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MTH163: Precalculus I - 3 Credits
Overview

The general purpose of this one-semester course is to prepare students for a course in applied or business-oriented calculus sequence by providing them with the necessary competencies in algebra, functions (including polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic), and matrices, as well as competence in using a graphing utility. At NOVA, this course will prepare the student for the applied calculus sequence, MTH 271-272, “Applied Calculus I-II”. MTH 163 can also be used in conjunction with MATH 164, “Precalculus II” in preparation for a course in calculus with analytic geometry. At NOVA, MTH 163-164 prepares students for MTH 173-174, “Calculus with Analytic Geometry I-II.”

NOTE: Credit cannot be awarded for both MTH 166 and MTH 163 .

Prerequisite : The prerequisite are competency in Math Essentials Units MTE 1-9 as demonstrated through the placement and diagnostics tests, or completion through unit 9 in an MTT course.

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Objectives
 

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

  1. Solve problems involving equations, inequalities, and systems of equations.
  2. Operate on functions (addition, multiplication, composition, and inverses).
  3. Graph linear, quadratic, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
  4. Factor polynomials and find zeroes of polynomials.
  5. Use matrices to solve systems of linear equations.
  6. Use a graphing utility as an aid in problem-solving.
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Materials
 

In addition to the access to the Enhanced WebAssign site, textbook and other materials listed with the bookstore, you will also need a graphing calculator (for details regarding acceptable models, please refer to your course syllabus).

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Grading
 

Possible Assignments Include: (Subject to change each semester. The actual assignments are available in the Syllabus in the Blackboard course site on the first day of classes.)

Assignments
Possible Points
% of Final Grade
Homework
(EWA - total for all sections)
100
10%
Quizzes
(EWA - 6 @ 50 points each)
300
30%
Exams
(3 @ 150 points each) 
450 45%
Exam Projects
(3 @ 50 points each) 
150 15%
Total 1000 100%

Final grades will be based on the following scale:

Grading Scale
Grade
Points Percent
A
900-1000
90–100
B
800-899
80–89
C
700-799
70–79
D
600-699
60–69
F
0-599
0-59
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Exams
 

There are 3 exams in this course. NOTE: You must pass at least two (2) of the three (3) exams in order to pass this course, regardless of how well you do in the other assignments.

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ELI Policies and Procedures
 
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Beginning the Course
 

Last Updated: October 23, 2013