Math 104: Finite Mathematics

Summer 2017
Mon.-Thur. 6:00 – 8:00
Porreco
/ David Tucker
(814) 732-2550

149 Ross Hall / Office Hours
Before class as needed

I. Course Description
This course provides study and experience in mathematics representations, processing, problem solving, and thinking. Students analyze and solve problems in areas such as set theory, mathematics of finance, probability, and statistics. Note: Students may not receive credit for both Finite Mathematics and Mathematics Reasoning I. Prerequisite: MATH 090 or an acceptable placement score. This course is approved for General Education-Skills.

II. Course Objectives:
In this course students will:

  1. Identify and apply mathematical formulae to solve specific problems
  2. Identify relevant information and then develop a plan to solve a problem
  3. Understand basic set theory concepts and operations.
  4. Use and apply Venn diagrams to solve problems.
  5. Apply knowledge of mathematics of finance to everyday financial problems.
  6. Calculate probabilities.
  7. Utilize normal distribution theory
  8. Use statistics to present and interpret data.
  9. Be introduced to and investigate at least two approved topic (linear equations & more stats and probability)

III. Course Outline

Week / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday
1: 6/12 / 1.1; 8.1 / 8.2; 8.3 / 8.4; 8.5 / 8.6 → 8.8
2: 6/19 / Review / Exam 1
(1.1 & Ch. 8) / 2.1 → 2.5 / 11.1 → 11.3
3: 6/26 / 11.4; 11.5 / 11.6 → 11.8
Review / Exam 2
(Ch.2 & 11) / 12.1 → 12.3
4: 7/3 / 12.4 → 12.6 / 13.1 / Exam 3
(Ch. 12 & 13.1) / 14.1 → 14.3
5: 7/10 / 7.3 → 7.5 / Review / Final Exam

Note:Some of these dates may need to change depending on how we do on each topic for the benefit of the class.

IV. Required Text & Materials

Blitzer, R, Thinking Mathematically: 6th Edition, Pearson Publishing: 2014

V. Required Materials:

In addition to the text currently being used, which should be brought to all class meetings, you will also need a scientific calculator. You should know how to operate the calculator with proficiency. No specific model required. You'll also need a notebook for class notes and homework solutions. Bring your notes and homework to each class.

VI. Assessment and Evaluation:
Quizzes:A quiz will be given most days based on the homework for the section covered the day before. I will randomly select 2 - 4 problems from the homework as your quiz. These will be given at the beginning of class, closed book and notes. There are no make-ups for the quizzes, including coming late to class and missing the quiz but I will drop your lowest quiz score at the end of the summer session which could be a missed quiz. In addition, if I can't read your solutions, then I'll mark them wrong, so please be neat.

Homework from book:

Sec / Topic / 6thEdition Problems
1.1 / Inductive, Deductive / 1-27/ odds; 35-37,39,45-51/odds,53
8.1 / %, Taxes / 7-14, 21-28, 37-53/odds
8.2 / Income Tax / Concepts: 1-8; exercises: 1-9/odds, 15, 16, 19-21
8.3 / Simple Interest, Amortization / 3-12, 15-23/odds
8.4 / Compound I / Concepts: 1-7; exercises: 2, 3, 6-9, 13, 17-18, 29, 33
8.5 / Annuity, Stocks... / Concepts: 1-2; exercises: 1-7/odds, 11-15/odds, 21, 27
8.6 / Cars / Concepts: 1, 5, 6; exercises: 1-5, 7-8, 15-18
8.7 / Homes / Concepts: 1-6; exercises: 1-3, 7, 9-11
8.8 / Credit cards / 5-7, 9
2.1 / Sets / 1-91/e.o.o. (do every other odd: 1, 5, 9, 13,…)
2.2 / Complement, Union, Intersection / 1-10, 29-34, 41-49
2.3 / Set Operations / 1-85/e.o.o.
2.4 / Venn Diagrams with 3 sets / 1-12, 25-32, 49-51, 59-60
2.5 / Applied set problems / 1-8, 9-25/odds, 33-38, 43, 45, 47
11.1 / Counting / 1-15
11.2 / Permutations / 1-8, 13-49/odds
11.3 / Combinations / 1-11, 29-45/odds, 51-56
11.4 / Probability / 1-10, 11-47/odds, 49-51, 61-70
11.5 / Probability with Counting, Perm and Comb
11.6 / Not, Or, Odds / 1-6, 7-43/odds, 65-72
11.7 / And, Conditional / 1-6, 7-59/odds
11.8 / Expected Value
12.1 / Sampling, Graphs / 1, 3, 5-16, 21-31/odds, 32
12.2 / Averages / 1-4, 9, 10, 13-21/odds, 27-53/odds
12.3 / Dispersion / 1-9 (show work to calculate s); 17-27/odds (can use calculator to find s)
12.4 / Normal Dist / 1-6, 11-15, 23-28, 33-38, 59-62, 67
12.5 / Prob Solving w Normal Dist / 1-15/odds; 17-32
12.6 / Correlation, Regression / 1-4, 5-35/odds (can use calculator to find r)
13.1 / Voting Methods / 1-18
14.1 / Intro to Graph Theory / 1-8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 23-47/odds
14.2 / Euler circuits and paths / 1-14, 19-31/odds, 37-38
14.3 / Hamilton circuits and paths / 1-14
14.4 / Trees (bonus) / 1-22
7.3 / Systems of equations / 1, 3, 5, 9, 25
7.4 / Linear inequalities in 2 var / 3, 5, 25
7.5 / Linear programming / 1, 3, 7

Examinations:There will be four (4) major exams.Please try not to miss any exam. If something extreme does come up and you must miss an exam I will double count the final. That rule also applies so that I will replace one exam score with the final if you scored higher on the final, but only one (the lowest one).

  • Exam 1:6/20
  • Exam 2: 6/28
  • Exam 3: 7/6
  • Exam 4: 7/13 (Cumulative Final)

Derivation of Final Grades:

Weights for Determining the Final Grade:
Major Exams will be 60% of your final grade
Total quiz score is 40% of your final grade
The final score will be converted to a letter grade using the following scale:
90 < score < 100 A
80 < score < 89 B
70 < score < 79 C
60 < score < 69 D
0 < score < 59 F

-Incomplete grades will be assigned only if proper documentation is presented and the student has a passing grade in the course at the time of withdrawal. I recommend avoiding this, typically most students who get an 'I' have it turned into an 'F' by not doing the work and taking the default grade.

-All assessment is based on results of the exams & quizzes. I appreciate effort but I grade on results! (Usually there's a direct relationship)

-No extra credit, besides it's much easier just to do the homework and study with the time spent on extra credit.

Academic Integrity:
You are expected to do all of the assigned work on your own. Any student found to be cheating or plagiarizing with respect to any component of the course will be subject to immediate failure from the course.

VI. American Disabilities Act Statement:
Any student who has a physical or learning disability which requires special accommodations should make an appointment to discuss this with the instructor.
VII. Some Final Comments:
It is the instructor's intention to provide an environment that is relaxed and academically stimulating. You will be encouraged to ask questions and participate in the lecture.
It is very clear that high performance in a class is linked with consistent attendance and reasonable effort. I do expect you to attend all classes and you are responsible for knowing about any announcements or assignments made during class. If missing a class is unavoidable, the student is expected to copy the lecture notes from one of her/his peers. Handouts distributed can be obtained from the instructor during office hours.

I encourage all students to take advantage of my office hours but please do not use office hour time to make-up unexcused absences.Any topic such as grades, extra help, etc.. are always welcome topics

Homework - A lot of your learning will probably take place at your home doing the homework. Especially in this course the homework is important. Please do it and ask questions the next day if you don't understand it. In addition the quizzes are based on the homework.

This is a very useful course. If taken seriously the knowledge you learn here will benefit you for the rest of you lives.

Notes: