Math 107: Precalculus
Fall 2005

• Instructor: L. Peterson
• Section information: Section 1, call number 21458, class number 8692, 8:00-8:50 A.M., MTRF, Witmer 115
• Prerequisites: Math 102 (Intermediate Algebra) or an appropriate score in the Placement Testing Program (PTP) administered by the Mathematics Department
• Phone numbers: 777-4609 (office), 795-8984 (home), 777-2881 (Mathematics office)
• E-mail address: lawrence.peterson@und.nodak.edu
• Office: 322 Witmer Hall.
• Office hours: I will announce my office hours in class and post them on my Web site. Please fill in the information below.

  Mondays:

  Tuesdays:

  Wednesdays:

  Thursdays:

  Fridays:

  These office hours do not apply during university recesses and holidays, on Reading and Review Day (December 9, 2005), or during final exam week. Additional office hours, including hours on Reading and Review Day and during final exam week, are available by appointment or, when possible, by drop-in.
• Messages: If you cannot reach me, you may leave recorded messages at my 777-4609 number. You may also leave a note for me in the Mathematics office, Room 313 Witmer Hall.
• URL for Web site: http://www.und.nodak.edu/instruct/lapeters. Use of the Web site is optional.
• Textbook: PreCalculus, Third Edition by J. Douglas Faires and James DeFranza (Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning, Belmont, California, 2004). This is the only required book for my section of this course. Please read it as the course progresses. You may purchase the text at Barnes & Noble in Grand Forks, if it is available there. You may also obtain the book from any other book distributor. Be sure to obtain the third edition.
• Computers: You may not use computers or calculators during exams, but you will need a scientific calculator or a graphing calculator to do certain homework exercises. Graphing calculators are generally better than ordinary scientific calculators but are much more expensive. In any case, you will need a calculator that can compute the values of trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential functions.
• Course objectives: Math 107 is intended to prepare students for Math 165, 166, and 265 (Calculus I, II, and III).
• Course content: Math 107 will cover topics in algebra and trigonometry that are essential for success in a three-semester calculus course.
• Grading:
  • Midterm exams: 60%
  • Final exam: 25%
  • Homework: 15%
• Grading scale: 90% A, 80% B, 70% C, 60% D
• Homework: I will assign homework problems regularly and collect them on announced due dates. I plan to grade approximately three to six problems per week. A file folder in the Mathematics Learning Center (Room 312, Witmer Hall) will contain solutions to past homework problems. You may borrow them for a few minutes at a time. Feel free to photocopy them. There is a photocopier near the elevator on the second floor of Witmer Hall. I encourage you to work in groups, but do not copy another person's solutions.
• Late homework: Homework is due at 4:20 P.M. on the announced due date. I will accept late homework up until 4:20 P.M. on the next business day following the announced due date, but I will reduce the score for the assignment by approximately 50 percent in this case. If I am not in my office, you may leave homework off with the secretary in the Mathematics office (Room 313, Witmer Hall).
• Exams: There will be four midterm exams and one final exam. The midterm exams will occur in class during regular class periods. The final exam will be comprehensive with an emphasis on the material that we cover after the fourth midterm.
• Absences from exams: If you will be absent from an exam, call me in advance.
• Study time: Historically, many students have received poor grades in Math 107. You should plan on spending at least two hours of study outside of class for each class period. If you are spending less than this amount of time, then spend some extra time reading the book or doing problems above and beyond those that I assign.
• Tutorial help: You may come to see me in my office for help with questions or difficulties that you may have. Tutorial help is also available in the Mathematics Learning Center (Room 312, Witmer Hall) and in the University Learning Center (Room 201, Memorial Union). This help is free to students who are registered for the course.
• Attendance policy: I want you to succeed in this course. Please attend all class sessions if possible.
• Changes to policies: Course policies, including all policies described in this syllabus, are subject to change. I will announce any changes to the policies.
• Comments and concerns: Let me know if you have any comments about the class. If you have emergency medical information to share with me, if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, or if you need accommodations in this course because of a disability, please make an appointment with me. If you plan to request disability accommodations, you are expected to register with the Disability Support Services (DSS) office (190 McCannel Hall, 777-3425 voice/TTY).

             Aug. 23   1.1, 1.2             Oct. 17   4.6
             Aug. 25   1.3                  Oct. 18   4.6
             Aug. 26   1.4                  Oct. 20   4.7
                                            Oct. 21   4.8
             Aug. 29   1.6           
             Aug. 30   1.7                  Oct. 24   Review
             Sept. 1   1.8                  Oct. 25   Exam III
             Sept. 2   2.1, 2.2             Oct. 27   4.8
                                            Oct. 28   4.9
             Sept. 6   2.3          
             Sept. 8   Review               Oct. 31   4.9
             Sept. 9   Exam I                Nov. 1   5.1, 5.2
                                             Nov. 3   5.2
            Sept. 12   2.4                   Nov. 4   5.3
            Sept. 13   2.5           
            Sept. 15   2.5                   Nov. 7   5.4
            Sept. 16   3.1, 3.2              Nov. 8   5.4
                                            Nov. 10   6.1, 6.2
            Sept. 19   3.2           
            Sept. 20   3.3                  Nov. 14   6.2
            Sept. 22   3.3                  Nov. 15   6.3
            Sept. 23   3.4                  Nov. 17   Review
                                            Nov. 18   Exam IV
            Sept. 26   3.4           
            Sept. 27   3.5                  Nov. 21   6.3
            Sept. 29   3.6                  Nov. 22   6.4
            Sept. 30   4.1, 4.2           
                                            Nov. 28   6.4
              Oct. 3   Review               Nov. 29   6.5
              Oct. 4   Exam II               Dec. 1   6.5
              Oct. 6   4.3                   Dec. 2   6.7
              Oct. 7   4.3           
                                             Dec. 5   6.7
             Oct. 10   4.4                   Dec. 6   Review
             Oct. 11   4.4                   Dec. 8   Review
             Oct. 13   4.5
             Oct. 14   4.5

Lawrence J. Peterson home page

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Contact Person: Larry Peterson
E-mail: lawrence.peterson@und.nodak.edu
Phone: (701) 777-4609
Date of most recent update: 16 August 2005
University of North Dakota home page