PROPOSED COURSE OUTLINE

Instructor: Arlan Rodrigo

e-mail: arlan_rodrigo@rocketmail.com

Course Number: Math 17

Course Title: COLLEGE ALGEBRA and TRIGONOMETRY
Course Credit: 5
Course Requirements: 5 Long Exams = 2/3 of Final Grade
1 Final Exam = 1/3 of Final Grade
Attendance, Participation, Quizzes, Homework (Bonus points for Exams)
Passing Grade: 60%
Consultation Hours: By appointment (send me an e-mail)
Main Reference: Modern Algebra and Trigonometry Third Edition (Vance)

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:

• Basic concepts in Set Theory

• Simplifying and solving algebraic expressions and algebraic equations
• Problem-solving using algebraic equations
• The Geometry of Real Numbers, The Cartesian Plane, The Circle
• Relations and Functions and differentiate them from each other
• Topics in Linear and Quadratic Functions
• Topics in Polynomial Functions
• The concept of inverse functions including its relationship with the original function
• Exponential and Logarithmic Functions including compound interest
• Matrices and Determinants including solving systems of linear equations using Cramer’s Rule
• The Circular Functions
• Inverse Circular Functions
• Graphs and Applications of Circular Functions
• The Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines and problem-solving involving Oblique Triangles
• Complex Numbers and Vectors
• Powers and roots of Complex Numbers

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.

Exemption from the Final Exam:

If the student has obtained an average of 80% or higher for the 5 Long Exams, he/she can opt not to
take the Final Exam. If he/she does so, then the Final Grade will be the average for the 5 Long Exams.
Attendance, Participation, Quizzes, Homework:
Extra Bonus points or percentage points will be given to students who have a good attendance. Points
Earned from quizzes and homework also have their corresponding merit in the Examinations. Please refer to
the table at the end for more information.

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

Meeting No. Topic Reference/s Quiz Homework

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

20 Polynomials, Synthetic Division, Fundamental Vance ( pages 248 – 252 ) YES

Theorem of Algebra
21 Graphing of Polynomial Functions, General Remarks Vance ( pages 253 – 258 ) YES
on Zeros and Roots, Rational Roots
22 Irrational and Imaginary Roots, ( plus review on Vance ( pages 259 – 264 ) YES
polynomials )
23 EXAM 2
24 Matrices, Basic Properties, Products of Matrices Vance ( pages 217 – 228 ) YES
25 Multiplicative Inverses of Matrices, Determinants of Vance ( pages 229 – 237 ) YES
Order Two, Solution of Systems of Equations by
Matrices
26 Determinants and Systems of Equations of Order Vance ( pages 237 – 244 ) YES
Three
27 Inverse Functions, Graphing certain relations Vance ( pages 266 – 271 ) YES
28 The exponential function, geometric progressions Vance ( pages 307 – 311 ) YES
29 Geometric Progressions with infinitely many terms, Vance ( pages 312 – 318 ) YES
The Logarithmic Function
30 Common Logarithms, Computation by use of Log - Vance ( pages 318 - 324 ) YES
arithms, Compound Interest and its Generalization
31 Compound Interest and its Generalization, Vance ( pages 324 – 328 ) YES
Applications of the Exponential Functions
32 EXAM 3
33 Brief History of Trigonometry, Definitions of the Vance ( pages 108 – 120 ) YES
Circular Functions, Behavior of the Sine and Cosine Wikipedia / other external
Functions sources
34 Values of the Circular Functions of Special Real Vance ( pages 120 – 125 ) YES
Numbers, Exact Values of the Circular Functions for
θ=π/5
35 The fundamental circular function identities, Proof of Vance ( pages 126 – 130 ) YES
the formula for cos ( A – B )
36 Special Reduction Formulas, General Addition Vance ( pages 131 – 138 ) YES YES
Formulas, General Reduction Formulas
37 General Identities, Conversions of Sums and Vance ( pages 139 – 145 ) YES
Products
38 Function values of any number, Approximations of Vance ( pages 145 – 152 ) YES
Function Values for small numbers
39 Inverse Functions, Graphing of certain relations Vance ( pages 266 – 272 ) YES
40 Inverse Circular Functions Vance ( pages 272 – 276 ) YES
41 Operations involving inverse circular functions, Vance ( pages 276 – 278 ) YES
graph of the curve y = a sin kx Vance ( pages 332 – 333 )
42 Graph of the curves y = a sin (kx + b), graphing by Vance ( pages 334 – 336 ) YES
addition of ordinates
43 Simple Harmonic Motion Vance ( pages 336 – 338 ) YES
44 Addition of Two General sine functions, short Vance ( pages 339 – 343 ) YES
discussion of Harmonic Analysis and Synthesis
45 EXAM 4
46 The Algebra of Complex Numbers, The geometry of Vance ( pages 156 – 162 ) YES
Complex Numbers
47 The Algebra of Ordered Pairs, The Algebra of Vance ( pages 162 – 170 ) YES
Vectors
48 Angles, Circular functions of angles Vance ( pages 346 – 354 ) YES YES
 49 Geometric use of Angles Vance ( pages 355 – 363 ) YES
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

BONUS POINTS !!!

CRITERIA

Attendance Per 5 classes attended : + 1% in Long Exam

Complete Attendance : + 1% in Final Exam

Quizzes Per 10 points earned : + 1% in Long Exam

90% and up for total : + 3% in Final Exam

Homework Per 15 points earned : + 1% in Long Exam

95% and up for total : + 1% in Final Exam