MATH 1285 - Precalculus

Description
This course covers topics in college algebra and plane trigonometry. It is designed for students who will take MATH 2554.

Pre-Requisite
Completion of MATH 0103 with a grade greater than or equal to A, completion of MATH 1203 or higher-level Mathematics course (excluding MATH 1313) with a grade greater than or equal to C, or received an appropriate placement score (see placement chart). NOTE: No credit can be given to those who have completed MATH 1203, MATH 1203R, MATH 1203 and/or MATH 1213.

5 Credit Hour(s)

Contact Hours
60 contact hours

5 Faculty Load Hour(s)

Semesters Offered
Fall, Spring

ACTS Equivalent
MATH1305 (ACTS) - Pre-Calculus

Grade Mode
A-F

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will exhibit mastery of certain knowledge and basic skills. These skills include, but are not limited to:

Recognize and perform operations with various types of functions including polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric
Graph the basic functions listed above manually
Solve equations and inequalities involving the basic functions listed above
Solve systems of equations and inequalities graphically, algebraically, and with matrices.
Define and evaluate trigonometric functions using right triangle trigonometry and the unit circle
Verify and apply trigonometric identities and solve trigonometric equations.
Define, use, and apply inverse trigonometric functions.
Define, use, and apply the Law of Sines and Law of Cosines.
Understand basic parametric equations and use them to plot points and draw graphs.
Convert between rectangular & polar coordinates and graph polar coordinates and polar equations.
Calculate basic limits
Solve applications involving all of the above.

General Education Outcomes Supported

Students develop higher order thinking skills.
Students achieve mathematical literacy

Standard Practices
Topics list

Review of radicals and exponents
Analysis of graphs and functions
Quadratic functions
Polynomials of higher degree
Rational, power, and root functions
Inverse, exponential and logarithmic functions
Systems of equations and matrices
Polar and parametric equations
The unit circle and trigonometric functions
Trigonometric identities and equations
Applications of trigonometry and vectors
Limits

Learning activities

Courses must, at a minimum, cover the core learning outcomes for each topic. Faculty may add to these outcomes, but may not omit any of them.
The content of the course may be taught with or without the use of a graphing calculator as deemed appropriate by the instructor.

Assessments

There will be a common departmental portion on the required comprehensive final exam.
These questions will be in direct support of the Learning Outcomes.
Instructors will report the results of the individual departmental questions when grades are submitted.

Grading Guidelines

At least 70% of the student’s final grade should come from proctored work.