MAT 170  -  Precalculus    Spring 2005 Syllabus
Instructor Reserves the right to change the syllabus at any time

Instructor:  Jay Abramson  Office:  PSA 745
Office hours: MW  12:40-1:30  TTH 9:40 to 10:30  PSA 745
Office Phone:  480/965-5007  Email:  abramson@math.la.asu.edu
Web Page:  http://math.la.asu.edu/~abramson/

Prerequisites: (1) A grade of 'B' or better in MAT 106 or equivalent or grade of 'C' or better in MAT 117 or better, and (2) completion of department Unified Placement Exam. The placement exam is taken online and must be completed by the end of the first week of classes.

Materials: Precalculus 3rd Ed. By Faires and DeFranza. Graphing calculator also required. Student solutions manual highly recommended.

Graphing Calculator: The recommended models are TI-83, TI-83 Plus, and Casio 9850. Any calculator that has a computer algebra system (CAS) will not be allowed on the exams. This includes, but is not limited to, the TI-89, TI-92, Casio Algebra FX 2.0.

Homework, Projects & Quizzes:

Homework:  Homework will be submitted via the internet using the online homework system WeBWorK. Students will log in at

Quizzes are given at the discretion of the instructors, they are usually daily, performed collaboratively and will reflect material that has recently been discussed in class.  No make-up quizzes will be given.

Tutor Center:  The Math Tutor Center in PSA 116 will be open M-Th 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 12 - 4 pm.  In order to enter the Tutor Center each student must have a valid ASU "Sun Card".

Final Exam:  There will be no make ups given for the final, and no finals will be rescheduled for personal reasons, including nonrefundable airplane tickets.


Grade Allocation:
A: 90% - 100%
B: 80% - 89%
C: 70% - 79%
D: 60% - 69%
E:  Below 60 %

Grade Determination
Assessment
Percent of Grade
When
Homework and Quizzes
25
Daily
Test 1
16
W, Th Feb 9-10
Test 2
17
W, Th Mar 9-10
Test 3
17
W, Th Apr 20-21
Final Exam
25
Th, May 5  6:40-8:50 pm
 
100 percent total

Exams: Tests 1, 2 and 3 will be administered during the semester in the department Testing Center, PSA 21. To be admitted to the testing center,
students will need a SunCard and a label. The instructor will pass out the labels in class before the exams. Students have unlimited time to take the exams, subject to
testing center hours. For more information, go to http://fym.la.asu.edu/~fym/TestingCenter/tstcenter.shtml

Make-up exams are not allowed without prior approval from the instructor.

Schedule:

In 'not bold' is the week and the topics covered in lecture that week.
In 'bold' are the assignments with section numbers and the due dates.

All due dates due by 11:59 pm (mid night-ish), unless other wise noted.

Week     Sections Covered    Assignment/Sections/Due Date
1   1.1 – 1.4   I:  Intro  due 1/23
2   1.5 – 1.6   1:  1.2 – 1.5  due 1/30
3   1.7 – 1.8   2:  1.6 – 1.8  due 2/6
4   2.2 – 2.3   3:  2.2 – 2.3  due 2/13
5   2.4 – 3.2    4:  2.4 – 2.5  due 2/20
6   3.2 – 3.4    5:  3.2 – 3.3  due 2/27
7   3.4 – 3.6    6:  3.4 – 3.5 &  7: 3.6  due 3/6
8   Review, 4.1 – 4.2    8:  4.3   due 3/13
Spring Break
9   4.3 – 4.4    9:  4.4 – 4.5  due 3/27
10  4.5 – 4.6    10:  4.6  due 4/3
11  4.7 – 4.8    11: 4.2, 4.7, 4.8  due 4/10
12  4.9, Review   12:  4.9  due 4/17
13  5.1 – 5.3    13:  5.2 – 5.3 due 4/24
14  5.4, Review for Final    14:  5.4  due 5/1
 
 


First-Year Mathematics Courses

Departmental and University Policies and Procedures

Course withdrawal deadline: April 3
Complete withdrawal deadline: May 3*

*(last day of class)

Departmental Drop Back: Based on results of a readiness test and advising from the course instructor, a student may elect to drop back to a lower level math course before the first three classes of the semester.  The student should go the Undergraduate Mathematics Office in PS A211 to initiate a drop back request.

Honor Policy: The highest standards of academic integrity are expected of all students. The failure of any student to meet these standards may result in suspension or expulsion from the University or other sanctions as specified in the University Student Academic Integrity Policy. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, cheating, fabrication, tampering, plagiarism or facilitating such activities.

Attendance: Instructors will take attendance on a regular basis. A key to success in any mathematics course is regular attendance. In addition, it is the student's responsibility to be aware of any announcements made in class regarding course policies or assignments.

Incomplete: If there is a last-minute personal or medical emergency, the student may receive a grade of Incomplete and make up the final within one calendar year. The student must provide written documentation and be passing the class at the time to receive an Incomplete. Make-up exams will NOT be given for reasons of a
non-refundable airline tickets, vacation plans, work schedules, weddings, family reunions, and other such activities. Students should consult the final exam schedule
before making end-of-semester travel plans. The Dean of the student’s college must approve any  exceptions to these rules.

The grade of XEA grade of XE is reserved for "failure for academic dishonesty." The grade goes on the student's transcript; the student needs to petition to have it removed after 1 year.

Ethics: It's highly unethical to bring to your instructor's attention the possible impact of your mathematics grade on your future plans, including graduation,
scholarships, jobs, etc. The instructor may exercise an option to withdraw you from the course if they think you are compromising the ability to assess your work
independently of any other consideration. Students found to be involved in academic dishonesty will be removed from the class and a grade of XE for the course     will be submitted to the registrar. The student will be advised to repeat the course with another professor, possibly at another institution. This is the least action taken. Further, more serious actions may be taken if the situation indicated that such actions are appropriate. We will act very harshly against cheating during Quizzes or Exams.