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Textbook:
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Mathematical Ideas,
8th edition,
Miller, Heeren, and Hornsby,
Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers, Inc.,
1997
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Instructor:
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Dr. Buchanan
Office: Wickersham 113, Phone: 872-3659, FAX: 871-2320
Office Hours: 1:30PM-2:30AM (MTuWThF),
or by appointment
Email:
Robert.Buchanan@millersville.edu
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Coverage:
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Problem Solving
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Sets
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Logic
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Numeration
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Number Theory
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Geometry
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Topology
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Counting Methods
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Probability
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Statistics
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Consumer Mathematics
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Matrices
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Objectives:
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This course is a liberal arts course for students planning careers in
non-mathematical disciplines.
It is a survey of selected mathematical topics that are important
today.
The purpose of this course is to raise the level of appreciation for
mathematics as both a tool and a fine art.
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Attendance:
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This course meets only fifteen times and therefore
students are expected to attend all class meetings.
If you are absent from class you are responsible for all material
covered and assignments made during your absence.
Students who miss a test or the due date for an assignment because of
an absence must provide a valid excuse, otherwise you
will not be allowed to make up the missed work.
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Homework:
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A variety of homework assignments will be made daily.
Textbook problems will be assigned to reinforce ideas covered in
class.
Other assignments will be made to offers students chances to explore
particular topics in more detail than can be covered in class.
In all cases
students are expected to do their homework and participate in class.
Periodically some homework problems will be
assigned to be handed in for grading.
Students should submit all homework by the date due.
Late homework, without valid excuse, will not be accepted.
Students should expect to spend a minimum of 3-5 hours per night
reviewing notes taken during class and working the assigned homework.
Preparation for the tests will require additional hours
of study.
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Tests:
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Three 1-hour tests, tentatively scheduled for 01/09/98, 01/16/98, and
01/23/98.
If you feel that an error was made in the grading of a test, you
should explain the error on a separate sheet of paper and return both
it and the test to me within two class periods after the test is
returned to you.
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Grades:
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Course grade will be calculated as follows.
| Tests | 60% |
| Journal | 10% |
| Homework | 30% |
The course letter grades will be calculated as follows.
| 90-100 | A |
| 80-89 | B |
| 70-79 | C |
| 60-69 | D |
| 0-59 | F |
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Final Word:
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Math is not a spectator sport.
What you learn from this course and your final grade depend mainly on
the amount of work you put forth.
There is no opportunity for extra credit.
Test and final course grades will not be curved.
Daily contact with the material through homework assignments and
review of notes taken during lectures is extremely important.