Welcome to Precalculus @ SDSU!
Summer 2021 Online
July 6- August 13
Professor Maha Rayan
9:00 am – 11:00 amThis class will be organized as follows:
| Live Zoom Classes | M, T, W | 9:00-9:50 am | Lecture style classes taught by your instructor. Also recorded so that video can be accessed by those who could not attend live session. |
| Live Break Out Zoom Sessions | T, Th | Students will have breakout labs every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the 6-week session. Students may choose one of the following times: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 am – 10:50 am, 11:00 am – 11:50 am, or 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm. | Small break out sections taught by Teaching Assistants (TAs) |
| Posted Videos | M,T,W, Th | Watch at your convenience, 3-4 short videos per day | Created and posted by your instructor to preview or review material discussed in class. Will be available throughout the course. |
| Online Assessments | Friday | 9:00 am – 11:00 am | Tests and the Final Exam will be given every Friday starting Week 2. These tests will be online and start promptly at 9:00 am and must be submitted via PDF before 11:00 am. These tests are mandatory and cannot be taken at any other day or time. |
Description of the Course
This course is specifically designed for students majoring in STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The goal of this semester is to increase students’ procedural fluency and conceptual understanding of the basic concepts that they will see when they take calculus. The goal of these sessions is to engage students in using the mathematical functions (linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric) to model phenomena from the contexts of engineering, chemistry, biology, physics, and geometry.
Prerequisite: Score of 50 or higher on ALEKS test.
Contact information for Instructor and TAs
Instructor Information
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Instructor name: Professor Maha Rayan Office hours and location: TBD Email address: MRayan@sdsu.edu
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Teaching Assistants:
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Student Learning Objectives
- Graph functions: Students will be able to graph functions of study (polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric) and identify properties such as intercepts, behavior toward infinity, asymptotes, discontinuities, and inverses.
- Solve Equations: Students will develop conceptual understanding and procedural proficiency for solving equations from the families of functions listed above.
- Use Appropriate Terminology: By the end of the course, students will be able to explain geometric, algebraic, graphical and real-life interpretations of these functions using appropriate terminology.
- Create Models and use Technology as Appropriate: Students will be able to develop appropriate models for explaining data and solving applied problems from various client disciplines. When possible, students will develop the proclivity to use technology to explore shapes of graphs and how values of parameters affect the shape of graphical models.
- Develop Math Study Skills: Students will identify their current levels of understanding and transition from memorization to deeper conceptual understanding. For example, if you find yourself saying “The test wasn’t fair…the wording was different,” then you may be memorizing instead of developing deeper understanding. A key goal of the course is to try asking yourself, “Why does this concept work as it does?” Once you develop this way of thinking, the wording won’t even be an issue!
Schedule
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Week |
Dates |
Lecture content |
ALEKS |
Break-Out Session |
Break-Out |
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Week 1 |
7/6 – 7/11 |
Introduction to class 2.2: Intro to Polynomial Functions 2.3: Division of Polynomials 2.4: Zeros of Polynomials |
Register for ALEKS Week 1 ALEKS Assignments due Fri. 7/9 |
Introduction to Course & Breakout Labs Icebreaker |
Practice problems/HW questions Group Quiz |
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Week 2 |
7/12 – 7/18 |
2.5: Rational Functions 3.1: Inverse Functions Test 1: 2.2-2.5, 3.1 (Friday, 7/16, 9am-11am) |
Week 2 ALEKS Assignments due Thurs. 7/15 |
Modeling with Rational Functions |
Practice problems/HW questions Group Quiz |
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Week 3 |
7/19 – 7/25 |
3.2: Exponential functions 3.3: Logarithmic functions 3.4: Properties of logarithms 3.5: Exponential and Log Equations & Applications Test 2: 3.2-3.5 (Friday, 7/23, 9am-11am) |
Week 3 ALEKS Assignments due Thurs. 7/22 |
Modeling Exponential Functions Desmos Activity |
Practice problems/HW questions Group Quiz |
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Week 4 |
7/26 – 8/1 |
3.6: Modeling with Exponential and Log Functions 4.1: Angles & Their Measure 4.2: Trig Functions Defined on the Unit Circle 4.3: Right Triangle Trigonometry 4.4: Trig Functions of Any Angle Test 3: 3.3-3.6 (Friday, 7/30, 9am-11am) |
Week 4 ALEKS Assignments due Thurs. 7/29 |
pH (Logarithms) Desmos Activity |
Practice problems/HW questions Group Quiz |
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Week 5 |
8/2 – 8/8 |
4.5: Graphs of Sine & Cosine Functions 4.6: Graphs of Other Trig Functions 4.7: Inverse Trig Functions 5.1: Fundamental Trig Identities Test 4: 4.1-4.6 (Friday, 8/6, 9am-11am) |
Week 5 ALEKS Assignments due Thurs. 8/5 |
Radian Measure Desmos Activity |
Practice problems/HW questions Group Quiz |
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Week 6 |
8/9 – 8/13 |
5.5: Trigonometric Equations 6.1: Applications of Trig 6.4: Harmonic Motion FINAL EXAM: the final is cumulative 2.2-2.5, 3.1-3.6, 4.1-4.6, 5.1, 5.5, 6.1, 6.4 (Friday, 8/13, 9am-11am) |
Week 6 ALEKS Assignments due Thurs. 8/12 |
Graphing Trig Functions/ Harmonic Motion Desmos Activity |
Review for Final Exam
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