COURSE OUTLINE
MIDLANDS TECHNICAL COLLEGE
MAT 155 CONTEMPORARY MATHEMATICS
3.0 Credit Hours
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course includes techniques and applications of the following topics: elementary number theory; algebra; geometry; measurement; graph sketching and interpretations; and descriptive statistics.
PREREQUISITE: MAT 100, RDG 032 or equivalent assessment score
TEXT: Thinking Mathematically, Third Edition
by Robert Blitzer
Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2005
EQUIPMENT: Scientific Calculator
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
DEFINITIONS:
ABSENCE - Failure to be present for a scheduled meeting of class or arriving for the class more than ten minutes after the scheduled time for the class to begin.
TARDY --- Arrival to class after the instructor has called the roll and before ten minutes past the scheduled time for the class to begin.
I. Absences are counted from the first day of classes.
II. Five absences are allowed for a class that meets three times per week and three absences are allowed for a class that meets twice a week.
III. Three tardies are considered as one absence. The student must meet with the instructor at the end of the class to which he has been late to have an absence changed to a tardy.
IV. There are no "excused" absences. All absences are counted regardless of the reason for the absence.
V. A student missing class time by leaving early will also be counted absent.
Please note the following:
You are responsible for all material and announcements presented, whether you are present or absent.
Mathematics Department
Airport: 822-3357
Beltline: 738-7689
Revised 12/17/2002
GRADING SCALE
A 90 - 100
B 80 - 89
C 70 - 79
D 60 - 69
F Below 60
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Students should be able to:
1. Draw Venn diagrams to show the relationship between sets.
2. Compute the probability of the event A and B and the probability of the event A or B, given the probability of A and the probability of B..
3. Compute the mean, median, mode, midrange, range and standard deviation for a given set of data .
4. Convert between the various metric units for measuring length, volume, and weight and use conversion tables to convert our customary units of length to metric units and vice versa..
5. Use scientific notation to evaluate expressions that contain very large or very small numbers.
6. Find at least three solutions for a linear equation in two unknowns, and graph a linear equation in two unknowns.
7. Use the computer to locate and analyze information and solve problems after instruction on the use of the computer and appropriate software.
8. Solve problems by identifying what information is available and relevant to the problem.
9. Solve problems by selecting or developing appropriate procedures and relationships.
10. Solve problems by correctly applying the methods selected to the information available.
11. Solve problems by verifying the validity and appropriateness of the solution.
Note: This outline is given for the regular Fall/Spring fourteen week semesters. The same material is covered in the summer term and the sessions classes, but in the appropriate fewer number of weeks: ten weeks for summer term, seven weeks for fall and spring sessions classes, and five weeks for summer session classes.
| WEEK |
TOPIC |
SECTION |
| 1 | Problem Solving and Critical Thinking | |
| Inductive and Deductive Reasoning | 1.2 | |
| Estimation and Graphs | 1.2 | |
| Problem Solving | 1.3 | |
| 2 | Set Theory | |
| Basic Set Concepts | 2.1 | |
| Venn Diagrams and Subsets | 2.2 | |
| Venn Diagrams and Set Operations | 2.3 | |
| 3 | Number Theory and the Real Number System | |
| The Integers; Order of Operations | 5.2 | |
| Exponents and Scientific Notation | 5.6 | |
| TEST 1 | ||
| 4 | Algebra: Equations and Inequalities | |
| Algebraic Expressions and Formulas | 6.1 | |
| Solving Linear Equations | 6.2 | |
| Applications of Linear Equations | 6.3 | |
| 5 | Ratio, Proportion and Variation | 6.4 |
| Algebra: Graphs, Functions, and Linear Systems | ||
| Graphing and Functions | 7.1 | |
| Linear Functions and Their Graphs | 7.2 | |
| 6 | Consumer Mathematics and Financial Management | |
| Percent | 8.1 | |
| Simple Interest | 8.2 | |
| 7 | Compound Interest | 8.3 |
| TEST 2 | ||
| Installment Buying | 8.4 | |
| 8 | The Cost of Home Ownership | 8.5 |
| Investing in Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds | 8.6 | |
| Measurement | ||
| Measuring Length: The Metric System | 9.1 | |
| 9 | Measuring Area and Volume | 9.2 |
| Measuring Weight and Temperature | 9.3 | |
| Geometry | ||
| Triangles (The Pythagorean Theorem) | 10.2 | |
| 10 | Polygons, Quadrilaterals, and Perimeter | 10.3 |
| Area and Circumference | 10.4 | |
| Volume | 10.5 | |
| 11 | TEST 3 | |
| Counting Methods and Probability Theory | ||
| The Fundamental Counting Principle | 11.1 | |
| Fundamentals of Probability | 11.4 | |
| 12 | Events Involving Not and Or | 11.6 |
| Events Involving And; Conditional Probability | 11.7 | |
| Statistics | ||
| Sampling, Frequency Distributions, Graphs | 12.1 | |
| 13 | Measures of Central Tendency | 12.2 |
| Measures of Dispersion | 12.3 | |
| The Normal Distribution | 12.4 | |
| 14 | TEST 4 | |
| Projects, Computer Applications, Final Examination as determined by the instructor |