Northeastern University

Mathematics Department

Syllabus

Math 1106 - Functions & Algebra

Instructor: Stanley J. Eigen, mailto:eigen@neu.edu 541 Lake Hall, (617) 373-5647

Grading: A mandatory departmental final counts 40% of the course grade. You must pass the final exam! Quizzes 28%, Tests 27%, HW 5%

Tutoring: Free tutoring is available in Cahners Hall.

Prerequisite: Knowledge of Chapter 0 (arithmetic and elementary algebra review). During one of the classes a 20-minute Diagnostic Test will be given. If you fail you should transfer to a lower course (MTH1010) or seek immediate help. Your instructor may assign you additional work to help you "catch-up".

Description and Outline: The concept of function is one of the most basic and useful in mathematics. This course will focus on some of the most important elementary functions and their applications. Successful mastery of the material requires that certain algebraic and geometric skills be reinforced. This will also be an important part of the course.

Notice: It is the student's responsibility to be aware of what happens in the classroom, including announcements of possible exam date changes, material which will be covered in them, adjustments to the syllabus which may occur.

The course is designed for students who will encounter technical mathematics only occasionally in their daily lives or career specialties as well as for students who require the material as preparation for science courses or mathematics courses such as differential and integral calculus.

Not all sections of the book are covered in the course. In particular, Chapter 0 will receive little or no coverage in class. The material of that chapter is nevertheless very important as it represents the numerical and algebraic background that students in the course are expected to have. Even so, many students are probably unsure of some of this material. Each student should review topics as needed with special attention given to the most important ones including: signed numbers, fractions, roots and exponents, factoring, and solving simple equations. Some in-class review might be combined with the presentation of material from later chapters.

The following is an approximate distribution of class time (excluding tests) and a list of suggested homework problems. It should be considered as a rough guide to the amount of time spent and emphasis placed on individual topics. Sections that are not listed at all are not part of the official syllabus. If time permits, additional topics could be covered. On the other hand, unforeseen circumstances might require abridgement of certain listed topics. The course coordinator reserves the right to make syllabus changes as necessary.

 

Chapter 1 (6 classes)
  § 1.1.     
  § 1.2.     1-4,6,7
  § 1.3.     1-6
  § 1.4.     1-5,8-10 
  § 1.5.     1,3,5(a-c),6(a,b),7,9,10,12,13,16,17,20(a,b),21,23-27
  § 1.6.     [Omit work problems]: 1-7,10-12,19-22
  § 1.7.     1-4,7,15,17
Chapter 2 (3 classes)
  § 2.1.     1,3,4,5(a,c),9(a,c,e),10,12(c) 13(c), [19 optional]
  § 2.2.     5,7,11,13,15,21,23,31,33
Chapter 3 (6 classes)
  § 3.1.     1,7,9,11,12,13
  § 3.2.     2,3,5,10,13,17,19,21,29,31,35,,39,41,45,49,51,53-64,74-77
  § 3.3.     [Do only pp. 157-159]: 11,12,13
  § 3.4.     25-28
  § 3.5.     1,3,15,17, [25]
Chapter 4 (6 classes)
  § 4.1.     1-7,11,12,13,17,25,26,27,29,33	
  § 4.3.     3-5,13,19,21
  § 4.4.     1,7,9,15-18
  § 4.5.     1-11(odd),17(a,c),25,29-34,37,39,40
  § 4.6.     1,2,5,7,11-19(odd),31-37(odd),36
  § 4.7.     1,3,7,11,15
Chapter 5 (as time permits)
  § 5.1.     1,9(a,d,g)
  § 5.2.     1-16,19,21,27-31(odd),39-45(odd),47,49,53,57,61,67
  § 5.3.     1,3,7,15,21,31,35,41,42,43
  § 5.4.     1,5,9,13,17,19,21-25
  § 5.5.     1,3,11,13,15,17,21,23-27(odd)