Entry to Mathematics
Bennington College—Fall 2011
M, Th: 6:30-8:20 PM
Instructor: Josef Mundt
jmundt at bennington.edu, jmundt at svsu.org, mr.josef.mundt at gmail.com
Cell: Eight Zero Two Three Seven Five Three Nine Five Zero
Office: Dickenson 143 (north west corner of the building)
Office Hours:
W: 6:30-8
Th: 4-6
Other times by appointment
Textbook: none (lucky you).
This course is designed as a primer into college level mathematics. Our goal is to become comfortable in the language of mathematics. We also want to get good at the basics so they won’t get in the way of more complicated things.
Each class will cover a different topic. A class may build upon what we did the class before or go in a completely different direction. You are, however, responsible for the knowledge of the previous class. This will become a mantra through this whole syllabus: IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING COME SEE ME.
Work will come in three different flavors:
Homework: Homework is to be done from one class to the next. The first part of each class will be going over the previous homework. HOMEWORK COUNTS IN YOUR PARTICIPATION GRADE. I will call on people for answers. Some weeks you may not get called on; others I may call on you and only you. I encourage you to work on this homework with other people. This is a good thing. Math is not something to be done all alone by candlelight. But make sure you understand it otherwise you're wasting both your time and that of those you are working with. Plus, if I call on you in class and you don't understand what you're saying, I'll probably notice.
Assignments: Assignments will be things that you will need to turn in (some electronically, others on paper). Each will be due one week from when you receive them. Again, you may work on these with other people, but make sure the work you turn in is something you can call your own (don't photocopy one sheet and all three people turn in the same one. Don't plagiarize someone else's paragraph describing why the number 15 is important to them. You know these things. Make your work your own). These will be a section of your grade (outlined below).
Midterm and Final: The midterm and final assignments must be done on your own. These are the two main things that allow me to know that you know these things, can process them, and then use them. You are allowed to talk to me about them. You are allowed to use your notes. You must show your work. You must be thorough.
Grading in this course will be as follows:
Participation in class (includes non-collected homework): 30%
Assignments: 40%
Midterm Assignment: 15%
Final Assignment: 15%
Attendance:
In this class we shall follow the attendance policies Bennnington College has set forth. Two absences are allowed--after that, absences will be considered on a case by case basis. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find the work. You will still be responsible for the homework for the next class. You will still be responsible for turning in Assignments and homework due on the day you are absent. Late will still be late.
Expectations:
If you do not understand something, I expect you to ask me to help you, either in class, during office hours, or via e-mail. There is literally no reason for you not to ask for help. It's what I'm here for. I like it when you ask questions; it lets me know you are paying attention.
I expect participation in class by everybody. You are in control of your education. Part of participating is having your homework done before you get to class. That way we can discuss what was in it rather than having y’all stare blankly at me.
I know that 6:30-8:30 is not an ideal time for a class. You've just eaten. You might get a little of the food coma going and think "I can just sit there, it'll be fine. I can just listen to Joe talk for a while and I'll understand it." If you do this, class will be boring. It will stagnate. I'll get frustrated and gnash my teeth and throw things and whatnot. So try some of the following:
Drink a cup of coffee about half an hour before class. (not if you're allergic or otherwise have problems with caffeine of course. I want you awake, not in serious medical condition)
If in class your eyes start to droop, stand up and go get a drink of water. Or wander around for thirty seconds. Missing thirty seconds while getting a drink is better than not listening for half an hour.
Take an afternoon nap. Enjoy the fact you can take an afternoon nap. Revel in it.
Ask questions in class. If you participate, you wake up. This sounds like a lie; it is not.
Topics to be covered:
THIS LIST IS TENTATIVE. WE MAY COVER SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AREAS AND WILL MOST LIKELY COVER MORE THAN IS HERE. THIS LIST IS NOT WRITTEN IN STONE.
History of Number Systems (types of numbers)
Solving for a variable
Inequalities
Fractions, decimals, percents
Scientific notation
Combinations and permutations
Ideal gambling situations and strategies
Plotting lines
Exponents
Logarithms
Polynomial and Rational Functions
Stem and leaf to histogram
Trigonometry
Estimation
Shapes and volume formulas
Thinking like a Mathematician
Constructions