LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS, ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
MAT 115 Syllabus: College Algebra and Trigonometry
Catalog Description: 4 hrs Lecture, 3 Credits
Prerequisite: MAT 096 or Placement
This course will start with a review of basic algebra skills such as factoring, solving linear
equations and inequalities and proceed to a study of polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, and
trigonometric functions. These functions will be used in applications involving simple
mathematical modeling where students will engage in inquiry activities aimed at improving
critical-thinking skills. A graphing calculator is recommended.
Instructional Objectives
During this course, the instructor expects to:
1. To reinforce student's basic algebraic skills.
2. To introduce students to the concept of a function and its application in modeling.
3. To develop students problem-solving and critical thinking skills through inquiry learning
and the use of technological tools.
4. To introduce students to the concepts and properties of quadratic, exponential, and
logarithmic functions.
5. To introduce students to basic trigonometry.
Performance Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:
1. To perform operations on polynomials, rational expressions, and radicals; to solve
systems of linear equations graphically and algebraically.
2. To understand the concept of a function and its role in mathematical modeling of real-life
problems.
3. To interpret and solve elementary word problems using technological tools.
4. To solve problems involving quadratic, exponential and logarithmic functions.
5. To parse and solve right-angle trigonometry problems.

Textbook: College Algebra and Trigonometry by Man M. Sharma: EDUCO International,

Inc: Second Edition
Inquiry Problem Solving Competency: Students enrolled in MAT115 will be expected to
deposit at least one inquiry learning project (see below) in their ePortfolios. Suitable examples of
such projects can be found in the PQL Sampler or at the MEC website.
Grading: Three (3) Tests ------------------------------------- 45%
Three (3) Inquiry Learning Projects ------------ 15%
Quizzes & Homework (online)------------------ 10%
Final (Departmental)------------------------------- 30%
Online access is required for quizzes, homework and tutorial. The access code is provided with
the purchase of a new textbook along with instruction about online registration. Purchase of
online access only and additional information can be found at the Educo website,
www.educosoft.com
Academic Integrity: This class will be conducted in compliance with LaGuardia Community
Colleges academic integrity policy.
Sanctions for Academic Integrity Violations: Sanctions or penalties for violations of academic
integrity are imposed by the faculty member teaching the course upon discovery of a violation.
All cases of academic dishonesty are filed with the College Adjudicator, who maintains a record
of academic integrity violations.
The occurrence of a second or third offense of academic dishonesty may involve the imposition
of a disciplinary sanction in addition to the academic sanction imposed by the instructor.
Sanctions for violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, the following:
failure of an exam, a grade of F on an essay or research paper, failure of a course project, failure
of the course, suspension from the College or dismissal from the College
IN Grade: The Incomplete grade may be awarded to students who have not completed all of the
required course work but for whom there is a reasonable expectation of satisfactory completion.
A student who is otherwise in good standing in a course defined as complying with the college
attendance policy and maintaining a passing average but who has not completed at most two
major assignments or examinations by the end of the course may request an IN grade. To be
eligible a student must provide, before the instructor submits grades for the course, a documented
reason, satisfactory to the instructor, for not having completed the assignments on time. (See
catalog for more details).
Attendance Policy: The maximum number of unexcused absences allowed is 15% of the total
class meetings (about 7 hours). Unexcused absences beyond this maximum will result in a grade
of WU or F.
Department Contact Information:
Office: E-218
Tel#: (718) 482-571
Tutoring: Mathematics Learning Center: MB 44
2

Lesson

Topic

Section

Absolute value; solving absolute

value equations and inequalities;
comparing v-graphs and
parabolas, i.e. y=abs(x) and
y=x^2
Graphing linear equations; pointplotting; quadrants; intercepts
Slope: parallel and perpendicular
lines; graphs from a chart of
values and using slope and yintercept
Equation of a line: slopeintercept form; point-slope form,
vertical and horizontal lines;
parallel/perpendicular lines and
conditions on slope
Functions and relations;
definitions; tabular functions;
graphs; vertical line test;
counterexamples; piecewise
functions
Functions: notation; domain and
range; restricted values
Difference quotient and average
rate of change of a function
Linear modeling: proportions and
beyondlinear growth; supply
and demand problems

1.3

Page 73-88

2.1

Page 95 -102

2.2

Page 106-120

Page 102-106: 1-15;17-27; 31-41;

43-53;59-73; 75-85
Page 112-114: 1-71

2.3

Page 106-120

Page 120-122: 1-71

2.4

Page 122-129

Page 129-131 1-31

2.4

Page 122-129

Page 129-131: 33-61

2
3

6
7
8,9

10

11

12

Inquiry Learning Project

1(addresses Inquiry Problem
Solving Competency/writing
ability)
Solving systems of linear
equations in two variables:
graphical method; 3 solution
types and graphical equivalents
Solving systems of linear
equations in two variables:
algebraic method; e.g.,
addition/elimination or
substitution

Page

2.4

Suggested Exercises-odd
numbers
Page 88-90: 23-45; 85-107;
109-131

Departmental Worksheet
Departmental Worksheet

Project (linear modeling; e.g.,

comparison of different cell phone
contracts, projected costs, best buy)
3.1

Page 145-153

Page 154-155: 1-7

3.1

Page 145-153

Page 154-155: 9-15

13

14
15

16
17

18
19
20

21

22
23

24

25

26
27
28
29

Solving systems of linear

equations in two variables:
application/word problems
Review
Test 1
Operations (+, -, x, ) on
polynomials and special
products; long division/synthetic
division
Quadratic functions; factoring
trinomials of the form
ax^2+bx+c
Solving quadratic equations by
factoring; zero property
Solution by completing the
square; square root property
Solution by using the quadratic
formula: formula derivation;
solving applied problems
Graphing quadratic functions:
vertex and intercepts; condition
for opening upward/downward
Modeling involving quadratic
functions; optimization
Discussion of Inquiry Learning
Project 2(addresses Inquiry
Problem Solving
Competency/writing ability)

3.1

Page 145-153

Page 154-155: 17-21

4.1

Page 205-215

4.3

Page 225-229

Instructors Material
Instructors Test
Page 215-217:29-39;41-49;65-81;
91-139
Page 230: 1-45

4.4

Page 232 247

Page 248-250: 29 - 277

5.1

Page 259-263

Page 263:1-23; 27-45; 47-63; 65-73

5.2

Page 264-271

5.3

Page 273-279

Page 272-273-273:1-21; 33-45;

73-103
Page 279-280:11-25;27-47

5.4

Page 281-288

Page 288: 1-39

5.7

Page 311-314

Page 315-317: 1-21

6.1
6.2

Page 327-335
Page 338-351

Project (e.g., quadratic growth of

salary with time, beyond the vertex:
consequences of retirementfixed
income; ageism resulting in salary
decline)
Page 336-337:1-27; 33-45;75-93
Page 352-353:33-57; 61-101

Rational expressions; arithmetic

with rational expressions;
simplification; rational functions
(domain/excluded values)
Solving equations containing
rational expressions; application
(word) problems
Rational exponents; rational
roots
Solving equations with radicals
Review
Test 2

6.3

Page 354-357

Page 358:1-29; 47-57

7.4

Page 403-408

Page 408-409:1-43

7.6

Page 414-418

Page 419: 1-51

Instructors Material
Instructors Test

30

Inverse functions: one-to-one

function; horizontal line rule
condition; finding inverses
(linear and suitable odd power
functions; rational functions
where numerator and
denominator are linear)
31
Exponential functions and their
graphs; positive/negative
exponents and graphical
consequences
32
Modeling with exponential
functions: calibrating exponential
functions given (two-point) data
33
Meaning of the logarithm;
(inverse) relation to exponential
function
34
Properties of logarithms:
reducing and expanding
logarithmic expressions
35
Solving exponential equations:
same and different bases
36
Solving logarithmic equations
37,38 Modeling with exponential
functions: compound interest;
growth and decay
39
Discussion of Inquiry Learning
Project 3(addresses Inquiry
Problem Solving
Competency/writing ability)
40
Review
41
Test 3
42
Angles: unit circle and
measurement (degrees/radians)
43
Trigonometric functions:
definition of six basic ratios; 4545-90 and 30-60-90 right
triangles; evaluation;
Pythagorean identities
44
Right-triangle trigonometry:
solving triangles
45

Right-triangle trigonometry:
applications (angle of elevation
and angle of depression)

8.1

Page 427-435

Page 435-436: 1-49

8.2

Page 437-441

Page 441-442: 1-31

Departmental Worksheet

8.3

Page 442-447

Page 447-448: 1-35

8.4

Page 448-452

Page 452-453: 1-29

8.5

Page 453-456

Page 456: 1-47

8.6
8.7

Page 457-460
Page 462-465

Page 461:1-67
Page 465: 1-27

Project (e.g., exponential growth as

a function of time, projected values,
maximum domain of the model)

9.1

Page 477-483

Instructors Material
Instructors Test
Page 484:1-27 Sections: A

9.1

Page 477-483

Page 484:29-53 Sections: B

9.2

Page 486-503

Page 504-505:1-13; 17-29

9.2

Page 486-503

Page 504-505: 39-47;

51-69

46,47 Graphs of the sine and cosine

functions: amplitude and period
and phase shift
48
Review for Final Exam
Cumulative Departmental Final

10.1

Page 513-531

Page 532-533: 6 -19; 43 - 47

Departmental Review
Given during Finals Week

Revised 1/26/2015