Welcome to Precalculus!

Welcome to the Fall 2023 semester of MATH1610, Precalculus! I'm excited to guide you through this foundational course that will prepare you for the challenges of calculus. This course will meet on ground, with materials found at http://www.bakersmathclass.com.

Office Hours and Contact Information

My office hours are:

  • Tuesday and Thursday: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM in room D209
  • By Appointment
  • Email: tbaker@trcc.commnet.edu
  • Phone: 860 373 0143

Syllabus Highlights

You can find the complete syllabus here: Fall 2023 MATH1610 Syllabus. Let's review some key elements:

Grading Policy:

  • Homework in ALEKS: 20%
  • 3 Tests: 45%
  • Final Exam: 25%
  • Participation: 10%

Keep track of the important dates listed in the syllabus to stay on top of assignments and exams!

Required Materials:

For this course, you will need:

  • ALEKS 360 for Precalculus G&M: One-semester (18 weeks)

You do not need to purchase the physical textbook. Your ALEKS code provides access to the e-book.

ALEKS Access Codes:

  • Class Code: AFPE3-GEF4W

The financial aid access code gives you temporary access to ALEKS for a two-week period. It is highly recommended that you purchase the Student Access Code BEFORE the two weeks expire to prevent interruptions with your ALEKS account.

Key Concepts We'll Cover

Throughout the semester, we'll explore a variety of essential precalculus topics, including:

  • Functions and Their Graphs: Understanding different types of functions (polynomial, rational, trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic) and how to visualize them. We will explore key characteristics and transformations of these functions.
  • Polynomial Functions and Their Zeros: Finding the zeros of polynomial functions, including complex solutions, and understanding the relationship between zeros and factors.
  • Rational, Trigonometric, Exponential, and Logarithmic Functions: Working with these functions and their equations, including solving them and applying them to real-world scenarios.
  • Trigonometric Identities: We'll delve into verifying and applying trigonometric identities, which are essential for simplifying expressions and solving equations. Examples of important identities include the Pythagorean identity: $$\sin^2(x) + \cos^2(x) = 1$$ and the double-angle formula: $$\sin(2x) = 2\sin(x)\cos(x)$$.
  • Solving Inequalities: Mastering the techniques for solving polynomial, rational, and other types of inequalities and expressing the solutions in interval notation.
  • Polynomial Division: This process is crucial for simplifying rational expressions and finding factors of polynomials.

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Sketch polynomial, rational, trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential functions, apply transformations, and identify key characteristics.
  2. Solve equations involving polynomial, rational, trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential equations and evaluate for reasonableness.
  3. Solve applications involving polynomial, rational, trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential expressions or functions and evaluate for reasonableness.
  4. Verify and apply trigonometric identities.
  5. Simplify and manipulate polynomial, rational, trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential expressions.
  6. Solve inequalities and write the solutions in interval notation and on a number line.
  7. Perform Polynomial division.

Additional Resources

Remember to take advantage of the available resources:

  • Tutoring Centers: Free tutoring services are available on campus and online.
  • Student Handbook: Familiarize yourself with college policies and procedures.
  • Mental Health Resources: Support is available for managing stress and maintaining well-being.

I'm looking forward to a successful semester with all of you. Let's work together to master precalculus!