SYLLABUS FOR MATH 140

SURVEY OF MATHEMATICS

Bladen Community College

Department of Mathematics

INSTRUCTOR:        Robert D. Herring

OFFICE:               Building 1, Room 119                               

PHONE:                910.879.5535

E‑MAIL:               rherring@bladencc.edu                           

 

TEXTBOOK:          Mathematical Ideas, Miller, Heeren and Hornsby. 2008 11th Edition.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course provides an introduction in a non-technical setting to selected topics in mathematics. Topics include, but are not limited to, sets, logic, probability, statistics, matrices, mathematical systems, geometry, topology, mathematics of finance, and modeling. Upon completion, students should be able to understand a variety of mathematical applications, think logically, and be able to work collaboratively and independently. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core requirement in natural sciences/mathematics.

 

COURSE OUTLINE:

Chapter           Topic

Six                    The Real Numbers and Their Representations

Seven               The Basic Concepts of Algebra

Eight                Functions, Graphs, and Systems of Equations and Inequalities

Nine                 Geometry

Eleven              Counting Methods

Twelve             Probability

Thirteen          Statistics

Fourteen          Consumer Mathematics

 

COURSE COMPETENCIES:

For satisfactory completion of Survey of Mathematics, the students must demonstrate by written examination that they can do the following.  (Order of competence does not imply the order of presentation.)

 

1)           Determine whether a second set is a subset of a given set, give the number of subsets, and list all subsets.

2)           Perform set operations.

3)           Construct Venn diagrams and use the diagrams to solve counting problems.

4)           Perform the arithmetic operations with signed numbers and algebraic expressions.

5)           Solve problems of ratio, proportion, and variation.

6)           Solve first-degree equations in one variable; solve literal equations, particularly formulas of perimeter, area, and volume.

7)           Perform algebraic operations with expressions involving integral exponents.

8)           Find special algebraic products and factor common algebraic expressions.

9)           Translate word problems into mathematical symbols and solve the resulting equations.

10)        Apply his knowledge of algebra to the solution of practical problems.

11)        Factor Polynomials.

12)        Solve linear and quadratic equations.

13)        Solve equations linear or quadratic in form.

14)        Solve word problems which can be modeled by a linear or quadratic equation.

15)        Solve inequalities.

16)        Determine whether a given relation is a function.

17)        Find the domain and range of a function.

18)        Graph algebraic and absolute value functions on the Cartesian Coordinate System.

19)        Know properties of triangles.

20)        Know properties of special quadrilaterals: parallelogram, rectangle, square, rhombus trapezoid.

21)        State and apply relationships that exist in right triangles.

22)        Apply formulas to area and perimeter of plane figures.

23)        Compute the probability for simple and compound events.

24)        Compute odds and mathematical expectations.

25)        Determine whether two events are dependent or independent and whether they are mutually exclusive.

26)        Compute measures of central tendency.

27)        Compute variance and standard deviation.

28)        Compute percentile and quartile scores.

29)        Organize statistical data.

30)        Use the normal distribution table to solve probability problems.

 

COURSE AVERAGE:  5% quizzes and assignments

80% major test average

10% comprehensive final examination

5% attendance and participation

 

A student who has two or fewer absences may drop the lowest of the major test grades in determining the major test average.  A student, who has more than two absences, may not drop any major test grades.  No distinction is made between excused and unexcused absences.  (Being tardy is an unexcused absence.)

 

COURSE EVALUATION:       90 ≤ A < 100

80 ≤ B <  90

70 ≤ C <  80

60 ≤ D <  70

  0 ≤ F <  60

 

COURSE MATERIALS:1)         Pencil and paper

2)         Graph paper

3)         Graphing Calculator (TI/83)

4)         Ruler

5)         Desire to learn