Math 110 Quantitative Reasoning Westminster College

Sections A, B Fall, 2001

C. K. Cuff, Ph.D. Office hours MWF 12:50 - 1:30 and by appointment Class times MWF 9:20-11:30

Hoyt 154 T Th mornings by appointment T Th 12:30-3:40

x7291

Syllabus

Course Description

Texts and materials required

Reference books on reserve in McGill Library

Objective

Expectations

Assessment -extra credit file is on the R: drive

Final grade calculation

Topic and Outline

August
September
October
November
December

Course Description - A study of interpreting and reasoning with quantitative information. Themes include principles of reasoning, problem-solving, mathematical models, estimation, probability, statistics, analysis of numerical and critical arguments. The specifics topics for this section of quantitative reasoning are logic, the mathematics of money, probability, and statistics.

Text and Materials Required

Mathematics Beyond the Numbers, by George Gilbert and Rhonda Hatcher, John Wiley & Sons, 2000. In addition to the text you will need to purchase Chapter 14, "Logic," available for the cost of copying at the Westminster College bookstore.

A scientific calculator that you will learn to use on your own. (I’m using a Casio fx-115W)

Reference books on reserve in McGill Library

Statistics: Concepts and Controversies by David Moore

Understanding Statistics by Brase and Brase

The Basic Practice of Statistics by David Moore

Objective

This course is designed as an introduction to contemporary mathematics through which you can achieve quantitative literacy in the sense of being able confidently to analyze, discuss, and use quantitative information; to develop a reasonable level of facility in mathematical problem solving; to understand connections between mathematics and other disciplines and the place of mathematics in the history and culture of our society. Mathematics 110 is a part of the Liberal Studies Curriculum at Westminster and, as such, introduces mathematical skill, concepts, general knowledge, and ways of thinking which are essential components of an undergraduate education. You will solve problems, collect and analyze data, read and analyze articles, write papers, make brief presentations in class, work in groups and participate in class discussions.

Expectations

Readings, homework and activities are posted on the web. You are expected to access the web, determine and do the correct assignments.
You are expected to attend each class. If you expect to miss more than 3 classes due to co/extra-curricular activities, job interviews, or other such events, you are encouraged to reschedule the taking of this class. If you miss 3 or more classes, excused or unexcused, you will receive one less letter grade than that which you earn. For example, if you earn a B- and have 3 absences your grade will be a C-.
You are expected to be an active participant in this class. Participation will be graded 0, 1, or 2 points, on a daily basis. A student who contributes to the class discussion, corrects one of my arithmetic and/or mathematical mistakes, or poses a question which shows insight or which furthers understanding of the topic will receive 2 points. A student who asks a clarifying question such as "could you repeat that statement again?" or who actively participates in the small group discussions will receive 1 point. Students who are absent or who attend in body only (i.e. students who are not engaged in class), or who are off task during small group discussions will receive a zero for that class. Tuesday, Thursday classes meet 28 times plus the final period. I expect to use 3 of those periods (plus the designated final one) giving exams. 100% participation is equivalent to 37 points.

Assessment

Exams - Chapter exams will be given over the course of the semester. Dates of the exam will be given in class and listed on the web page. Students are responsible for knowing the test date.
Extra Credit - 20 points of extra credit are available this semester. ALL COMPLETED EXTRA CREDIT PROJECTS MUST BE IN MY OFFICE BY NOON DECEMBER 1. NO EXCEPTIONS. In general, these projects (to be done individually) will relate your major and the mathematical topics covered this semester. They may take several forms such as, but not limited to, a presentation to the class, a web page, a series of five lesson plans, a book report, or an abstract of a series of journal articles. You may submit ideas for extra credit projects, for my approval, to me by Oct. 1. After that, if you still wish to pursue extra credit, you may choose from a series of projects that I will post on the R:Mth110ab/profnote in the file Extra Credit Ideas.doc after Oct. 1. You need to inform me of the project chosen, ASAP.

Final grade calculation

93-100    A                     78-79.99 C+
90-92.99 A-                    73-77.99 C
88-89.99 B+                   70-70.99 C-
83-87.99 B                      60-69.99 D
80-82.99 B-                       0-59.99 F

Topics

Aug. 28	Preparation: Read Preface and A Note to Students. Purchase book and Chapter 14.	In Class: Intro. to course. Chapter 14, Section 1. Symbolic Logic
Aug. 30	Prep: Odd Exercises for 14:1. Read 14:2	Class: Truth Tables
Sept. 4	Prep: Odd Exercises 1-20 for 14:2, Reread 14.2 from example 4 page 13 through the end of the section. Read section 14.3	Class: DeMorgan's Law's, revisit conditional
Sept. 6	Prep: Odd Exercises for 14.3	Class: Analyzing Arguments via truth tables. Standard forms of valid and invalid arguments
Sept. 11	Prep: Odd Exercises for 14.4 through 25	Class: Analyzing Arguments via Euler diagrams
Sept. 13	Prep: Chapter Review Exercises	Exam Chapter 14.
Sept. 18	Read Section 3.1 If this material is not familiar to you, you should make an appointment with the Learning Center	Simple Interest, Future Value
Sept. 20	Preparation Odd problems in Section 3.2, Read Branching out from Sections 3.1 and 3.2, Skim Section 3.3	Compound Interest, Annual Percentage Rate
Sept. 25	Preparation Odd problems in Section 3.3 31-53	Systematic Savings
Sept. 27	Preparation odd problems in Section 3.4 13-23	Amortized Loans
Oct. 2	Preparation Section 3.5 problems 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27	Amortized Loans (cont.) and Amortization Schedules
Oct. 4	Preparation Section 3.5 33, 35, 41, 43, 47	Review
Oct. 11	Study for Exam	Exam
Oct. 16	Skim sections 4.1 and 4.2	Elementary Probability and Odds
Oct. 18	Preparation 4.1 7, 11, 15, 21, 23, 27; 4.2 11, 15, 17, 23	Venn Diagrams and the Addition Rule
Oct. 23	Preparation 4.3 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15	Conditional Probability and the Multiplication Rule
Oct. 25	Prep 4.4 5, 11, 23, 31	Conditional Probability continued
Oct. 30	Prep 4.4 1, 3, 7, 9, 13, 21, 25, 32, 37	Conditional Probability continued
Nov. 1	Review problems in section 4.4 and do 4.39	Counting Techniques
Nov. 6	Prep 4.5 1-15 odd, 25-33 odd	Probability using Counting Techniques
Nov. 8	4.6 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 19, 25	Expected Value
Nov. 13	4.7 1, 5, 7, 9, 13, 17, 21, 23	Review
Nov. 15	Study for exam	Exam
Nov. 20		Census and Sampling
Nov. 27	Read Section on sampling from one of the books on reserve Answer questions on r: drive Read Section 5.1	Organizing and Presenting Data for Nominal Data
Nov. 29	Read Section 5.2, 5.3 Read Sections on Stemplot and Box and Whiskers from one of the books on reserve Answer questions on r: drive	Typical and Central Values for Ordinal, Interval/Ratio Data Measures of Spread
Dec. 1	Last Day to turn in Extra Credit	Last Day to turn in Extra Credit
Dec. 4	5.2 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 17 5.3 1, 3, 7 questions on r:drive	Reading Histograms
Dec. 6	Handout - answers are on the r: drive	Matching data and graphs
Final Exam as scheduled by the Registrar	Final Exam