Precalculus, Math 160, Fall 2008
This site updated August 19, 2008
(Recent updates will usually be above the first horizontal line. For the beginning of the course, see here.)
The will to win is grossly overrated.        
The will to prepare is far more important.
--  Bobby Knight, basketball coach


This site has information about

    the course syllabus.  You will get a hard-copy in class. The syllabus gives the rules, the required prerequisites, the grading policy, and more. You must read it.
    calculator programs we use in class
    the calendar that lists all the homework due. You got a hard-copy on paper in class.  If not, ask for another one.
    upcoming exams, and, after they are administered, exam curves
    instructors, e-mails, rooms, times
    occasional updates (at the top of this page) about upcoming exams, etc.


     Other important information that you will want to know. For example, did you know copies of previous exams are available on reserve in the Library and at Cards n' Copies? They are also on-line here.  (However, it is cheaper to buy them at CnC than use your expensive printer ink.) (If you are on campus, it just works. If you are off campus you might need to use a username and password).
    We have free tutoring! The Math Learning Center (1-110 Wilson) has free tutoring weekdays. Click here for more about its hours.

Read each section. Do not skip the harder parts. In fact, when the going gets rough you need to slow down and read it several times until it makes sense. If it remains unclear, ask!  reading lessons

Reading is hard!  But, you will be learning an extremely valuable skill.
Don't skim.
Don't expect that only high points are important (Don't read only the bold parts).
Don't skip the rest of the paragraph because you want to move along to the next high point. 
Really do read the next paragraph in the text..

"Is Google is making us stupid?"  Read about it here:  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91543814
    (Really, it is short, so read it!)  
 The original article in The Atlantic magazine is not short (I don't expect you to read it):   http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google
It has prooked quite a buzz, so search on the title will get many hits.


 ****************************************************************************************************
Course supervisor:  Prof. Warren Esty, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Wilson Hall 2-238. (406) 994-5354.
    Warren Esty, at    westy  AT  math.montana.edu      (If you want to arrange something, I prefer phone calls. My office hours are here.)

You must satisfy our special prerequisite to stay in Math 160. Have you satisfied it?

"I took precalculus (or calculus) in High School, so I have satisfied the prerequisite, right?"  No!  You must test into the course. What you took in high school is does not count. What you know counts. Here are the rules about prerequisites.

Course Syllabus  (which includes sections about these and other topics):
    Prerequisite (you must satisfy the prerequisite!), Work, Calculators, Exams and Grading, Course Goals

Calendar   A daily schedule, including homework assignments. You will get a hard copy in class.
Exams are common-hour exams given at 6:00 pm.
Exam 1 is Thursday, Feb. 7. Exam 2 is Thursday, March 6. Exam 3 is Thursday, April 17. The Final Exam is at 6:00 pm Tuesday, May 6, during exam week.  Mark your personal calendar with these dates and times.
Be there!  If you have an unavoidable academic conflict, see the syllabus.  If you are taking other common-hour exam courses, you may have a conflict. Look up their exams times now and see. If you have an academic conflict, you may be able to resolve it by signing up (with Dr. Esty in 2-238 Wilson Hall) for our alternative exam time at 4:45 pm the same day. However, you must sign up well in advance. Signing up the last day is not an option. 


We use calculators a great deal. Instructors will use the TI-83 or TI-84, but you may use other models. Learn to use and program your calculator. One program you will need many times is given next.

Activities.  Chapter 1

Program your calculator with the Quadratic Formula. Here is a simple four-line program for the TI-83 or 84.
Hit PRGM
            Follow each line here with ENTER. Comments you do not type are in green.
Go to NEW
Enter the name, letter by letter, say, QUAD    (the blinking "A" means Alphabetic mode which refers to the letters in green on your keyboard)
Prompt A, B, C
        To find the Prompt command, while writing the program, hit PRGM (again) which brings up a menu.
        Arrow right to I/O  (for Input/Output) and down to Prompt. There is a comma key above the 7 key.
(-B+√(B2-4*A*C))/(2*A) -> P
        The -> command is for STOre (it appears as an arrow), on a key near the bottom left.
        It stores numbers in memory.
(-B-√(B2-4*A*C))/(2*A) -> M
Disp P, M
         The Disp command is for Display, which is also under I/O (hit PRGM, arrow over to I/O).

    [Now "quit" and try it out on an example where you know the answer. For example, try
    to solve x2 - 8x + 15 = 0. Did you get  5, 3? If not, check your keystrokes.] 

    Free tutoring!  Math students can get help at the Math Learning Center (Wilson Hall, west wing, south end, first floor) from 9:00 to 3:00 each weekday. Not all hours have a Precalculus tutor. Check here for the Precalculus tutoring hours.

    Most exam questions address material newly learned in this course, not material you already know from previous algebra courses. We recommend you look at previous exams, which are available at Cards-n-Copies in the SUB, on reserve at the library, and on-line at the library reserve site: http://www.lib.montana.edu/reserves/math160/. (If you are off campus you may need to use a username and password).

************************************************************************************************
Advice about how to learn math.

Advice from previous students about how to do well in this course.  Believe it!

How do you study? Here is research on multitasking.

This is the end of the required Precalculus material at this time. Check back for updates on calculator programs and exam preparation.

You can quit here.  The rest gives some interesting links, not directly relevant to Math 160.


The following links are interesting, but not required and not directly relevant to Math 160.

An interesting optical illusion where you see pink as green: 
http://pathetic.org/poem.php?i_poemid=1170158612

Here is a neat site (not having anything to do with Precalculus). "Live Science," ( http://www.livescience.com/ ) that discusses new research in everything from hurricanes to sexual attitudes of teens. 

Cool sites:
About powers of 10:  Zooming in from space to a microscopic scale. (It takes a while for the java to load.)
Powers of 10 in words.

The earliest known uses of various math terms:  http://members.aol.com/jeff570/mathword.html

Math quotes, indexed by author or subject, or simply for browsing.
A math dictionary.
Obscure math humor.

An astronomical picture of the day.

A MSU physics faculty member is participating in a project about gravitational waves (Waves are in chapter 7).
http://sciencebulletins.amnh.org/astro/f/gravity.20041101/essays/47_1.php
This site mentions that sites in the universe from which these waves emanate could be located by using several detectors and measuring the time delay associated with the different times that different detectors note the waves. Precalculus gives you the tools to follow the math (which is not on that link). The same sort of math is used to locate cell-phone users. 
More about learning:

A link to a Canadian page about "Preparing for University Calculus."
Here is a link to a fascinating commercial site on learning (believe it!), and a link to its page on the role of sleep in learning.

This webpage is maintained by Warren Esty:    westy  at  math dot montana dot edu     994-5354