ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT FLORISSANT VALLEY

COURSE OF STUDY

MTH: 155

DEPARTMENT: Mathematics LAST UPDATE: Summer 2006

COURSE TITLE: Survey of College Mathematics CREDIT HOURS: 4

LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 4 LAB HOURS PER WEEK: 0

During the first week of the semester, it is the responsibility of each instructor to furnish, in writing, the course objectives and a course syllabus. The objectives are stated below. The syllabus should include instructor information, course information, expected outcomes, course requirements, method of evaluation and an explanation of grading policies, policies on make up work, ground rules for class participation, a tentative class schedule, withdrawal dates, expected classroom behavior, information on the math learning center, consultation (office) hours, and an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations statement.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course contains topics from the development of the structure of the real number system and college algebra, and selected topics from geometry, probability statistics, or mathematical modeling, with emphasis on applications of mathematics.

**This course will be designed to fill a need for a meaningful mathematics course for art and liberal art students, as well as be designed to fit the above criteria. This course is also planned to satisfy as a writing intensive course, and is geared to transfer as college freshman level mathematics course.

COURSE PREREQUISITE:

MTH: 140 with a grade of “C” or better, or satisfactory score on placement test.

TEXT:

For all Practical Purposes. by COMAP, 7^th Edition: WH Freeman 0-7167-4783-9

This text covers many of the desired topics. It also has many writing assignments integrated throughout the text. There are many exercises of various levels and types. There is a comprehensive website, instructor’s CD –ROM, 26 videos, video clips on the web site, on-line testing capabilities, an on-line instructor’s guide, and software test bank.

TOPICS:

The structure of the real number system and complex numbers: (Supplemental handouts and class notes.)

The various subsets of the set of real numbers-counting, whole, integers, rational, irrational.

The infiniteness between 0 and 1.

The Real number system’s place in the set of complex numbers and the definition of complex numbers. (To be referenced later in the semester in covering fractal geometry.)

A library of functions. The basic shapes and patterns: (Supplemental handouts, class notes)

Linear

Quadratic

Cubic

Polynomial in general

Exponential

Logarithmic

Sine wave

Logistic

Absolute Value

Function Translations

Consumer Finance Models and the Economics of Resources: (Chapters 21 and 22)

Arithmetic and Geometric Growth

Simple and Compound Interest

Exponential Decay

Consumer Price Index

Conventional Loans

Annuities

Growth Models for Biological Populations (Including Logistic)

Review of Area and Volume (Supplemental Handouts and Chapter 18)

Circles, Rectangles, Triangles, Spheres, Cylinders, Rectangular Boxes, Pyramids, and Cones.

How to cut any other odd shape into smaller manageable shapes to estimate the

area or volume, including basic ideas from calculus on finding closer and closer

approximations of area and volume.

Measurement and Scaling and Unit Conversion (Chapter 18)

Symmetry and Patterns (Chapter 19 and 20)

Fibonacci Numbers

The Golden Ratio

Symmetry Groups and Patterns

Translations and Tilings

Fractal Geometry (Supplemental Handouts, Chapter 19 and Chapter 23)

Selected Topics in Statistics (Chapter 5, Chapter 6, and Chapter 7)

Sampling

Descriptive Statistics (Mean, Median, Mode, Quartiles, Histograms, Stem-Plots, Box-Plots, Standard Deviation)

Probability

Sample Spaces, The Normal Curve, and The Central Limit Theorem

If time allows…Networks (Chapter 1 and Chapter 2)

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Proposed Calendar:

Ø The structure of the real number system and complex numbers: (Supplemental Handouts and class notes.)

2, 50 minutes class periods

Ø A Library of Functions and Translations

2, 50 minutes periods for Linear, Quadratic, Cubic, General Polynomial, and Absolute Value

2, 50 minute periods for Exponential, Logarithmic, and Logistic

1, 50 minute class period for sine wave

4, 50 minute class periods for Translations and Wrap Up

TEST 1, PROJECT 1, WRITING ASSIGNMENT 1

Basically now beginning Week 4

Ø Consumer Finance Models and Economics of Resources: (Chapter 21 pages 759-795 and Chapter 22 pages 796 - 820. Sections 21:10, 21:11, and 21:12 optional)

10, 50 minute classes

TEST 2, PROJECT 2, WRITING ASSIGNMENT 2

Basically now beginning Week 7

Ø Review of Area and Volume (Supplemental Handouts)

3, 50 minute class periods for Circles, Rectangles, Triangles, Spheres, Cylinders, Rectangular Boxes, Pyramids, and Cones, Odd Shapes, and Limiting Idea of Making Slices Smaller and Smaller to better estimate areas and volumes.

Ø Measurement and Scaling and Unit Conversion (Chapter 18 pages 633 - 677)

5, 50 minute class periods

Ø Symmetry and Patterns and Fractals and Chaos (Chapter 19 pages 678 - 698, Chapter 20 pages 719 - 758, Chapter 23 pages 841-843, and Supplemental Handouts)

12, 50 minute class periods for Fibonnaci numbers, The Golden Ratio, Symmetry Groups and Patterns, Translations and Tilings, and Fractal Geometry

TEST 3, PROJECT 3, WRITING ASSIGNMENT 3

Basically now beginning Week 12

Ø Selected Topics in Statistics (Chapter 5, Chapter 6, and Chapter 7)

18, 50 minute class periods for Sampling, Descriptive Statistics, Probability, and The Central Limit Theorem

TEST 4, PROJECT 4, WRITING ASSIGNMENT 4

Basically now at the end of the semester

If there is time. Networks (Chapter 1 pages 1 - 31)