SYLLABUS FOR MATH 1301 SECTION 207 ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICAL

							                  SYLLABUS FOR MATH 1301 SECTION 207
                 ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICAL MODELING

Instructor: Bill Purpura

email: bpurpura@uta.edu

Office: 426 Pickard Hall

Office Phone: 817-272-5490

Office Hours: Tues/Thurs 130-230pm else by appointment

Meeting Places/Times: Tues/Thurs 11-1220pm 103 Pickard Hall

Textbook: Elementary Mathematical Modeling by Davis and Edwards

Course Website: www3.uta.edu/faculty/bpurpura

Other Equipment Needed: TI-83 calculator

Course Coverage:

   • Functions and linear functions: Chapter 1

   • Quadratic functions: Chapter 2

   • Percentages, exponentiation, and logarithms: Chapters 3 and 4

   • Optimization: Chapter 8

Course Goals: This course, intended for liberal arts majors, aims to develop student ca-
pabilities in reasoning, analytical thinking and problem solving. The majority of student
time and effort will be spent on solving word problems. There is, therefore, less emphasis on
algebra than in the MATH 1302 course; algebra topics are limited to linear and piece-wise-
linear functions, quadratic functions, exponential and log functions and recursive models.
Problems considered include: making projections about population (or other) growth using
deterministic models and statistical models, optimization (using geometry and calculator
graphing), and money (compound interest, amortization of loans). A graphing calculator,
with capabilities at least those of the TI-83, is required. This course will not count for credit
for Business majors (who should take MATH 1315 or MATH 1302) or Science/Engineering
majors (who should take MATH 1322). Credit cannot be received for both MATH 1301 and
MATH 1302.

Grading: The grade weighting will be as follows:

   • Quizzes (12) 30% total, drop lowest 2

                                               1
   • Exams (4) 40% total

   • Comprehensive Final 30%

Homework: Homework will be regularly assigned but not turned in for a grade. All quizzes
and tests will be based solely on homework and lectures.

Quizzes: Quizzes may be announced or unannounced. They may come in the form of
a group activity, attendance, or a standardized quiz. There will be a total of 12 quizzes
given throughout the semester. The lowest 2 will be dropped giving 10 quizzes being taken
for grades, each counting 3% of the total grade.

Exams: An exam will be given for each ‘unit’ given in the Course Coverage section. The
exam will be announced at least one week in advance. Exams questions will be either
true/false, short answer, or show your work. There will be no multiple choice questions.

Attendance: Students are expected to attend class on a regular basis. In the event of
an excused or unexcused absence (according to university policy) on the day of a quiz the
quiz will be counted as a zero. Any student that misses a test without providing a university
approved excuse will receive a zero for that test without exception.

Tardiness/Leaving Early: If a student is tardy to a class and a quiz is currently be-
ing taken, then the student has the remaining time to take the quiz unless a university
approved excuse is provided.

Coming to class late or leaving class early on a consistent basis is very disrespectful to
the instructor and to the other students. Therefore, if a student exhibits a pattern of doing
such then his or her grade will be adversely affected.

Hints for doing well in this class:

   • Do your homework!!! While homework does not factor into your final grade, that
     doesn’t mean that it is unimportant.

   • Collaborate with your fellow students. They may understand something that you
     don’t. Try getting a study group together.

   • Utilize my office hours. My office hours are designed to answer your questions. If you
     have a question and don’t come to me during my office hours then you’re shooting
     yourself in the foot.

   • Utilize the Math Clinic. The Math Clinic is a service paid for as part of the fee for
     taking this class. It is run by engineering and mathematics majors. It’s essentially free
     tutoring.




                                              2
Important Dates:

  • Feb 01 Census Date for Spring Semester

  • Feb 24 Last Day to Drop with Automatic ’W’

  • Mar 13-19 Spring Vacation

  • Apr 14 Last day to drop class

  • May 05 Last Day of Classes

  • May 06-12 Final Exams

  • May 16 Grades Due

  • May 17 Grades Available Online




                                         3