ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
ET 50A. TECHNICAL MATHEMATICS COURSE SYLLABUS
DESCRIPTION OUTCOMES ASSIGNMENTS REQUIREMENTS EVALUATION
Instructor: Chris J. Shaeffer, M.A.
Days: MW Hours: 12-1 Room: Science 09
Office: Cloud 205 Hours: MTW 11-12 Phone: 452-5233
Additional hours of instruction are offered in the non-credit mode for interested students.
Days: TR Hours: 1-2:30 Room: Science 30
Instructor's Homepage: This will give you some idea of who I am.
Contacting the Instructor: Feel free to contact me regarding class activities, assignments, etc.
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is an eighteen-week course in applied mathematics designed to develop students' ability to solve problems in engineering according to specific scientific concepts and/or rules. The techniques of second-year algebra and elementary problem solving are applied to basic problems of DC/AC circuits. Solutions are in the form of scientific and engineering notation. A broad-based introduction to the essential mathematics of electronics, this course provides mathematical foundation for various ET electronics certificates and/or the AS degree in any Engineering Technology program. Students are encouraged to use email. Message boards, chat rooms, and conferences may be introduced to facilitate student-to-student and student-to- instructor communication. Online links of special interest are attached to this page, and students will be encouraged to utilize this feature to further enhance their educational experience. A passing grade in this course fulfills the Area A requirement for the AA/AS degree, and course units are transferable to the CSU system.
II. EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Explain and identify polarity; atomic structure; the units of charge, voltage, current, resistance; current direction, and direct and alternating currents in the context of electronics.
2. Solve algebraic problems containing exponents, radicals, and trigonometric functions.
3. Use powers of ten and multipliers to express large and small numbers.
4. Use scientific and engineering notation both to solve problems and to express solutions.
5. Develop solutions to assigned problems using problem-solving techniques.
6. Analyze the relationships between current, resistance, and electromotive force as expressed algebraically in Ohm’s Law.
7. Solve problems for the missing elements in both series and parallel direct current
circuits containing resistors.
8. Illustrate the difference between series and parallel circuits, and discuss the
concepts of voltage and current dividers in the same context.
9. Resolve complex circuits into analogous simple circuits with equivalent resistance,
and find the power, currents, and voltage drops for all resistors.
10. Illustrate and use the trigonometric functions to resolve problems with right
triangles.
11. Explain the processes involved in the generation of AC currents using the
mathematics of periodic functions and vectors.
12. Demonstrate a basic knowledge and understanding of phasor algebra and the use
of phasor diagrams.
13. Analyze AC series circuits with resistors, capacitors, and inductors.
III. DESCRIPTION OF PROCEDURE AND DAILY ASSIGNMENTS:
Problem set assignments will be done in class and as homework. Reading should have been completed beforehand and problems should be in progress. I am available during class to assist students who are having problems. It is a proven fact that we all learn by doing. Do the assigned problems, and you will do well in the class. I will not be lecturing, you will be working on the problems, and I will be providing examples, discussing the concepts, and assisting as needed. Solutions to the assignments will be provided after their assigned period has passed. If time runs short, some assignments may be reduced.
Week 1. January 17, Wednesday. Introduction to course. Home page url. Discuss course syllabus. Cooke, Chapter 6. Powers of 10. Problems 6-1: all. Problems 6-2: 1-20, odd. Problems 6-3:1-11, odd. Problems 6-4: 1-10, odd. Problems 6-5: 1-17, odd. Problems 6-6: all scientific notation.. For some online practice on equations, see: word problems
Week 2. January 22, Monday. Finish Chapter 6. Wednesday. Begin Chapter 7. Units & Dimensions. Problems 7-1: 1-15, odd. Problems 7-2: odd.
Week 3. January 29, Monday. Finish Chapter 7. Unit & Dimensions. Problems 7-1: 1-15, odd. Problems 7-2: odd. Wednesday. Begin Chapter 8. Ohm’s Law – Series Circuits. Problems 8-1:1-9, odd. Problems 8-2: 1-10; 15,17,19.
Week 4. February 5, Monday. Finish Chapter 8. Wednesday. Begin Chapter 13. Ohm’s Law – Parallel Circuits. Problems 13-1: 1-5; 9,10,11. Problems 13-2: 2-10, even; 11,13,15. Problems 13-3: 1-13.
Week 5. February 12, Monday. Quiz #1, Chapters 6-8, 13. Wednesday. Review Quiz. Begin Chapter 17. Simultaneous Equations. Problems 17-1: 1-5. Problems 17-2: 1-5. Problems 17-3: 1-5. Problems 17-4: 1-3. Problems 17-8: 1-3. Problems 17-9: 1-14.
Week 6. February 19 (Washington's Birthday). Wednesday. Finish Chapter 17. Begin Chapter 18 . Determinants. Problems 18-1: 1-5. Problems 18-2: 1-5. Problems 18-3: 1-11, odd.
Week 7. February 26. Monday. Finish Chapter 18. Wednesday. Begin Chapter 20. Exponents and Radicals. Problems 20-1: 11-23, odd. Problems 20-2: 1-19, odd. Problems 20-3: 1-15, odd. Problems; 20-4: 5-15, odd. Problems 20-8: odd. Problems 20-10: odd. Problems 20-11: 1-11, odd.
Week 8. March 5. Monday. Finish Chapter 20. Chapter 21. Quadratic Equations. Problems 21-1: 1-9, odd. Problems 21-2: 1-10. Problems 21-3: 1-5. Problems 21-4: 1-5. Wednesday. Begin Chapter 22. Network Simplification. Problems 22-1: even. Problems 22-2: 1-5. Problems 22-3: even. Problems 22-4: even. Problems 22-5: all.
Week 9. March 12. Monday. Finish Chapter 22. Wednesday. Quiz #2. Chapters 17-18,20-22.
Week 10. March 19. Monday. Review quiz. Begin Chapter 24. Trigonometric Functions. Problems 24-1: 2,3,4,6,7,8. Problems 24-2: 1-10; 11-33 odd. Problems 24-3: all. Wednesday. Finish Chapter 24. Begin Chapter 25. Trigonometric Values. Problems 25-3: 1-7.
Week 11. March 26. Monday. Finish Chapter 25. Begin Chapter 26. Solution of Right Triangles. Problems 26-5: all. Wednesday. Finish Chapter 26.
Week 12. April 2. Monday. Quiz #3.Chapters 24-26. Wednesday. Review quiz. Begin Chapter 28. Elementary Plane Vectors. Problems 28-1: all. Problems 28-2: odd. Problems 28-3: odd.
Week 13. April 9-14. Spring Break.
Week 14. April 16. Monday. Finish Chapter 28. Begin Chapter 29. Periodic Functions. Problems 29-2: all. Problems 29-3: 1-6. Wednesday. Finish Chapter 29. Begin Chapter 30. Alternating Currents – Fundamental Ideas. Problems 30-1,2,3,4: all odd. Wednesday. Begin Chapter 31. Phasor Algebra. Problems 31-1: 1-5. Problems 31-2: 1-5. Problems 31-3: 1-5. Problems 31-4: 1-5.
Week 15. April 23. Monday. Finish Chapter 31. Begin Chapter 32. Alternating Currents – Series Circuits. Problems 32-1: all. Problems 32-2: even. Problems 32-3: even. Problems 32-4: even. Problems 32-5: 11-16. Problems 32-6: 1-6. Wednesday. Finish Chapter 32. Begin Chapter 33. Alternating Circuits - Parallel Circuits. Problems 33-1: all; 33-2: odd; 33-3: odd; 33-4: odd.
Week 16. April 30. Monday. Finish Chapter 33. Wednesday. Quiz #4, Chapters 28-32.
Week 17. May 7. Monday. Review quiz. Begin Chapter 34. Logarithms. Problems 34-1: odd 34-2: all; 34-3: all; 34-4: odd; 34-5: odd. Wednesday. Finish Chapter 34. Begin Chapter 35. Applications of Logarithms. Problems 35-1: all; 35-2: odd; 35-3: odd; 35-4: odd.
Week 18. May 14. Monday & Wednesday. Finish and review logarithms.
Week 19. May 21. Monday. Continue review. Wednesday. Quiz #5, Chapters 34-35.
III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Reading textbook assignments and completing assigned problems.
2. Working together on assigned problems. Providing input and insight on methods
and solutions.
3. Completing five quizzes.
4. Attending class regularly.
5. Achieving the required level of competence in the material.
I do not intend to pretest to determine mathematical skill levels for incoming students. It will be immediately evident what is expected: a desire to learn and a willingness to work. Your deficiencies are quickly obvious; but I am here to assist you in overcoming them. Some students may need more than one semester to finish, and I will allow for that possibility by using "Incompletes" where necessary. No matter what your choice of occupation, but particularly if you intend to pursue a career in Science/Technology, you will need to have a considerable grasp of mathematics together with the techniques of mathematical problem solving. Many of you have weaknesses in these areas, and this class will help you discover your weaknesses and assist you in overcoming them. Wherever you apply for work in the technical fields or the trades, some level of mathematical proficiency will be required. So don’t sell yourself short, and don’t think you can’t do it. Trust me, and I’ll see you through.
The course will consist of weekly problem set assignments as outlined in the syllabus. There are five quizzes, one every three-four weeks. Students also receive points for attendance, participation, and application.
Attendance: 30-33 meetings attended = 100 points. Any missed meetings should be accounted for.
Participation: Assisting other students; showing ambition and determination; asking and
answering questions = 70-100 points.
Application and effort: Problem set completions; work habits = 70-100 points.
Quizzes: Five quizzes at 100 point for each.
A = 680-800 points
B = 560-679 points
C = 440-559 points
D = 320-439 points
V. REQUIRED RESOURCES:
Course Text: Nelson M. Cooke, et.al. Basic Mathematics for Electronics.7thedition,1995. Glencoe/McGraw-Hill.
Books are required since all assignments are from the book, and we must keep moving since there is a lot to cover in 18 weeks.
Students must also purchase a scientific calculator.
VI. OTHER LINKS:
A. Jobs: Classified Warehouse