MATH 180: Discrete Computational Structures
Spring 2014 Syllabus
It is my prerogative as the instructor to change the course during the term at my
discretion. Any changes will be communicated in class, through e-mail, and via the
course website, so be sure to check them frequently. Course announcements, exam
information, and other details will be regularly e-mailed to the class and posted on the
course website.
You are expected to be fully aware of the following policies and expectations, so review
this information carefully and ask me if you have further questions.
Instructor: Charles Burnette cdb72@drexel.edu
Office: Korman 209. My mailbox is located in Korman 207.
Office Hours: Monday 6-7 p.m., Wednesday 5-6 p.m., Friday 1-2 p.m. in Korman 249.
Class Time and Location: Monday-Thursday 9-9:50 a.m. in Lebow 134.
Course Website: cdb72.wordpress.com
Prerequisites: Students entering MATH 180 are expected to have completed and
passed MATH 102 or MATH 121. If you earned a D in either one of these courses, you
should consider retaking it. Any questions concerning your readiness for this course
should be resolved immediately.
Textbook: Mathematics: A Discrete Introduction, 3rd Edition, by Edward R.
Scheinerman, Brooks/Cole, 2013. ISBN-13: 978-0-8400-4942-1.
You can also use the second edition at your own risk. I am unable to find a substantial
difference between the current and previous editions except in the exercises and the
numbering of the sections. If you plan to use the second edition, make sure to get access
to the table of contents and exercises from the third edition.
Course Description, Expectations, and Learning Outcomes: The focus of MATH 180
is to introduce you to the basic concepts of discrete mathematics that are important to
computing. Topics include proof techniques, set theory, combinatorics, relations,
functions, and graph theory. Upon successful completion of MATH 180, students should
be able to
 read and understand mathematical definitions and proofs,
 produce clear and mathematically rigorous arguments and demonstrate critical
thinking skills,
 understand basic mathematical structures that are useful for further study of
mathematics and related sciences.
Course Format: One-hour classes will be held in the same location four days a week.
Most classes will be a mixture of short lectures, questions and class discussion, problem
sessions, and classroom activities that you will investigate in groups or individually.
Attendance: Regular attendance is not compulsory, but it is essential for success in Math
180. You are responsible for everything covered in class and cannot use office hours for
this purpose. The quarter system moves very quickly—if you do not do your work
regularly, it will be easy to fall behind.
Readings and Ungraded Problems: Weekly readings and ungraded problem
assignments from the text will be given. You are expected to come to class prepared to
discuss and ask questions about the readings. Quiz content will be based on the readings.
The ungraded problems are chosen to illustrate important concepts and techniques that
you are expected to master. You are encouraged to discuss and work on problems with
your classmates, but you should refrain from using the internet or other sources to find
solutions. These problems are for your benefit and should be done regularly and in detail.
Some of these problems will be discussed in lecture, but it is your responsibility to do all
of them on your own. By doing the problems yourself you will acquire the skills needed
to perform well in this course. These problems will not be turned in nor graded.
Reviewing class notes or re-reading the textbook are good ways to determine the
solutions to ungraded problems.
Extra Help: I highly recommend that you approach me for extra help during my office
hours or to arrange an appointment if necessary. You can also receive assistance on a
walk-in basis in the Math Resource Center (MRC), which is open Monday-Thursday 10
a.m - 7 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., except during finals week. (The hours will be
more limited as many of the tutors in the MRC will have their own finals.) The MRC is
staffed by undergraduates, teaching assistants, and faculty who can aid you with your
math courses. Hours and tutoring schedules can be found at:
http://drexel.edu/math/resources/undergraduate/mrc
Do not wait until the last minute to ask for help if you are having difficulties. This is
a course where most of the material is hierarchical, so it is extremely important to seek
help early.
Grading: Grades are based on the work shown, not on what was intended or implied.
Excessively sloppy, poorly justified, or disorganized work will not be given full credit,
even if the correct answer appears. Quizzes, writing assignments, one midterm exam, and
one comprehensive final exam will constitute your grade for this course.
Quizzes: Each Thursday this term, except for the first week of class and the week of the
midterm, there will be a 10-15 minute in-class quiz based on the material covered in the
prior week. Quizzes will usually consist of two or three questions. Each quiz will be
worth 10 points. Your lowest quiz score will be dropped.
Optional make-up quizzes will be e-mailed to the class on the Monday following an inclass quiz and are due Thursday of that week. Make-ups are an opportunity to earn back
some lost points if you are dissatisfied with your grade on a quiz. Provided that your
score on the make-up improves, I will take the average of your in-class and make-up quiz
grades for that week. Otherwise, the make-up will not be counted. If, for whatever
reason, you miss an in-class quiz, you can simply hand in the make-up instead. Make-ups
will cover material similar to the in-class quizzes, but with different questions. Be warned
though! Make-up quizzes will be harder than their in-class counterparts.
Writing Assignments: Weekly homework assignments will be e-mailed to the class
every Monday, except for the week of the midterm, and will be due on the Monday of the
following week. Assignments are due at the beginning of class. You must get permission
ahead of time to turn in late homework without penalty.
Assignments will typically consist of five questions worth 2 points each for a total of 10
points. Tardy homework that has not been arranged in advance will sustain a one-point
deduction for each day that it is overdue. I will no longer accept an assignment after I
have graded it and returned it to the class. No make-up assignments will be given, and no
assignment grades will be dropped.
Midterm: There will be one midterm exam on Thursday, May 1st. An announcement
regarding the exact coverage of the midterm will be e-mailed to the class at least one
week prior to the exam date. A make-up exam shall only be given in cases of exceptional
circumstance, such as illness or injury, with proper documentation provided. In fairness
to other students, such an exam will be somewhat longer and more difficult than the
midterm. Exams may not be retaken for any reason.
Final Exam: There will be a two-hour cumulative final exam scheduled during the final
exam week at the end of the quarter. The exact date and time will be determined by the
registrar. Do not make travel plans until after the announcement of the final exam
date. You are expected to take the exam at the time scheduled by the registrar!
Grading Breakdown: Averages will be calculated and letter grades will be assigned
according to the following system:
Average
Grade
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
0-59
A
B
C
D
F
Calculation of Average
Quizzes
Writing Assignments
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Plus and minus grades will be assigned at my discretion.
Calculators: Calculators are NOT ALLOWED for quizzes or exams.
25%
25%
20%
30%
Disabilities and Accommodations: Students with disabilities may request
accommodations (e.g. extended time on exams). Students must provide me with an
Accommodation Verification Letter (AVL) before any accommodations are granted.
Details and procedures can be found at:
http://www.drexel.edu/oed/disabilityResources/students/
Course Drop Policy: Students should be familiar with the drop policy:
http://www.drexel.edu/provost/policies/course_drop.asp
http://www.drexel.edu/provost/policies/pdf/course_withdrawal.pdf
Academic Honesty: Cheating and other forms of academic misconduct are serious
offenses and are dealt with harshly (e.g. at the very least a 0 on the exam or quiz and a
letter sent to the Office of Student Conduct.) A copy of the student code of conduct in the
student handbook can be found at:
http://www.drexel.edu/provost/policies/academic_dishonesty.asp
http://www.drexel.edu/studentaffairs/community_standards/studentHandbook/general_inf
ormation/code_of_conduct/
Important Dates:
March 31, 2014: First Lecture
April 11, 2014: Last day to Add/Drop a course with Academic Advisor assistance
April 13, 2014: Last day to Add/Drop a course via DrexelOne by 11:00 p.m.
May 1, 2014: Midterm Exam
May 16, 2014: Last day to Withdraw from a course with Academic Advisor assistance
May 26, 2014: Memorial Day (no class)
June 9, 2014: Last Lecture
June 10-13, 2014: Final Exam Week
Tentative Topic Schedule (Subject to Change):
1. The Fundamentals (Sections 1-4)
2. Logic and Sets (Sections 5-11)
3. Counting and Relations (Sections 12-16)
4. Enumeration (Sections 17-19)
5. More Proof Techniques (Sections 20, 21)
6. Induction and Recursion (Sections 22, 23)
7. Functions (Sections 24-26, 29)
8. Graphs and Subgraphs (Sections 47, 48)
9. Connectedness, Trees, and Eulerian Graphs (Sections 49-51)
10. Coloring and Planarity (Sections 52, 53)
Less or additional topics may be covered, contingent on time.