SU DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
SYLLABUS (Tentative)
MATH 200 Mathematics and Culture

OBJECTIVES: To introduce students to mathematics and its role in culture.
INTENDED FOR: Liberal Arts Majors.
PREREQUISITES: English 101 and High School Algebra II and plane geometry.
TEXT: The Heart of Mathematics by Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird; Key College Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-880157-02-0

  • Brief Exposure to Calculus What, where and why is Calculus? (Shannon)
    • Topics Weeks
    Fun and Games
    Introduction to Mathematical Thought and Problem Solving.(Ch. 1 Burger & Starbird)    		 1.0
    Number Contemplation
    Counting, numerical patterns in nature, prime numbers, clock arithmetic, irrational numbers
    (Ch. 2 Burger & Starbird and PascGalois Project Web Site)    		2.0
    Infinity
    Meaning of infinity, different sizes of infinity (Ch. 3 Burger & Starbird)     		1.0
    Geometric Gems
    Pythagorean Theorem, the Golden Ratio, the shape of space and non-Euclidean geometry, the fourth dimension     		3.0
    Additional Topic(s) Chosen Collaboratively by students and instructor from among:
    • Contortions of Space (Ch. 5 Burger & Starbird)
    • Chaos and Fractals (Ch. 6 Burger & Starbird)
    • Risky Business (Ch. 7 Burger & Starbird)
    • Computers in Mathematics and Modern Society
    • Compound Interest and Exponential Growth
    • Mathematics of Symmetry (The PascGalois Project Web Site)
    		6
    Tests and Review 1.0
    Total 14

    EVALUATION
    Tests 30%
    Homework, Quizzes and Class Work 35%
    Book report/Term Paper 15%
    Final Exam 20%

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