Math 1020Q – 002/006: Problem Solving
Section 002: M/W/F 10:00-10:50 AM, MSB 303
Section 006: T/Th: 9:30-10:45 AM, MSB 303
“If there’s a problem, yo I’ll solve it” – Vanilla Ice
Kyle Evans
Office: MSB 119
Email: kyle.evans@uconn.edu
Website: math.uconn.edu/~evans
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 11:00-1:30
Course Information
Textbook:
PProblem SSSolving, 2nd edition by DeFranco and Vinsonhaler
Goals:
Solve problems? Realistically, fill your Q credit…and solve problems too.
Expectations: Come to class, it’s not that difficult. Test questions will generally be similar to
problems that we work on in class, so it is in your benefit to come. And in
class, maybe answer a question once in a while.
Homework:
As you can see on the schedule, there is one homework assignment per week
which will make up the majority of your grade in this class. Basically just do
them since zeroes on homework assignments will bring down your grade
faster than anything else. I am aware that some of the homeworks are on the
dumb and annoying side, but at least make it look like you put effort into
them. Even if your answer is wrong but it is well explained and I can follow it,
you will get a lot more points than just a correct answer with hardly any
explanation. Don’t be afraid to come for help, I’m in my office a lot and
generally respond fairly quickly to e-mails (and my office is usually very
entertaining). Feel free to work together on homework and I don’t care if you
write or type these things. Any homework not handed in on time can only get
a maximum of half credit and even a couple of these will bring your grade
down more than you would think.
Group
Projects:
There’s a group project at the end of the semester and I’m not sure what it will
be yet, but for reference, last semester I had each group plan a trip with
certain restrictions. The last few weeks of class will primarily be these projects.
Class Schedule: Definitely subject to change based on what I feel like covering/assigning.
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Grading:
Dates
1/17 – 1/20
1/23 – 1/27
1/30 – 2/3
2/6 – 2/10
2/13 – 2/17
2/20 -2/24
2/27 – 3/2
3/5 – 3/9
3/12 – 3/16
3/19 – 3/23
3/26 – 3/30
4/2 – 4/6
4/9 – 4/13
4/16 – 4/20
4/23 – 4/27
Material Covered
Chapter 1+2: Problem Solving, PSSSP
Chapter 3: Be Proactive
Chapter 4: See It
Chapter 4+5: See It, Simplify It
Chapter 5: Simplify It, Exam #1
Chapter 6: Stir It Up
Chapter 6: Stir It Up
Chapter 7: Pause and Reflect
SPRING BREAK
Chapter 8+9: Interpersonal, Communicate
Estimation
Review and Exam #2
Revisit PSSSP and work on Final Project
Revisit PSSSP and review for Final Exam
Present Final Projects
HW Assignment
Automathography
Heap Letter
Symmetry
Prom Problem
Parking Lot
Forty Thieves
Should You Switch?
Faculty Debts
Grilled Cheese
Grappling with Groups
Maple Tree
House Hunt
Weights
The two exams are already scheduled (end of week #5 and end of week #11),
so plan accordingly because I don’t feel like giving makeup exams, although I
will depending on your situation.
Exam #1
Exam #2
Homework
Group Project
Final Exam
12.5%
15%
40%
12.5%
20%