MAT100 – FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS I
Fall 2014
Instructor: Professor Nicole Taylor-Buckner
Section: 024
Office: N598D
Class Hours: 4
Phone: 212-346-8448
Lab Hours: 0
Email: NTaylorBuckner@bmcc.cuny.edu
Class Sessions: Tuesdays 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. (online)
Office Hours: Sunday: 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. (online)
Book: None needed
Fridays: 9:00 – 10:00 p.m. (in person)
Course Description
This course includes the study of several mathematical. The role of mathematics in modern
culture and the role of postulational thinking in all mathematics are discussed. This course
considers topics such as numeration, probability and statistics, financial mathematics, the nature
of axioms, logic, and the concept of sets
Outline of Topics:
Chapter 2 – Sets, Venn Diagrams, Set Operations, Cartesian Products, Surveys, Cardinal Numbers
Chapter 3 – Logic
Chapter 5 – Prime and Composite Numbers, Number Theory, GCF, LCM, Fibonacci Sequence,
Golden Ratio
Chapter 6 – Real Numbers, Operations and Properties and Applications of Real Numbers, Irrational
Numbers and Decimals, Applications with Decimals and Percents
Chapter 11 – Counting by Systematic Listing, The Fundamental Counting Principle, Permutations
and Combinations, Probability and Statistics
Chapter 14 – The Time Value of Money, Installment Buying, Truth in Lending, Home Ownership,
Financial Investments
Chapter 4 – Historical Numeration Systems, Arithmetic in the Hindu-Arabic System, Conversion
between Number Bases
Grading:
Participation
Homework
Quizzes
Midterm
Final Exam
Presentation
Total
15% (Based off of the Discussion Board and online class meetings)
15%
15% (You will have 2 quizzes.)
15%
20%
20%
100%
Please note: Late homework will not be accepted, except under dire circumstances. (Examples
of dire circumstances include unexpected hospitalization, car accident, a death in the family.)
Since there is an extra credit homework assignment, if you only miss one homework assignment,
your grade will not be affected.
Quizzes cannot be made up, except under dire circumstances. Exams can only be made up under
dire circumstances as well, but please be aware that if you are granted permission to make up an
exam, the make-up exam is significantly more difficult than the original exam.
Presentations
The presentation can be on any topic we’ve covered in class, but it must extend the topic.
Something new must be introduced in your presentation. For example, we’ve learned how to
do the logic puzzles Sudoku and KenKen. Perhaps, you’d like to share with and teach the class
another type of logic/mathematics puzzle. We’ve discussed the national debt, the federal budget,
and budget deficits and surpluses. You may want to explore these topics further, or discuss
another country’s economic situation. We’ve discussed interest, so you may want to present on
different types of investments, etc. These are all examples of acceptable presentations.
Presentations should be approximately ten minutes long (8 – 12 minutes), and if you include a
video, the video should not take up more than 25% of your presentation. You can work with one
other person, if you choose. In that instance, the presentation should be approximately 18
minutes long (16 – 20 minutes). If you decide to work with someone else, any issues you have,
you will have to work out on your own.
Once you decide on a topic, you will need to email me at ntaylorbuckner@bmcc.cuny.edu what
your topic is by Saturday, November 22, 2014. The presentation is due to be posted in the
Discussion Board Saturday, December 6, 2014.
BMCC Policy on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Statement
Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas, words or artistic, scientific or technical
work as one’s own creation. Using the idea or work of another is permissible only when the
original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations, require
citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest
intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism. Students who are
unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The
library has guides designed to help students to appropriately identify a cited work. The full
policy can be found on BMCC’s website, www.bmcc.cuny.edu. For further information on
integrity and behavior, please consult the college bulletin (also available online).
Academic Adjustments/Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments for
this course must contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. BMCC is
committed to providing equal access to all programs and curricula to all students.
Grading Scale:
A 93 – 100%
A- 90 – 92%
B+ 87 – 89%
B 83 – 86%
BC+
C
C-
80 – 82%
77 – 79%
73 – 77%
70 – 72%
D+
D
DF
67 – 69%
63 – 66%
60 – 62%
Failure
Student Learning Outcomes:
1) Students will learn the vocabulary, concepts and symbols of set theory, logic, historical
numeration systems, modern number systems and its principles.
2) Students will be able to determine validity and the cardinality of a set and any of its
subsets through the use of deductive reasoning and logic.
3) Students will be able to represent numerals from other places and other times giving a
historical perspective of the numeration systems and they will be able to represent
numbers in different bases and how to convert them from one base to another giving a
modern and future view.
4) Students will be able to think critically about the structure of the real number system
including operations and their properties, as well as the order and distribution of the
rational and irrational numbers on the numerical real line.
5) Students will be able to use simple counting methods, including the Fundamental
Counting Principle.
6) Students will be able to make financial mathematical calculations thus allowing them to
make beneficial financial decisions.
General Education Learning Outcomes
1. Communication Skills- Students will be able to write, read, listen, and speak critically and
effectively.
2. Quantitative Reasoning- Students will be able to use quantitative skills and the concepts and
methods of mathematics to solve problems.
3. Information & Technology Literacy- Students will be able to collect, evaluate, and interpret
information and effectively use information technologies.
Assessment
Achievement of Learning Outcomes will be measured through homework, quizzes, participation
in discussion boards, a midterm, a final examination, and a presentation.