BCU Department of Mathematics

Professor Dennis Clayton

Mary McLeod Bethune picture locket.

MA 136 A Course Outline

Prerequisites

Appropriate score on the Bethune-Cookman mathematics placement test, or a grade of "C" or higher in MA 131 or MA 135, or equivalent transfer credit. No exceptions.

You may be dropped from the class at any time during the semester if you have not met these prerequisites.

Course Description in the BCU Catalog

This course is intended to instill critical thinking skills and technical knowledge in the area of trigonometry. Topics include trigonometric functions, inverse trigonometric functions, trigonometric identities, conditional trigonometric equations, solutions of triangles, vector algebra, polar coordinates, and trigonometric forms of complex numbers.

Textbook(s) and Required Materials

College Trigonometry, 6th edition, Aufman, Barker and Nation, Houghton Mifflin.

You will need a calculator with the trig functions (sin, cos, tan, etc.). It does not have to be fancy or expensive. You do not need a graphing calculator.

Buy a computer if you do not already own one.

Main Course Goals

• Develop the mathematical foundations necessary for understanding ccalculus and analytic geometry.
• Help each student to understand and use the concepts of trigonometry and to acquire the skills necessary to apply trigonometric technique to problem-solving for advanced courses in mathematics, science, and engineering.

Impact

Impact on BCU Mission and Institutional Student Learning Outcomes (ISLOs) - Through the attainment of the course student learning objectives (CSLOs), students will acquire knowledge, skills and competencies outlined in the Institutional Student Learning Outcomes, School Student Learning Outcomes (SSLOs) and Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) . The Course Student Learning Objectives fully support the University Mission and Core Values as stated in the Strategic Plan; as well as, the School Goals.

Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) addressed in Course Learning Objectives.

• PSLO 2 - Proficiency In Basic Concepts:Trigonometry
• PSLO 11 - Ability To Read New Mathematics and Formulate Mathematical Models and Arguments
  

Course Student Learning Objectives

A student completing this course with a C or better will be able to...

1. Recognize, recall, and apply trigonometry functions to problem-solving. (PSLO 2, 11)
2. Graph the trigonometric functions. (PSLO 2)
3. Compute values of trigonometric functions. (PSLO 2)
4. Apply trigonometry functions to the applications involving right triangles. (PSLO 2)
5. Solve/Verify trigonometric identities. (PSLO 2)
6. Solve trigonometric equations. (PSLO 2)
7. Apply the addition and subtraction formulas, the multiple - angle formulas, the product-to-sum and sum-to-product formulas and the inverse trigonometric functions. (PSLO 2)
8. Apply the Law of Sins, the Law of Cosines, the Law of Tangents to problem solving and "application of physics" problems. (PSLO 2, 11)
9. Solve problems involving vectors and the dot product.(PSLO 2, 11)
10. Solve problems using the trigonometric form for complex numbers. (PSLO 2, 11)
11. Solve problems using De Moivre's Theorem and find the nth roots of complex numbers.(PSLO 2, 11)
12. Solve problems using polar coordinates. (PSLO 2, 11)
13. Solve problems involving plane curves and parametric equations. (PSLO 2, 11)

General Requirements

• Attendance is mandatory! All students are required to attend each class, to arrive on time, and to remain until the end. Attendance is considered essential for the student to obtain as much as possible from the lecture and the lab work done in class. The student is responsible for all notes, assignments,  announcements, and information given in class whether or not the student is present.  Lectures will not be repeated in class or in the professor's office. Each student is encouraged to find a colleague to contact in the event of an absence.
• Students will use standard English in class--written and spoken..
• Students will keep a notebook consisting of notes, assignments, etc., and will bring it to class daily.
• Students are expected to make thorough preparation for each class session. Students are encouraged to reread the notes and rework the examples from class.
• Students are expected to do all assignments--both in class assignments and homework--and to participate in class discussions.
• Students are encouraged and expected to do individual study assignments daily. After each class and before the next class meeting, each student is expected to spend at least 2 hours on assignments, homework, or studying the material from class.
  
• Cell phone or pager usage will not be tolerated in class. Turn them off before class.
• The subject line of email sent to me must start with: MA136 followed by your name. For instance: MA136 Bob Smith etc.
• Send me an email from the email account that you use daily.
• Plagiarism will not be tolerated. You must do your own work.
• Cheating will not be tolerated. You must do your own work.
• All essay work must be typed. Hand written work will not be accepted unless explicitly stated in the assignment. Never write on both sides of the paper.
• Late assignments will not be accepted because we will usually work the assigned problems in class on the day they are due.
• The Bethune-Cookman University dress code requires that you wear appropriate attire to class. You are not allowed to wear hats, caps, bandanas or do-rags in class. Pants are to be worn over your underwear. You will be asked to leave the class if your attire is inappropriate for a BCU student in a science class.
• You are an adult. Act like one:
  • Do not sleep in class. If you are so tired that you feel that you are going to fall asleep, then stand up. Everyone will laugh at you, but I will not ask you to leave and I will not penalize you for doing it. If you fall asleep during my lecture, I will be offended and will ask you to leave.
  • Do not walk out of class during the lecture. Show common courtesy. If you walk out often enough, it will affect your grade. I may mark you absent.
• See me immediately if you are having problems with this course.

Methods of Instruction

There are two lecture/discussion periods each week. We will discuss the material in the book and illustrate it with proofs, problems and examples. I expect you to participate in the discussions. Be prepared.

I expect you to spend at least six to eight hours per week on homework.

You will have to work to pass this course. This is not an easy course. However, almost all of the problems previous students have had with this course resulted from falling behind--not reading the assigned material, not starting the homework when it was assigned, cramming for exams, and so on. If you fall behind, you will have a difficult time catching up. Study the reading assignments as soon as they are assigned, start on the homework immediately. If you put forth the effort, you will get an 'A' in the class.

You will be dropped from the course at midterm if you have four or more absences from the class. You are required to attend all the lectures. You are marked absent if you are not present when the roll is taken. If you are late, you can tell me at the end of the class period. Two lates equal one absent.

Missing a class is no excuse for not handing in an assignment or for not knowing about an assignment. Assignments will be posted on the assignments web page (not ready yet, ma??? assignments).

Class participation counts 10% of your grade. You cannot participate if you are absent.

Topical Outline

• Topical Outline and Lecture Schedule

• Assignments

Technology

All essays must be typed and formatted in the standard "term paper format". We will discuss the requirements, if necessary.

We will have several assignments using one (or more) of the commonly available mathematics programs to solve and graph solutions trig problems. The easiest is MS Excel and you probably already have it on your computer.

Several assignments will involve Internet searching (on interesting mathematical topics) and to find graphical simulation programs.

Assessment/Evaluation/Grading scale

1. All students enrolled in the class will take quizzes and examinations at the same time.
2. Each student is expected to perform at the 70% level on the midterm and final examination to successfully pass the course.
3. Periodic quizzes may be given without prior notice.
4. Students will be graded on their work, not just their final answers. Correct answers without sufficient supporting work or with incorrect work will not receive credit.
5. No make-up or early assignments will be given. In the event of an excused absence, the final exam grade will count in place of the missed test. In the event of an unexcused absence, 90% of the final exam grade will count in place of the missed test.
6. The midterm and the final exam will be comprehensive exams.

Class Participation an quizzes (10% of your final grade).
You cannot participate if you are absent. This is my subjective evaluation of your preparation for classroom discussion and participation, attitude, attendance, and so on. Don't expect much if you sleep in class, constantly leave to answer your cell phone or pager, or otherwise behave in an unpleasant or unprofessional manner.

Exams (60% or your final grade).
All students enrolled in the class will take quizzes and examinations at the same time

• Midterm Exams (100 points each)
  One-hour exams are called a midterms. There will be at least three, in-class midterms. These are closed book, closed notes exams. These are memory testing exams. There are no makeup exams, so do not cut class the day of an exam.
• Final Exam (200 points)
  The final exams will be given on the days and hours scheduled by the Registrar's Office for the class. I will post these as soon as they are announced. The final exams will consist of a two-hour in-class exam.

Homework and Quizzes (30% of your final grade).
All homework must be cleanly presented, neat, and clearly showing your work. Neatness counts! If I cannot read it, I cannot grade it. Do not write on both sides of the paper. Turn in the assignments with the problems in the assignment order. If your work is not in order, or is messy or otherwise unappealing, or hard to read, the grade will be lowered at least one letter grade and may not be graded at all. This also means you must turn in all the problems together in one package. Assignments are due at the beginning of class. We will usually work homework problems in class the day the assignment is due. Late assignments will not be accepted. To do so would be unfair to everyone who worked on the problems before seeing how to do them in class .

How to hand in your homework: Hand in the assignments at the beginning of class on the due date. Remember, late assignments will not be accepted, so do not skip class to work on an assignment.

Policy on copying (also known as cheating and plagiarism)
All assignments are individual assignments unless clearly labeled a group assignment. Do not work together on individual assignments. Working in a group frequently means that one person does all the work and also all the learning. You will have to work by yourself on the tests, so be prepared.

If your homework looks too much like another student's homework, then I will assume one (or more) of you copied. You will all get either a zero for the homework, or, if I am in a good mood, which is unlikely, I will divide the grade evenly among those in the group.

Policy on extra work
Do not ask for extra work unless you currently have an 'A' in the course. Extra work is in addition to the assignments, not a replacement for them. There are no make-up assignments or projects or exams.

Do not bring a cell phone to an exam. If you do, and it is visible or audible, I will assume you are cheating and you will get a zero on the test.

This course observes the College's grading scale:

An F- (that's an F-minus) grade is reserved for work that was not turned in or was so poor that it should not have been turned in. Note that one F- requires four A's to average out to a passing grade of C:
      Average ( F- + A + A+ A + A ) = C
      Average ( 0 + 95 + 95 + 95 + 95 ) / 5 = 76     (only a C)

Midterm Grades
If you get a 'D' at midterm, you may interpret the grade as a red flag that you are not passing. However, if you put forth more effort, you should be able to pass the course. If you get an 'F' at midterm, you should take this as a warning that, in my opinion, you will not pass the course. You should drop the course while you can. Remember, I cannot drop you after midterms.

Bibliography (additional reading for the over-achiever)

(I will add some references in a few days)

Fall Semester, 2008
Last update: Aug 18, 2008

Sidebar Menu