Faculty Syllabus

Instructional Methodology:

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

Synonym: 28866                                            Section: 029

Meeting location: RRC Bldg 8000 Rm 8213   Meeting times: MW 10:30am – 12:15pm

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.

Use of Calculators and Graphing Utilities: 

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. TI-Nspire and other CAS calculators are not allowed.

What will we do in this class?

Exams: There will be 3 unit exams and 1 comprehensive final given during class time. Exam problems will include mostly of computation, short answer questions, and application/word problems. Only writing utensils and an approved calculator are allowed on exams. Notes are not allowed. No phones are allowed. If you use your phone during an exam, you’ll get a 0% on an exam and be reported for academic honesty to the college.

ALEKS Homework: You will have homework assigned on ALEKS (accessed through Blackboard) to complete. Each unit of homework is due on midnight before the corresponding Exam day. 

Written Homework: You will have weekly written homework. Each homework comes with a coversheet. Problems on the coversheet will be graded on accuracy (for 50% of the grade) and the remaining problems from your book will be graded on completion (for 50% of the grade). You can turn in the worksheets stapled to your work on notebook paper at the beginning of class (when we are meeting in person), or scanned online on Blackboard by 11:59pm on their due dates. 

Quizzes: We will begin each class with a daily quiz. Each quiz is graded on a scale of 5 points. The topic of the quiz is material from the previous class day.

Group work: Sometimes we will have time to do a small group work worksheet in class. Each person is expected to turn in their own work.

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)

ALEKS: This course requires ALEKS for online homework.

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

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. Critical Thinking: gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information is covered in every SLO.
2. Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning: applying mathematical, logical, and scientific principles and methods is covered in every SLO.
3. Technology Skills: using appropriate technology to retrieve, manage, analyze, and present information is covered in every SLO.
4. Written, Oral and Visual Communication: communicating effectively adapting to purpose, structure, audience and medium is covered in every SLO.