Pre-Calculus AB Revised: 12/20/2014 Computer Graphics 2014-2015 2011-2012 Instructor Information Name:Mr. James M. Ott Office Location:Room 1169, across from the Chemistry classroom Office Hours:Periods 4 and 5 before or after school by appointment Email:james.ott@kmlhs.org Office Phone:262-677-4051 x 1169 Cell Phone: 734-634-0957 General Course Information Title:Pre-Calculus AB 40340 Department:Mathematics Credits:1 credit Length:1 year, 2 semesters Elective or Required:Elective Grade Level:Grades10-12 Semester:Both semesters, year-long course Meeting Schedule:Periods 6 Prerequisites: Advanced Algebra and math department s approval Course Description:Students who have found an aptitude and interest in mathematics and whose career choices require a strong math background will benefit from this course. The course includes an in-depth study of trigonometry. Students also review the linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic functions to a greater depth and techniques used to fit equations to variable data. Also included is a study of matrices, parametric equations, conic sections, the binomial theorem, mathematical induction, permutations, and combinations. These topics will be covered at a faster pace allowing for an extensive introduction to calculus at the end of the course. Limits, derivatives, and applications of derivatives will be fully studied out of the AP Calculus text so students successfully passing this course can begin their study of AP Calculus BC with the study of integrals after a quick review of derivatives. Parent-Instructor Communication The instructor will strive to contact the parents when he observes tendencies including but not limited to the following: lack of academic effort, poor and failing grades, and classroom misconduct. Parents are urged to communicate with the instructor when they have questions and concerns. Course Details Course Purpose:The purpose of this course is to continue the student s growth beyond algebra to the use of Calculus which is used in the higher sciences and daily life. Course Goals:This course will enable students to display their God-given talents by applying Calculus to various real-world and mathematical situations in service to Him. Course Outcomes: The students will: prepare for a life of service to the Lord demonstrate the ordered and mathematical nature of God's creation increase a knowledge and understanding of mathematical thought prepare for continued study in the area of mathematics Student Materials: TI-83/84 graphics calculator Three-ring binder (at least 1 width) Page 1 of 8
Pencils Loose-leaf binder paper Red pen Textbook Single subject notebook Student planner 3x5 note cards 4x6 note cards Technology instrument as instructed through the 1:1 KMLHS guidelines Instructional Strategies Algebra will be taught using a combination of demonstration/lecture, discussion, group work, and guided practice. Students who have questions, concerns or need additional help with their work in this course are strongly encouraged to contact the teacher outside of the regular class time. The instructor will be available most days after school in addition to periods 4 & 5. Please make arrangements ahead of time to meet with the instructor. Assignments & Assessments You will be graded on: Daily Work/Other (40%) Daily Quizzes (20%) Tests (20%) Exam (20%) Grading KML Standard Grading Scale: 95-100% A 87-90% B 93-94%A- 85-86% B- 91-92% B+ 83-84% C+ 79-82% C 77-78% C- 75-76% D+ 72-74% D 70-71% D- 0-69% F Grading Policy: The final semester grade in this course is calculated based on total points all of the assignments given over the course of the semester using: The semester grade is a good indicator of the over progress of the student. Please be aware that early in the semester the grade will fluctuate often depending on the number of grades in each category. As the semester continues, more grades will be entered and the overall grade will begin to stabilize. Grading Procedures: Grades will be entered into PowerSchool regularly, usuallyby the day after most assignments are handed in. Homework and quiz grades will be available on the Power School system as soon as they are entered into the grade book. Test or other grades may be delayed longer. Make Up Work: If you have an excused unplanned absence (due to illness, etc.), you will have as many days you were absent to make-up late tests without penalty. Homework and daily quizzes may also be made up within this time, but you are not required to do so. It is to your advantage to make up missed homework, as they are more likely to help your overall grade than to harm your grade. (If you do not make up the homework or quiz, the grade goes in as exempt which doesn t hurt or help your grade.) At the end of a semester, students who have completed all of the daily work and/or have no late work may receive a 1/3 of a letter grade boost at the end of a semester. Late and Incomplete Work:Homework not turned in on the day it is due will receive an L in the grade book. You will be expected to take the daily quiz. Pre-planned absences need to be cleared following normal school procedures, with assignments indicated on the form due when indicated or they will be considered late. It is your responsibility, not the instructor s, to be sure you are following these procedures and getting make-up work in on time, so make appropriate use of your planner. If multiple assignments are chronically Page 2 of 8
late, contact will be made with student and academic detentions may be used to aid him/her in completing work on time. Major Assignments: Failure to complete all major assignments in a course results in an automatic F for the course. All projects and tests are considered major assignments. Although homework and daily quizzes are not major grades, failure to practice your Algebra skills will result in a poor grade for the class. Classroom Procedures Attendance:Students are expected to attend all schedules classes in accordance with the attendance policy as outlined in the KML Student Handbook. In the event of an absence, it is the responsibility of the student to follow all necessary steps as outlined in the handbook. Tardiness: Students are expected to be in the classroom when the class begins in accordance with the tardiness policy as outlined in the KML Student Handbook. The instructor will notify students if they have been marked tardy. Academic Dishonesty: KML expects all students will honor the principles of honesty and truth as taught in God s Word. This means that all academic work will be done by the student to whom it was assigned without unauthorized aid of any kind. Research sources must be cited fully and accurately. The school reserves the right to use academic screening methods to check the authenticity of student work. Refer to the KML Student Handbook for additional guidelines concerning penalties for cheating. Behavior: Be in the classroom in your assigned desk quietly working on the opening activity when the bell rings or you will be considered tardy. Begin working on the opening activity upon arrival in the classroom. Bring the above materials to class each day. Respect classmates and teachers. Participate in class activities. Be attentive to the class discussion and provide appropriate input to the when called upon. Finish all work on time and completely. Take notes. Daily Routine: Enter class and begin working on the opening activity. Attendance and homework assessment will be done while you are working on the opening activity. Questions taken following correcting if needed. Daily quiz Discussion on the new lesson. Lesson investigation activities/class practice. Lesson wrap-up. Academic Progress: It is the intent of KML that all students enrolled in this course should complete it successfully. The instructor will strive diligently to help students to succeed. When it becomes apparent to the instructor that a student has placed himself/herself in jeopardy of meeting the minimum requirements of the course, the instructor may begin the procedure outlined in the Academic Progress Policy of the KML Student Handbook in order to remedy the situation. Homework: Homework is extremely important to learning mathematics. In order to be successful on the quizzes, tests, and projectsthe studentmust do and understand the problems you are assigned for homework. Homework, however, is where a student practices the new math skills. Treat homework like any other practice: practice hard, practice often, and learn from your successes and your failures. It is okay to have some failures in practice as long as a student learns from mistakes. All homework will be corrected at the Page 3 of 8
beginning of class on the day it is due. A student will be given an answer sheet, and will correct homework in red pen. While a student corrects homework, be sure to write-in the correct answers to any wrong or skipped problems. Try to determine what was wrong, and make notes to help remember how to do those problems correctly in the future. When everyone is finished correcting their papers, a student will then have the opportunity to ask questions about problems not understood on the homework. All homework is to be done in pencil on loose-leaf paper. Write the student s name, the class name, and the hour on the top of your homework sheet. Begin working on the assignment the same day it is assigned or earlier. If a student has problems with an assignment, plan time to get help outside of class from the instructor, the Learning Center, Peer Tutoring, another student, or from the instructor during office hours.only a minimal amount of time will be given for questions in class, so be sure to get questions answered outside of class if many questions remain unanswered. Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Assigned homework is for a student s benefit. To make the most of it, a student should include all work and personal notes so when it comes time to study. A student will also be reminded of what was right or wrong, and how to correct it. Keep homework handy for studying purposes as well. Course Outline: Semester One: Unit 1: Prerequisites (as needed Chapter P, p. 1-62) Unit 2: Functions and Graphs (Chapter 1, p. 63-156) Unit 3: Trigonometric Functions (Chapter 4a, p. 319-349) Unit 4: Trigonometric Graphs (Chapter 4b, p. 350-402) Unit 5: Analytic Trigonometry (Chapter 5, p. 403-454) Unit 6: Applications of Trigonometry (Chapter 6, p. 455-517) Semester Two: Unit 7: Analytic Geometry in Two and Three Dimensions (Chapter 8, p. 579-640) Unit 8: Discrete Mathematics (Chapter 9a, p. 641-692) Unit 9: Exponential, Logistic, and Logarithmic Functions (Chapter 3, p. 251-318) Unit 10: Polynomial, Power,and Rational Functions (Chapter 2, p. 157-250) Unit 11: Intro to Calculus: Limits, Derivatives, and Integrals (if time allows Chapter 10, p. 735-777) Advice for Pre-Calculus students: You need to do so many problems that there is nothing that can be thrown at you that you haven't seen before. Do every problem you can get your hands on. This also reduces any anxiety during a test. You know you've prepared well, so you are more likely to try the tough problems and not fear them, AND you actually know quite a bit of stuff since you studied well and that knowledge will help you figure out new stretch-type problems. Always do the homework that is assigned. If you have any difficulties, do MORE than what was assigned. Check your answers - ALWAYS. If you have answers in the book, check them. If the teacher provides an answer key in the classroom or online, check them. If there is a classmate who does quality work, check answers with them. Make a list of math techniques that you can apply to problems in the chapter you are studying. This is your bag of tricks. Memorize them! If you are working a new problem (or are taking a test) and get stuck, go through your list and see if any of those techniques might apply. Write yourself little notes as you learn little important things, little tricks, and things to remember. Take notes in class. Put the date on your notes. Have your friends take notes and date them also. This helps when comparing notes. Write down everything that the teacher puts on the board or overhead. The more material you have to work with, the more you can study. You need material to study from. Sometimes the more difficult types of problems are modeled for you in class. Study these. When you are stuck on a homework question, check your class notes. Sometimes problems done in class are previews of test questions. Page 4 of 8
When doing a problem, you don't need to know how it will turn out when you start. Just start and see where it leads you. Remember to simplify (but not round) as you go; you may get to a point where you "see" what to do next by what form your intermediate work is taking. Sometimes you can work a problem from both ends and meet in the middle. When possible, do not round until the end of the problem. Work your calculator or your math on paper so that you keep it as exact as possible. Study and do homework with a study partner. Find someone you can work well with. Do homework simultaneously - checking each other's work. Talk about different methods. Be sure you discuss the little details. This will help you remember. When studying for a test, you should be reviewing stuff you already learned - this is not the time to learn something for the first time. Go see the teacher if you have any questions. If you study 2 days before the test, then you can still ask questions on the day before the test. Be sure to go back through class notes and chapter quizzes when you make your lists to study for the chapter. Don't leave anything out. Once you've made your list, study it. Memorize techniques, go over the tricky problems enough so that you'll recognize them on a test and you'll remember what to do. Page 5 of 8
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