Math 120 Fundamentals of College Mathematics
Great Basin College – Pahrump Valley Center Fall 2013
Instructor: Jim Paxton
Office Hours: Before or after class or by appointment
Office Phone: (775) 513-1031
e-mail:
Course Description: This course is a university transferable course that parallels college algebra. It is intended to satisfy the mathematics requirement of non-science majors who do not need Calculus. This course is more broadly based than College Algebra, covering areas such as set theory, logic, math of finance, probability and statistics, as well as some areas of algebra, graphing, and functions that are covered more extensively in College Algebra. The course is intended to present some of the non-algebra areas of mathematics for those students majoring in the humanities and social sciences. Prerequisite : Math 096 (Intermediate Algebra) within two years, sufficient score on placement exam, or SAT/ACT score, grade of ‘C’ or better in both Mat 95 and Eng 101.
Required Materials: Textbook: Mathematics, A Practical Odyssey, 7th edition, by Johnson, ISBN: 0-538-49505-7
A scientific or graphing calculator for assignments and tests.
LEARNING OUTCOMES AND MEASUREMENTS:
OUTCOMESStudents will be able to / MEASUREMENTS
Communicate mathematical concepts in writing. / Student Paper
Solve logic, algebra, set theory, probability, and statistics problems using a many problem-solving techniques including creativity, logic and quantitative reasoning. / Assignments, Quizzes, Exams, Final
Demonstrate an understanding of how mathematics and mathematical reasoning are used on a daily basis and have shaped societies, intellectual curiosity, and technological/scientific advancement. / Student Paper, Assignments, Quizzes, Exam 2, Final
Develop and apply knowledge of personal finance (i.e. find interest, future value, present value, monthly payments, and construct an amortization schedule). / Assignments, Quizzes, Exam 3, Final
Demonstrate ability to use a scientific calculator to solve a variety of problems. / Assignments, Quizzes, Exams, Final
General Education Objectives:
1. Communication Skills: Students will communicate clearly and effectively in written and oral form, embracing discussion, reading, listening, and assessing information.
Assessment: Students will be assessed based on written assignments, tests, class discussions, and student presentations to the class (oral and written) of problem solutions,.
2. Critical Thinking: Integrate creativity, logic, quantitative reasoning, and the hierarchy of inquiry and knowing in social and scientific understanding.
a) Quantitative Ability - Understand mathematical principles and integrate quantitative methods in problem solving.
b) Reasoning and Independent Thought - Use logic and visual thinking in selecting, analyzing, and presenting information.
c) Scientific Understanding - Understand the essential working of natural systems, understand the hierarchy of scientific knowing and the use of the scientific method in it pursuit, and have the ability to use this knowledge predictively.
Assessment: Students will be assessed on their ability to read problems from diverse areas, analyze the data, select the appropriate technology, set up the problem, and solve the problem correctly. Assessment will be based on written assignments and tests.
3. Personal and Cultural Awareness: Understanding the roles of individuals in society, the development of human societies, and the significance of creativity in the human experience.
a) Sense of the individual in society - Recognize and respect the rights of the individual, and possess an appreciation of the complexity and variety of the divergent attitudes, values and beliefs in society.
b) Sense of the past – Understand the cultural and historical heritage of contemporary society, and be able to thoughtfully consider the implications of this heritage.
c) Sense of Accountability – Appreciate the consequences of human actions in social and environmental contexts, and have the ability to consider the ethical and practical implications of those actions.
d) Appreciation of Fine Arts – Recognize and value creative human expression.
Assessment: Students will be assessed on the roles and the impact of historical individuals via a research paper on a topic or person of mathematical significance. Tests may contain questions on the importance of the contributions of selected people and societies relating to the subject being studied.
4. Personal Wellness: Develop knowledge, skills, and behaviors which promote personal well being.
Assessment: Students will be assessed on their ability to solve problems involving simple interest, compound interest, annuities, simple interest amortized loans and other financial problems that may affect their financial well being. Students will also be assessed on their ability to solve problems that may be encountered outside of the classroom and therefore affect their well being. Assessment will be based on written assignments and tests.
5. Technological Understanding: Function effectively in modern society through the use of technology.
Assessment: Students will be assessed on their ability to select and use appropriate technology to complete assignments and tests, and will use technology as an integral part of problem solving.
Academic Integrity: The NSHE code (Board of Regent Handbook 6.2.2q) expressly forbids all acts of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to “cheating, plagiarism, falsifying research data or results, or assisting others to do the same.” In more detail, these acts include, but are not limited to the following: giving/receiving unauthorized assistance during quizzes or tests, using study aids (textbooks, notes) during quizzes/tests, and failing to adhere to test-taking instructions (e.g. talking). Students who are accused of academic dishonesty will first be reviewed by the instructor. If the instructor judges that academic dishonesty has occurred, the matter will be submitted to GBC’s Academic Officers. Students guilty of academic dishonesty will receive an “F” grade for the course. If the dishonesty was not isolated (occurred more than once and/or involved others), then the instructor will recommend a one-year period of academic probation.
ADA Statement: GBC supports providing equal access for students with disabilities. An advisor is available to discuss appropriate accommodations with students. Please contact the ADA Office (Julie Byrnes) in Elko at 775-753-2271 at your earliest convenience to request timely and appropriate accommodations.
Course expectations / Grading Policy
Attendance: Attending class regularly is an essential part of your math education, therefore it will be part of your grade. Attendance will count as 5% of your final grade, with one absence excused and each absence thereafter resulting in a 0.5% reduction in your grade up to a maximum of 5%.
Homework assignments and quizzes: You will be assigned practice problems from your book to help you master the ideas we talk about in class. These problems will be checked for completion and will count for about 10% of your total grade, but they will not be checked for correctness. It is your responsibility to do these problems and ask questions about topics you do not understand. There will be 6 quizzes during the semester. All quizzes will be take-home quizzes which will be collected the next class period we meet. Quizzes will be graded for completion and correctness, and I will drop your lowest quiz grade. Quizzes will count for about 10% of your final grade.
History of Math paper: You will be assigned a research paper on a topic of interest relating to math. The paper will be assigned later in the semester and will be due no later than Wednesday, Dec. 4th. The research paper will count as 10% of your final grade.
Tests: There will be 3 tests during the semester, each of which will count as 15% of your final grade.
Final Exam: In order to assure student competency, the final exam at the conclusion of the course is a mandatory, cumulative test. The final exam counts as 20% of your final grade.
Makeup Policy: No make-ups will be allowed except under extreme circumstances. Circumstances will be judged on a case-by-case basis. Usually, make-up tests are more difficult than the original exams.
GRADE DISTRIBUTION: 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D Below 60 F
Tentative Schedule of Events Fall 2013
Day / Date / Sections covered / TopicM 8/26 / Syllabus / 1.1 / Deductive and Inductive Logic
W 8/28 / 1.2 / Symbolic Logic
M 9/2 / Labor Day / No class
W 9/4 / 1.3 / Truth Tables
M 9/9 / 1.4 1.5 / Conditionals, analyzing arguments
W 9/11 / 2.1 / Sets and set operations
M 9/16 / 2.2 / Applications of Venn diagrams
W 9/18 / 2.3 2.4 / Combinations and permutations
M 9/23 / 3.1 3.2 / History and terminology of Probability
W 9/25 / Test 1 / Chapters 1 and 2
M 9/30 / 3.3 / Rules of Probability
W 10/2 / 3.4 / Combinatorics and Probability
M 10/7 / 3.5 / Expected Value
W 10/9 / 3.6 / Conditional Probability
M 10/14 / 3.7 / Dependent and Independent events
W 10/16 / 4.1 4.2 / Stats vocabulary, Measures of central tendency
M 10/21 / 4.3 / Measures of dispersion
W 10/23 / 4.4 / Normal distribution
M 10/25 / 4.5 / Polls and margins of error
W 10/30 / Review Test 2 / Research paper rubric
M 11/4 / Test 2 / Chapters 3 and 4
W 11/6 / 5.1 5.2 / Simple and compound interest
M 11/11 / Vets Day / No class
W 11/13 / 10a - 10.3 / Exponential and logarithmic growth
M 11/18 / 5.3 / Annuities
W 11/20 / 5.4 / Amortized loans
M 11/25 / 7.1 / Base systems
W 11/27 / 7.5 / Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio
M 12/2 / 8.1 8.2 / Area , surface area, volume
W 12/4 / Test 3 / History of math paper due
M 12/9 / Review for final
W 12/11 / Final exam / That’s all, folks!
There will be 6 homework assignments and 6 quizzes due this semester. Exact problems and quizzes with due dates will be assigned in class. Quizzes will be take-home assessments and will generally be due the class period after they are distributed. Late quizzes will not be accepted and will result in a 0, as we will go over them in class as soon as I hand them back. I will drop your lowest quiz score for the semester. Late assignments will be accepted with a penalty of 10% off per class period late, up to 3 class periods. Work later than 3 class periods will not be accepted and will result in a 0. Please make every effort to be in class on test days or make arrangements to take your test early. Requests to take tests early are nearly always cheerfully granted – requests to make up missed tests are rarely successful and always result in a more difficult test when allowed. This schedule of events is tentative and things may change a bit as the semester proceeds, but the test days listed will remain fixed. Please plan ahead and make sure you can be in class on these days. Please note that the last day to withdraw from class with a “W” is October 26th. After this date, you will be assigned a grade, even if it is the dreaded “F”.