MGF 1107
Reference # 409409
Summer 2007
Chris Harris
E-Mail address:
Telephone: (305) 237-3935
Office hours (in room 2223): Mon 4:30-5:30, Tues 12-1,
Weds 4:30-5:30
Textbook: Blitzer, Thinking Mathematically, 3rd ed.
Prerequisite: MAT 1033 (Intermediate Algebra) or suitable placement score.
Note: This course is not designed for students whose majors require College Algebra, Statistics, or higher-level courses. Students who are required to take the CLAST should do so immediately upon successful completion (C or better) of this course. These students should attend CLAST workshops offered by the College, and review extensively skills of arithmetic and algebra as described in the CLAST Pack for Mathematics, available in the Math Lab.
Grading: Your grade will be based on the results of five quizzes, three exams, one cumulative final exam, and a research project. If you miss a quiz the grade will be a zero. If you miss ONE exam with an excusable reason, then the grade of the final exam replaces the grade of the missed exam. There are absolutely NO make-ups. The research project will consist of a 2 to 4 page typed (double-spaced) paper and a 5 to 7 minute in-class presentation on a famous mathematician. The paper must include a short biography of the selected individual and a summary of his/her contributions to the field of mathematics. Some personal reflections on the person’s life and work should also be included. Alternatively, certain areas within mathematics would make acceptable subjects for a project. To avoid duplicate presentations, each students must get their paper approved by the instructor.
Your grade will be distributed as follow:
Research Project: 15%
Quizzes: 20%
3 exams: 45%
Final exam: 20 %
Your final grade will be distributed according to the following scale:
Average of 90-100% A
Average of 80-89% B
Average of 70-79% C
Average of 60-69% D
Average below 60% F
Incomplete: The grade of I is generally not given, and may not be given to any student who is not passing the class with a grade of C or better.
Assistance: You can obtain assistance for mathematics classes in the Mathematics Laboratory, room 2223. There, you will find course-related videotapes and computer software, and tutors that can help you to successfully complete this course. The Math Lab is open these hours: MTWR 8:00 AM-9:00 PM, F 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM. You do not need an appointment. The telephone number for the lab is 305-237-3834. If you have a problem with the Math Lab, please contact Jose De Paz at 305-237-3971.
Classroom and Laboratory Etiquette: Please refrain from bringing food or drinks into any classroom, lab, or into the courtyard. Please turn off any cellular phones and set pagers to "vibrate." You are expected to arrive on time to class, depart when the class has concluded, and treat others respectfully. You are encouraged to ask questions. The tutors in the lab must help all the students and take turns; they cannot work with one student for a prolonged period of time. We are unable to offer one-to-one continuous tutoring.
Withdrawal: If you feel that you will be unable to complete the requirements for passing a class, it is important that you drop the class by the college's "drop date" as established by the registrar's office. You should speak to your instructor prior to making the decision to drop. Remember that it is your responsibility to drop a class, not the instructor's. If circumstances such as illness, accident, change in employment situation, etc., prevent you from continuing to attend your class BEFORE the drop date, speak to your instructor and see the Dean of Students (room 1201) for your options. If such a situation occurs AFTER the drop date, you should contact the instructor for information as to how you can complete the requirements for passing the course.
Registration: It is your responsibility to make sure that you are registered for this course. Be sure to obtain a copy of your schedule to verify the reference number and that you do not have any outstanding fees. If your name does not appear on your instructor’s class roll by the first day of the mini-term as being registered and having paid for the class, you will not receive a grade for this course, and you will have to retake it next term, regardless of whether you continue to sit in on the class.
Problems with Instructor: If you are having a problem with your mathematics instructor, please see that instructor during office hours. Before or after class is generally not a good time to discuss a problem with an instructor who is either about to start class or on the way to the next class. If after speaking with your instructor during office hours you cannot resolve the problem, then you need to visit the chairperson, Dr. Norma Agras (office 1540) as the next step.
Important Dates
Summer 2007 (2006-3)12-Week / 1st 6-Week / 2nd 6-Week
1. Classes Begin:
Weekday and Evening
Saturday / M May 7
S May 12 / M May 7
S May 12 / M Jun 18
2. Last Day to Change Courses without Penalty; Withdraw from classes with 100% refund / R May 10 / W May 9 / W Jun 20
3. Last Day to Withdraw with Grade of W / M Jun 25 / F Jun 1 / F Jul 13
4. Last Day of Classes/Finals / F Jul 27 / F Jun 15 / F Jul 27
5. Holidays / May 26-28
W Jul 4 / May 26-28 / W Jul 4
MGF 1107 Suggested Homework
Text book: Thinking Mathematically, Third Edition, Robert Blitzer
SECTIONS / Suggested Homework Exercises4.1 / 1-49
4.2 / 1 – 17, 19-39, 41, 42
4.4 / 1-36
5.1 / 1 – 67, 71, 73
5.2 / 1-98
5.3 / 1-90
5.4 / 1-66
5.6 / 1-90
7.1 / 1 –19, 31, 35, 41-47
7.2 / 1-, 51-54
7.4 / 1-13, 11-12
7.2, 7.4 / 7.2: 51-54
7.4: 13-18
8.1 / 1-45, 47-67
8.2 / 9-29 , 31,33
8.3 / 1-21, 25,27
8.4 / 1-15, 19
8.5 / 1-11
14.1 / 1-25, 27-30
14.2 / 1-13, 18
15.1 / 1-51
15.2 / 1-39.