Spring 2008 Course Syllabus
Course: 0823.001.
Course Title: Mathemtics for a Digital World.
Time: TR 1:10-2:30.
Place: Barton Hall Classroom (BB) 407.
Instructor: Reich, Daniel.
Instructor Office: Wachman Hall, room 532.
Instructor Email: daniel.reich@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: 215-204-7636.
Course Web Page: http://www.math.temple.edu/~reich/823s08
Office Hours: Tues, Thurs 11:45 - 12:30.
Prerequisites: Mathematics placement.
Textbook: \emph{For All Practical Purposes 7th Ed.,} by COMAP W.H. Freeman, ISBN 0-7167-6901-8. You may also need a scientific calculator.
Course Goals: To introduce you to some practical aspects of mathematics that, while not widely known, are interesting and not too hard to learn. By learning about these topics, I hope you will hone your critical thinking skills.
Topics Covered: \begin{itemize} \item Statistics \item Probability \item How to decide a multicandidate election \item Weighted voting \item Error-correcting codes \item Personal finance \item Natural resource management \end{itemize}.
Course Grading: \emph{Subject to change}: Test 1, 15\%; Test 2, 15\%; Quizzes, 20\%; class participation, 10\%; project, 15\%; Final Exam, 25\%.
Exam Dates: Test 1: week 4 or 5; Test 2, week 8 or 9. Final: Thursday, May 8, 2 - 4 pm. You will need to bring your calculator, and you may bring a $3 \times 5$ index card with notes of your choice, written, if you like, in microscopic fonts on both sides.
Attendance Policy: Attendance is expected.
Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at (215) 204-1280, 100 Ritter Annex, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here.
Students will be charged for a course unless a withdrawal form is processed by a registration office of the University by the Drop/Add deadline date given below. For this semester, the crucial dates are as follows:
- The first day of classes is Tuesday, January 22.
- The last day to drop/add (tuition refund available) is Monday, February 4.
- Spring recess is the week of Monday, March 10.
- The last day to withdraw (no refund) is Monday, March 31.
- The last day of classes is Monday, May 5.
During the first two weeks of the fall or spring semester or summer sessions, students may withdraw from a course with no record of the class appearing on the transcript. In weeks three through nine of the fall or spring semester, or during weeks three and four of summer sessions, the student may withdraw with the advisor's permission. The course will be recorded on the transcript with the instructor's notation of "W," indicating that the student withdrew. After week nine of the fall or spring semester, or week four of summer sessions, students may not withdraw from courses. No student may withdraw from more than five courses during the duration of his/her studies to earn a bachelor's degree. A student may not withdraw from the same course more than once. Students who miss the final exam and do not make alternative arrangements before the grades are turned in will be graded F.
The grade I (an "incomplete") is reserved for extreme circumstances. It is necessary to have completed almost all of the course with a passing average and to file an incomplete contract specifying what is left for you to do. To be eligible for an I grade you need a good reason and you should have missed not more than 25% of the first nine weeks of classes. If approved by the Mathematics Department chair and the CST Dean's office, the incomplete contract must include a default grade that will be used in case the I grade is not resolved within 12 months.