Class Meets

M-F 10:00-11:45 AM in ADMN 231

Final Exam

Thursday, July 1, 11:00-2:00

Instructor

Jane C. Beattie

Office

ADMN 201P

Telephone

(803)641-3426(W)

(803)648-1447(H)

email

janeb@usca.edu

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday, 3:00-4:00; or by appointment.

Additionally, anytime my door is open, I’ll be glad to tutor or talk with you so come by if you have questions. If the office hours do not work for you, we can decide a time that will be mutually convenient. I look forward to getting to know you so drop by with questions or to just to chat.

Text

FINITE MATHEMATICS; Bronson and Bronson. The TI-83 is required for this course and for AMTH 122.

Prerequisites

Placement above AMTH 108, or successful completion of AMTH 108.

Course Content

The successful student will be able to produce well-written, correct solutions for problems like those assigned for homework in this course from the following topics:

Learning to write models from problems involving real world situations; modeling with inequalities, interpreting constraints, and writing complete models; modeling with proportionality; modeling with graphs, linear equations, and straight lines; systems of linear equations. (Chapter 1).

Elementary row operations, Gaussian elimination, modeling data with straight lines, matrices, and matrix inversion of square matrices to solve matrix equations. (Chapter 2).

Modeling with inequalities, interpreting constraints and writing to inequalities, graphing linear inequalities, optimizing using graphs, initializing the Simplex Method, using the basic and enhanced Simplex algorithm, converting minimization to maximization problems. (Chapter 3).

Simple and compound interest, future value of an annuity (sinking funds), present value of an annuity (amortization). (Chapter 4).

Presentation models including sets and Venn diagrams, pie charts and bar graphs, standard measures for numerical data (including mean, median, and mode), and tree diagrams. (Chapter 5).

Probability models including "equally likely outcomes", laws of probability, odds, conditional probability and independent events, Bayesean method for calculating conditional probability, combinatorics, and Bernoulli trials. (Chapter 6).

Course Objectives

To understand the basic concepts of the mathematics of finance, matrices, and probability mentioned above.

To understand the connections between these concepts and real life.

To solve real life problems as applications of these concepts.

Course Philosophy

USC Aiken’s Mission Statement encourages "thinking critically and analytically, questioning, searching our concepts" which this course exemplifies. Until recently, math classes had to put their major emphasis on algebraic computation. With the advent of hand-held technology for graphing, tabling, and computer algebra, much of this computation can be shifted to machines and the time and energy thereby freed up can be reallocated to the study of conceptual issues. To best prepare students for the world of work and for the world of modern college-level mathematics coursework, there is a need to put less emphasis on pencil-and-paper algebraic manipulation and to focus more on using graphs and tables and more on understanding and interpreting results.

Grading

Your success in meeting these course objectives will be measured by your scores on homework quizzes, lab activities, three major quizzes, and a cumulative final exam.

Attendance

You are advised to miss as few classes as possible. Remember only two daily quiz scores can be dropped so you don’t want to bring your daily average down by missing classes/quizzes/daily work.

Special Note

If you have a physical or learning disability which might affect your performance in this class, please contact the Office of Disabled Student Services as soon as possible. Once an evaluation has been made, appropriate accommodations will be determined.

Final Note

Learning is the students’ responsibility. While I am more than willing to work with you, it is, ultimately, your job to seek the help you need. I have listed my home phone number so you can call me with homework questions and special needs that arise after normal working hours. I mean this. If you get my answering machine, call here.. If you leave a message on my answering machine and want me to return a call, please speak your phone number with your area code slowly and plainly. If I do not return your call, it is because I have come in too late to return it that night. If you have an emergency and won’t be in class, leave the message and you can talk with me when the emergency passes.

I LOVE MATHEMATICS! Your call asking me a question about mathematics is not a bother to me. Working with a study mate is extremely helpful and fun. Get one right away. Just make sure you are working equally hard! I have had students who made a low grade on the first major quiz, started going to the Math Lab, met other students, formed a study group, and pulled their grades up to B+, or B’s. There has been considerable research finding that student study groups are extremely effective for learning and doing well in a class.