Spring 2006 - ClovisCenter - Math 45 - Contemporary Mathematics
Course 80029SyllabusCourse 80030
MW 2:00-3:151/8/06TTh 8:00-9:15
Room CC-217Room CC-106
Instructor:Robert Einkauf, or
Telephone: 559-325-6212 or 559-259-9767(e-mail is preferred)
Text: Excursions in Modern Mathematics, 5th ed, Peter Tannenbaum, Prentice-Hall
Website:
Course Description:This course emphasizes the use of simple mathematics and logical thinking in contemporary, real-world applications. These applications include voting theory, fair division, apportionment, Fibonacci numbers, the mathematics of growth, graph theory, project scheduling, data collection, statistics and probability. We will cover Chapters 1-10 and 13-16 of the textbook, plus occasional supplementary material. In addition, my goal is for you to become more comfortable with using mathematics and algebra in everyday life and applications, to exercise your critical thinking skills, and to lower your math anxiety. The course will study applications extensively, and discuss strategies for solving such problems as we encounter them in our studies.
Policies:All standard SCCCD policies will apply, including attendance requirements, respect for fellow students, academic honesty, and accommodation for students with verified needs per the Americans With Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Food/Drink:Students are permitted to bring food and/or drink to class. You are expected to dispose of anything you bring into class. Furthermore, if you spill it, you clean it! Failure to follow these simple rules can and will result in suspension for two class days.
Grades:There will be four exams plus an optional final exam. Students can choose to take the final exam to replace a missing or low exam grade, in which case the final exam will count instead of the exam being replaced. The final exam cannot replace the homework grade. Note that no other makeup exams will be given.
On any exam, the right answer will receive full credit, regardless of work shown. On homework, however, you must show your work to receive full credit. On all work, wrong answers may receive partial credit, based on work shown. On homework, the grading emphasis is on attempting to work every problem, rather than on correctness.
Homework will be assigned for each topic and will be due in 14packages. A package will consist of a week’s work, or more. Note this carefully: Even numbered questions will receive twice the credit of odd numbered questions. Homework assignments will receive a number of points based on: 4 = problems attempted, 2 = correct answers, 1.5 = presentation, for a total of 7.5 points on each assignment. Presentation points are earned for on-time assignments, work shown, and correctness and neatness of your mathematical writing skills.
The grade points for this class are shown below.
Points Distribution| OverallPoint Values
Homework (14 pkgs: 7.5 pts)105 points|450 points or moreA
Exams (4:·100 pts)400 points|400-449 pointsB
======|350-399 pointsC
Total505 points|300-349 pointsD
Tutoring is worth Extra Credit !|299 or belowF
Attendance:Attendance is mandatory for success. After three uncleared absences, you may be dropped from the class. A cleared absence requires a phone call or e-mail to the instructor no later than 24 hours after the class session. The instructor will start class on time, and will end class on time, and students are expected to be punctual.
If you must miss class, you may attend the corresponding class in the other section. If you miss part of a class, or just wish to attend a lecture a second time, you may attend the class in the other section. This crossover will be permitted not only for class attendance, but also for picking up and turning in work, and even for exams.
Cheating:Any instance of cheating on exams will result in a zero for that exam for all parties involved, plus a two class days suspension. Note that the instructor reserves the right to use multiple versions of exams.
Late work:Homework packages will be accepted late; however, presentation points may be lost. Work is due at the end of class on days as indicated in the class calendar. I do understand that occasionally, unavoidable circumstances arise which may prevent you from having your homework on time. That is why the homework scores add up to 105 points, essentially adding three "free late" assignments. However, all late homework must be turned in by the date of the corresponding exam. No late work will be accepted after the exam date. Note that the late policy stated only applies to homework … there are no makeups for exams, or missed class exercises. If you have an extended illness or other problem, contact me promptly to discuss your class status and avoid late penalties.
The instructor reserves the right to revise the syllabus without prior notice.
About the Instructor
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and made RiceUniversity my college home, earned a Master’s of Electrical Engineering (Computer Science emphasis) as well as a BSEE, qualified for a BA in Mathematical Sciences, and took a number of economics and accounting courses. Lest you think I only care about numbers, I also studied Latin and Italian – definitely the best part of learning Italian is to be able to thoroughly understand the menus in an Italian restaurant and order their wonderful food in their musical native language! Speaking of music, I also sing in a local church’s choir … but then, music is quite mathematical, after all, so we are back to numbers!
After graduation, I moved to the Santa Clara valley. Twenty-one years later, I was still working as a Software Engineer (senior engineer level) at the third of three companies (ROLM, IBM, and Echelon Corp), and I was an inventor or co-inventor on eight software patents. I moved to Fresno in 2001 for personal reasons, and telecommuted for over two years, only to be laid off from Echelon along with several other senior people in October 2003. To me, it was a blessing to get the “nudge” to change my career direction, since I had been considering teaching and consulting for some time.
I have been teaching for the University of Phoenix for nearlytwo years, and am an approved facilitator for a number of Computer Science and Computer Programming classes as well as Mathematics classes. I also teach as an online instructor with University of Phoenix. This is my third Semester as Adjunct Faculty at SCCCD – I have taught Math 101, Math 45, IS 10, and IS 31, and additionally am teaching CSCI 41 lab.