Montgomery College

Business, Science, Math and Technology Division

Germantown Campus

MA105 Introduction to Trigonometry

 

 

Instructor:                  Margaret Latimer                             Office:  128 HT (240-567-1935)

            email: margaret.latimer@montgomerycollege.edu

 

Office Hours:             Monday  and Wednesday         10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

                                    Tuesday and Thursday              9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

                                    Other hours by appointment.  If my office door is open, you are welcome!

 

Course Description:   Web based DL course. Topics include right triangle trigonometry and its applications.

Graphs and equations involving sine, cosine, tangent and related basic concepts will be covered.

1 credit

 

Prerequisite:               Completion or concurrent enrollment is MA103, appropriate score on the mathematics assessment test, or consent of the department.

                                     

Course Objectives:    See attached list.

 

Text:                           MathXL access to MA 105 Intro to Trig – Margaret Latimer

            Text is available online via MathXL.  (See below)

            Optional:  Trigonometry Update, by Bittinger and Beecher. Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. 

 

Instruction:                 Instruction for this course is provided via a series of TV shows prepared by Professor Bill Witte, Math Dept., MC/Germantown. These shows    are available at www.montgomerycollege.edu/trigonometry

Watch each show (the schedule is included below.)  Take note is you like.  Then attempt the homework problems at www.mathxl.com.  Email me if you have any questions.

 

Communications:       Email is the preferred method of communication.  I will respond to your emails within two business days – usually the same day you email me.  You may call, but email is preferred.  You are welcome to come to office hours or schedule an appointment if you would like to meet face-to-face.  Do not fall behind.  This is a one credit course that runs only half a semester.  If you have a question, please ask right away.

 

Homework:                 MathXL will be used for homework.  You may purchase access at any of the MC bookstores, or, if you have a credit card, you may purchase access to MathXL by going to www.mathxl.com.  The cost is approximately $30.  Assignments and due dates are posted. The Zip (postal) code for Germantown is 20876.   Homework is important!  It is how you learn and ensure that you have mastered the material.  It is expected that you will do all assigned problems.  If you miss a problem, you may attempt it as many times as necessary to get it correct.  If you cannot do a problem without help, keep practicing until you can.  Remember, at test time, your help will come from what’s in your head.

 

Calculators:                A graphing calculator is required for this course, as well as for subsequent courses in mathematics.

                                    The course will be taught using the TI-83 Plus for instruction.  Other models are acceptable but will require that the student assume responsibility for knowing that calculator’s capabilities

            Students will not be permitted to share calculators during tests.  Use of the CAS calculators (TI-89, etc) is not permitted during tests or quizzes.

 

Practice Test:             Two practice tests are posted.  These should be completed prior to taking the hour tests. 

                                    If you cannot do a problem on the practice test, email me or re-watch the appropriate video and practice that type of problem.

 

Exams:                        Two proctored 50-minute tests will be given in the Germantown or Rockville Assessment Centers.  Prior to the first test, I will request that you email me and let me know which Center you will use.

            Germantown requires that you schedule the time to take your tests.  Please call:

 

Germantown

110 Sciences & Applied Studies Bldg. (SA)

240-567-7739

Rockville

14 Campus Center (CC) (walk-in available)

240-567-7459

 

            The first test will cover MathXL assignments 1 - 4.

            This corresponds to 6.1 – 6.7 in Trigonometry Update. 

            The second test will cover MathXL assignments 5 -7 which corresponds to Sections 7.1, 7.2, and 8.1 and 8.2.

            Posted material on solving trig equations will be covered on Test 2.

            The second test may be considered cumulative to the extent that the material covered in the second part of the course requires that you master         the material in the first part of the course.

                                                              

Show

Coverage

MathXL Homework Assignment

1

Basics of all angles, DMS vs. Radian Measure, Reciprocal & Complementary Trig Functions, Some Applications of  Trigonometry

Trig Ratios, Recip Funcs, DMS vs. DEC

2

Standard Position, Radian Measure, Incorporating Axis, Looking at Trig Functions in other Quadrants

Standard Position, Reference Angles, Axis

3

Basic Graphs of Sin, Cos & Tan

Graphs of Trig Functions

4

Transformations of basic trig graphs

Trig Graph Transformations

 

 

Practice Test One

TEST

Test 1

 

5

Algebraic Manipulations & Basic Trig Identities

Algebra Review with Basic Identities

6

The Sum & Difference Trig Identities

Sum & Difference Identities

7

Law of Sines & Cosines

The Law of Sines

 

 

The Law of Cosines

 

 

Practice Test Two

TEST

Test 2

 

 

Grading:                     You will receive a grade of A (90-100%), B (80-89%), C (70-79%), D (60-69%), or F (<60%).

                                    Your grade will be based on the following:

 

                                                Homework:                  16%

                                                Practice Tests               10%

                                                First hour test:               37%

                                                Second hour test:          37%

 

Academic Honesty:    See the Student Code of Conduct-“Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct.”  (Student Handbook)

 

Campus Computer use that is not directly related to College coursework of other College business is not permitted. 

 

Cancellation of class due to weather or any other reason will be posted on the College Website, as well as announced on many TV and radio stations.  If you had planned to come to campus on a day when the College is closed, you will need to reschedule your plans.  Please listen for Montgomery College closings, NOT MCPS closings.

 

Math Learning Centers:  Although this course is Web/TV based, you are welcome to use any of the services offered in the Learning Centers.  Germantown: Room 229 HT, the hours are:

                        Monday – Thursday:     8:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

                        Friday:                          8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

                        Saturday:                      8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

 

Other campus’s hours are available at http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/math/resources.html

These facilities offer supplementary and review material and tutors are available and are eager to help you!  Take advantage of them.

           

Accommodations:       If you are entitled to an accommodation due to a disability, please make an appointment to see me during my office hours, or before or after class.  A letter from Disability Support Services authorizing your accommodation will be needed as soon as possible.  Please do not wait until the day of the first test!

 

Successful students are those who KEEP UP, DO ALL ASSIGNED HOMEWORK, and ask questions.  Work to understand the material and take ownership of the knowledge. Your efforts in MA105 will payoff - not just this semester, but also when you continue your study of trigonometry in Precalculus and later apply that knowledge in Calculus.

 

 I look forward to working with you this semester.

-Margaret Latimer