SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
COURSE SYLLABUS
QUANTITATIVE REASONING: MATHEMATICS ( M150)
Instructor's Name:
Department: Essentials of Mathematics for College Students
Course Title and Number: Quantitative Reasoning: Mathematics (M150)
Instructor's Office Number:
Instructor's Office Hours:
Instructor's Office Telephone Number:
The following textbook(s) must be purchased:
Essentials of Mathematics for College Students, Leon E. Myers, Kendall-Hunt, 2009
Additional Materials: Notebook and calculator
I.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
M150 Quantitative Reasoning: Mathematics (3 credit hours)
A study of how mathematics is used to formulate problems and solve application
problems within the context of the real world and other disciplines. Quantitative
reasoning skills are developed and experience is gained in applying these skills
and the methodology of mathematics to analyze quantitative information to make
decisions and predictions. Topics include sets, number properties and theory,
arithmetic review, consumer mathematics, estimation, measurement, basic
geometry, and elementary statistics and probability. Technology is emphasized.
II.
COURSE RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE
This course satisfies the general education requirement for students in the social
and behavioral sciences, humanities, education, and human services. The
general objectives are:
1. To provide students with an opportunity to investigate and to understand some
elementary applications of mathematics in everyday life.
2. To develop in students an appreciation of the importance of mathematics in
their lives, especially in the area of decision-making.
3. To provide students with the background necessary for succeeding in more
advanced mathematics courses.
4. To provide students with a brief account of the philosophical, intellectual and
historical nature of mathematics.
5. To provide students with opportunities to develop and to explore their writing
potentials.
III.
COURSE COMPETENCIES
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Order integers, fractions and decimals.
2. Match the name of a number with its numeral, written in whole number or
decimal form.
3. Round whole numbers and decimals to a given place.
4. Apply the associative, commutative, distributive, and identity properties.
5. Estimate sums, differences, products, quotients, and square roots.
6. Determine squares and cubes of whole numbers and whole numbers that are
perfect squares.
7. Evaluate algebraic expressions.
8. Perform computations using integers, fractions decimals, and percents.
9. Identify equivalent fractions, decimals, ratios and percents.
10. Select an appropriate unit of measures (U.S. or metric) for a real-life
measurement situation.
11. Convert between units of measure within the same system (U.S. or metric) and
between systems.
12. Identify properties of plane geometric figures, parallel and perpendicular lines,
and similar and congruent polygons.
13. Determine or compare the perimeter, area, and volume of geometric figures.
14. Select a formula or computation procedure needed for the solution of a
problem.
15. Solve arithmetic, measurement, algebraic and geometry problems, with
emphasis on real life contexts.
16. Use a calculator to simplify complex computations involved in solving formulas
and application problems.
IV.
EXPECTED MEASURABLE OUTCOMES
Students will demonstrate that they have achieved the competencies by scoring
70% or better on quizzes, tests, and the final examination.
V.
OUTLINE OF COURSE CONTENT
Week
1
Topic or Chapter Title
Sets and Properties of Real Numbers
2
Elementary Theory of Numbers
2
3
Rational Numbers
3
4
Ratio, Proportion and Percents
4
5
Estimation, Exponents, and Scientific Notation
5
6
Formulas, Sequences, and Series
6
7
Integers and Properties of Equations
7
8
Fundamentals and Applications of Geometry
8
9
Measurement
9
10
Statistics and Probability
10
11
Statistical Graphs and Charts
11
12
Review and Final Examination
VI.
Chapter/Section
1
LIBRARY
Appropriate references may be consulted for clarification of concepts presented as
needed.
VII.
SPECIAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS
All assignments must be in on time, and all periodic tests, and the final
examination must be taken on the scheduled dates. No make up test will be
given unless prior approval is granted by the instructor. This includes
official excuses for college sponsored activities as well. You are responsible
for any assignments given on days you are not present. Everyone is
expected to attend all class meetings. Being tardy is disruptive to the class
and unfair to your classmates. Students more than five minutes tardy should
not enter the class. Absences will be governed by the college’s policy on
class attendance. Please placed your cell phone on vibrate or turn them off.
VIII.
METHOD OF EVALUATION
There will be at least one quiz given each week, usually two. They will be
given in the last five minutes of class and consist of problems from the
homework assigned since the previous quiz. The problem will be written on
the board and you will be expected to provide your own paper. There will be
no make up for missed quiz, homework or class work.
Periodic Tests (8) ----------------------------------------- 800 Points
Quizzes ------------------------------------------------------- 100 Points
Final Examination ---------------------------------------- 100 Points
Total ---------------------------------------------------------- 1000 Points
Distribution of Earned Extra Credit Points
Class work ---------------------------------------------------- 50 Points
Homework ----------------------------------------------------- 50 Points
Total ------------------------------------------------------------ 100 Points
GRADING SCALE
Total Points
900 – 1000
800 – 899
700 – 799
600 – 699
599 and below
IX.
Final Grade
A
B
C
D
F
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hugine, Andrew and Myers, Leon. A Survey of Applications in Mathematics, 2nd
Edition. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., 1989.
Barker, Jack. Basic Mathematics: A Review, 2nd Edition Philadelphia: Saunders
College Pub., 1992.
Benander, Lynn. Catalogue of Error Patterns Observed in Courses in Basic
Mathematics. Washington, DC: Fund. for the Improvement of
Postsecondary Education, 1985.
Lial, Margaret L. and Miller, Charles E. Beginning Algebra, 5th Edition. New York:
HarperCollins, Inc., 1992.
Miller, Charles D. Basic College Mathematics: A Textbook/Workbook, 3rd Edition.
New York: HarperCollins, Inc., 1991.
Wise, Alan. Basic Mathematics: Skills, Applications, and Problem-Solving. San
Diego: Harcourt, Brace & Jovanovich, 1989.