:15 pm

Prerequisites: MATH 1414 with a C or higher Or appropriate score on the ACC Higher Level Mathematics Placement Test. 

Importance of Prerequisites: This is not a review course.  If you do not have current knowledge of the material in our MATH 1414 College Algebra for Precalculus, please ask your instructor about changing to a different course to better prepare for MATH 2412.

Course Content

Course Description

Credit Hours: 4, Contact Hours: 4

MATH 2412 Precalculus: Functions and Graphs (4-4-0). A course designed to prepare students for Calculus I (MATH 2413). Content includes the study of algebraic, rational, logarithmic, exponential, and trigonometric functions, graphs, equations, and applications; trigonometric identities; parametric equations; conic sections; vectors; the polar coordinate system.

Course Rationale

This course is designed to teach students the algebraic and trigonometric modeling concepts needed for scientific/engineering calculus.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to: 

1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of properties of functions.
2. Recognize and apply algebraic and transcendental functions and solve related equations. 
3. Apply graphing techniques to algebraic and transcendental functions.
4. Compute the values of trigonometric functions for key angles in all quadrants of the unit circle measured in both degrees and radians. 
5. Prove trigonometric identities.
6. Solve right and oblique triangles. 
7. Graph and transform equations in polar coordinates and using parametric equations.
8. Apply vector operations and use vectors to solve applications.
9. Demonstrate knowledge of the graphs and applications of conic sections.

General Education Competencies

1. Communication Skills: Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral, and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.
2. Critical Thinking: Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.
3. Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Apply mathematical, logical, and scientific principles and methods through the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions.