PROPOSED COURSE OUTLINE

Instructor: Arlan Rodrigo

e-mail: arlan_rodrigo@rocketmail.com

Course Number: Math 14

Course Title: COLLEGE TRIGONOMETRY
Course Credit: 3
Course Requirements: 3 Long Exams = 2/3 of Final Grade
1 Final Exam = 1/3 of Final Grade
Attendance, Participation, Quizzes, Homework (Bonus points for Exams)
Passing Grade: 60%
Consultation Hours: By appointment (send me an e-mail)
Main Reference: Modern Algebra and Trigonometry Third Edition (Vance)

Course Objectives:
At the end of the course, the student is expected to know the basic concepts of College Trigonometry.
In particular, the student is expected to know the following:

• Basic concepts in Set Theory

• The Geometry of Real Numbers, The Cartesian Plane, The Circle
• Relations and Functions and differentiate them from each other
• The Circular Functions
• Inverse Circular Functions
• Graphs and Applications of Circular Functions
• The Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines and problem-solving involving Oblique Triangles
• Complex Numbers and Vectors
• Powers and roots of Complex Numbers

Exams:
There will be 3 written Long Exams with a cumulative weight of 2/3 of the Final Grade. Aside from
this, a Final Exam will be given at the end of the semester and this will make up 1/3 of the Final Grade. The
passing grade at the end of the semester is 60%. Standard college rules will be used in determining the Final
Grade to be marked in the grading sheet.

Exemption from the Final Exam:

If the student has obtained an average of 80% or higher for the 3 Long Exams, he/she can opt not to
take the Final Exam. If he/she does so, then the Final Grade will be the average for the 3 Long Exams.

Attendance, Participation, Quizzes, Homework:

Extra Bonus points or percentage points will be given to students who have a good attendance. Points
Earned from quizzes and homework also have their corresponding merit in the Examinations. Please refer to
the table at the end for more information.
Class Policy:
1. If a student is late for more than 15 minutes for a particular class period, then he will be marked
absent for that period.
2. There will be no make-up for missed quizzes and unsubmitted homework or homework submitted
past the deadline.
3. If a student misses a Long Exam for a valid reason (requires documentation), then he/she must take
the Final Exam and the grade for the missed Long Exam will be the grade of the Final Exam. If a
student misses a second Long Exam, then it is automatically ZERO regardless of the reason. A
student who misses an exam for an invalid reason will have a grade of ZERO for that exam.
4. Cheating, in any form, including copying homework will not be tolerated.

COURSE OUTLINE

Meeting No. Topic Reference/s Quiz Homework

1 Self-Introduction by the teacher and the students, Wikipedia / other external Reading
discussion of class policies, Overview of the subject / sources assignment
History of trigonometry
2 Sets and basic notation, subsets and counting, Vance ( pages 2 – 15 ) YES
operations on sets
3 The Geometry of Real Numbers, the Cartesian Plane, Vance ( pages 71 – 86 ) YES
the Distance Formula and the Slope Formula
4 The Circle, ( review plus QUIZ ) Vance ( pages 86 – 93 ) YES
5 Functions and Relations, Graphical Representation Vance ( pages 95 – 106 ) YES
of Functions and Relations
6 Definitions of the Circular Functions, Behavior of Vance ( pages 108 – 120 ) YES
the Sine and Cosine Functions
7 Values of the Circular Functions of Special Real Vance ( pages 120 – 125 ) YES
Numbers, Exact Values of the Circular Functions for
θ=π/5
8 The fundamental circular function identities, Proof of Vance ( pages 126 – 130 ) YES
the formula for cos ( A – B )
9 Special Reduction Formulas, General Addition Vance ( pages 131 – 138 ) YES YES
Formulas, General Reduction Formulas
10 General Identities, Conversions of Sums and Vance ( pages 139 – 145 ) YES
Products
11 Function values of any number, Approximations of Vance ( pages 145 – 152 ) YES
Function Values for small numbers
12 EXAM 1
13 Inverse Functions, Graphing of certain relations Vance ( pages 266 – 272 ) YES
14 Inverse Circular Functions Vance ( pages 272 – 276 ) YES
15 Operations involving inverse circular functions, Vance ( pages 276 – 278 ) YES
graph of the curve y = a sin kx Vance ( pages 332 – 333 )
16 Graph of the curves y = a sin (kx + b), graphing by Vance ( pages 334 – 336 ) YES
addition of ordinates
17 Simple Harmonic Motion Vance ( pages 336 – 338 ) YES
18 Addition of Two General sine functions, short Vance ( pages 339 – 343 ) YES
discussion of Harmonic Analysis and Synthesis
19 The Algebra of Complex Numbers, The geometry of Vance ( pages 156 – 162 ) YES
Complex Numbers
20 The Algebra of Ordered Pairs, The Algebra of Vance ( pages 162 – 170 ) YES
Vectors
 21 EXAM 2
Topic Quiz Homework
Meeting No. Reference/s

22 Angles, Circular functions of angles Vance ( pages 346 – 354 ) YES YES
23 Geometric use of Angles Vance ( pages 355 – 363 ) YES
24 Powers and roots of complex numbers Vance ( pages 363 – 366 ) YES
25 General discussion of triangle solutions, Vance ( pages 366 – 374 ) YES
The Law of Sines
26 The Law of Cosines, Applications involving Vance ( pages 374 – 382 ) YES
Oblique Triangles
27 More problems on Oblique Triangles YES YES
28 Additional Topic: “Trigonometric Delights” Trigonometric Delights
by Eli Maor
29 EXAM 3
30 Review For Final Exam ( Sample Exam to be given )
31 Review for Final Exam
32 FINAL EXAM

33
34
35

BONUS POINTS !!!

CRITERIA

Attendance Per 5 classes attended : + 1% in Long Exam

Complete Attendance : + 1% in Final Exam

Quizzes Per 10 points earned : + 1% in Long Exam

90% and up for total : + 3% in Final Exam

Homework Per 15 points earned : + 1% in Long Exam

95% and up for total : + 1% in Final Exam