Rhode Island College Upward BoundSummer 2015Syllabus Part I

Course Title: Pre-Calculus

Course Section: 13

Instructor: Seth Althauser

Email: seth.althauser@gmail.com

Course Website: ubprecalculus.weebly.com

Tutor Counselor: Brittnie Helgerson
Location and Class Times: HM 185, Monday-Friday 10:45-11:45 A.M.
Instructional Materials
Textbook: Gordon, B., Yunker, L., Vannatta, G., & Crosswhite, F. (1994). Advanced
Mathematical Concepts: Precalculus with Applications. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill.
Calculator: Graphing calculator (Ti-83,Ti-83 Plus, or Ti-84 Plus preferred)
Course Objectives
Precalculus is a course designed to prepare you for college level calculus. The content in
this course is comprised of advanced algebra and geometry, as well as trigonometry and
introductory calculus concepts. There will be a heavy focus on graphing both by hand and using
a graphing calculator.
Course Objectives
Choose and produce an equivalent form of an expression to reveal and explain
properties of the quantity represented by the expression.
a. Factor a quadratic expression to reveal the zeros of the function it defines.
b. Complete the square in a quadratic expression to reveal the maximum or
minimum value of the function it defines.
Find inverse functions.
a. Solve an equation of the form f(x) = c for a simple function f that has an
inverse and write an expression for the inverse. For example, f(x) =2 x3 or
f(x) = (x+1)/(x1) for x 1.
b. Verify by composition that one function is the inverse of another.
c. Read values of an inverse function from a graph or a table, given that the
function has an inverse.
d. Produce an invertible function from a non-invertible function by restricting
the domain.
Graph functions expressed symbolically and show key features of the graph, by hand
in simple cases and using technology for more complicated cases.
a. Graph linear and quadratic functions and show intercepts, maxima, and
minima.
b. Graph square root, cube root, and piecewise-defined functions, including
step functions and absolute value functions.
c. Graph polynomial functions, identifying zeros when suitable factorizations
are available, and showing end behavior.
d. Graph rational functions, identifying zeros and asymptotes when suitable

Common Core
Standard
Seeing
Structures in
Equations
A-SS.3
Building
Functions
F-BF.4

Interpreting
Functions
F.IF.7

factorizations are available, and showing end behavior.

e. Graph exponential and logarithmic functions, showing intercepts and end
behavior, and trigonometric functions, showing period, midline, and
amplitude.
Write a function defined by an expression in different but equivalent forms to reveal
and explain different properties of the function.
a. Use the process of factoring and completing the square in a quadratic
function to show zeros, extreme values, and symmetry of the graph, and
interpret these in terms of a context.
Use special triangles to determine geometrically the values of sine, cosine, tangent
for /3, /4 and /6, and use the unit circle to express the values of sine, cosines, and
tangent for x, + x, and 2 x in terms of their values for x, where x is any real
number.

Interpreting
Functions
F-IF.8
Trigonometric
Functions
F-TF.3

Assessment Standards
Midterm Exam: 20%
Final Exam: 20%
Quizzes: 15%
Homework: 30%
Notebook: 10%
Class Participation: 5%
Grades are based on the following criteria:
A+ (97-100); A (93-96); A- (90-92); B+ (87-89); B (83-86); B- (80-82); C+ (77-79); C (73-76);
C- (70-72); D+ (67-69); D (63-66); D- (60-62); F (less than 60)
Intervention Strategies
Students should first use class notes and the textbook to answer any potential questions
Students should meet with both the TC and the instructor regularly
Students can access additional resources and videos for each lesson on the course website
Students should study with other students in the course as neededteaching someone
else can also be a great study tool
Classroom Expectations
1. Come to class on time and be in your seat by 10:45 A.M.
2. Come to class prepared with all necessary materials (textbook, pencil, binder/notebook,
graphing calculator, completed assignments)
3. Raise your hand to contribute to the discussion
4. Be curious about the content! Help ask and answer questions.

Class Date
Monday, June 29
Tuesday, June 30

Topic
Course Introduction
1-1: Relations and
Functions
1-2: Composition and
Inverses of Functions

Homework Assignment
Review chapter 1-1; p. 10
#22-56 evens
Review chapter 1-2; p. 17
#12, 18-20 evens, 24-32
evens, 38, 40
Review chapter 3-1; p. 114
#18, 26-40 evens

Wednesday, July 1

3-1: Symmetry,
Using the TI-83 calculator

Thursday, July 2

3-2: Families of Graphs

Review chapter 3-2; p. 122

#1-4 all, p. 123 #14-30
evens

Friday, July 3

3-3: Inverse Functions and

Relations

Due Tuesday, 7/7

Review chapter 3-3; p. 130
#14-28 evens

Monday, July 6

No Class

No Homework

Tuesday, July 7

3-4: Rational Functions and

Asymptotes

Review chapter 3-4; p. 140

#16-30 evens

Wednesday, July 8

3-7: Graphs and Critical

Points of Polynomial
Functions
3-8: Continuity and End
Behavior

Review chapter 3-7; p. 162

#10-30 evens.

Friday, July 10

4-2: Quadratic Equations

and Inequalities

Due Tuesday, 7/14

Review chapter 4-2; p. 192
#16-26 evens, 38-40, 44

Monday, July 13

4-3: The Remainder and

Factor Theorems

Review chapter 4-3; p. 199

#4-24 evens

Tuesday, July 14

4-4: The Rational Root

Theorem

Review chapter 4-4; p. 206

#12-24 evens, 29-30

Wednesday, July 15

4-6: Rational Equations and Review chapter 4-6; p. 221

Partial Fractions
#14-32 evens

Thursday, July 16

Review for Midterm Exam

Friday, July 17

Midterm Exam

Thursday, July 9

Review chapter 3-8; p. 170

#14-32 evens

Review for Midterm Exam

(Practice Exam)
No Homework