Mathematics 107

Elementary Mathematical Modeling

Fall Semester 2005
Instructor: Alan Stein

Contents

  • Meeting Times
  • Textbook
  • Student Information Form
  • Class Mailing List
  • Goals
  • Expectations
  • Group Projects
  • Exams and Grading
  • Problem Sets
  • Notes and Slides
  • Final Examination
  • Links

  • Class Photo
  • Meeting Times

    Monday and Wednesday, 11:15-12:30, Room 327
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    Textbook

    Elementary Mathematical Modeling: Functions and Graphs, 1/e
    By Mary Ellen Davis and C. Henry Edwards
    Published By Prentice-Hall
    ISBN 0-13-096202-3


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    Student Information Form

    Please fill out the online to help your instructor learn more about you. There is a bonus for filling out the form expeditiously and a penalty for delay. See the form for specifics.
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    Class Mailing List

    An Internet listserv mailing list has been set up for the use of this class. The name of the list is WMA107-L@UCONNVM.UCONN.EDU. You will automatically be signed up for the list when you complete the . If you don't receive confirmation of your subscription within a day, please check with your instructor or fill out the form again.

    It is expected that everyone in the class will participate in the mailing list. Messages may be sent to everyone on the mailing list in the same way any other email message is sent; just address such messages to WMA107-L@UCONNVM.UCONN.EDU.

    It is recommended that students check their email regularly. Your instructor will use email to communicate with the entire class between meetings as well as to communicate with individual students.
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    Goals: The goal of Math 107 is to present a conceptually and technologically intensive sample of the role of algebra and trigonometry in modeling real-life phenomena, with only modest emphasis on symbolic manipulation.

    Expectations: You should expect to do a majority of your learning outside the classroom, generally spending between six and nine hours a week working on this class. Mathematics, like most subjects, is learned by doing it, and we won't have time for you to do a lot of mathematics in class. On the other hand, you are expected to come to class and you are responsible for everything that happens in class whether you are there or not. If you miss a class, you are expected to immediately find out what happened either from me (email is wonderful for that) or from your classmates. Most of all, it is expected that you will get excited about what you are learning and to delight in your own, perhaps unexpected, ability to solve intriguing problems.

    Group Projects: You may be assigned several projects during the semester to be worked on in groups. Projects will be graded on accuracy, creativity and presentation. We will begin the projects in class, but additional time outside of class will be required to complete them.


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    Exams and Grading


    There will probably be three in-class examinations as well as some group projects, possibly problem sets, possibly a number of short quizzes, and a final examination. Exams will be worth 100 points each, problem sets 50 points each, quizzes 10 points each and the final examination 150 points. At the end of the semester, the total number of points earned will be divided by the maximum number of possible points to determine the average for each student.

    The first exam will be given Monday, October 10.

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    Problem Sets

    There may be a number of problem sets handed out during the course of the semester. Each problem set will be worth 50 points. Specific policies regarding the completion of problem sets are available elsewhere on this web site.

    It is important to note that each set will have a due date. It is permissible to submit completed sets prior to the due date; no sets will be accepted after the due date.

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    Notes and Slides

    There are available for many of my classes. The following are specific sets of slides that have been used in this particular course.
    1. Chapter 1 -- Linear Functions and Models

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    Final Examination

    The final examination is scheduled for Monday, December 12, 2005, 12:00-2:00 p.m. The final examination will be cumulative.

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