Montgomery College- Rockville
Department of Mathematics
Fall 2009
Math 115, Mathematical Ideas
CRN 23462 (10-10:50 am, MWF)
CRN 23464 (12-12:50pm, MWF)
Professor: Rick Penn
Office: 24 Science West (SW)
(240) 567-5195
Rick.Penn@montgomerycollege.edu
http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/~rpenn
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:00 - 11:50 am (in 24 SW)
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00- 11:50 am (in 212 MT)
Other times by appointment.
Course Description: A general college mathematics course whose topics include voting theory, geometry, statistics, and other fun(!) topics. The applications are primarily from business, economics, and the life sciences. Emphasis is on developing, analyzing, and interpreting mathematical models.
Course Outcomes: Learning outcomes for this course were approved in Spring 2008. They can be found on my website, or on the math department’s website.
Text: Excursions in Modern Mathematics, 7th edition, by Tannenbaum/Arnold, Prentice Hall.
Required supplies: Homework will be assigned on MathXL. An attachment to this syllabus will step you through purchasing an access code and enrolling in this course. You will also need a calculator, but it does not need to be a graphing calculator. Any calculator that can handle arithmetic operations and exponents, preferably with parentheses to set order of operations will be fine.
Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in MA 101 (Intermediate Algebra) or equivalent, or appropriate score on the Math Assessment Test, or approval of the professor. NOTE: If you enrolled and do not have the prerequisites met, you may be dropped from the class.
Course layout: We will be covering chapters 1-12 from the textbook. These are divided into 3 units - The “Social Choice”, “Management Science”, and “Shape Growth, and Form” - each of which consists of 4 loosely related chapters. We may speed up or slow down at various times, but we will typically spend approximately 1 week (3 class periods) on each chapter.
Grades: You grade for the course will be based on 5 components:
Ø Quizzes, which will follow each chapter. I will drop the 1 lowest quiz, and average the others.
Ø Homework, which will be due weekly. Most answers will be submitted on MathXL, but I will also collect (for some problems) work in which you show step-by-step how you arrived at your solutions, along with explanations in the form of neatly drawn pictures and/or complete English sentences.
Ø 3 unit tests.
I will drop the lowest of these 5 grades, and average the other 4 equally. If your average is then 90 or higher, you will earn an 'A' for the course; 80-89 will earn a 'B'; 70 - 79 a 'C'; 60-69 a 'D'; and 0-59 an 'F'.
Make-up Policy: Late homework will not be accepted, as we will often be discussing it the day it is due. Missed quizzes or tests also cannot be made up after the fact; however, if you know in advance that you will miss a quiz or test for a college excused reason, I will try to make arrangements for you to take an alternate test before the test day.
In addition, we will frequently have in class worksheets and other activities. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to contact me as soon as possible, and not wait until the next class meeting – I will often be able to e-mail you copies of the missed activities so that you don’t fall even further behind.
Important dates: September 22: last day to drop the class (no ‘W’)
November 17: last day to drop the class (receiving a grade of ‘W’)
December 14: final exam: 10:15-12:15 (CRN 23462), 12:30-2:20 (CRN 23464)
E-mail communications: Communications for this class, when necessary, will be made via college e-mail. Be sure to check yours often!
Math Science Center: Located in 02 Macklin Tower, this is where you can go to borrow a math book, work in a group study area, work in a quiet study area, use a computer for a math or science class, borrow a calculator, or, best of all, get free tutoring. The phone number there is 240-567-5200, and the hours are: Mon. – Thurs. 8am – 8pm, Fri. 8am – 4pm, Sat. 10am – 3pm. http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/mathscrv/
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Statement: Disability Support Services (240-567-5058)
Any student who may need an accommodation due to a disability, please make an appointment to see me during my office hour. A letter from Disability Support Services (CB122) authorizing your accommodations will be needed. Any student who may need assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation must identify to the Disability Support Services Office; guidelines for emergency evacuations for individuals with disabilities are found at: www.montgomerycollege.edu/dss/evacprocedures.htm
Academic Regulations & Student Code of Conduct
All MC students are expected to follow “Academic Regulations” & “Student Code of Conduct” as described in the MC Student Handbook. These regulations and guidelines can be found at: www.montgomerycollege.edu/departments/academicevp/Student_PandP.htm
Inclement Weather
If inclement weather forces the College or any campus or College facility to suspend classes or close, public service announcements will be provided to local radio and television stations as early as possible. You may also call MC at 240-567-5000 or check the college website www.montgomerycollege.edu to verify MC school closings. Any exams planned on days classes are suspended will be administered at the first class meeting once classes resume. Note that the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Montgomery College do not follow the same school closing procedures.
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I would love nothing better than to have everyone earn a passing grade, or better yet an 'A'. However, the grades that I give will be those that are earned, as described above. If you "absolutely, positively, must pass this class" to graduate / for your job / to keep your full-time status/ so your dog doesn’t run away / or for any other reason, the time to think about that is now, not after you have dug yourself into too deep a hole.
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I expect that when you come to class, you are doing so with the intention of learning. I will do my part to make the atmosphere as conducive to learning as possible, and I ask you to do the same. Feel free to ask questions, or to answer questions for other students. But please keep unnecessary distractions down, and,
please turn off and put away all cell phones, ipods, etc. before entering class.
Math 115 Learning Outcomes, Approved 2008:
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Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to: |
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1. |
Collect and organize quantitative information and then model a societal, cultural or management system |
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2. |
Select an appropriate mathematical model for a given quantitatively based system and then analyze properties of the system |
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3. |
Compare, contrast, and discuss the limitations of alternate methods of analyzing a given quantitatively based system |
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4. |
Use technology to develop and analyze mathematical models for quantitatively based systems |
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5. |
Explain the difference between exact and approximate algorithms |
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6. |
Explain the difference between efficient and inefficient algorithms |
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7. |
Select an appropriate algorithm to use on a quantitatively based system |
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· Receive step-by-step help to successfully solve math problems.
· Study more efficiently with a personalized study plan and exercises that match your book.
· Get help when YOU need it. MathXL includes multimedia learning aids, like videos and animations.
Before You Begin:
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