Math in Modern Society - Math 123 3 credits Fall 2015
Burley High School #209, Weds 4:30-6:30
Instructor: Roger Caresia phone: 431-0226
e-mail: or
1. Course Description: Thecourse provides an opportunity to acquire an appreciation of the nature of mathematics and itsrelation to other aspects of our culture. The course is rigorous but not rigid. Core topics includecritical thinking, problem solving, number systems, number theory, ratios, proportions, quadraticequations, functions, graphs, consumer math, financial management, metric measurement, settheory, and selected topics from geometry, probability and statistics.
2. Pre-requisites: MATH 010 with a "C" or higher or COMPASS Algebra (not Pre-Algebra)score of 46 or higher.
3. Required Textbook and Supplies: Thinking Mathematically, Robert Blitzer, 5th Edition,
notebook, scientific calculator.
4. Course Objectives:
The student will demonstrate a working knowledge of the material covered in Chapters 1-13 of the textbook. A detailed list of course objectives is attached to this syllabus.
5. Policies and procedures:
Exam Policy: Plan on attending class when exams are scheduled. If circumstances force you to miss a scheduled exam you must let me know before class. If you miss an exam without priornotification you will not be allowed to make it up. You may reach me at either number above or leave a message on my machine at home. Assignments: Practice is a necessary part of understanding mathematics. Homework assignments will be given each week and due the following week. If the assignment is late it you will lose 10% per week.
CHEATING POLICY: Any student caught in the act of cheating on an exam or copying
another student’s assignment will receive a NO CREDIT for the semester and a notice of
probation will be placed on the student’s permanent transcripts.
Please turn off cell phones, pagers etc in class please!!
6. Outcomes Assessment:
Students will be asked to complete a student evaluation at the end of the semester. Weekly
assignments, tests, and a comprehensive final exam will be used to assess how well students
achieve the course objectives. As part of departmental analysis of outcomes in this course and its place in the Mathematics program, student completion of the pre-requisite, success in the current course, success in subsequent courses and student satisfaction will be reviewed by the instructor. A report containing this information will be submitted by department faculty to determine what, if any, changes can be made to improve the course in terms of content, focus, and instruction.
7. Grading Procedure: 3 exams (65%) Homework (10%) Final Exam (25%) Letter grade will follow the usual 90, 80, 70, 60% scale.
8. Aids available to you for this course: Call or email me if you are having trouble in the course. Tutors are available in the BurleyCenter, check flyers for times and dates. Videos are available in the office for checkout.
9. Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability may be eligible for related accommodations. To determine eligibility and secure services, students should contact the coordinator of Disability Services at their first opportunity after registration for a class. CSI Student Disability Services is located on the second floor of the TaylorBuilding on the Twin Falls Campus, 208-732-6250 (voice) or 734-9929 (TTY) or
10. On-line course evaluation statement:
Students are strongly encouraged to complete evaluations at the end of the course. Evaluations are very important to assist the teaching staff to continually improve the course. Evaluations are available online at: Evaluations open up two weeks prior to the end of the course. The last day to complete an evaluation is the last day of the course. During the time the evaluations are open, students can complete the course evaluations at their convenience from any computer with Internet access, including in the open lab in the Library and in the SUB. When students log in they should see the evaluations for the courses in which they are enrolled. Evaluations are anonymous. Filling out the evaluation should only take a few minutes. Your honest feedback is greatly appreciated!
11. “E-mail is the primary source of written communication with all CSI students. Students automatically get a CSI e-mail account when they register for courses. Messages from instructors and various offices such as Admission and Records, Advising, Financial Aid, Scholarships, etc. will be sent to the students’ CSI accounts (NOT their personal e-mail accounts). It is the student’s responsibility to check their CSI e-mail accounts regularly.Failing to do so will result in missing important messages and deadlines. Students can check their CSI e-mail online at Student e-mail addresses have the following format:. At the beginning of each semester free training sessions will be offered to students who need help using their CSI e-mail accounts.”
Nondiscrimination Statement
It is the policy of the College of Southern Idaho to comply with all federal, state and local authorities requiring nondiscrimination, including but not limited to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Executive Orders 12898 (Environmental Justice) and 13166 (Limited English Proficiency). College of Southern Idaho is an equal opportunity employer.
The college does not exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject any individual to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, income, protected veteran status, limited English proficiency, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
For more information or if you believe you have been subject to discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, or if you believe you have been subject to discrimination on any other basis, please contact the College of Southern Idaho’s Title IX, ADA, and 504 Coordinator:
Eric Nielson
Director of Human Resources
(208) 732-6267 Office
Nolan Goubeaux
Associate Dean of Students
208-732-6225 Office
You may also file a complaint with:
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Civil Rights (OCR)
810 3rd Avenue #750
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 607-1600
Math 123 –Math in Modern Society
Unit I – Number Theory
Aug 26th - Chapter 1- Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
Sect 1.1 Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
p. 11 #1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 28, 36, 44, 49, 50
Sect 1.3 Problem Solving
p. 37 #4, 8, 9, 13, 14, 20, 23, 26, 41, 42
Chapter 4- Number Representation and Calculation
Sect 4.1 Our Hindu-Arabic System and Early Positional Systems
p. 218 #6, 14, 16, 25, 28, 36, 48, 54
Sect 4.2 Number Bases in Positional Systems
p. 226 # 4, 12, 24, 36, 38, 45, 46
Sept 2nd - Chapter 5- Number Theory and the Real Number System
Sect 5.1 Number Theory: Prime and Composite Numbers
p. 256 #26, 32, 35, 48, 56, 60, 68, 74, 91,93
Sect 5.2 The Integers: Order of Operations
p. 269 #25, 30, 38, 47, 48, 62, 64, 84, 85, 88, 92, 95, 98, 100, 107, 116
Sept 9th - Number Theory and the Real Number System
Sect 5.3 The Rational Numbers
p. 284 #1, 14, 19, 27, 38, 46, 50, 53, 66, 70, 79, 84, 88, 90, 103
Sect 5.4 The Irrational Numbers
p. 296 #19, 25, 33, 45, 50, 51, 58, 65, 67, 74
Sect 5.5 Real Numbers and Their Properties
p. 308 #1, 3, 10, 13, 18, 26, 30, 32, 34, 37
Sect 5.6 Exponents and Scientific Notation
p. 319 #2, 7, 11, 15, 24, 28, 32, 40, 41, 52, 58, 67, 73, 79, 85
Sept 16th- -Chapter 6 Algebra: Equations and Inequalities
Sect 6.2 Linear Equations in one Variable
p. 362 #3, 8, 10, 14, 23, 24, 30, 38, 40, 47, 57, 68, 72, 77
Sect 6.5 Solving Quadratic Equations
p. 399 #8, 11, 17, 20, 26, 28, 30, 42, 45, 47, 54, 58, 63, 75
Sept23rd- -Chapter 7 Graphs Functions and Linear Systems
Sect. 7.1 Graphing and Functions
p. 418 #6, 12, 24, 28, 36, 38, 49, 51, 55, 59, 71-76
Sect. 7.2 Linear Functions and Their Graphs
p. 430 #6, 16, 18, 20, 26, 34, 42, 45
Sect. 7.3 Systems of Linear Equations
p. 444 #2, 5, 8, 20, 24, 28, 32, 41
Sept 24th –28th - Unit I Test
Unit II – Measurement and Geometry, Consumer Math
Sept30th - Chapter 8 Consumer Mathematics and Financial Management
Sect 8.1 Percent, Sales Tax and Discounts
p. 495 #6, 16, 34, 38, 40, 42, 47, 51, 52, 56
Sect 8.2 Income Tax
p. 506 #3, 10, 16, 22
Sect 8:3 Simple Interest
p. 512 #4, 10, 16, 22, 31, 35
Sect 8.4 Compound Interest
p. 520 #2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 17, 19, 21, 40
Sect 8.6 Cars
p. 546 #1, 2,5, 11
Sect 8.7 The Cost of Home Ownership
p. 555 #1, 2,5
Sect 8.8 Credit Cards
p. 564 #1, 2
Oct7th- Chapter 9 Measurement
Sect 9.1 Measuring Length; The Metric System
p. 584 #8, 14, 22, 24, 28, 32, 42, 50, 52, 54, 55, 75
Sect 9.2 Measuring Area and Volume
p. 593 #5, 10, 18, 22, 28, 32, 34, 47, 49
Sect 9.3 Measuring Weight and Temperature
p. 603 #4, 8, 14, 16, 19, 24, 32, 38, 44, 46, 48, 50, 72, 73
Oct14th - Chapter 10 Geometry
Sect 10.1 Points, Lines, Planes, and Angles
p. 616- #4, 8, 14,16, 22, 28, 31, 32, 45
Sect 10.2 Triangles
p. 626 #4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 21, 25, 32, 35, 41
Sect 10.3 Polygons, Quadrilaterals, and Perimeter
p. 636 #3, 6, 9, 12, 17, 19, 22, 25, 30, 32
Oct21st - Sect 10.4 Area and Circumference
p. 646 #2, 6, 8, 13, 16, 19, 24, 32, 36
Sect 10.5 Volume
p. 656 #2, 8, 10, 13, 18, 24, 25, 31
March 23rd to 27th Spring Break
Oct 28th -Sect 10.6 Right Triangle Trigonometry
p. 665 #4, 10, 13, 17, 21, 24, 26, 36, 38, 44, 46
Oct 29th - Nov 2nd- Unit II Test
Unit III – Probability and Statistics
Nov4th- Counting Methods and Probability Theory
Sect 11.1 The Fundamental Counting Principle
p. 692 #1, 4, 8, 13, 15, 17, 20
Sect 11.2 Permutations
p. 700 #1, 5, 7, 13, 21, 23, 30, 35, 36, 41, 45, 51
Sect 11.3 Combinations
p. 707 #2, 4, 12, 16, 20, 28, 30, 31, 46, 50, 55
Nov 11th – No Class Veterans Day
Nov 18th –Sect 11.4-6 Fundamentals of Probability
p. 715 #2, 5, 8, 11, 13, 17, 22, 27, 28, 42, 45
p. 735 #65-71
Sect 12.1 Sampling, Frequency Distributions, and Graphs
p. 776 #1, 3, 9-16, 24, 27
Nov 25th –No Class Thanksgiving
Dec 2nd- Chapter 12 Mathematical Systems
Sect 12.2 Measures of Central Tendency
p. 791 #4, 14, 19, 26, 29, 39, 55, 57, 71
Sect 12.3 Measures of Dispersion
p. 800 #4, 8, 12, 20, 26, 37
- Sect 12.4 The Normal Distribution
p. 813 #3, 12, 24, 27, 34, 38, 40, 60, 63, 66, 70
- Sect 12.5Problem Solving with the Normal Distribution
p. 820 #2, 4,17, 18, 23
Dec 3rd -7th -Unit III Test
Dec 9th- Final Review Day
Dec 14th – 17th - Final Test