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Master Course Outline
MATH& 107
Math in Society
Course Description: This course covers a variety of topics including the use of percent in relative change
and difference, use of the CPI, financial models and money management, probability, statistical
reasoning, measures of central tendency and variation, linear growth and decrease, and exponential
growth and decay. The material is presented at a level accessible to students who have successfully
completed a course in intermediate algebra or the equivalent. It is taught at approximately the same
level as college algebra, statistics and finite mathematics, but the material is intended to be more
practical for the liberal arts student. 5 lecture hours. Satisfies the quantitative skills requirement,
science distribution area F requirement or specified elective for the AA degree.
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: MATH 098 or appropriate placement score.
Recommended Preparation: None
Co-requisites: None.
Course Learning Outcomes: Students completing the course will have been instructed in how to do
the following, and earn a course grade based on the evaluation of their ability to do the following:
1. Find percent change.
2. Find the rate of inflation using the CPI.
3. Distinguish between linear and exponential growth.
4. Write equations modeling linear growth and decrease.
5. Draw a scatterplot and predict outputs using the best fit regression line.
6. Use interpolation and extrapolation and linear models to make predictions.
7. Write equations modeling exponential growth and decay, and use them to find future values.
8. Calculate future value using simple interest.
9. Calculate future value using compound interest.
10. Calculate the annual percentage yield.
11. Calculate present value.
12. Calculate future value using the savings plan formula.
13. Calculate the periodic payment needed to save for a specific future value.
14. Use the monthly annuity yield formula to find the monthly annuity yield in particular for a
plan.
15. retirement
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10. Calculate a loan payment.
16. Calculate total interest and principal paid on a loan payment.
17. Calculate experimental and theoretical probability.
18. Use rules of probability to calculate probability.
19. Calculate conditional probabilities using tables.
20. Determine if two variables are correlated verbally or by using a scatter plot---positively,
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negatively or not at all.
21. Given a scenario, recognize that correlation of two variables does not ensure cause and
effect.
22. Calculate mean, median and mode (including weighted means).
23. Calculate quartiles, 5 number summaries, and draw box plots.
24. Calculate standard deviation and recognize that it indicates spread of data around the mean.
Course Resources/Textbooks/Website:
A textbook is required for the course. If you have questions about the text, please contact Lynn
Siedenstrang at lsiedens@ghc.edu. You will need a scientific calculator for the course. Certain
calculators are recommended and certain calculators are not allowed. Again you can contact Lynn
Siedenstrang for further information. Students CANNOT use a cell-phone, i-pod, computer or any other
internet connected device as a calculator or for any other purpose during testing due to the obvious
potential for cheating!
Academic Integrity: All forms of cheating, falsification, and plagiarism are against the rules of this course
and of Grays Harbor College. Students who are unsure what constitutes academic dishonesty are
responsible for asking the instructor for clarification. Instances of intentional academic dishonesty will
be dealt with severely.
Disabilities: Students who have documented disabilities that require accommodations in compliance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the Disability Support Services coordinator as
well as the instructor of the course in order to ensure that together we create an optimal environment
for educational achievement.
W Day: W Day, the final day to officially withdraw from a course, is the Thursday of the seventh week
(Thursday of the fourth week for summer quarter). Students who do not withdraw by that date will
receive the grades they have earned, regardless of whether they are attending the course or completing
the work. Students who are considering withdrawal are strongly advised to consult with the instructor,
advisor and financial aid prior to withdrawing. The only withdrawals allowed after W Day are complete
withdrawals from all courses.
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