MATH 1030-008
Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning
Fall 2007
MWF 12:55 - 1:45 in JTB 140
Instructor: Jennifer Guajardo
Email: guajardo@math.utah.edu (best way to contact me)
Class website: www.math.utah.edu/˜ guajardo/Math1030
Office: JWB 115
Office Phone: 801-581-3901
Office Hours: T 11:00am-12:00pm and Th 2:00pm-3:00pm
Important Dates: Write these dates in your calendar:
Exam 1: Friday, October 5
Exam 2: Friday, November 16
Project due: Monday, November 26
Final Exam: Tuesday, December 11, 3:30pm-5:30pm
Required Materials:
• Textbook: ”Using and Understanding Mathematics: A Quantitative Reasoning Approach.”
by Jeffrey Bennett and William Briggs (4th Ed). We have a unique 4th edition version of this
book for the University of Utah which may be purchased at the bookstore for about $71.00.
This version is unique because it only includes chapters that we will cover. Please, do not
buy the 3rd edition of this book. The exercises will be different.
• Calculators: Students will need a scientific calculator for this course. My personal policy is
to NOT allow graphing calculators. Graphing calculators will not be allowed for quizzes or
exams; an inexpensive scientific calculator can be purchased at the bookstore. Be sure that
the calculator you choose has an ex key and a power key (y x ).
Course Description: Math 1030 is a non-traditional, application-based course centered around
the use of mathematics to model change in the real world, and the effective communication of these
mathematical ideas. The course is primarily intended for students from the Social and Behavioral
Sciences, the Health Sciences, and the Humanities who seek only to satisfy the QA (quantitative
reasoning - course A) requirement for the bachelor’s degree and who, with the exception of a statistics class, will not take any further mathematics courses at the university. The purpose of the
Math 1030 course is to develop skill in quantitative reasoning by examining how appropriate mathematical techniques can be used to analyze questions from many different areas. The mathematics
covered in the course includes: ratios, percents, averages, estimation, basic financial mathematics,
linear and exponential models of growth, basic geometric measurements and scaling. The course
material is based on Chapters 1-4 and Chapters 8-10 of the text. Please note that MATH 1030
does not satisfy prerequisite requirements for further Math courses.
Prerequisites: C or better in MATH 1010 (Intermediate Algebra), or at least 23 on your ACT
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(math). This means that you should be able to manipulate variable expressions, work with simple
linear equations, graphs, fractions, exponents and know the basic properties of simple geometric
shapes.
Expectations:
* Show up to each class period on time. Read the material before hearing the lecture on it. Come
prepared to take notes. Attendance will not be taken, but regular attendance is necessary to
succeed.
* Do not do anything to disrupt the learning/testing of others. This includes, but is not limited
to, eating loud food or candy and having your cell phone ring during class. Please put your cell
phones on silent mode during class.
* I highly recommend the use of a pencil for all mathematical work. In math, mistakes happen,
but I expect you to be able to erase these mistakes on a quiz or an exam. Please practice writing
neatly in your homework and boxing your answers for yourself. This will help the quality of your
work on quizzes and exams. I expect you to take pride in your work and present your work in a
legible fashion. If it is not, I will not be able to read it and therefore I will be unable to grade
it. This is no more than what would be expected of you in the workforce, and is therefore good
practice.
* Be proactive about your education. After all, you or someone else is paying a lot of money for
you to learn valuable skills. So, if you don’t understand a concept, don’t be afraid to ask questions
either in class, in office hours, by email, or at the tutoring lab.
* If you know you are going to be absent for any part of the semester, make arrangements with me
before not after.
Homework: Homework problems will be assigned from each section. However, you will not be
required to turn these in. I suggest that you still do all of your homework, as quizzes and exams
will be based on this homework. I will give time at the beginning of each class to go over homework
questions.
Quizzes: There will be quizzes given periodically throughout the semester. I will announce when
quizzes will take place at least one class period before they take place. There will be no pop quizzes.
The problems will be similar to those done in class or for homework. No make up quizzes will be
given, but the lowest two quiz grades will be dropped at the end of the semester. Note: if you miss
class one day, you may miss hearing the announcement of a quiz for the following lecture. Please
email me to see if one has been scheduled.
Midterm Exams: Two midterm exams will be given. Tentative dates for the exams are Friday,
October 5 and Friday, November 16. These dates are the Friday before Fall break and Thanksgiving
break respectively. I will let you know well in advance if these dates change, but I don’t forsee that
happening. Students must bring a valid ID to the exam. Calculators are allowed on the exams.
Absence from an exam will be excused only if a student can provide verifiable evidence that he/she
has a significant illness or serious family crisis that will prevent him/her from attending. Except
under extremely unusual circumstances, you must inform me in advance of the missed test. In the
event this happens, you are expected to promptly make arrangements with me to make up the test.
Project: In order to develop the skills of communicating technical information and working with
others, you will work in groups of 2-3 on a project which is due Monday, November 26. This is
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the Monday after Thanksgiving break. If you cannot be here for that day, then I suggest you turn
in your paper via email to get it to me on time. Details about the project will be discussed in
class in a few weeks. Because there will be sufficient time to get this project done, a late project is
unacceptable and there will be no exceptions. To be safe, do your project early. Turning a project
in early is acceptable.
Final Exam: Comprehensive/Departmental: Tuesday, December 11th, 3:30pm-5:30pm.
Grading: Your grade will be based on the following:
Project
Quizzes
2 Exams (09/05 and 11/16)
Final
20%
20%
15% each
30%
The grading scale for this course is:
A 92.1 - 100
A- 89.1 - 92
B+ 86.1 - 89
B 82.1 - 86
B- 79.1 - 82
C+ 76.1 - 79
C 72.1 - 76
C- 69.1 - 72
D+ 66.1 - 69
D 62.1 - 66
D- 59.1 - 62
Miscellaneous:
* Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. If you are caught cheating during a test/quiz, your
test/quiz will be taken and you will receive a grade of 0%.
* Cell phones, pagers, ipods, laptops, etc. will not be allowed during exams. If you have these
devices on your person, they must be turned off during all classes and exams.
Withdrawals: You may withdraw from the class without consulting anyone until October 19,
2007. If you withdraw before August 29, 2007, there will be no tuition penalty.
Tutoring: The Rushing Math Center offers free drop-in tutoring, a computer lab, and study areas
for undergraduates. The Rushing Student Center is adjacent to the LCB and JWB (bottom floor
between the two buildings). The hours for the Fall semester are: 8am - 8pm Monday through
Thursday and 8am - 6pm on Friday.
University Policy:
• Academic Honesty: Cheating will not be tolerated. No cell phones, pagers, etc. will be allowed during exams. In addition, please turn your cell phones on silent during class time.
• ADA Statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that reasonable accommodations be provided for students with physical, cognitive, systemic learning, and psychiatric
disabilities. Students need to contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to
discuss any such accomodations that they my require for this course.
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