MATH 1030 QUANTITATIVE REASONING
Cheryl Whitelaw, SC 210, 865-8179
E-mail: whitelawcs@suu.edu
Office hours: 9:00 a.m. daily; after 2:00 daily
4 Credits
MATH 1030-01 Daily 8:00 a.m. to 8:50 a.m., SC 228
MATH 1030-02 Daily 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 p.m., SC 228
Class fee: $35.00 Used for Tutoring Center, teaching assistant.
Catalog Description: Exploration of contemporary mathematical thinking, motivated
by its application to problems in modern society; emphasizes development of skill
in analytical reasoning. This course is designed not only to meet the University
general education requirements but also to help generate a positive attitude toward
and an interest in mathematics.
Prerequisite: Math ACT score of at least 23 or a grade of C or better in MATH 1010
or MATH 1020 within the last two years. [Intermediate Algebra or College Mathematics]
Required textbook: Mathematical Ideas, Expanded Eleventh Edition, by Charles D. Miller,
Vern E. Heeren, John Hornsby, Margaret L. Morrow, and Jill Van Newenhizen. Pearson
Addison Wesley (Pearson Education, Inc.), 2008. ISBn 0-321-36146-6-Expanded
Also required: pencil, paper, calculator.
Calculator (about $10) needs to have capability for basic arithmetic operations + - * /,
exponents, log, ln, sin, cos, tan, parentheses for order of operations, pi, e.
Grading: Final exam (150 points), chapter tests (about 500 points total),
class projects (10-40 points each; 200 points total), daily homework.
Daily homework is due the class after the discussion but is
not usually turned in. There may be a 10% penalty for late projects.
Assignments are not accepted after the test for that topic. Chapter tests
consist of problem solving similar to those contained in homework, projects,
and class discussions.
Grading: Approximately 90% - 100% A, A-; 80% - 89%, B+, B, B-; 70% - 79%, C+, C, C-;
60% - 69%, D-, D, D+; below 60%, F or UW.
Monday, August 25 Fall Semester Begins
Wednesday, September 3 Last day to drop without a “W”
Monday, September 8 Last day to add a class
Monday, October 20 Harvest Holiday -- no classes
Friday, October 24 Last day to W or to change to Audit
Wed-Fri, November 26-28 Thanksgiving Recess
Friday, December 5 Last day of class
Monday, December 8 Study Day (no formal class)
Wednesday, December 10 7:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. Final Examination for 8:00 class
Friday, December 12 9:00 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. Final Examination for 10:00 class
Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring
academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact
the Southern Utah University Coordinator of Services for Students with
Disabilities (SSD), in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center,
phone (435) 865-8022. SSD determines eligibility for and authorizes the
provision of these services.
The original course proposal during the semester conversion change emphasized
that the foremost objective of both liberal and professional higher education
should be to produce well-educated, enlightened citizens who can reason cogently,
communicate clearly, solve problems, and lead satisfying productive lives.
A student passing this course should be able to think
critically about any quantitative issue covered in the news. He should be able
to make informed decisions on quantitative issues that confront him in his
personal life and in his life as a voting citizen (issues such as personal
finance and planning, public policy issues, economics). He should develop the
ability to reason quantitatively and to clearly explain and present his
reasoning so that he is prepared for a modern career.
This is a mathematics course which fulfills the requirement for the General
Education course in Quantitative Literacy with these goals and competencies
from the Regent's Task Force on General Education.
1. Interpret mathematical models such as formulas, graphs, tables, and
schematics, and draw inferences from them.
2. Represent mathematical information symbolically, visually, numerically,
and verbally.
3. Use arithmetical, algebraic, geometric, and statistical methods to solve
problems.
4. Estimate and check answers to mathematical problems in order to determine
reasonableness, identify alternatives, and select optimal results.
5. Recognize that mathematical and statistical methods have limits.
Reading assignments will be from the text and handouts, and problem-solving sets
will be assigned throughout the semester. A suggested topic list is iincluded in
this syllabus but is subject to change. The textbook is used only as a reference
and is not followed page-by-page. Because we can be flexible in this class, a
course schedule and outline is not provided with this syllabus, but printed
instructions and deadlines will be given in class.
There will be one research paper assignment that will require time outside of
class and will be due by Tuesday, November 25, and may be turned in early.
Assistance: The Tutoring Center (Sharwan Smith Center) provides free tutoring
from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Specific hours for mathematics will be announced
in class, but usually mathematics tutors are there all day.
The library and bookstore have other textbooks and reference books about
mathematics that you may find helpful.
I will usually be available for help in my office when I'm not in class,
9:00 - 9:50 a.m. daily, or after 2:00 p.m. daily, or other times by
appointment. Questions and comments are welcome, and I read E-mail regularly.
Written tests will be after every major topic and will consist of problem-solving
similar to problems in the textbook homework, chapter projects, and class discussions.
A calculator and formulas will often be necessary.
"Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with order and attended to
with diligence." Abigail Adams, 1744 - 1818
Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments,
makeup work, and attendance policy, may be subject to change with advance notice,
as deemed appropriate by the instructor.
- - - - -
Text for Fall 2008: Mathematical Ideas, Expanded Eleventh Edition, by Charles D. Miller,
Vern E. Heeren, John Hornsby, Margaret L. Morrow, and Jill Van Newenhizen.
Pearson Addison Wesley (Pearson Education, Inc.), 2008. ISBN 0-321-36146-6-Expanded
Using the Table of Contents of this textbook, these are the core sections.
Chapter 1 The Art of Problem Solving
1.4 Calculating, Estimating, and Reading Graphs
Chapter 2 The Basic Concepts of Set Theory
2.1 Symbols and Terminology
2.2 Venn Diagrams and Subsets
2.3 Set Operations and Cartesian Products
Chapter 3 Introduction to Logic
3.1 Statements and Quantifiers
Chapter 7 The Basic Concepts of Algebra (Applications only)
Chapter 9 Geometry
Sections 1-5, shapes, perimeter, area, volume
Chapter 10 Trigonometry
Sections 1-5
Chapter 11 Counting Methods
11.1 Counting by Systematic Listing
11.2 Using the Fundamental Counting Principle
11.3 Using Permutations and Combinations
Chapter 12 Probability
12.1 Basic Concepts
12.2 Events Involving "Not" and "Or"
12.3 Conditional Probability; Events Involving "And"
12.5 Expected Value
Chapter 13 Statistics
13.1 Visual Displays of Data
13.2 Measures of Central Tendency
13.3 Range
13.4 Box Plot
Chapter 14 Personal Financial Management
There are many other possible topics to still allow flexibility in
accomplishing our objectives: inductive and deductive logic; more on number
systems and number theory; other number bases and systems; quadratic applications;
linear programming; famous mathematicians and historic events perhaps with
research or writing; symmetry, tessellations, fractals, polyhedra, sculpture;
appreciation of math in art, music, literature, fiber art, puzzles; using computer
spreadsheets; income taxes; etc.