Course Description: Math Q114 fulfills the
math/quantitative reasoning requirement that is part of the new General
Education requirements. In this course you will learn how to use the
algebraic and technological tools employed in the social, physical and life
sciences to analyze quantitative information. We will study some basic
statistics, and then delve into linear, exponential and quadratic models.
The course will involve defining real world problems by means of numerical,
symbolic, and visual representations of real world phenomena, determining
how to solve them, deducing consequences, formulating alternatives, and
predicting outcomes. The stress will be on reasoning, rather than on
mathematical manipulation and computation. Throughout you'll be actively
involved in discussing, reading, writing, and, in general, doing. The
course serves as preparation for: Math 125 (Statistics) and for similar
statistics/methods courses outside the Mathematics Department, as well as
for certain General Education science and other quantitatively based
courses. Syllabus: Narrative form on the web at http://www.math.umb.edu/~joan/MATHQ114/Syllabus.html and chart form at http://www.math.umb.edu/~joan/MATHQ114/Chartsyll.html Prerequisite: The placement test. Text: Explorations in
College Algebra (2nd edition), 2001, published by John Wiley & Sons. Technology: No prior knowledge of
computers is required. We will meet regularly in Lab C: a Mac computer lab.
We will be using Excel, Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer to browse
the World Wide Web, e-mail, a function graphing program and some customized
software. Prior knowledge of a word processing program is useful but not
critical. Class meetings: 3 times a week at 12:30
PM, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, in H-UL-Mac Lab C. Regular
attendance is required. Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 2:30 – 3:30
PM in Science 3 172 Other times by appointment (e-mail me to
suggest day and time) Messages may be delivered in writing to my
mailbox in the Mathematics Department; by voicemail at (617) 287-6454; or
by e-mail at mailto:joan.lukas@umb.edu Tutoring/Extra Help: Kristen Smoyer mailto:<ksmoyer23@yahoo.com> Grading: Your final grade will
come from 4 sources Portfolio--5
points out of 100 on final exam 25% --Assigned problems from the text,
weekly quizzes, Internet assignments, and projects 10%-- Class
Presentation plus written version (Exploration 2.1: Clipping and
Scaling/Lying with statistics) 15% --Exam 1: Computer Gateway Exam and take
home exam 20% --Exam 2: Mid-term hour exam 30% --Final Exam: Cumulative Exam on all
chapters covered Note that homework will be
collected and graded, and will have a substantial impact on your
final grade. Homework will be assigned one week at a time and will usually
be due on the following Monday. Extensions may be granted if you arrange to
meet with the instructor or a course tutor for extra help prior to due
date. Exams & Quizzes Exam 1: February
25 Computer Gateway + Take Home Exam 2: April
1 Midterm Exam Final Exam : Wednesday May
18 3 – 6 PM Review Sessions: Thursday May 12 1 - 3 PM M/1/207.
Friday May
13 11 AM – 1 PM MacLab C Quiz: Every Friday beginning
February 11 Final Exam : May
16 – 20 Quiz: Every Friday beginning February 11 for extra help prior to due date.