Course Information

Course Description:

This introduction to finite mathematics is intended for students studying Information Systems, Computer Network Technology, and Business Management. This course is also intended to fulfill the general education mathematics requirement for other degree areas. Topics covered include linear equations and systems, matrices, linear programming, finance, set theory, counting methods, probability, and logic.

Course Objectives:

Students will be able to:

- Work with linear equations (including graphing and finding the intercepts and slope)

- Solve applications involving linear equations

- Solve systems of equations using multiple methods

- Solve application problems involving systems of equations

- Perform operations on matrices

- Solve linear programming problems graphically

- Solve linear programming problems using the simplex method

- Recognize propositions

- Work with compound compositions

- Construct truth tables

- Work with implications (including stating the converse, contrapositive, and inverse of an implication)

- Use direct and indirect proofs

- Construct and redesign a logical circuit

- Work with sets (including identifying relations between pairs of sets)

- Use and construct Venn diagrams

- Solve various types of counting problems

- Find a sample space

- Find probabilities (including compound and conditional probabilities)

- Recognize different types of events

- Compute odds

- Solve problems involving percents

- Solve finance problems involving simple interest loans and discounted loans

- Solve finance problems involving compound interest accounts

- Solve finance problems involving annuities, sinking funds, present value annuities, and amortizations

Prerequisites and Corequisites:

Two years of high school algebra and an acceptable placement score or DSPM 0850.

Course Topics:

Rectangular coordinates,  Lines,  Systems of linear equations,  Substitution method,  Elimination method,  Matrix algebra,  Inverse matrices,  Linear inequalities,  Geometric linear programming,  Simplex method,  Linear programming applications,  Simple and compound interest,  Annuities,  Sinking funds,  Amortization,  Sets,  Permutations,  Combinations,  Sample space, Probability,  Propositions,  Truth tables,  Arguments,  Logical circuits

Specific Course Requirements:

Students must be familiar and comfortable with basic computer and Internet skills. They must be familiar with or willing to learn a variety of online tools.

Students must be able to use email and discussion within D2L. This will serve as the main form of communication.

Complete all graded assignments by the schedules due date.

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

 Finite Mathematics: An Applied Approach, 9^th edition, Misrahi and Sullivan, Wiley

Supplementary Materials:

Calculator:  You just need a basic scientific calculator. The best calculator I have found is the TI-30Xa. This is usually around $10 to $12 at a store like Wal-mart or Target.  If you have another basic scientific calculator or a graphing calculator, it is possible you can use it for this course. We will discuss the calculator more as part of your first assignment. There are a few calculators that are NOT allowed such as the TI-89 and the TI-92.

Office Supplies: Graph paper, a three ring binder, and a lot of paper.

Hardware Requirements:

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm.

Software Requirements:

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm.

Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel will be required from time to time.

Adobe Acrobat Reader will be required. This is a FREE program that can be downloaded at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Again, this program is FREE. If you are asked for money, you are downloading the wrong software.

Instructor Information

Please see the separate page inside the course to find instructor contact information as well as a statement of virtual office hours and other communication information.

Assessment and Grading

Testing Procedures:

All quizzes and module tests will be completed online.

The midterm and final exam will be proctored.  You will have to complete these tests at the testing center for your home school (or another TBR school located closer to your home).  An e-mail will be sent to the class giving detailed instructions on obtaining a proctor.

Grading Procedure:

There will be several quizzes during the semester. The quiz average will make up 20% of your grade.

There will be several tests during the semester. The test average will make up 30% of your grade.

There will be a proctored midterm covering material from units 1, 2, and 3. The midterm will make up 25% of your grade.

There will be a proctored final exam covering material from units 4 and 5. The final exam will make up 25% of your grade.

All quizzes and tests will be online. See the course calendar for exam deadlines

Grading Scale:

90 to 100 --------- A

80 to 89 ---------- B

70 to 79 ---------- C

60 to 69 ---------- D

 0 to 59  ---------- F

Instead of accepting late work, I offer the early bonuses (from the previous section),and I also give you drop and replacement grades. 

I will drop your lowest quiz grade. If you do not complete a quiz, this will automatically be the lowest grade; therefore; it will be the one that gets dropped. If you do complete all quizzes on time, this policy works for you also. Your lowest quiz grade gets dropped.

I will NOT drop a test grade. However, I will replace the lowest test grade with either the midterm or the final exam. If your lowest test grade is any test before the midterm, I will replace that lowest test grade with the grade from the midterm. Likewise, if your lowest test grade is any test after the midterm, I will replace that lowest test grade with the grade from the final exam. I will only replace the test grade if the corresponding midterm or final exam is higher.

The midterm and the final exam are NOT optional. They still count 25% each toward your overall grade.

Assignments and Participation

Assignments and Projects:

A sequenced list of assignments and projects arranged by module are provided in the course content area of this course.  It is labeled “Course Agenda” and is located under the “More Important Information and Class Policies” module. 

Class Participation:

Students must check and read all e-mails as soon as they log into the course each time.

Students must complete all graded assignments by the schedules due dates.

Student participation in class discussions is strongly encouraged, but not required.

Punctuality:

All graded assignments must be competed by the schedules due date.  In general, late work will not be permitted.  Exceptions to this rule will be granted by instructor permission only, and extensions will be given on a case-by-case basis.  You must communicate with your instructor PRIOR to the deadline for that assignment in order to be granted an extension.  Extensions will only be given in extreme situations.  See the course calendar for deadlines

Course Ground Rules

Participation is required.  Students are expected to communicate with other students and the instructor frequently.  Students are responsible for learning how to navigate in D2L.  The instructor does not provide technical support for hardware or software.   Students are expected to address technical problems immediately.  Students should keep abreast of course announcements.   Students are expected to use the assigned WebCT e-mail address as opposed a personal e-mail address and observe course netiquette at all times.  All work must be completed by the enrolled student only.  Work completed by anyone else will be considered cheating and will result in an F for the course.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

• Always include a subject line.
• Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
• Do not use chat room lingo or abbreviations when e-mailing your instructor or other students.
• Use standard fonts.
• Do not send large attachments without permission.
• Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
• Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussion Groups:

• Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
• Do not use chat room lingo or abbreviations when e-mailing your instructor or other students.
• Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
• Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of others ideas.
• Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
• Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
• Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
• Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Chat:

• Introduce yourself to the other learners in the chat session.
• Do not use chat room lingo or abbreviations when e-mailing your instructor or other students.
• Be polite. Choose your words carefully. Do not use derogatory statements.
• Be concise in responding to others in the chat session.
• Be prepared to open the chat session at the scheduled time.
• Be constructive in your comments and suggestion

Web Resources:

• Columbia Guide to Online Style by Janice R. Walker and Todd Taylor
• Citation Styles Online http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/cite6.html

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading must be included in all courses. 

Students With Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Technical Support

Telephone Support:

For HELP with:

• TECHNICAL PROBLEMS please visit the AskRODP Customer Support web page at http://askrodp.custhelp.com or call the AskRODP Help Desk at 1-866-550-RODP (1-866-550-7637)
• REGISTRATION PROBLEMS contact your home school RODP Campus Contact
• TBR-RODP RELATED ISSUES contact RODP Help Desk at 1-888-223-0023