MTH 111 Precalculus

Instructor: Lubos Thoma
Office: Tyler Hall 214, tel: 874.4451
Email: thoma@math.uri.edu
Class Schedule:   MTuWTh 10.00 -- 11.45am;   Bliss Hall 211
Office hours:   MTuWTh after class and by appointment

Tutoring: Tutors are available at both the Providence and Kingston campuses. Check the link for specific hours.
                Also, you can make an individual appointment with me.

Syllabus:   postscript   pdf       A detailed schedule and a list of suggested problems can be found   here.

Textbook:   Bittinger et. al., Precalculus, Graphs and Models (Second Edition), Addison - Wesley

Calculator:   A graphing calculator is required (see Technology)
                        TI-83 Troubleshooting

Exams and Grading: There will be two in-class exams. Your course grade will be based on a 420 point system as follows:

Non-URI students should be sure to have prior approval from their own schools to guarantee that credits will transfer.

GRADES OF "INCOMPLETE" WILL BE GIVEN ONLY UNDER THE STRICT GUIDELINES OF THE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN.

YOU ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A REASONABLE GRASP OF TWO YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL ALGEBRA AND ELEMENTARY TRIGONOMETRY. Read the information sheet

GOALS OF THIS COURSE: The primary goal of MTH 111 is to prepare you for further courses in mathematics, especially calculus.The calculus sequence is often an essential step toward degree and career objectives, so MTH 111 is also such a step. Thus MTH 111 is aimed at the student for whom it will be the first of an important series of courses rather than a last math course. This course is NOT a good choice simply to fulfill a general education requirement. It demands a very substantial amount of hard work for 3 credits.

EXPECTATIONS: I expect that you will give this course 12-14 hours per week of your undivided attention, in addition to class time. This is an approximate figure of course, but don't assume that you can spend less time than this and still get a grade you'll like. I also expect that you will ATTEND YOUR CLASS.

ADVICE: The key to success in this course is the problem material. It is very important that you try all the assigned problems listed on the syllabus. The problems chosen for each textbook section indicate what we feel is important in that section and which ideas and skills you should focus on. THE EXAMS WILL REFLECT THIS PROBLEM SELECTION! Also, an important part of this course is strengthening your algebra skills and using them in new ways. Much of your success in precalculus depends on your grasp of basic algebra -- be prepared to review basic algebra and seek help as needed.

Precalculus also has a body of mathematical facts that you will have to learn. Be prepared to memorize some formulas and theorems as you learn about their meaning and uses.

Students with disability (documented through Disability Services for Students, 874-2098)  should make arrangements with me as soon as possible.