Syllabus

Course:  Math 3C is the preparatory course for Math 10A (Calculus). The goal of the course is to develop the mathematical knowledge and skills, as well as the analytical and problem-solving skills, necessary for the study of calculus. Unlike some courses, attendance is required for all lectures, 4th hours, and discussion sections. The 4th hour is used as an additional lecture, since the course syllabus cannot reasonably be covered using only the scheduled lecture hours.   (Catalog Description)

Textbook:   Algebra & Trigonometry (1st Edition), by Sheldon Axler; published by Wiley 2011.

Calculators:   Graphing calculators are recommended (but not required) for use in class and for homework. The calculator should be used as an aid in learning concepts, not just as a means of computation. Help with using TI graphing calculators will be available in the Calculus Tutoring Lab. Note: The use of calculators will not be permitted during the midterms or the final exam.

Reading:   Reading the sections of the textbook corresponding to the assigned homework exercises is considered part of the homework assignment; you are responsible for material in the assigned reading whether or not it is discussed in the lecture.

Homework:    Homework will be assigned on the course homework page and must be completed by the indicated due date. Any changes to the assignments will be announced in class and in the announcements section on the main page of the course web site. Late assignments will not be accepted; however, the lowest homework score will be dropped. Selected problems on the assignment will be graded. While your work will be graded for correctness, keep in mind that presentation and organization directly affect your grader. To assist your grader, you should keep all problems in the same order as the assignment list and ordered vertically on your page. If a problem is omitted, it should still appear in the correct order. All work must be on full-sized notebook paper and all pages must be stapled together. Write your name (last name first), your Discussion Section (A01, A02, etc.), and the homework assignment number in the upper right corner. Homework will be returned in section the following week. Watching someone else do a problem or "understanding" the solution in a Solutions Manual does not indicate mastery—you must be able to begin a solution on your own and carry it to completion without help before you can claim mastery of that problem. Ask questions during office hours about homework problems that have caused you difficulty and indicate what attempts you have made to solve the problems. A thorough understanding of the homework problems and their solutions will prepare you well for the midterm exams and the final exam.

Midterm Exams:   There will be two midterm exams during the quarter. Note that the midterms are scheduled during the fourth hour lectures. There will be no makeup exams.   (See the course calendar for the specific dates.)

Final Exam:   It is your responsibility to ensure that you do not have a schedule conflict involving the final examination; you should not enroll in this class if you cannot sit for the final examination at its scheduled time.

Grading: Your course grade will be determined by your cumulative average at the end of the term; your cumulative average will be the best of the following two weighted averages:


Since there are no makeup exams, if you miss the midterm exam for any reason then your course grade will be computed using Method 2.

Letter grades will be determined by the following scale.

A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C-
97 93 90 87 83 80 77 73 70

We may adjust the scale to be more lenient, but we guarantee that the grade corresponding to a given percentage will not be lower than specified by the above scale. There will be no curve.

Academic Dishonesty:  Academic dishonesty is considered a serious offense at UCSD.  Students caught cheating will face an administrative sanction which may include suspension or expulsion from the university.  It is in your best interest to maintain your academic integrity. (Click here for more information.)