|
Winter 2001
Section 5 meets: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 2--2:50 p.m. in CAC 125
Section 6 meets: Mon, Thurs: 3--3:50 p.m. in CAC 125
Professor: Dr. Kevin Iga
Phone number: 456-4313 (office), (818) 880-9439 (home)
Email: kiga@pepperdine.edu
Office: RAC 117
Office hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, 9--10 a.m.
Please come by my office hours whenever you have questions, and even if you
don't have questions. I am also available at other times by appointment.
You are also required to come by my office at one time during the third
or fourth week of the semester. A signup will be passed around the class.
Tutoring: Student-led tutoring sessions Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
and Thursday, 7-10 pm in CAC 125.
Text:
- First three weeks of class: Goldstein, et al., ``Brief Calculus and its
Applications'' (chapter 7, which is bundled with the main text)
- The remainder of the term: Goldstein, et al., ``Finite mathematics
and its applications''
Calculator: A graphing calculator is required. Recommended: TI-89.
Sharing of calculators during exams is not permitted.
Prerequisites: A grade of C-- or better in MATH 214.
Web page:
http://math.pepperdine.edu/~kiga/math215.html
Email list: math215@egroups.com (when you fill out your information
you may elect to be on this list)
Objectives: The student should be able:
- To maximize or minimize a function of many variables, even including
constraints;
- To compute probabilities for some discrete random processes;
- To use Bayes' Theorem to compute conditional probabilities;
- To compute and interpret mean and standard deviation;
- To solve a system of linear equations to find all solutions, or to
show when no solution exists.
Goals: The student should develop:
- An ability to translate a problem which is well-suited to mathematical
solutions into mathematical language;
- A familiarity with functions of several variables;
- A practical knowledge of probability that will be used in BA
216;
- An ability to manipulate matrices and use them when it is well-suited
to the problem;
- A confidence about doing mathematics to overcome ``math anxiety'';
- An ability to think and reason in a structured logical manner.
Homework: Homework will be assigned daily, and due two class times later,
at the beginning of class. Some homework may be due the next class period,
and this will be specified on the homework.
Each assignment will include both problems not to be submitted, and
problems to be submitted. The problems not to be submitted are those
which have answers in the book. You are to do these problems to best
prepare you for the rest of the assignment, and if you find that you
understand how to do these problems before you finish them all, you
may skip to the problems to be submitted.
Not all homework problems will be graded--only a select few, representative
of the different kinds of problems. Those seeking solutions to past problem
sets may request them after the homework is due. Homework will be graded
primarily on your ability to complete the problem, and secondarily on its
correctness.
The five lowest homework scores will be disregarded.
Remember that the primary purpose of the homework is to prepare for the
exams, so treat it primarily as a training program for yourself, and only
secondarily as something you need to score highly on.
Late assignments: No late homework is accepted. Exceptions can
be granted, if you must give me notice that you are going to turn in
an assignment late at least the class before the assignment is due.
You must also have a good reason. These reasons will be treated on a
case-by-case basis. When you obtain permission to turn in an
assignment late, we will discuss a new due date for that homework.
Extra credit: If you find a way to apply any of the material to
something you are interested in, you can discuss with me the possibility of
getting extra credit. It should involve some research outside the material
in the book and be written in a professional manner.
Collaboration: You are encouraged to collaborate on all homework
assignments, unless otherwise specified. This means you work on it
independently before discussing it with each other, and it means you
must thoroughly understand how to do the problem before writing it up.
You must write up your answers separately; you cannot turn in one
homework for more than one person, nor can you simply include
photocopies of other students' work. There is no limit to the size
of a group for collaboration, although 3-5 people tends to be an efficient
size.
You should also use these groups to ask questions of each other to
better understand the material. If you do not see each other
frequently, you should set up a regular time and place to meet to work
on assignments. If you do not have a group, talk to me and I can
place you in a group. If you do not wish to work in a group, that is
your prerogative but this will be a disadvantage to you.
Comments: You should include comments about the class at the top
of your homework assignments. These comments can be ``You go too
fast'', ``You say `um' too often'', ``I like this chapter'', ``This is
too easy/hard'', ``Can we have more applications to Marketing'',
``Everything's okay'', and so on. You will not be graded on these
comments, but they will affect how I teach the class, and may make the
class more enjoyable for you.
Class participation: You are expected to actively participate in
class. Many students view learning as a passive act, where the
teacher takes the only active role, and the student simply listens, or
at most takes notes. This view is not advisable in this class. Here,
you will need to take an active role in learning the material. {\em
You} are in charge of your education, and {\em you} should take
responsibility to learn the material as thoroughly as you can. Part
of this involves asking questions in class, even questions that may
sound ``stupid''. A question clearing up a point you do not
understand is, by definition, not stupid. Similarly, when I ask the
class questions, you should try to answer them, even if you're not
sure of the answer. Your best guess is, by definition, not stupid.
The effect of class participation on your grade is noted under ``quizzes''
below.
Pre-class preparation: You are expected to read through the section
of the book we are covering before you come to class. If you don't
understand something, write down specific questions you have to ask in class.
Quizzes: There will be no regular quizzes, but to ensure you have
read through the section beforehand, I will, from time to time, give out
pop quizzes at the beginning of class. These will be short and only test
a superficial knowledge of the material. In this way, they are not useful
for indicating what an exam will be like. They will be used to decide
borderline cases in the final grade, as will class participation.
Remember that since there are 12 grades (counting +'s and --'s), almost
everyone in the class will be a borderline case. There is no make-up for
quizzes.
Attendance: Attendance is important simply due to the difficulty
of the course. Missing one class may have the effect of
your not being able to follow any of the classes for the rest of the
term. Furthermore, those who do not attend classes will have poor
scores on class participation and cannot take quizzes, and these will also
affect grades. In short, skip class at your peril.
Exams: There will be three midterms, and one final. Each
midterm counts for 20% of your grade, and the final counts for 30%.
The remaining 10% is your homework grade. The final exam grade will
substitute for your lowest midterm grade if this is to your advantage.
Note that borderline cases will be resolved by quiz grades and class
participation, as noted above.
Midterms will be in-class, and the final will be at a separate time as
listed in the schedule of classes. If you are attending section 5,
then your final will be Tuesday, April 24, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
For section 6, your final will be Wednesday, April 25, from 4:30 p.m. to
7:00 p.m.
There are no make up quizzes or exams. If you must miss an exam due
to a major emergency, you must make arrangements with me beforehand,
and exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis. If granted, your
final exam score will be used to calculate the score for the missed exam.
|
Midterm 1 | Feb 1 | during class | |
Midterm 2 | March 1 | during class | |
Midterm 3 | March 29 | during class | |
Final (sec. 5) | Apr 24 | 10:30 - 1:00 p.m. | |
Final (sec. 6) | Apr 25 | 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.
|
I will hold review sessions before each, at a time that is popular with the
class.
Holidays:
|
Conference | Jan 11 | |
Conference | Jan 12 | |
MLK Day | Jan 15 | |
Pres Day | Feb 19 | |
Good Friday | Apr 13
|
The first two indicate a math conference that I will be attending, so no
class will be held on those days.
Grading: A grade of C indicates an ability to do homework-like
problems, and memorization of all techniques and definitions. In
order to receive a B, a student must demonstrate a deeper knowledge of
the material, being able to apply the course material to new
circumstances where applicable. An A student must demonstrate this
kind of deep understanding in all of the covered topics, as well as be
able to draw new conclusions from known facts in a logical manner, and
must also demonstrate persistence and dilligence. In the other
direction, a grade of D shows only superficial understanding of the material,
and shows inconsistency to do straightforward problems. An F
grade indicates that the student has severe gaps in even superficial
understanding of the material in the course.
Although this is the philosophy, grading will be done by counting points
received on each problem, as usual. But the difficulty level of the problems
will be arranged in order to achieve the above grading scale.
Christian attitude: Although not part of the grading for this
course, you are expected to approach this class with a Christian
attitude, being willing to help your fellow classmates to understand
the material outside of class, being willing to be corrected by your
fellow classmates when you see they are right, but firm in your
conviction otherwise, being bold to ask questions without feeling
ashamed of looking foolish, encouraging one another in love, being
patient with those who are asking questions, and preferring a grasp of
the material, which is enduring and becomes part of you, over a grade,
which is transient, external, and shallow. You should diligently
devote the time you spend on this class as to the Lord. As cheating
harms both the cheater and the rest of the class (though in different
ways), you should not cheat, nor should you provide temptations for
others to cheat.
|