Syllabus
UNE Summer Session
MAT 180: Precalculus – Summer 2025
Credits - 3
Description
This course focuses on the study of functions. It provides a foundation for the study of calculus and also serves as a foundation for future studies in the physical, natural, and health sciences. Topics include graphical, numerical, and algebraic analysis of polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions, and their applications.
- 3.000 Credit hours
- This course requires a L4 placement
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
As we move through the course, we will achieve the following learning outcomes:
- Classify and identify properties of polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric families of functions and their inverses.
- Perform and interpret algebraic manipulations with functions.
- Solve equations involving polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions and their inverses.
- Use functions to model relationships arising in applications.
- Perform analysis, find solutions, and interpret results of modeling problems.
MAT 180 is one of several courses which satisfy the UNE Core Mathematics requirement. UNE’s Core Curriculum is taken by all UNE students and provides a foundation in the arts and sciences. The learning outcomes for the Mathematics component of the Core are that students will
- Apply mathematical reasoning to formulate and solve problems in mathematics and other disciplines,
- Interpret mathematical information and draw informed conclusions, and
- Communicate mathematically using symbolic, numerical, and graphical representations.
MAT 180 does not contribute to an Applied Mathematics Major.
MAT 180 cannot be used towards an Applied Mathematics Minor.
Assignments
Students are expected to complete and submit graded assignments at the appointed time. Your grade will be automatically computed by these percentages:
- Online Homework 15%
- Online Quizzes 20%
- Online Exams 60%
- Discussion Posts 5%
Online Homework: Most homework is online using MyLab. Although you must submit your answers online, you can print your homework from MyLab if you’d like to work on it offline (but you’ll still need to submit your answers online). If you miss a question 3 times, MyLab will give you a new question to work if you hit “Similar Exercise”. You can work each question until you get it right, no matter how many tries it takes.
There is no penalty for late homework.
Online Quizzes: Most quizzes are also in MyLab and are similar to homework questions, but they are geared to help you review for the tests. That means that there are less help features available to you than on the homework. They are only available after completing at least 80% on EACH corresponding homework assignment. There are 2 attempts. You can view the answers to your first attempt in the MyLab gradebook. Please do so before taking the second attempt!
Late online quizzes will receive a late penalty of 5% per day.
Online Exams: Some exams will be in MyLab. They are only available after completing the corresponding online quizzes. There is one attempt.
Late online exams will receive a late penalty of 5% per day.
Discussion Posts: There are weekly discussion posts in Brightspace. Your initial post is due midweek, and then 2 responses to your fellow classmates is due at the end of the week. Be professional and kind!
Discussion posts are not accepted if they are late.
Studying
The longer you wait to do homework means the more information you forget and the harder the homework will be. So, try to do the homework as soon as you can after I lecture on the material. Be proactive!
The general rule when planning your time for a college class is: for every hour you spend in class, expect to spend 2x that amount at home (1x if easy class, 3x if hard class). We only have 6 weeks – so budget at least 15 hours of your time at home each week! This might seem like a lot, but for a math class it’s considered normal. The reason why most students fail a math class is because they don’t have the necessary amount of time to devote to it.
Studying doesn’t just mean doing homework. That’s just the beginning! Studying includes:
- Reviewing notes after class and throughout the week
- Doing homework
- Seeking help for problems you don’t understand (looking at book/videos, seeing tutor/instructor)
- Reviewing for quizzes/tests (creating study guides, reworking problems)
- Redoing problems over and over until you can do them WITHOUT NOTES
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
|
Unit |
Week |
Date |
Topics |
|
1 |
1 |
May 19 – May 24 |
1.1 – Introduction to Graphing 1.2 – Functions and Graphs 1.3 – Linear Functions, Slope, and Applications 1.4 – Equations of Lines and Modeling 1.5 – Linear Equations, Functions, Zeros, and Applications 2.1 – Increasing, Decreasing, and Piecewise Functions 2.2 – Algebra of Functions 2.3 – Composition of Function |
|
2 |
May 25 – May 30 |
2.4 – Symmetry 2.5 – Transformations 2.6 – Variation and Applications Exam 1 |
|
|
2 |
3 |
Jun 1 – Jun 7 |
3.2 – Quadratic Equations, Functions, Zeros, and Models 3.3 – Analyzing Graphs of Quadratic Functions 3.4 – Solving Rational Equations and Radical Equations 4.1 – Polynomial Functions and Modeling 4.2 – Graphing Polynomial Functions 4.3 – Polynomial Division; Remainder & Factor Theorem 4.4 – Theorems about Zeros of Polynomial Functions 4.5 – Rational Functions |
|
4 |
Jun 8 – Jun 14 |
5.1 – Inverse Functions 5.2 – Exponential Functions and Graphs 5.3 – Logarithmic Functions and Graphs Exam 2 |
|
|
3 |
5 |
Jun 15 – Jun 21 |
5.4 – Properties of Logarithmic Functions 5.5 – Solving Exponential Equations and Logarithmic Equations 5.6 – Applications and Models 6.1 – Trigonometric Functions of Acute Angles 6.2 – Applications of Right Triangles 6.3 – Trigonometric Functions of Any Angle |
|
6 |
Jun 22 – Jun 28 |
6.4 – Radians, Arc length, and Angular Speed 6.5 – Circular Functions: Graphs and Properties 6.6 – Graphs of Transformed Sine & Cosine Functions Exam 3 |
Student Resources
Summer Session Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Email: summersessiononline@une.edu.
Instructor and Support Contact Information
Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.
UNE Libraries
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
Further Assistance
Your student support specialist monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.
To request an accommodation a student needs to go through the process with our UNE office. If the student has a current/already established accommodation in place with UNE it is the responsibility of the student to notify the program at summersessiononline@une.edu to ensure it is applied properly.
If you need to inquire about a possible accommodation, please reach out to the Student Access Center by calling 207-221-4418 or send an email to pcstudentaccess@une.edu.
Policies
Summer Session & Academic Engagement Policy
Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm EDT of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion by 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday of the first week, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the Student Summer Session Manual for full details.
Proctored Examinations
Your course may have proctored exams. Please see the course for the exact exam requirements, test-taker guidance, proctoring format, and allowances (such as calculators or whiteboards, as indicated in the course).
Information about exam attempts can be found in your course.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements.
Course Length
A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus.
Courses in the program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 6 or 12 weeks.
- Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar.
- Course due dates, start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.
Withdrawal and Refund Policies
Please review the policies in your confirmation email. Contact summersessiononline@une.edu with any questions.
Grade Policy
Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course.
Transcripts
Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the College. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.