MATH 105: Liberal Arts Mathematics: Liberal Arts Mathematics: Quantitative Reasoning and Effective Thinking
Homework:
- Extra Credit Assignment: Due May 9. This will replace a missed assignment or a lower grade on an assignment OR, alternatively it could replace up to 3 missed discussion posts. I will do which ever does the most for you individually.
- Find an article that you can understand about some aspect of or something related to mathematics. Submit a copy of the article and a one-page reaction paper in your own words.
In particular, in your reaction tell me if you think the article would be interesting to future MATH 105 students.
- by Tuesday 4/30 read section 10.3 and come to class with questions.
- For Tuesday 5/7
- From Section 10.3 complete Mindscapes 1-4, 10, 11
- Referring to the class exercises we did on Monday April 29th, respond to the following:
- Under what circumstances might a rational person buy something they could not afford using a standard credit card?
- How would you evaluate options when considering buying a house? Google PMI mortgage insurance. What is it? How would it impact the decision making process?
- If you buy a house and undertake a mortgage, is the payment necessary to pay off the loan twice as much for a 15 year payoff as for a 30 year payoff? Why or why not?
- What can you say about saving for retirement?
- By Thursday April 25 read section 9.1 and come to class with any questions you have.
- Due Tuesday April 30 Complete mindscapes 1-8 from section 9.1.
- Due Tuesday April 23 Complete Mindscapes 6, 10-12, and 22-23 from section 8.4 of the text.
- By Monday April 15, read section 8.4 in the text. ask any questions you have about the material in class Monday.
- Due Tuesday April 16:
- Complete mindscapes 1-5 in section 8.4
- For Thursday April 4: Read section 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3. Bring any questions you have to class.
- For Tuesday April 9th Complete mindscapes and explain your answers:
- section 8.1 1-5, 16;
- Section 8.2 1-5, 8-10, 12-15 and 41 (for extra credit complete 29); and
- Section 8.3 1-4, 14
- For Tuesday April 2
- From Section 4.6 respond to Mindscapes 1-5 and either 41 or 43 in section 4.6. Also respond to either 41 or 43 in Section 5.2.
- Read Section 4.6 (by Thursday 3/28, come to class with any questions you have)
- Extra Credit/Make-up assignment (Due Monday 4/1 ): This will replace a missed assignment or a lower grade on an assignment OR, alternatively it could replace up to 3 missed discussion posts. I will do which ever does the most for you individually.
- Watch two (or more) of the movies (or a movie and the set of Num3ers) in the list below and write an essay about them in which you discuss the
following: What is the role of mathematics in them? What do they say about mathematics? Do they help or hurt the public image of mathematics? How?
Why or why not?
Film List:
- Jurassic Park
- IQ
- Sneakers
- Stand and Deliver (Edward James Olmos and Lou Diamond Phillips)
- Apollo 13
- A Beautiful Mind
- Good Will Hunting
- Proof (Gweneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins)
- 3 or more episodes of the TV program Num3ers which aired on CBS
- Mercury Rising
- Enigma (the 2001 film with Kate Winslet)
- Contact (based on the Carl Sagan book with Jodie Foster)
- Imitation Game
- Due Tuesday March 12 Read sections 4.5 and 4.7
- Due Tuesday March 5 Complete and describe the following Mindscapes: from 3.2 16,17,18 from 4.1 7, 18 and 19. Click here if you need an extra copy of the right trangle puzzle from class
- Due Tuesday 2/26 Complete and describe the following Mindscapes: From 2.3 1 - 5;12. From 2.4 4-7. From 2.5 3-6 and Play with the RSA spreadsheet (Extra Credit: discover what makes a number encode as itself.) From 2.6 1-5 and from 2.7 41, but change the word "section" to "chapter"
- By Thursday 2/21: Read the rest of chapter 2. Come to class on Thursday with questions about anything you did not understand.
- Due Tuesday 2/19 Homework: Try one of the illustrations of the Chinese Remainder Theorem to amaze family members or friends and record their reactions. Write a narrative of the experience.
Complete the codes exercise from class. and factor 62357.
- By Thursday 2/14: Read Chapter 2 up through section 2.4.
And begin to browse the article on the web at:
this link or
this link
- For the week of 2/4 - 2/11:
- For Tuesday 2/5 Read sections 2.1 and 2.2 carefully and ask questions in class about anything you do not understand. Then for Thursday 2/7 work through as many of the "Developing and Solidifying Ideas Mindscapes " as you can.
- For Monday 2/11 Read section 2.3 come ready to ask questions about anything that you do not understand.
You do not need to hand in anything on these, but come to class on Thursday prepared to discuss them.
- Due Tuesday 2/12: Choose one of the questions from the "Creating New Ideas or Further Challenges Mindscapes " section at the end of section 2.2 of the text.
Write a response. Also respond to questions 24 and 41 from the 2.2 Mindscapes.
Finally, write an essay about mathematics for an audience who has not taken Math 105 or seen The Mathematical Mystery Tour.
Acknowledge the video we watched in class and any discussions which informed your essay. Basically you should be explaining what view of
mathematics was given (to you) by the video and discussions.
- Due dates 2/5 and 2/7:
- Read Chapter 1 by Tuesday 2/5. Then choose one of the mindscapes in section 1.4 to concentrate on,
go through the problem solving process thoroughly with that example and record your thoughts, actions and progress in essay form. Turn in your essay on Thursday 2/7.
- Do not miss the discussion prompts in MyClasses. They also have due dates in the week of February 5.
- Also, Send me an e-mail (by February 7)telling me that you have surfed the course web site and have read and understood the
syllabus and class policies. Also tell me why you are taking this course.
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