Math 1060Q — Precalculus (Spring 2023)

Course Coordinator (Storrs): Erika Fiore

Description: Precalculus is a  preparation for calculus which includes a thorough review of algebra. Emphasis will be on functions and their applications; in particular, polynomials, rational functions, exponentials, logarithms, and trigonometric functions.

Prerequisites: A qualifying score of 17 on the mathematics placement exam (MPE), unless you began attending UConn prior to Fall 2016 (in which case it is still recommended). Students who fail to achieve this minimum score are required to spend time on the preparatory and learning modules before re-taking the MPE or register for a lower level Mathematics course. Not open for credit to students who have passed MATH 1120, 1125Q, or 1131Q. Students may not receive credit for this course and MATH 1040Q.

Course Materials:

Textbook: Precalculus 10e, by Larson (ISBN 978-1-337-27107-3)

You are not required to have a physical textbook. You are only required to have WebAssign access.

If you are participating in the Husky Book Bundle Program, you do not need to purchase anything. The digital required materials for this course have been integrated with HuskyCT and can be found in the Course Materials link in your HuskyCT course. Please sign into HuskyCT to access your course and course materials.

If you have opted out of the Husky Book Bundle Program, you can buy the textbook from the UConn Bookstore. You will need a WebAssign access code to access your homework assignments. When you buy the textbook from the bookstore, the WebAssign code will come bundled with the textbook. You will have two weeks of free access to WebAssign, which includes the e-book, so you can get started right away in case you need some time to arrange to buy textbook with the access code.

There is only ONE way to register for and access WebAssign.  Once the semester officially begins, simply log into your HuskyCT account (lms.uconn.edu), navigate to the page for Math 1060Q, then follow the link on the left hand side for WebAssign Homework. When logging into WebAssign (through HuskyCT), do not use Internet Explorer or Safari. Use Firefox or Chrome.

WebAssign assignments will be due every Tuesday and Thursday night. The first assignment is due Tuesday, January 24th.

Calculators: The use of calculators IS NOT permitted on exams or quizzes.

WebAssign:

WebAssign Homework: To access the WebAssign homework you will have to go through HuksyCT single sign-on. In the left sidebar of your Math 1060Q HuskyCT page, you will find a link to do your homework using WebAssign. There will usually be 2-3 homework assignments per week (one for each textbook section covered). The due date for each assignment will generally be two or three days after the material is covered in class.  

 

You will get five attempts for each question that is not multiple choice; the exact number of attempts for multiple choice questions will depend on the number of choices. This means True/False questions and questions with two answer choices have only one attempt – choose carefully! After each attempt, you will be told whether your answer is correct or not. If you are not able to get the correct answer after your initial attempts, we recommend that before your final attempt, you seek help from your instructor, the Q-Center, a tutor, or another student.

 

When accessing your online homework, use Firefox or Chrome as your browser; there are problems that can occur if you use Internet Explorer or Safari. See the document here for tips on using WebAssign, including entering answers and finding useful settings.

Your lowest WebAssign score will be dropped at the end of the semester.

Classwork Assignments:

Classwork Assignments will usually be given every Tuesday (or possibly sometimes on Thursday). Unlike for quizzes and exams, you will be able to work with your peers on these assignments. However, the work you turn in must be your own work, written up independently by you,  and in your own words. You can turn in your classwork assignment on paper or on HuskyCT. Each classwork assignment will be due on the Tuesday (or sometimes Thursday) it is assigned by 11:59pm.

 

Classwork Makeup Policy: If you miss a class where a classwork assignment was given, it is your responsibility to contact a classmate or the instructor to ask what the assignment was. You must still turn it on the Tuesday (or sometimes Thursday) it was assigned by 11:59pm.

 

If you are not able to hand in a classwork assignment before the deadline because you are ill or due to some other extenuating circumstance, then you must contact your instructor before the due date or within 24 hours after the due date. If you do not follow these listed procedures, then you will receive a score of zero on the classwork assignment.

 

Your lowest classwork assignment will be dropped at the end of the semester.

Quizzes and Exams:

Quizzes will be given every Thursday (in class), beginning with the second week of classes. Your lowest quiz score will be dropped at the end of the semester.

 

The midterm exams will be held during class periods on Tuesdays February 21st and April 4th and the 2-hour common final exam will be held during finals week, May 1-6. More information will listed under exam info as the dates approach. You should put the exam dates into your calendar and plan to attend.

 

Calculators: The use of calculators IS NOT permitted on exams or quizzes.

 

Quiz/Exam Makeup Policy: If you miss a quiz/exam because you are ill or due to some other extenuating circumstance, you must contact your instructor before the original quiz/exam time, or within 24 after the original quiz/exam time. If your instructor approves you for a makeup quiz/exam, then you must take the quiz/exam within 1 week of the original quiz/exam time. If you do not follow these procedures, then you will receive a score of zero on the missed quiz/exam unless you have proper documentation of an extenuating circumstance.

 

Per University policy, all requests to reschedule or make up the final exam must be submitted to the Dean of Students for approval. Please note that vacations, previously purchased tickets or reservations,  and social events are not viable excuses for missing a final exam. If you think that your situation warrants permission to reschedule, please contact the Dean of Students Office with any questions. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. 

 

Midterm Exam Replacement Policy: Your score on the final exam will replace your lowest exam score if you score higher on the final exam. Note that your final exam grade is always counted when computing your course grade and cannot be replaced.

Grading:

WebAssign Homework 10%
Quizzes 15%
Classwork 10%
Exam 1: (Tuesday, October 4) 20%
Exam 2: (Tuesday, November 8) 20%
Final Exam: (Exact time and date provided by University) 25% 

Grading Scale:

Final Percentage Letter Grade
93 -100 A
90.00-92.99 A-
87.00-89.99 B+
83.00-86.99 B
80.00-82.99 B-
77.00-79.99 C+
73.00-76.99 C
70.00-72.99 C-
67.00-69.99 D+
63.00-66.99 D
60.00-62.99 D-
<60 F

Some Tips:

  1. If you’ve taken precalculus before, be warned — this course is harder. We will likely cover more material, and it will be more in-depth, than what you’ve done before.
  2. Don’t miss class! Each day builds on the previous days, so if you miss class, you get behind very quickly. If you do get sick or have to miss class, talk to your classmates and instructor to catch up before the next class. The outline for the course that is available using the link above will provide you with information about the topics to be covered in lecture.
  3. Do not skip the WebAssign homework. Doing these problems will give you the practice you need in order to be successful on quizzes and exams.
  4. Seek help early if you think you may need it! Some great resources for help are your instructor’s office hours, the Q-Center, a tutor, and other students.

Academic Integrity and Honesty:

This course expects all students to act in accordance with the Guidelines for Academic Integrity at the University of Connecticut. In mathematics, this means that all work that you turn in should be written up independently by you, in your own words, and should represent your honest understanding of the material. On exams and quizzes, it should be noted in particular that this means you must not consult any sources or materials: neighbors’ papers, calculators, and any notes, books, or electronic devices are off-limits. If you have questions about academic integrity or intellectual property, you should consult with your instructor. Additionally, consult UConn’s guidelines for academic integrity.

Students with Disabilities:

The University of Connecticut is committed to protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and assuring that the learning environment is accessible.  If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability or pregnancy, please let me know immediately so that we can discuss options. Students who require accommodations should contact the Center for Students with Disabilities, Wilbur Cross Building Room 204, (860) 486-2020, or http://csd.uconn.edu/.