James Jones, Professor of Mathematics
Richland Community College
Section 01 meets from 5:30 pm to 7:20 pm on Mon and Wed in room S137.
James Jones, Professor of Mathematics.
Phone: 875-7211, ext 490
Office: C223
Email: james@richland.edu
Web: http://people.richland.edu/james/
These are the times I'm scheduled to be in my office. I often spend portions of my office hour in the classroom helping students, so if I'm not in my office, check room S137. If these times are not convenient for you, please see me to make an appointment for some other time.
Finite Mathematics for Business, Economics, Life Sciences, and Social Sciences, 10th edition. Raymond A. Barnett, Michael R. Ziegler, Karl E. Byleen. Copyright 2005, Prentice-Hall Inc. ISBN 0-13-113962-2 (Required)
Most students taking Finite Mathematics are business or accounting majors and are planning on taking introductory statistics. Most will transfer to another school.
The prerequisite is successful completion of Math 116, College Algebra, equivalent competencies, or the consent of the Dean of Mathematics and Sciences division.
MATH 160 - Finite Mathematics
Hours: 4 lecture - 0 lab - 4 credit
Mathematics 160, Finite Mathematics, is an introductory level course covering mathematical ideas needed by students of business management, social science, or biology. The topics include sets and counting, functions, introduction to probability and statistics, interest and annuities, matrix theory, linear systems, and linear programming.
Applicable toward graduation where program structure permits:
The mathematics component of general education focuses on quantitative reasoning to provide a base for developing a quantitatively literate college graduate. Every college graduate should be able to apply simple mathematical methods to the solution of real-world problems. A quantitatively literate college graduate should be able to:
Courses accepted in fulfilling the general education mathematics requirement emphasize the development of the student's capability to do mathematical reasoning and problem solving in settings the college graduate may encounter in the future. General education mathematics courses should not lead simply to an appreciation of the place of mathematics in society, nor should they be merely mechanical or computational in character.
To accomplish this purpose, students should have at least one course at the lower-division level that emphasizes the foundations of quantitative literacy and, preferably, a second course that solidifies and deepens this foundation to enable the student to internalize these habits of thought.
Math 160, Finite Mathematics, satisfies the Illinois Articulation Initiative Definition of a General Education Mathematics Course. It corresponds to M1 906, Finite Mathematics.
While learning Finite Mathematics is certainly one of the goals of this course, it is not the only objective. Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to ...
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to ...
A detailed topical outline of the content covered in this course is at the end of this syllabus.
Lecture, discussion, problem solving, and group work will be used. Students should come to class with a prepared list of questions.
Could include any of the following: problem solving exams, objective exams, essays, written papers, oral presentations, group and individual projects, quizzes, and homework.
Letter grades will be assigned to final adjusted scores as follows:
Consideration may be given to such qualities as attendance, class participation, attentiveness, attitude in class, and cooperation to produce the maximum learning situation for everyone.
The instructor will give you a grade sheet so that you can record your scores and keep track of your progress in the course. There is also a web page that you can use to check your grades throughout the semester. If you are concerned about your grades, see the instructor.
Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the date they are due. The instructor may be gracious and allow you to turn them in later that day without counting them late, but do not count on his graciousness. Late assignments lose 20% of their value per class period. The instructor reserves the right to apply this rule to missed exams as well as regular assignments.
Regular attendance is essential for satisfactory completion of this course. Mathematics is a cumulative subject and each day builds on the previous day's material. If you have excessive absences, you cannot develop to your fullest potential in the course.
Students who, because of excessive absences, cannot complete the course successfully, are required to be administratively dropped from the class at midterm. If a student stops attending after midterm, it is the student's responsibility to withdraw to avoid an "F". Do not stop attending and assume that you will be withdrawn from the class by the instructor.
Although dropping students for non-attendance at midterm is required, students whose attendance is occasional or sporadic may be dropped from the class at any point during the semester at the instructor's discretion. The safest way to make sure you're not dropped for non-attendance is to continue to attend classes.
The student is responsible for all assignments, changes in assignments, or other verbal information given in the class, whether in attendance or not.
If a student must miss class, a call to the instructor (RCC's phone system has an answering system) should be made or an email message sent. When a test is going to be missed, the student should contact the instructor ahead of time if at all possible. Under certain circumstances, arrangements can be made to take the test before the scheduled time. If circumstances arise where arrangements cannot be made ahead of time, the instructor should be notified and a brief explanation of why given by either voice or email. This notification must occur before the next class period begins. At the instructor's discretion, the score on the final exam may be substituted for the missed exam.
The TI-82 or TI-83 graphing calculator will be incorporated into the course heavily. Use of this calculator will allow the student to concentrate on the concepts being taught instead of the mechanical steps to solving the problems. It will allow the student to solve more problems in less time, and more difficult problems which would be too time consuming by hand. Calculators may be used to do homework. Calculators may be used on exams and/or quizzes in class unless otherwise announced.
The instructor has written several programs for the TI-82 or TI-83 that will be used in this course. These programs are also available for the TI-84, TI-85, and TI-86 calculators. However, the programs are not available for other Texas Instrument calculators or for any other brand of graphing calculator. It is expected that you will have a suitable calculator and bring it every day to class.
The student should have a red pen, ruler, graph paper, stapler, and paper punch. The student is expected to bring calculators and supplies as needed to class. The calculator should be brought daily. There will be a paper punch and stapler in the classroom.
The student is encouraged to seek additional help when the material is not comprehended. Mathematics is a cumulative subject; therefore, getting behind is a very difficult situation for the student. There are several places where you can seek additional help in your classes.
I try to make myself as available to the students as I can. My office hours are listed at the beginning of this syllabus, but those are just the times I'm scheduled to be in my office. Grab me and ask me questions if you see me in the hallway. Ask questions before or after class. If I'm in my office and it's not my scheduled office hours, go ahead and stop in.
The instructor should be considered the authoritative source for material related to this class. If a tutor or other student says something that disagrees with the instructor, believe the instructor.
Probably the best thing you can do for outside help is to form a study group with other students in your class. Work with those students and hold them accountable. You will understand things much better if you explain it to someone else and study groups will also keep you focused, involved, and current in the course.
The Student Learning Center is located in rooms S116, S117, and S118. There is mathematics tutoring available in room S116. The Student Learning Center and the tutoring is a service that Richland Community College offers you free of charge.
There are accommodations available for students who need extended time on tests, note takers, readers, adaptive computer equipment, braille, enlarged print, accessible seating, sign language interpreters, books on tape, taped classroom lectures, writers, or tutoring. If you need one of these services, then you should see Learning Accommodation Services in room C136. If you request an accommodation, you will be required to provide documentation that you need that accommodation.
Some of you will need additional time on tests. There is no need to go to learning accommodation services to request that. If you need additional time, just let me know and in most cases, I'll allow you to continue working past the allotted time. You may need to move to another room as there may be another class coming into your room. If you're unable to finish the test by staying late, it may be possible to start the test earlier to gain additional time. There may be circumstances where extra time is not allowed.
Homework is crucial to your success in this course. There is a correlation between doing your homework and success in the course. Not only does the homework count towards your grade, but it also prepares you for the tests. Studies show that the average student will need to spend two hours outside of class for each hour in class. Do not expect to master the subject without doing homework.
Each student is expected to be honest in his/her class work or in the submission of information to the College. Richland regards dishonesty in classroom and laboratories, on assignments and examinations, and the submission of false and misleading information to the College as a serious offense.
A student who cheats, plagiarizes, or furnishes false, misleading information to the College is subject to disciplinary action up to and including failure of a class or suspension/expulsion from the College.
Richland Community College policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital or parental status, national origin or ancestry, age, mental or physical disability (except where it is a bonafide occupational qualification), sexual orientation, military status, status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran.
The Mathematics and Sciences Division prohibits the use of cell phones, pagers, and other non-learning electronic communication equipment within the classroom. All equipment must be turned off to avoid disturbances to the learning environment. If a student uses these devices during an examination, quiz, or any graded activity, the instructor reserves the right to issue no credit for these assignments. The instructor needs to approve any exceptions to this policy.
| Hours | Topic |
|---|---|
| 7 | Finance
|
| 11 | Systems of Linear Equations and Matrices
|
| 12 | Linear Programming
|
| 4 | Sets and Counting
|
| 7 | Probability
|
| 4 | Data Descriptions and Probability Distributions
|
| 6 | Two-player, Zero-sum Games
|
| 6 | Markov Chains
|