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CLINTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Plattsburgh, New York 12901

 

Course Syllabus

 

MAT 103                                                                                   Finite Mathematics       

                                                                                      

Fall 2007                                                                                        

PROF. Helinger

Office:  Room 535                                                                                                              No. SemesterHours-3

Office Hours:                                                                                                                      No. Credit Hours – 3  

                                                                                                                                            No. Contact Hours 3

 Mon 12-12:50PM 

 Tues.9:30-10:20AM

  Wed. 10-10:50 AM

  Thur.

  Fri. 10-10:50 AM                            

Telephone:  (518) 562-4196

E-mail:  michael.helinger@clinton.edu

 

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course emphasizes mathematical skills and techniques applicable to business, life sciences and social sciences.  Course topics include linear functions, quadratic functions, mathematics of finance, systems of equations, matrices, linear programming, set theory, basic probability and combinatorics.  The use of a graphing calculator is required for this course to further the exploration of these topics and their applications. 

 

This course meets the SUNY General Education course requirements for mathematics.

 

II. PREREQUISITE: MAT100-Introductory Algebra or equivalent

 

 

III. COURSE OBJECTIVES:

As the result of instructional activities, students will be able to:

1.      Determine the x- and y- intercepts of a graph

2.      Calculate the slope of a line

3.      Write an equation of a line given the y-intercept and the slope

4.      Write an equation of a line given one point and the slope

5.      Write an equation of a line given one point and the equation of a parallel line

6.      Write an equation of a line given one point and the equation of a perpendicular line

7.      Write an equation of a line given two points

8.      Write an equation of a vertical line

9.      Write an equation of a horizontal line

10.  Use a graphing calculator to draw a scatterplot

11.  Use a graphing calculator to find a linear regression model, where appropriate

12.  Use a linear regression equation to make predictions

13.  Solve a linear inequality

14.  Solve an absolute value inequality

15.  Determine if a given relation is a function

16.  Identify the domain of a function

17.  Evaluate a function

18.  Graph a function

19.  Create cost, revenue and profit functions

20.  Find a break-even point

21.  Find the equilibrium quantity and price given supply and demand functions

22.  Determine whether a parabola opens upward or downward

23.  Determine the vertex of a parabola

24.  Determine the axis of symmetry of a parabola

25.  Write an equation of a parabola given the vertex and a point

26.  Determine the maximum or minimum value of a quadratic function

27.  Use a graphing calculator to find a quadratic regression model, where appropriate

28.  Use a quadratic regression equation to make predictions

29.  Use the simple interest formula

30.  Use the compound interest formula

31.  Determine whether a system of equations is consistent and independent, dependent, or inconsistent

32.  Solve a system of linear equations graphically

33.  Solve a system of linear equations algebraically using substitution

34.  Solve a system of linear equations algebraically using elimination

35.  Solve a system of linear equations using a matrix

36.  Graph a linear inequality in two variables

37.  Graph a system of linear inequalities and identify the feasible region

38.  Formulate a linear programming model

39.  Solve a linear programming model graphically

40.  Define set, subset, empty set, universal set

41.  List the elements of a set

42.  Use the set operations of union, intersection, and complementation

43.  Draw Venn Diagrams to illustrate relationships between sets

44.  Determine the sample space of an experiment

45.  Determine if two events are disjoint (mutually exclusive)

46.  Calculate basic probabilities

47.  Use the addition rule for probability

48.  Use the complement rule for probability

49.  Calculate a conditional probability

50.  Determine if two events are independent

51.  Use the product rule for probability

52.  Calculate a factorial

53.  Distinguish between a permutation and a combination

54.  Calculate a permutation

55.  Calculate a combination

 

IV. REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS:  

 

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:  

Finite Mathematics for Business, Economics, Life Sciences, and Social Sciences, 11th edition, by Raymond A. Barnett, Michael R. Ziegler, and Karl E. Byleen. Prentice Hall. 

ISBN # 0-135-14385-3

           

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

A graphing calculator (the TI-83, TI-83 Plus, or TI-84 Plus are required).

 

V. GENERAL TOPICS OUTLINE:

 

1.      Linear Equations and Inequalities (textbook chapter 1)

including intercepts, slope, writing equations, graphing, inequalities, linear regression

2.      Functions and Graphs (textbook chapter 2)

including identifying functions, evaluating functions, graphing, domains, applications

3.      Quadratic Functions (textbook chapter 2) Exam 1

including graphing, vertex, axis of symmetry, quadratic regression, applications

4.      Mathematics of Finance (textbook chapter 3)

including simple interest, compound interest

5.      Systems of Linear Equations and Matrices (textbook chapter 4)    

including solving 2x2 systems of linear equations algebraically and graphically, solving 3x3 systems, applications  Exam 2

6.      Linear Programming (textbook chapter 5)

including graphing systems of linear inequalities, linear programming

7.      Set Theory (textbook chapter 7) Exam3

including definitions, Venn diagrams, set operations, applications

8.      Probability and Combinatorics (textbook chapter 8)

including addition rule, complement rule, conditional probability, independence, permutations, combinations, applications  FINAL EXAM

 

 

 

 

VI. METHODS OF EVALUATION (INCLUDING THE CALCULATION OF COURSE GRADE) Final Grades—90% of your final grade will come from the average of your four (4) one-hour exams,the last of which will be a comprehensive final exam.    These hour-exams will be announced at lest one week in advance, and a complete outline of the hour exams will be given in class.  There will also be an optional review class before each exam.

 

In accordance with the College policy in the catalog, credit will be taken off for incorrect spelling.  Repeated errors in the same word on the same exam will not be taken off more than once.  If these errors appear on Part I, they will result in loss of all credit for that particular part of a problem.              Abbreviations will not be permitted as a substitute for correct spelling.

 

The next 10% of your final grade will come from your average on the numerous quizzes.  These       quizzes will be announced or unannounced.  If it is unannounced it can only go back one week in our work.  The quizzes will vary from extremely simple quizzes to very difficult quizzes to determine class comprehension and retention.  Hour tests will be graded one week after the hour exam, but quizzes will be graded at the earliest convenience of the instructor, usually before the relevant hour exam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mid-semester Grades—Your mid-semester grade will be based on a straight percentage of the points accumulated thus far from both quizzes and hour tests.  For example, if there had been a one-hour exam and fifty points of quizzes by mid-semester, the total possible would be 150.  To get an “A” at mid-semester you would need 90% or 135 points in any combination.  Thus, you could get 85 on the hourly and 50 points on the quizzes and have an “A” for mid-semester.

 

 

 

VII. ATTENDANCE POLICY

The College policy on attendance states:

 

“When a student misses more than 15% of the class meetings for a particular course, his or her absence will be considered excessive.  Excessive absence may result in a student being involuntarily withdrawn from the course by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor and may in turn affect financial aid.  In such cases, the student will receive a grade of “WY.”

 

In this course, students exceeding 15% absence will be required to meet with the instructor in his       office to discuss reasons for absences and to evaluate the student’s situation and progress.  If possible, a strategy for completing the course will be jointly drawn up and signed.  Failure to comply with this procedure may result in the student’s being involuntarily withdrawn with a grade of “WY.”  When a student comes more than 10 minutes late, or leaves early for any reason, it will be counted as 1/3 of an absence.  When a students misses more than ½ of the class it will be counted as an absence.”

 

In general, I do not give “WY’s” past mid-semester grades.  If you disappear or exceed 15% absence after mid-semester grades, you can rest assured that you have an “F” for the semester.      According to the Fall 2007 Administrative Calendar, the last day to drop without penalty is November 2, 2007.  If you don’t want an “F” for a final grade, but have an average below 60%, you must accept the responsibility to WITHDRAW BY November 2, 2007.

 

 

            IF CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND YOUR CONTROL PREVENT YOU FROM COMING TO      AN EXAM OR QUIZ, YOU MUST NOTIFY ME BEFORE THE TIME OF THE EXAM OR            QUIZ OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT, IN GENERAL, YOU CAN TAKE THE EXAM OR QUIZ BEFORE THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED EXAM. MAKE-UPS WILL BE GIVEN ONLY FOR       DOCUMENTED ACADEMIC CONFLICTS (e.g.     field trips, athletic buses officially leaving before the exam) OR DOCUMENTED MEDICAL EMERGENCIES (e.g. I must see receipt signed by Doctor’s office stating you were there on the day and time of the exam), or      DOCUMENTED MECHANICAL EMERGENCIES (e.g. a receipt from the tow truck that jump     started your car or towed it out of the ditch that indicates that your vehicle was not in service on the day and time of the exam).Obviously notes from Mommy or Daddy have no place in a college setting. APPOINTMENTS FOR MAKE-UPS MUST BE REQUESTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT NOT LATER THAN YOUR FIRST DAY BACK TO CLASS AFTER THE EXAM. IF YOU NOT REQUEST THE MAKE-UP BY THE END OF YOUR FIRST DAY BACK TO CLASS, THE CONSEQUENCE WILL BE A ZERO, 0, FOR THE EXAM.

 

No more than one appointment will be scheduled per person per make-up, whether it is for an hour test or a quiz.  If you miss your appointment for a make-up, you receive a zero for the grade.

 

 

VIII. Academic Honesty

All students are expected to behave with academic honesty.  It is a serious matter (please see College catalog - "Academic honesty is expected of all Clinton Community College students. It is academically dishonest, for example, to misrepresent another person’s work as one’s own, to take credit for someone else’s work or ideas, to accept help on a test, to obtain advanced information on confidential test materials, or to intentionally harm another student’s chances for academic success.").

 

In this class students caught cheating will have three choices.

 

1.   The student may take an immediate grade of “F” for the course.

2.   The student may withdraw from the course immediately.

3.   The student and I will go immediately to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and I will hand him or his secretary a copy of the evidence.  I will then follow the recommendation of the Vice President in deciding the penalty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IX. GRADING SCALE:

      Numerical equivalents of letter grades for this course.

 

      Letter Grade      Numerical Interval

               A                   90-100

               A-                 87-89

               B+                 84-86

               B                   80-83

               B-                 77-79

               C+                74-76

               C                   70-73

               C-                 67-69

               D+                64-66

               D                   60-63

 

X.  Special Reminders

If you have, or suspect you may have, any type of disability or learning problem that may require             extra assistance or special accommodations, please speak to Laurie Bethka, Room 420M in the             Tutoring Center, for further assistance.

 

Please remember to turn off all cell phones before coming to class.  CELL PHONES MUST BE TURNED OFF BEFORE COMING INTO THE CLASSROOM.  The first time a cell phone rings in the classroom the entire class will be warned.  From then on, when a cell phone rings, that person will be required to leave for the remainder of the class.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

Also, please be advised that I consider carrying on private conversations on cell phones or in person during class as disruptive behavior, and therefore, a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Persons engaging in such behavior will be required to leave for the remainder of the class; such behavior can result in suspension from class.