MATH 1030-002: Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning
Fall 2009
Instructor: Elisha Hughes
Email: hughes@math.utah.edu
Phone #: 581-6272
Website: www.math.utah.edu/~hughes
Office: JWB 306
Office hours: After class, or by appointment
Classroom: JFB B-1
Class time: MWF 8:35am-9:25pm
Text: Using and Understanding Mathematics: A Quantitative Reasoning Approach, by
Bennett and Briggs (fourth edition, custom version)
Calculators: Students will need a scientific calculator that has an e (exponential) button,
a log button, and that can handle exponents. Calculators may be used on all quizzes
and exams, but students may not share calculators, and cell phones are not permitted.
Prerequisite: Math ACT score of 23 or grade of C or better in MATH 1010 (Intermediate
Algebra)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): This act requires that reasonable
accommodations be provided for students with physical, sensory, cognitive, systemic,
learning or psychiatric disabilities. Students requiring such accommodations should
speak with the instructor at the beginning of the semester in order to make appropriate
arrangements for this course. The Center for Disabled Student Services (581- 5020) will
also need to be informed.
Course Description: Math 1030 is a non-traditional, application-based course based on
the use of mathematics to model change in the real world, and the effective
communication of these mathematical ideas. This course is primarily intended for
students from the Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Health Sciences, and the
Humanities, who seek to satisfy the QA requirement (see
http://www.ugs.utah.edu/student/gened/index.htm) for the bachelor’s degree and who,
with the exception of a statistics class, possibly won't take any further mathematics
courses at the university.
Course Work and Grading: The coursework in Math 1030 emphasizes solving word
problems that require the use of algebraic skills, tables, graphs, and formulas. In your
work you will examine the reasoning behind basic mathematical concepts, explore
problems and questions presented from different perspectives, clarify assumptions made
in word problems, and look for connections between the course topics and your own
field of study.
Grades for the course will be based on:
Quizzes 20%
2 midterms 30% (15% each)
1 group project (described below) 20%
Final exam 30% (This is a comprehensive, departmental exam. It will be held on
Thursday, December 17th from 3:30-5:30pm)
Quizzes will be given every week (on Wednesdays), and will be based on homework
problems that I assign that are not to be turned in. You may drop two quiz grades. There
will be no make-up quizzes, so if you miss one (or two), these will be counted as your
dropped scores.
We will have two midterms and a final. If, due to extreme circumstances, you can't make
it to an exam, you must make arrangements with me before the scheduled exam time there will be no make up exams!
Course Content/Schedule:
Week 1: Introduction, Algebra review
Weeks 2&3: Ch. 1, Sec C,D: Critical Thinking ; Ch. 2: Approaches to Problem Solving
Weeks 4&5: Ch. 3: Numbers in the Real World
Weeks 6&7: Ch. 4: Financial Management · Exam #1
Weeks 8&9: Ch. 8: Exponential Astonishment
Weeks 10&11: Ch. 9: Modeling Our World · Exam #2
Weeks 12&13: Ch. 10, Sec. A: Fundamentals of Geometry
Week 14: Review for final
Tutoring Center: The Mathematics Tutoring Center offers free, drop-in tutoring to all
students enrolled in this class. The Tutoring Center is located in the T. Benny Rushing
Mathematics Center. The hours are: 8:00 am- 8:00 pm Monday- Thursday and 8:00 am 6:00 pm on Friday, closed on weekends and University holidays. For students who need
more attention than the tutoring center can offer, University Tutoring Services, 330 SSB,
offers inexpensive private tutoring. A list of private tutors is also available from the math
department office (in JWB). Group tutoring sessions, for 5 or more students, can be
arranged through the Tutoring Center. There is also a drop-in computer lab for all
students enrolled in a math class, and group study rooms, both of which are adjacent to
the Tutoring Center.
Group Projects: A primary goal of Math 1030 is to have students apply mathematical
concepts to practical, open-ended questions, and to develop skills in communicating
technical information. To this end, students will work in groups of two or three on a
specific topic. A list of potential topics, and an outline of the format and expectations for
this project will be handed out during the first week of class.