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Irving Lai

Irving Lai

Professor: Mathematics

ilai6AT_mtsac.edu

BA — Mathematics, University of California Berkeley 
MA — Mathematics, California State University Fullerton

Irving Lai

I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics at UC Berkeley and my Masters in Mathematics (with an emphasis in education) at Cal State Fullerton.  I have been a professor at Mt. SAC since 2014, and before that I taught at Glen A. Wilson High School for 10 years.  For me the math is fun, but what is even more exciting to me is the teaching part of the profession. Finding a way to explain the mathematics in a way that students can understand and appreciate it is the most interesting part of the job.

I am so excited that you have decided to take Survey of College Mathematics , Calculus and Analytic Geometry I with Support , or Calculus and Analytic Geometry II with Support ! Your success is important to me, so to help prepare you for the next part of your educational journey, I would like to share some information with you about my courses and classroom environments.


Click on one of my classes below to explore the structure and goals of each class.


      • Math 100 Fall 2024

        Online Class Search:
        ** This class will display a Building/Room number and a Meeting Time in the online class search, to indicate an in-person, on-campus class.


        Prerequisites: None


        Class Structure:
        My class will be conducted on-campus, in a traditional classroom setting. All exams will be in the form of on-Campus traditional exams.


        A physical or digital copy of the textbook , MATH 100: Mathematical Ideas, 15th Ed., by Miller, is required. Homework assignments will be in the form of worksheets, and will generally be due on Mondays and Tuesdays.


        Required Materials:

        Reliable Internet Connection

        Writing Utensils

        Paper (Printer or Lined)

        Scientific Calculator

        Desktop/Laptop/Tablet/Smartphone

        Scanner or Free Scanning App


        Helpful Foundational Skills:
        Equations of Lines
        Solving Linear Equations
        Properties of Quadratic Equations

      • Math 181 + Math 18B Fall 2024

        Online Class Search:
        ** This class will display a Building/Room number and a Meeting Time in the online class search, to indicate an in-person, on-campus class.


        Prerequisites: Math 180


        Class Structure:
        This is a corequisite class, which means there is an extra 2 unit portion designed to give extra support in various aspects of the class.
        My class will be conducted on-campus, in a traditional classroom setting. All exams will be in the form of on-Campus traditional exams.


        A physical or digital copy of the textbook , MATH 180/181: Calculus, Early Transcendentals, 8th Ed., by Stewart, is required. Homework assignments will be in the form of textbook problems, and will generally be due on Mondays and Tuesdays.


        Required Materials:

        Reliable Internet Connection

        Writing Utensils

        Paper (Printer or Lined)

        Scientific Calculator or Graphing Calculator

        Desktop/Laptop/Tablet/Smartphone

        Scanner or Free Scanning App (Strongly Recommended)


        Helpful Foundational Skills:
        Evaluating Limits
        Differentiating Functions
        Basic Integration Techniques


      • Math 180 + Math 18A Fall 2024

        Online Class Search:
        ** This class will display a Building/Room number and a Meeting Time in the online class search, to indicate an in-person, on-campus class.


        Prerequisites: Math 135 and Math 150, or Math 160, or Appropriate Placement


        Class Structure:
        This is a corequisite class, which means there is an extra 2 unit portion designed to give extra support in various aspects of the class. We will only be using Canvas for Math 180.
        My class will be conducted on-campus, in a traditional classroom setting. All exams will be in the form of on-Campus traditional exams.


        A physical or digital copy of the textbook , MATH 180/181: Calculus, Early Transcendentals, 8th Ed., by Stewart, is required. Homework assignments will be in the form of textbook problems, and will generally be due on Mondays and Tuesdays.


        Required Materials:

        Reliable Internet Connection

        Writing Utensils

        Paper (Printer or Lined)

        Scientific Calculator or Graphing Calculator

        Desktop/Laptop/Tablet/Smartphone

        Scanner or Free Scanning App (Strongly Recommended)


        Helpful Foundational Skills:
        Factoring
        Rationalizing with Conjugates
        Trigonometric Quantities
        Trigonometric Identities
        Graphing Basic Functions
        Properties of Logarithms
        Properties of Exponents

Our classroom environment will be one that supports your diverse perspectives and honors your identities. Names are very personal and very powerful. The name by which we choose to be called represents who we are. I recognize that calling students by their preferred name is crucial to ensuring that the classroom environment (whether in person or online) is a safe and inclusive space for learning. If you have a preferred first name that you would like me to use, or would like to share your pronouns with me, please feel free to let me know!


I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge that Mt. SAC is geographically situated on the traditional lands of the native, indigenous peoples whose land was taken from them. I ask you to join me in acknowledging their community, their elders both past and present, as well as future generations. May we strive to honor the land and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations.


Please make sure to log in to your Canvas courses daily to keep up with all announcements, materials, and due dates. Canvas can be accessed through your Mt. SAC portal or at https://mtsac.instructure.com.


My office hours will be held on-campus and via Zoom sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays. You are welcome to contact me for appointment availability. I look forward to working with everyone, and please feel free to email me if you have any questions.

The Math and Computer Science Department is committed to helping our students achieve their math educational goals. We want you to succeed and excel in transfer-level mathematics. We recognize your potential and are here to support you! Whether you are here to obtain a degree, complete transfer requirements, or simply expand your knowledge, we will strive to provide resources that you may need along your journey. Explore the resources below for more information on how our campus can help you achieve your educational goals.

** This information is subject to change, before the start of the term. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Current Class Schedule:
Name Course ID Title CRN Units Days Start Date End Date Start Time End Time Building / Room
Name Course ID Title CRN Units Days Start Date End Date Start Time End Time Building / Room
Lai, Irving MATH 180 Calculus I 20919 4 TR 08/26/2024 12/15/2024 09:45AM 11:50AM 61 2418
Lai, Irving MATH 18A Support Topics for Calculus I 20932 2 TR 08/26/2024 12/08/2024 12:00PM 01:05PM 61 2418
Lai, Irving MATH 181 Calculus II 20945 4 MW 08/26/2024 12/15/2024 07:00PM 09:05PM 61 3414
Lai, Irving MATH 18B Support Topics for Calculus II 20949 2 MW 08/26/2024 12/08/2024 05:45PM 06:50PM 61 3414
Lai, Irving MATH 180 Calculus I 23733 4 MW 08/26/2024 12/15/2024 12:00PM 02:05PM 61 2316
Lai, Irving MATH 18A Support Topics for Calculus I 23734 2 MW 08/26/2024 12/08/2024 02:15PM 03:20PM 61 2316
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