Marshall University
MATH 121 Concepts & Applications of Mathematics (CT)
Course Syllabus 
Fall 2015–2016
Section 214    CRN 4005

Instructor	Dr. Mary Jane Wolfe
E-mail	wolfem@marshall.edu (Include “Math 121” in the subject line of your message)
Phone	(740) 245-5737 – Please leave a message

Catalog	A course for non-majors to develop quantitative reasoning skills.
Description 	Topics include logical thinking, problem solving strategies, linear modeling, beginning statistics and probability, exponential and logarithmic modeling, financial and geometry concepts.

Course	In this course, we seek to provide students with the mathematical tools needed to function as
Objectives 	citizens in our increasingly quantitative society. In the modern workplace, both employees and employers must be able to use advanced technology, work with quantitative (numerical) information, and respond to a rapidly changing economy. In particular, we believe our students should meet the following four goals:
•	Students should develop the critical thinking, reasoning, and metacognitive reflection skills required for subsequent college work and for functioning successfully as an adult member of society.
•	Students should be able to think critically about quantitative issues covered in the news particularly issues covered in the newspaper or a weekly news magazine.
•	Students should be able to make decisions on quantitative issues that confront them in both their personal lives and in their lives as voting citizens.
•	Students should be prepared with the quantitative skills needed for subsequent college course work, in particular, for their Integrated Science course.
•	Students should develop the ability to reason quantitatively and to clearly explain their reasoning in written form, so that they will be prepared for the challenges of modern careers.

Prerequisite	Math 099 or equivalent or Mathematics ACT of 19 or above.

Credit	3 semester hours

Text	Using and understanding mathematics: A quantitative reasoning approach (6th Edition), Jeffrey Bennett & William Briggs, Addison Wesley ISBN-13 97800321914620

Course	Chapter 1         Thinking Critically
Content 		Chapter 2         Approaches to Problem Solving
Chapter 3	Numbers in the Real World
	Chapter 4	Managing Money
	Chapter 5 	Statistical Reasoning
	Chapter 6 	Putting Statistics to Work
Chapter 7         Probability: Living with the Odds	

Course	Two 100-point exams:  
Grading 	Exam 1 Chapters 1 & 2	  	  February 17
	Exam 2 Chapters 3 & 4   	  March 30	 	
Course	Three 25-point quizzes:  
Grading		Quiz 1      Chapter 1	  	    February 3
(cont.)	Quiz 2      Chapter 3 & 4(A&B)       March 2
	Quiz 3      Chapter 5 and 6(A&B)    April 20

Comprehensive Final Exam	    May 4                                                      

One 25-point charts and graphs homework assignment
Two 25-point extra credit opportunities occur during the semester: A group
problem solving activity and a group correlation analysis.	

Course averages falling in the following ranges should result in receiving a course 
grade no lower than the one listed: 
90%–100% A, 80%–89%  B, 70%–79%  C, 60%–69% D

Borderline grade decisions may be influenced by class attendance and class participation. No excuse is needed if you miss a class, a quiz, or an exam. 
If you need to miss an exam, make arrangements with your instructor to take it at 4:30 PM - before the start of the next class meeting. 
If that is not possible, the percent score you receive on the final exam will be entered as the score for at most one quiz and one exam. 
If more than one missed quiz or more than one missed examis not taken before the following class period, no make-up credit will be given for the second 
missed quiz or second missed exam.  
Note: Weekly homework assignments are printed at the end of each individual
          unit’s handout. 

Academic	Work submitted for credit in this course (quizzes, exams, and homework)
Honesty	must be composed entirely by the student(s) whose name(s) appears on it – with one exception: students may receive help on homework assignments. This help may consist of solving specific questions from the homework, but the student must be able to then solve the problem without looking at the helper’s work.

Affirmative	this course will follow Marshall University’s policy on affirmative Action, which 
Action Policy	can be found in the undergraduate catalog. Specifically, all students will be afforded equal opportunity without regard to race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, or sexual orientation.

Policy for	Marshall University is committed to equal opportunity in education for all 
Students with	students, including those with physical, learning and psychological disabilities. 
Disabilities	University policy states that it is the responsibility of students with disabilities to contact the Office of Disabled Student Services (DSS) in Prichard Hall 117, phone 304-696-2271 to provide documentation of their disability	. Following this, the DSS coordinator will send a letter to each of the student’s instructors outlining the academic accommodation he/she will need to ensure equality in classroom experiences, outside assignments, testing and grading. The instructor and student will meet to discuss how the accommodation requested will be provided. For more information, please visit http://www.marshall.edu/disabled or contact the DSS office at Prichard Hall 117, phone 304-696-2271.
Computing Service 	All students are responsible for knowing this policy which can be found on the 
Acceptable Use		web at http://www.marshall.edu/ucs/CS/accptuse.asp
Policy

Topic Outline

Week 1– January 13, 2016		
   Unit 1A Recognizing Fallacies 5-13
   Unit 1C Sets and Venn Diagrams 25-40

Week 2 – January 20, 2016
   Unit 1B Propositions and Truth Values 14-24

Week 3 – January 27, 2016
    Unit 1D Analyzing Arguments  41-54
    Unit 1E Critical Thinking in Everyday Life 55-66

Week 4 – February 3, 2016
    Unit 2A The Problem-Solving Power of Units 71-90
    Cost of a Kg of Protein
    Unit 2B Standardized Units: More Problem-Solving Power 91-103
    Chapter 1 Quiz

Week 5 – February 10, 2016
    Unit 2C Problem-Solving Guidelines and Hints 104-116
    Unit 3A Uses and Abuses of Percentages 120-134
    Unit 3B Putting Numbers in Perspective 135-150
    Cost to Cover an Acre

Week 6 – February 17, 2016
    Chapters 1 & 2 Exam
    Unit 4A Taking Control of your Finances 186-196
    Unit 4B The Power of Compounding 197-216

Week 7 – February 24, 2016
    Unit 4D Loan Payments, Credit Cards, and Mortgages 236-253
    Group problem solving presentations
    Unit 5A Fundamentals of Statistics 286-299

Week 8 – March 2, 2016
    Chapter 3 & 4(Units A&B) Quiz
    Unit 5B Should You Believe a Statistical Study 300-309
    Unit 5C Statistical Tables and Graphs pages 310-323
    Unit 5D Graphics in the Media 324-341
Week 9  –  March 9, 2016
                   No Class

Week 10 – March 16, 2016
      Unit 5E Correlation and Causality pages 342–356
      Chapters 3 & 4 Exam
      Unit 6A Characterizing Data  361–372

Week  11 – March 23, 2016
                   Spring Break

Week 11 – March 30, 2016
      Unit 6A Characterizing Data (cont.)
      Are You a Square? 
      Chapters 3 & 4 Exam

Week 12 – April 6, 2016		
      Unit 6B Measures of Variation 373-382

Week 13 – April 13, 2016
      Unit 6C The Normal Distribution pages 383–393

Week 14 – April 20, 2016
      Unit 7A Fundamentals of Probability
      Conditional Probability Experiment
      Chapters 5 & 6 (A, B) Quiz

Week 15 – April 27, 2016	
      Final Exam Review

            Week 16 – May 4, 2016
      Final Exam