MAT 115: Spring 2010

INSTRUCTOR: Andy Long. Office: ST 328; phone: 572-5794; email: longa@nku.edu

MEETING TIME: MWF 12:00, ST 246.

EXPECTED BACKGROUND: PREREQ: C or better in MAHD 095 or placement, an open and curious mind, and the willingness to put aside any preconceived prejudices against or dislikes for mathematics.

TEXT: The Heart of Mathematics, Burger and Starbird, Key College Publishing, Second Edition, 2005. Your text may have come with a CD including many interesting simulations, games, etc., and an (optional) small "toolbox" of manipulatives (3-d glasses, for example) to carry out experiments described in the text.

Please do the assigned reading before the class session in which it is discussed. Much of our time in class will be spent in discussion of ideas in the text.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this course we will consider some of the greatest ideas of humankind, ideas comparable in scale and beauty to the works of Shakespeare, Plato, and Michelangelo. These ideas fall within the domain of mathematics. Mathematics is as much an artistic endeavor as it is a scientific one, and, as such, it requires both imagination and creativity. There are three basic goals for this course:

1. To reach a better understanding of several rich mathematical ideas.
2. To develop sharper skills for analyzing life issues that transcend mathematics.
3. To change the way you view the world!

GRADING:

Homework assignments will be collected, and some problem(s) graded. Your grade will be determined as follows:

Homework: 20% Three tests: 45% Show-n-Tell 10% Final (May 7th, 10:10) 25%

Exams will be given in class, closed book. Make-up exams will be given only under extreme circumstances.

HOMEWORK: Homework will be assigned regularly, and each week an assignment will be handed in for grading. Only a few problems, selected at random, will be graded.

SHOW-N-TELL: In the last week, we will have a show-n-tell, in which you will create a poster about some interesting facet of mathematics that you will choose yourself (e.g. a game, an application of mathematics, etc.). In association with this, you will type up a two-page paper describing your show-n-tell item.

I use the standard grading scale, with a small buffer zone for the assignment of plus/minus grades:

ATTENDANCE: The student is responsible for all material assigned or discussed in class. Attendance will be taken, and may be used along with class effort (as measured by participation - asking questions, answering other students' questions, group work, etc.) to resolve borderline grades.

WITHDRAWAL: The last day to withdraw from any class is March 29th, 2010. After that day it is not usually permitted.

OFFICE HOURS:

• MF 1:00-1:50;
• MWF 11:00-11:50;
• TR 9:30-11:00.

Notes:

• The course home page is http://www.nku.edu/~longa/classes/mat115. You may want to visit from time to time to see what's going on!
• I reserve the right to alter this syllabus if necessary. Any changes will be discussed in class, and all students will be notified.
• Email: When writing an email, you must include your course number, section and name in the message. Also, because I receive hundreds of emails, I may not have time to respond to some simple email questions whose answers can be found by other means (such as going to class or looking at the course web page). If you miss a class, you should get the notes from another student in the class. Of course, if you are missing class for an extended time (such as illness or other serious problem), you should contact me as soon as possible.
• If you need accommodations for a disability please talk with me so that I may do my best to meet your needs.
• The general syllabus for all Mathematics and Computer Science courses should be considered a part of the syllabus for this course, and is available on-line. Additional information concerning Secondary Education Students is available on the Departmental Syllabus.
• No electronics (other than calculators) are permitted in class without a doctor's orders. If you should choose to use another electronic device (intentionally or not) without my permission, you will be excused from class immediately, and not allowed to return to class that day.