Syllabus for MA 111 Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics Spring 2010 Course MA 111 002 TR 9 30 10 45 am CB 337 Instructor Carl Lee Office 967 Patterson Office Tower Mailbox 715 Patterson Office Tower Phone 257 1405 or 257 3336 to leave a message Email lee ms uky edu preferred method for reaching me Office Hours TR 11 00 am 12 15 pm and by appointment since I realize that this time may not be convenient for everyone Office hours will be held in the Math Resource Center Mathskeller located in CB 63 which is close to the loading dock in the basement of White Hall Classroom Building The Math Resource Center is open from 9 00 am to 5 00 pm Monday through Friday Faculty graduate students and undergraduate assistants for 100 level Mathematics courses hold office hours in the Mathskeller See www mathskeller org for further information Text Bernard L Madison Stuart Boersma Caren L Diefenderfer and Shannon W Dingman Case Studies for Quantitative Reasoning A Casebook of Media Articles second edition Pearson Custom Publishing 2009 ISBN 10 0 558 19880 5 ISBN 13 978 0 55819880 0 Note that other sections of MA 111 may be using a different text Calculators You will need a scientific calculator for this course Course Web Page www ms uky edu lee ma111sp10 ma111sp10 html Course Description An introduction to concepts and applications of mathematics typically found in the media with examples drawn from such areas as numbers and quantities percent and percent change measurement and indices linear and exponential growth graphical interpretation and production and counting probability odds and risk This course is 1 not available for credit to persons who have received credit in any mathematics course of a higher number with the exceptions of MA 112 123 162 201 and 202 This course does not serve as a prerequisite for any calculus course Credit not available on the basis of special examination Prerequisites Two years of high school algebra and a Math ACTE score of 19 or above or MA 108R or math placement test This course satisfies the Math requirement of the University Studies Program see www uky edu Registrar bulletinCurrent usp pdf Course Goals and Objectives This course introduces and develops concepts and skills associated with quantitative reasoning and literacy that are encountered in everyday life The course focuses on the process of examining problems drawn from real life contexts and modeling and solving them using mathematical tools such as algebra and geometry Student Learning Outcomes It is expected that by the end of the semester the students will demonstrate proficiency with number sense and with functional relationships between two or more sets of variable values and also relate different representations of such relations apply fundamental elements of mathematical logical or statistical knowledge to model and solve problems drawn from real life This course will consist of four to six modules The modules will provide a variety of settings in which students will be asked to model and solve problems using mathematical functions representations algebra geometry and reasoning It is anticipated that the modules will be drawn from the following list Using Numbers and Quantities What are some ways in which we can make sense of very large or very small numbers What is the importance of units What are examples in the media in which very large or very small numbers are presented and discussed Percent and Percent Change What are the differences among the change of a quantity the percent change of a quantity the change in the percent of a quantity and the percent change in the percent of a quantity What are some ways in which these concepts are used or misused in the media 2 Measurement and Indices What is the difference between a measurement and an index How do we compare measurements made in different units How do mean median and mode play a role in summaries of data How are some well known indices and averages computed e g Consumer Price Index Cost of Living Index S P 500 Composite Average Dow Jones Industrial Average Linear and Exponential Growth How are various interest rates computed simple compound and continuously compounded How can they be compared How can these methods be used to model the relationship between the present and the future values of quantities of money Which of the functions used in these models are linear and which are exponential How can these models help evaluate the differences between credit card offers How can these models be extended to solve the problems of determining the final payoff for deferred annuities and the payment schedule for installment loans and mortgages What are the implications for credit cards accounts Descriptive Statistics What are various ways in which data can be represented graphically What are some important measures of location and spread ways to depict them graphically What are some ways in which graphical representations of data can be misleading Counting Probability Odds and Risk How can we use mathematical models and representations to indirectly count the sizes of certain collections or arrangements of objects What are some models of probability and how can the probabilities of certain events be computed What is the difference between probability and odds What is risk in this context and how does it influence decision making Attendance Attendance is required This class is designed for active involvement of the students You will be actively supporting each other as you gain experience and understanding Multiple ideas and points of view are important You will benefit from hearing others approaches to analysis and problem solving and they will benefit from you So attendance and active participation are expected and contribute toward your grade If you miss a class for any reason please explain your absence in writing as soon as possible using the Absence Report Form that I have posted on the course website at least two weeks in advance for scheduled excused absences Your absence will be excused if it is due to serious reason such as illness death in the family or travel organized by UK see the official list of excused absences in the Student Right and Responsibilities Section 5 2 4 2 www uky edu StudentAffairs Code part2 html Students absent due to an excused absence bear the responsibility of informing the instructor about their excused absence within one 3 week following the period of the excused absence except where prior notification is