03 syllabus - University of Montana

Mathematics 105
Grading and Policies Spring 2015
Contact Professor:
 Lecturer: Nhan Nguyen
 Office: Cor 364
 Office Hours: 12:10-1:00 MWF or by appointment.
 Phone: 406-243-4486
 Email: Nhan.nguyen@umontana.edu (best way to contact)
 Math Webpage: http://www.math.umt.edu/105
 Tutoring: Free tutoring is available at the tutorial center at Math@Mansfield, located in the Mansfield Library Main
Floor next to the Copy Center. Hours will be posted on the website and announced once they have been determined.
 Course Coordinator: First person to see with complaints, questions, etc. about this course that cannot be resolved
with the instructor: Lauren Fern whose office is in Math 205B whose phone number is 243-5398 and whose email
is fernl@mso.umt.edu
Catalog Description:
(from http://www.umt.edu/catalog/mathsci.htm) U 115 Probability and Linear Mathematics 3 cr. Offered every term. Prereq.,
MAT 005 with a grade of B- or better or MAT 100 or appropriate placement score. Systems of linear equations and matrix
algebra. Introduction to probability with emphasis on models and probabilistic reasoning. Examples of applications of the
material in many fields. Credit not allowed for both MAT 115 and MATH 115.
Learning Goals:
1. To attain some degree of mathematical literacy, including an ability to read mathematical material and write using
mathematical notation correctly. To develop skills to think and reason mathematically in order to function more
effectively in the modern world.
2. To examine ways in which mathematics is used, to follow and understand logical arguments, and to solve applied
quantitative problems. This includes learning to formulate a problem precisely, to interpret solutions, and to make critical
judgments in the face of competing formulations and solutions.
3. To understand elementary probability concepts and phenomena: including sample spaces with equally likely outcomes,
the basic parameters (mean, standard deviation), the normal distribution, and a qualitative view of the Central Limit
Theorem.
4. To understand elementary statistical concepts, such as data description, statistical estimation, randomization, and
statistical inference.
5. To explore and examine several other aspects of contemporary mathematics. This could include, but is not limited to,
management science (e.g. graph models for network problems), social choice and decision making (e.g. elections, voting,
fair division, Congress apportionment), or applied geometry (e.g. symmetry, tilings, growth rates).
Notes About the Course:
This course is designed to illustrate several ways in which mathematics is used in the “real world”. We will explore some topics of
general interest which are not typically taught in a formal mathematics class. The goal is for you to see not only how useful
mathematics is, but also how beautiful and elegant it can be.
Text:
Contemporary Mathematics, Burger & Sevilla, UM Custom Edition, Wiley Publishing.
Grading:
Exams-40%
There will be total of 3 exams. They will be approximately every 5 weeks.
Projects-30%
Throughout the semester there will be approximately 10 small group projects. Students will work in groups of 4 or 5.
Guidelines and details will be presented later.
Homework quizzes-30%
Homework will be assigned daily. Homework will not be collected. Every day there will be a quiz consisting of one of the
homework problems from the previous day. Each quiz will be an exact replica of a previous homework problem. Furthermore
you are allowed to use any homework that you have written. You will only have 5 minutes to complete each quiz. These quizzes
are merely a way to ensure that you are doing homework completely and consistently. If you write complete homework solutions
every day you will have no problem with these. The lowest 3 will be dropped.
Final:
The final is optional. If you choose not to take it you do not need to show up to the final. If you choose to take the final
it will replace your lowest exam score. If your final score is lower than all of your exam scores nothing will happen. The final
CAN NOT lower your grade in any way. It can only benefit you. It will be comprehensive. Your final will be 10:10-12:10 AM
Thursday, May 14
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
CR
Grading Scale by
Percentages
90%
90% and 80%
80% and 70%
70% and 60%
60%
60%
*** If you are taking this course as a general education requirement, you must take it for a traditional letter grade (not CR/NCR).
A grade of “D-“is considered passing and will earn you credit for the course, BUT it will NOT fulfill your general education
requirement and you will have to re-take the class***
Make-ups:
THERE ARE NO MAKE-UPS for the turn-in assignments and quizzes, regardless of the reason (e.g. sickness, sports, family
emergency, etc.); this is why the lowest two are dropped. Exam make-ups will ONLY be given under special and extenuating
circumstances, such as a death in the family or illness, provided that a note from the Health Service or doctor is furnished by the
student AND permission is given by me prior to the exam. At most one make-up exam will be given. It is your responsibility to
notify me as soon as you know you will miss any exam and it must be either prior to or within 24 hours of the exam.
Email:
The best way to contact me is via the email listed above. Email will be the primary method for me to communicate with you. You
are expected to check your email often. You are held responsible for any information send by email. Below is a list of rules on
Email etiquette.
1) Always include an appropriate subject.
2) If the subject is different DO NOT hit reply from a previous email because you do not want to take the time to type my
email address.
Add/Drop Policy:
The last day to add/drop or change grading option to Audit by Cyberbear is 2/13.The last day to change sections and to change
grading options is 4/6.This is also the last day to drop. Changes after this deadline and until 5/8 must be done by Petition to
Drop/Add after deadline and approved by me, your advisor and the appropriate Dean. Approval requires genuine extenuating
circumstances as listed in the university catalog.
Extenuating circumstances are:
1. Missing a substantial number of classes due to illness, accident or family emergency.
2. A change in work schedule that makes it impossible to attend class or devote adequate time to the course.
3. Registration in the course by error and never attending class.
Reasons that are not satisfactory include:
1. Forgetting to turn in a drop slip.
2. Protecting your grade point average.
Incomplete (I) Grades:
To be eligible for an “I”, the following conditions must be met:
1. The student must have been in attendance and passing the course up to 3 weeks before the semester ends; and
2. The student is unable to complete the course due to extenuating circumstances, which usually means serious illness or
death in the family.
Incompletes are not given under any other circumstances and are always given at the discretion of
the instructor. See the 2014-2015 catalog for further information.
Misconduct:
All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor
and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University. All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. Available for
review online at http://www.umt.edu/SA/VPSA/index.cfm/page/1321
Disability modifications:
The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through collaboration between students with disabilities,
instructors, and Disability Services for Students. If you think you may have a disability adversely affecting your academic
performance, and you have not already registered with Disability Services, please contact Disability Services in Lommasson Center
154 or call 406.243.2243. I will work with you and Disability Services to provide an appropriate modification.
Important University-Wide Info and Dates:
Monday, 16 February. Presidents Day. No school.
30 March – 3 April. Spring Break. No school.
The following syllabus is subject to modifications (and in all probability will be changed due to timing!):
Week
Sections
Quiz and Exam Dates
1/26 – 1/30
2/2 – 2/6
2/9 – 2/13
2/16 – 2/20
2/23 – 2/27
3/2 – 3/6
3/9 – 3/13
3/16 – 3/20
3/23 – 3/27
3/30 – 4/3
4/6 – 4/10
4/13 – 4/17
4/20 – 4/24
SPRING BREAK!!
4/27 – 5/1
5/4 – 5/8
Final Exam
10:10-12:10 AM Thursday,
May 14