JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY COURSE CODE: "MA 197 -3" COURSE NAME: "Pre-Calculus" SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025

SYLLABUS INSTRUCTOR: Cecilia Flori EMAIL: [email protected] HOURS: TTH 1:30 PM 2:45 PM TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45 CREDITS: 3 PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement or completion of MA 101 with a grade of C- or above OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides an introduction to Calculus that focuses on functions and graphs. The properties of absolute value, polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions will be studied, along with the techniques for solving equations and inequalities involving those functions.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT: This course contains all the necessary background material to successfully study Calculus I, and will develop further the fundamental concepts studied in Intermediate Algebra. Particular emphasis will be given to functions as the first step towards analysing problems in mathematical terms. Registration for the course is by placement or by completion of MA101 with a grade of C or higher.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of this course, students will be able to: Understand and apply basic function concepts, including identifying domain, range, graphing, and performing operations such as composition and finding inverses. Analyze and perform transformations of functions, including translations, reflections, stretches, and compressions, and interpret their effects on graphs. Explore, graph, and solve problems involving polynomial and rational functions, including identifying zeros, asymptotic behavior, and end behavior. Understand and apply trigonometric concepts, including evaluating trigonometric functions, graphing basic trigonometric curves, and using unit circle relationships. Work with exponential and logarithmic functions, solving equations, graphing transformations, and applying properties of exponents and logarithms to real-world problems. Develop problem-solving skills and logical reasoning through application of concepts to mathematical and real-world scenarios

TEXTBOOK: Book Title Author Publisher ISBN number Library Call Number Comments Format Local Bookstore Online Purchase Precalculus 6th Edition James Stewart Cengage 978-1-305-07175-9

REQUIRED RESERVED READING: NONE RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING: NONE

GRADING POLICY -ASSESSMENT METHODS: Assignment Guidelines Weight Class participationv Regular attendance and active participation in class - that means being attentive, asking and answering questions, keeping your phone in your bag, turning up on time to class, and so on. This grade is not based on the homework. 5 Homework You will be given quizzes to complete at home 10 In-class exams There will be two in-class exams, each worth 25% of the final grade. 50 Final Exam (comprehensive) The final will be comprehensive, but will be weighted more heavily towards the later topics. 35 -ASSESSMENT CRITERIA: AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course. BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments. CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings. DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail. FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant. -ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS: ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________

ACADEMIC HONESTY As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Topic 1: Basic concepts (8 lectures) Functions, domains and ranges, composition and inverses, transformations of functions/graphs. Topic 2: Trigonometry (4 lectures) The unit circle, degrees and radian measures of angle, the definition and basic properties of the principal trigonometric functions, useful identities and formulas. Topic 3: Polynomials (4 lectures) Factorising, finding zeros and the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, complex numbers, sketching graphs Topic 4: Rational functions (4 lectures) Builds on the study of polynomials, given that a rational function is the ratio of two polynomials. We will spend a significant amount of time understanding the features of the graphs of these functions. Topic 5: Exponential and logarithmic functions (3 lectures) Definition and basic features of the graphs, basic modelling There is also space built in to the lecture schedule for exercise classes and a revision period before the final exam. The order of the topics might be different from the order above