M21-127 CONCEPTS OF MATHEMATICS

1999 Summer I semester

Instructor: Petronela Radu
Office: WEH 6205, x8-5190
Office hours: Monday to Friday 11:00 to 12:00 or by appointment
E-mail: pradu@andrew.cmu.edu
Schedule: Monday to Friday from 1:30pm -2:50pm, room - WEH 8427 COURSE DESCRIPTION: Concepts of Mathematics introduces a variety of subjects in the discrete mathematics, which are also of importance in other disciplines. The goal of this course is the development of skills, which will help students in understanding, approaching and solving problems in mathematics. The logic tools are indispensable in any science, but mathematics especially cannot be conceived without them. We will cover basic concepts about sets, divisibility, combinatorics, mathematical induction, mappings; there will be very little material to be memorized, but the understanding of the facts will be crucial. Thus, by the end of this course the students should be able to utilize a structured system of reasoning, which is conveyed by an algorithmic approach to solving problems.

The text is Classical Algebra (third edition) by William J. Gilbert and Scott A. Vanstone.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: About twice a week the students will be required to turn in an assignment which will consist of 3-5 problems given in class; there will also be optional assignments on which the student can work to improve on those subjects that s/he doesn?t feel confident about. Also, reading assignments will be assigned, and at the beginning of each class, randomly selected students will be asked to present a problem or some theoretical facts from the assigned material. Late assignments will be accepted only in special situations.

GRADING AND EXAMS: There will be two tests and a final. The average of the tests and final exam will be 60% of the final grade; the homework assignments will represent 30% and the daily quizzes 10%. Make-up exams will be oral and administered only in extreme cases. Cheating will be penalized by at best giving a lower letter for the course grade. The test dates are:
Wednesday 05/19, Thursday 06/03 and the final will be on Friday 06/18.
Hopefully everyone will earn an A!

COURSE POLICY: Class attendance is expected. If you miss a class it is your responsibility to get the material and the homework assignments from your colleagues. You may discuss your homework assignments with each other, but the solutions should be written up individually. The final solutions should not shared.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to bring them up!
 



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