Proposed Course Outline - Algebra and Trigonometry
Proposed Course Outline - Algebra and Trigonometry
Proposed Course Outline - Algebra and Trigonometry
Course Objectives:
At the end of the course, the student is expected to know the basic concepts of College Algebra and
Trigonometry. In particular, the student is expected to know the following:
Exams:
There will be 5 written Long Exams with a cumulative weight of 2/3 of the Final Grade. Aside from
this, a Final Exam will be given at the end of the semester and this will make up 1/3 of the Final Grade. The
passing grade at the end of the semester is 60%. Standard college rules will be used in determining the Final
Grade to be marked in the grading sheet.
Class Policy:
1. If a student is late for more than 15 minutes for a particular class period, then he will be marked
absent for that period.
2. There will be no make-up for missed quizzes and unsubmitted homework or homework submitted
past the deadline.
3. If a student misses a Long Exam for a valid reason (requires documentation), then he/she must take
the Final Exam and the grade for the missed Long Exam will be the grade of the Final Exam. If a
student misses a second Long Exam, then it is automatically ZERO regardless of the reason. A
student who misses an exam for an invalid reason will have a grade of ZERO for that exam.
4. Cheating, in any form, including copying homework will not be tolerated.
COURSE OUTLINE
1 Self-Introduction by the teacher and the students, Wikipedia / other external Reading
discussion of class policies, Overview of the subject / sources
History of algebra
assignment
2 Sets and basic notation, subsets and counting, Vance ( pages 2 – 15 ) YES
operations on sets
3 Algebra of Counting Numbers ( Axioms ), Integers Vance ( pages 17 – 24 ) YES
and Factorizations
4 Integers and Factorizations, Multiplicative Inverses Vance ( pages 24 – 33 ) YES
and Division, Rational and Irrational Real Numbers
5 Algebraic Expressions ( Addition, Subtraction, Vance ( pages 36 – 44 ) YES
Multiplication, Division )
6 Synthetic Division, Special Products ( Factors and Vance ( pages 45 – 53 ) YES
Factoring ), Simplification of Fractions
7 Operations on Fractions ( Addition, Subtraction, Vance ( pages 54 – 58 ) YES
Multiplication, Division )
8 Exponents ( Integral and Rational ), Introduction to Vance ( pages 58 – 64 ) YES
Radicals
9 Multiplication and Division of Radicals, ( short Vance ( pages 65 – 69 ) YES YES
review plus QUIZ )
10 The Geometry of Real Numbers, the Cartesian Plane, Vance ( pages 71 – 86 ) YES
the Distance Formula and the Slope Formula
11 The Circle, ( review plus QUIZ ) Vance ( pages 86 – 93 ) YES
12 EXAM 1
13 Functions and Relations, Graphical Representation Vance ( pages 95 – 106 )
of Functions and Relations
14 Linear Functions ( plus problem solving ) Vance ( pages 172 – 175 ) YES
15 Arithmetic Progressions, Introduction to the Vance ( pages 176 – 184 ) YES
Quadratic Function
16 The Quadratic Formula, Inequalities Vance ( pages 185 – 192 ) YES
17 Relations between zeros and coefficients of the Vance ( pages 193 – 198 ) YES
Quadratic Function, Equations in Quadratic Form
18 Equations Involving Radicals, Variation Vance ( pages 199 – 203 ) YES
19 Solution of Two Linear Equations, Solution of Three Vance ( pages 204 – 215 ) YES
Linear Equations, Solution of One Linear and One
Quadratic Equation
Meeting No. Topic Reference/s Quiz Homework
50 Powers and roots of complex numbers Vance ( pages 363 – 366 ) YES
51 General discussion of triangle solutions, Vance ( pages 366 – 374 ) YES
The Law of Sines
52 The Law of Cosines, Applications involving Vance ( pages 374 – 382 ) YES
Oblique Triangles
53 More problems on Oblique Triangles YES YES
54 Additional Topic: “Trigonometric Delights” Trigonometric Delights
by Eli Maor
55 EXAM 5
56 Review For Final Exam ( Sample Exam to be given )
57 Review for Final Exam
58 FINAL EXAM
CRITERIA