COURSE SYLLABUS FOR MATH 130

Welcome to MAT 130

Fall 2004-2005 Academic Year

Instructor: Dr. Gang Wang

Office: SAC 528

Phone: (773) 325-1352 (SAC)

Office Hours: MW 1:10-2:10 p.m. or by appointment

Prerequisite:

MAT 101 or placement test. It is strictly enforced by the math department. A prerequisite can only be waived by the approval of the chairperson and me.

Text book:

Precalculus, fourth edition, by J. Stewart, L. Redlin, and S. Watson. Published by Brooks/Cole.

Course Description:

We will cover almost the first four chapters of the book. It includes equations, lines, inequalities, functions, graph of functions, quadratic functions, polynomials and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, and applications.

Calculator:

A scientific calculator is required. If you are commerce major students or plan to study calculus sequence (MAT 150-MAT 152), then consider buying a graphic calculator such as TI-82 or TI-85. You may not use TI-89, TI-92 or some other similar calculators. Check with me first if you use other brand of graphic calculators.

Technology:

In addition to traditional personal and telephone contact during office hours, all students are encouraged to use the Internet and e-mail.

 

During the quarter, I will use the Internet to give weekly quiz and major exam preparations. So it is important you take the full advantage of the technology by using the Internet if you haven't done so. You will find many other useful information on the class website. Visit it regularly, as many announcements will be made there in between classes.

 

DePaul has many computer labs for students to get access to the Internet. All the information above can be found in the class website.

Grading:

In general, if your total grade is between 90% to 100%, you will get A for the class; 80% to 89% is B; 70% to 79% is C; 65% to 69% is C-; 60% to 64% is D; and below 60% is F. Plus and minus grade will be also given.

 

Your total grade is based on the following:

(i) Weekly quizzes, 40 percent,

(ii) Midterm, 20 percent,

(iii) Final exam, 35 percent and,

(iv) Class performances, 5 percent.

 

Weekly Quiz:

There will be a weekly quiz given at the beginning of Tuesday classes. They are similar to homework problems. Old quizzes  are also useful to prepare the current quiz and for the exams. They are available on the website.

 

Midterm:

Midterm will cover Section 1.1, 1.5-1.10, 2.1-2.5 of the book. It is on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004, in class. The time is 90 minutes.  There will be a practice midterm posted on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004. The real midterm is similar to practice midterm. Old quizzes  are also useful to prepare for the exam.

Final:

Final exam covers all we will learn (Chapter 1.1, 1.5-1.10, Chapter 2, Chapter 3.1, 3.6, and Chapter 4) in the class and is comprehensive. The time is Friday, Nov. 19, 2004, 2:45-5:00 p.m. There will be a practice Final with key published on the class website before or on Friday, Nov. 12, 2004. The final exam is similar to the practice one.

Homework:

In general, I will limit 10 minutes of the class time to answer your questions on homework assignments. If you have more questions, please come to see me during my office hour, ask math tutor on the 5th floor SAC outside my office, or discuss the problem among your follow students. I will post some homework answers on the class website if necessary to accommodate class needs. The math department provides free tutor service at both LC and LPC. Check class website for tutor schedules.

 

The homework will be assigned at each class meeting. It may or may not be graded. Since quiz problems are very similar to the homework, it is important for you to work them out in time and to have them understood.

Class performance:

You are expected to show up in each of the class meetings, finish homework on time, work actively with me and your follow classmates, use the internet to prepare your weekly quizzes, midterm and final, ask questions if you feel unclear and don't understand during class presentation, come in the office hours to ask questions about homework problems if you don't know how to work them out and other class related questions.

Late works:

Late work will not be accepted unless it can be justified that a) it was due to the reasons out of your control and b) all the efforts have been made to prevent and avoid that situation to happen and to correct that situation after it happens. If the reason is personal, please discuss with me first to see if it is allowed. If it is medical reason, doctor's note is required for sickness excuse. If you are late for a test, you will automatically lose the time you miss. So please come to the test on time. Make-up quizzes and exams are usually rescheduled on the next available regular office hour, or by appointment.

Suggestions and advice:

Many students find this class challenging. The following are some suggestions you may find useful.

1. Come to class and be an active participant. Ask questions if you don't follow.
2. Learn time management. You are expected to spend 6 to 9 hours of quality time per week for this class. Spending less time usually ends to poor grade. If you work part time, remember the reason you work is to get quality education. So put education first! If you do bad in school, then you work for nothing.
3. The 6 to 9 hours quality studying time should include three parts: a) After the class, rework all the examples discussed in the class by yourself before working on the homework assignment. Your lecture notes should have all the detailed answers of the example discussed in the class. This helps you. You may also use the text book to find more examples. b) Work all the homework assignment. DO NOT wait till the last minute to do your work. In particular, DO NOT ask me homework questions in class IF you never tried or have not tried hard enough. The purpose of the homework is to let you do the work on your own. Learning math means doing math. Practice makes you perfect. It really means what it says here. If you consistently getting wrong answers or have no idea on how to start, you should get help by reading the lecture notes again, reading the book again, coming to my hours, or seeing the tutors. Asking the homework questions in class should be your last choice in general. c) After the quiz and exams are done, remember to correct all the mistakes so you won't make them again. Answers of all the tests are available on line for your reference.

   You are encouraged to work with your classmates and form study groups. The grade is based on absolute scale and not on competitive scale (no curving). So students do not compete with each other.

 

Important Dates

The last day for withdraw from the class with 100% tuition refund is Tuesday,  September 21, 2004.
The last day to apply for pass/fail option is Friday, September 24, 2004.
Midterm is on Wednesday, October 13, in class.
The last day for withdraws from the class with grade "W" is Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Last day of class is Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Final is on Friday, November 19, 2:45-5:00 p.m

Academic Integrity

DePaul University is a learning community that fosters the pursuit of knowledge and the transmission of ideas within a context that emphasizes a sense of responsibility for oneself, for others and for society at large.

Violations of academic integrity, in any of their forms, are therefore detrimental to the values of DePaul, to the students' own development as responsible members of society and to the pursuit of knowledge and the transmission of ideas.

Violations of academic integrity include but are not limited to the following categories: cheating; plagiarism; fabrication; falsification or sabotage of research data; destruction or misuse of the university's academic resources; alteration or falsification of academic records; and academic misconduct. Conduct that is punishable under the Academic Integrity Policy could result in additional disciplinary actions by other university officials and possible civil or criminal prosecution.

For more details regarding Code of Academic Integrity, please refer to your Student Handbook on Academic Integrity Policy for details.

Study Hard and Good Luck To Everyone!