MATH 108 Quantitative Literacy
Spring 2012
COURSE AIMS:
The course is an introduction to mathematical literacy addressing basic
quantitative skills, and may be viewed as either preparation for more
advanced mathematics (and finance) courses, or as the necessary exposure to
mathematics required in a traditional liberal-arts education curriculum. The
focus in on the setting up, and on the conceptual understanding, of
elementary mathematical models, and on how they can be applied to a variety
of real world problems.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course will discuss: linear functions and models, selected nonlinear
functions, matrices, optimization techniques, financial mathematics, random
variables and statistics.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will understand the usefulness of mathematical modeling in a
variety of disciplines within the life sciences, the social sciences, and
business. Students will learn how to represent and interpret quantitative
information symbolically, graphically, numerically, verbally, and in written
form; how to find the optimal product mix for a company given a fixed
availability of resources; how to compute interests; how to characterize a
collection of data; how to perform statistical studies; how to examine the
linear relation between two variables; how to frame decision-making with
mathematical models.
TEXTBOOK:
Finite Mathematics, 5th International Edition, Waner and Costenoble, Brooks Cole
Publisher, ISBN 978-0-538-73451-6 or 0-538-73451-5
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
There will be 4 tests - each of them represents 15% of the final grade. The
final examination (comprehensive) is worth 30%, and 10% is represented by
assignments and class participation:
4 Tests...................................................60%
Final Exam ...........................................30%
Assignments and Class Participation ....10%
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
The grade scale is as follows:
A: 90%-100% (The student demonstrates complete, accurate, and critical knowledge of all the topics, is able to make
appropriate connections among different parts of the subject matter, uses the appropriate language and terminology
correctly and rigorously and is autonomous in his study)
B: 80%-89% (The student has a somewhat accurate knowledge of the subject matter and uses clear logic in his/her
arguments)
C: 70%-79% (The student has the essential knowledge of the subject matter, understands the topics, and can express
it in a simple language)
D: 60%-69% (The student has a superficial, mnemonic knowledge of the subject matter, is uncertain and makes errors
in the presentations)
F: below 60% (At best, the students has a superficial knowledge of some of the topics discussed in the course. He
makes serious errors in the presentations).
Numerically, the final grade is computed as follows: G=0.15 T1 + 0.15 T2 + 0.15 T3 + 0.15 T4 + 0.3 F + 0.1 H,
where G is the final grade, T1 the score in the first test, T2 the score in the second test, T3 the score in the third
test, T4 the score in the fourth test, F the score in the final, H the average score in the homework and class
participation. The conversion between numerical grade and letter grade is described by the following table:
A 100 - 94
A- 93 - 90
B+ 89 - 87
B 86 - 83
B- 82 - 80
C+ 79 - 77
C 76 - 73
C- 72 - 70
D+ 69 - 67
D 66 - 63
D- 62 - 60
F 59 - 0
-ADDITIONAL CLASS POLICIES:
Cheating is not tolerated (please see the University Catalogue for the policy regarding
academic dishonesty).
Coming late to class or leaving early will be possible only with permission of the instructor.
No make-up exams will be given.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance will contribute to the final grade. Full credit for attendance will be given to people
with two or fewer unexcused absences. Three or more absences will result with a proportional
reduction of the grade.
SCHEDULE
Week 1: ALGEBRA REVIEW: 0.1 Real numbers. 0.2 Exponents and radicals.
Week 2: 0.3 Multiplying and factoring algebraic expressions. 0.5 Solving
polynomial equations. TEST 1.
Week 3: 0.7 The coordinate plane. FUNCTIONS AND MODELS. 1.1 Functions
from the numerical, algebraic, and graphical viewpoints. 1.2 Functions
and models.
Week 4: 1.3 Linear functions and models. 1.4 Linear regression. TEST 2.
Week 5: Nonlinear functions: exponential and logarithm function. SYSTEMS OF
LINEAR EQUATIONS AND MATRICES. 2.1. System of two equations in
two unknowns.
Week 6: 2.2 Using matrices to solve systems of equations. 2.3 Applications of
systems of linear equations.
Week 7: MATRIX ALGEBRA AND APPLICATIONS. 3.1 Matrix addition and scalar
multiplication. 3.2 Matrix multiplication.
Week 8. 3.3 Matrix inversion. 3.4 Game theory.
Week 9: TEST 3. 3.5 Input-output models. LINEAR PROGRAMMING. 4.1 Graphing
linear inequalities.
Week 10: 4.2 Solving linear programming problems graphically. THE
MATHEMATICS OF FINANCE. 5.1 Simple interest.
Week 11: 5.2 Compound interest. TEST 4. RANDOM VARIABLES AND
STATISTICS. 8.1 Random variables and distributions.
Week 12: 8.3 Measures of central tendency. 8.4 Measures of dispersion.
Week 13: 8.5 Normal distribution. Rudiments of inferential statistics.
FINAL.
