Syllabus
Math 103
Fall 2007
Elementary Discrete Mathematics
Text: Mathematics Beyond the Numbers, Custom Ed, by Gilbert and Hatcher
This course will stress
problem solving skills and the development of reasoning skills in an
interactive setting. The
mathematics involved is not difficult, but most of it is not routine
either. We will see how some of
this mathematics allows us to better understand the world surrounding us. As much of the class time will be
devoted to active participation in discovering solutions to problems, regular
attendance and class participation can enter into the final grade, especially
in pass/fail situations.
The course outline gives
weekly reading and homework assignments.
The pace of the course will be adjusted somewhat, depending on the pace
of classroom discussions, so the student must always be up to date on what the
assignments are. Material in the
text should be read before the classroom discussions of that material, and
homework for that section is due the class following the discussion. Homework will be discussed at the
beginning of each lecture. There
will be weekly quizzes and/or projects.
Three class exams will be
given on:
Wednesday
September 19 Wednesday Oct 17
Wednesday Nov 14
The final exam will be given
during the MATH block (tentatively Tuesday December 11: 10:30-12:30).
There will be no makeup
examinations given during the semester for students who miss the regularly
scheduled hour exam. If a student misses one hour exam,
his/her grade on the portion of the final examination covering the material on
which the exam was based will be fairly weighted and used to replace the
missing grade. Students are
permitted to miss two exams only under dire and documented circumstances. Students who miss the final exam must
receive permission from the office of the Dean of Students to make up the
final, and receive the grade “Absent” in the interim. “Incomplete” or “Absent” grades must be made up by the third
week of the next semester.
Students MUST see their instructor during the first week of classes in
order to schedule the makeup exam.
Please make use of office
hours and/or the Math Learning Centers if you experience difficulty with course
material after it is covered in class.
Students who actively read the material, try the book examples, do the
homework exercises, and seek help when they encounter difficulties tend to
learn more, and this is reflected in the final grade.