MGF 1107 Mathematics for Liberal Arts II
Instructor: E. Nicoli-Suco
Summer A
Office: 1533 or 2223 (Math Lab)
Email: esuco@mdc.edu
Telephone: (305) 237- 3505
Office hours will be posted in Room 1533
Course Description and Competencies
Course Description: This course introduces the student to the concepts of financial
mathematics, linear and exponential growth, numbers and number
systems, history of mathematics, elementary number theory, voting
techniques, and graph theory
Pre-requisite: MAT 1033 (Intermediate Algebra) or suitable placement score.
Credits: 3
Textbook:
Blitzer, Thinking Mathematically, 3rd ed.
Sections: 4.1-4.4, 5.1-5.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.4, 8.1-8.5, 14.1-14.4, 15.1, 15.2
Note: This course is not designed for students whose majors require College Algebra,
Statistics, or higher-level courses.
You will have 4 unit exams, a cumulative final exam, and a required
essay. The lowest grade of the four unit exams will be dropped. NO make-ups.
Grading:
Essay on History of Mathematics: the student will write a three-page essay,
typewritten, double-spaced, about a mathematician of his/her choice approved by the
instructor. This essay must include the mathematician’s major work(s) and
contribution(s) to the field of mathematics, a brief biography, and a commentary about
the life and works of that mathematician. The essay will then be presented to the class by
the student.
The 4 unit exams will be worth 60% of your grade; the essay will be worth 20% and the
final, the remaining 20%.
A letter grade will then be assigned according to the following table:
Average of 90-100%
A
Average of 80-89%
B
Average of 70-79%
C
Average of 60-69%
D
Average below 60%
F
Incomplete: The grade of I is generally not given, and may not be given to any student
who is not passing the class with a grade of C or better.
Assistance: You can obtain assistance for mathematics classes in the Mathematics
Laboratory, room 2223. There, you will find course-related videotapes and computer
software, and tutors that can help you to successfully complete this course. The Math
Lab is open these hours:
MTWR 7:30 AM-9:00 PM, F 7:30 AM-4:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
You do not need an appointment. The telephone number for the lab is 305-237-3834.
Classroom and Laboratory Etiquette: Please refrain from bringing food or drinks into
any classroom, lab, or into the courtyard. Please turn off any cellular phones and set
pagers to "vibrate." You are expected to arrive on time to class, depart when the class has
concluded, and treat others respectfully. You are encouraged to ask questions. The
tutors in the lab must help all the students and take turns; they cannot work with one
student for a prolonged period of time. We are unable to offer one-to-one continuous
tutoring.
Registration: It is your responsibility to make sure that you are registered for this
course. Be sure to obtain a copy of your schedule to verify the reference number and that
you do not have any outstanding fees. If your name does not appear on your instructor’s
class roll by the first day of the term as being registered and having paid for the class, you
will not receive a grade for this course, and you will have to retake it next term,
regardless of whether you continue to sit in on the class.
Course Competencies:
Competency 1:
The student will demonstrate knowledge of financial
mathematics by:
a. Differentiating between simple and compound interest.
b. Computing the present and future value of lump sums or streams of
payments.
c. Constructing amortization schedules and computing payments on
installment loans.
Competency 2:
growth by:
The student will demonstrate knowledge of linear and exponential
a. Utilizing the coordinate plane to graph relationships.
b. Differentiating between linear and exponential growth.
c. Developing models of population growth using linear and exponential
growth concepts.
Competency 3:
systems by:
The student will demonstrate knowledge of numbers and number
a. Describing number systems and their functions.
b. Describing the evolution of the real number system.
c. Converting numbers written in one base to another.
Competency 4:
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the history of
mathematics by:
a. Describing some of the important events and
personalities in the history of mathematics.
Competency 5:
The student will demonstrate knowledge of elementary number
theory by:
a. Applying the properties of the integers and their structure in relation
to the prime numbers.
b. Computing the least common multiple and greatest common factor of
two numbers using the Euclidean Algorithm.
c. Performing operations with modular arithmetic.
Competency 6:
The student will demonstrate knowledge of voting techniques by:
a. Distinguishing between the different the plurality, Borda Count,
plurality with elimination and pair wise comparison voting methods.
b. Stating what reasonable criteria a voting method must have.
c. Determining the flaws in a voting method.
d. Determining winning conditions.
Competency 7:
The student will demonstrate knowledge of graph theory by:
a. Using the terminology of graph theory.
b. Using graphs to model relationships of sets of objects.
c. Applying Euler’s Theorem to solve problems.
d. Using Fleary’s Algorithm to find Euler Circuits.
e. Solving routing problems by using graph Eulerization.