Math 125 – Quantitative Literacy
Syllabus for section OC1 & OC2 – Spring, 2011
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Website:
Textbook:
Jennifer Strehler
DP 2741
(847) 376-7071
strehler@oakton.edu
http://www.oakton.edu/~strehler
A Survey of Mathematics with Applications by Angel, Abbott & Runde, 8th ed,
MyLabsPlus (not MyMathLab) is required for this section.
Office Hours
Monday
1:00 – 2:00
ONLINE
Tuesday
1:00 – 2:00
ONLINE
Wednesday
1:00 – 2:00
ONLINE
Thursday
1:00 – 2:00
ONLINE
Friday
1:00 – 2:00
ONLINE
Saturday
1:00 – 3:00 pm
in P132
Prerequisites
MAT 053 or geometry proficiency; and MAT 120 or the equivalent with a grade of C or better, or an
appropriate score on the Mathematics Assessment Test.
Course (catalog) Description
This course is designed to enable students to reason quantitatively from a variety of mathematical
perspectives. Topics include statistics, logic, geometry, estimation, and the process of problem solving.
Calculators/computers will be used where appropriate.
Learning Objectives
It is presumed that students will spend a minimum of 7 ½ hours per week in independent study (reading
the text, doing homework, working unassigned problems) in order to meet the following objectives:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
Apply probability and statistics in everyday life.
Recognize logical equivalence and identify common fallacies.
Construct logical arguments.
Employ algebraic and geometric techniques to solve systems of equations and systems
of inequalities.
Use algebraic and geometric concepts and techniques to estimate and to judge the
reasonableness of answers.
Understand the problem solving process and develop problem solving strategies for
personal decision-making.
Use the calculator and/or computer to facilitate problem solving.
Applications of business to everyday life.
Academic Integrity
Students, faculty and administration at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic
integrity and follow Oakton's Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:
cheating,
plagiarism (turning in work not written by you or lacking proper citation),
falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
helping others to cheat,
making unauthorized changes in official documents,
pretending to be someone else or having someone else to pretend to be you,
making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and any other behavior that violates academic
integrity.
There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton's policies and
procedures provide students with a fair hearing if a complaint is made. If you are found to have violated
the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and a disciplinary record will be established
and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
Course Expectations
 I expect that you will log into MyLabsPlus and work regularly (at least once a week) toward
the successful completion of this course.
 I expect that your schedule will allow you to complete all assignments and take the exams
/quizzes when they are scheduled. All exams, quizzes and assignments have firm due dates
and requests for extensions will NOT be granted. The exams will be available in the testing
center the week prior to the exam due date. Quizzes and homework can be completed early.

Academic integrity. All work is expected to be your own.
 Ask for help when you need it. The tutoring center (room 2400 DP), the free publisherprovided tutoring http://www.aw-bc.com/tutorcenter/math.html and my office hours are
excellent resources for help.
Communication
 I will send weekly e-mails to the entire class during the course of the semester. It is your
responsibility to ensure that the e-mail address on file with the registrar is the address to
which you wish to receive course communication.
 Please use e-mail as your primary means of communication. I will read and respond to email at least once a day during the week. The time I check my e-mail is likely to be irregular. If
you send me a message at 8:30 am & I checked my e-mail at 7:30 that morning, I may not get
your message until whenever I check e-mail the next day. It is unlikely that I will check e-mail
on weekends.
 I am teaching more than one course this term. Make sure you put MAT 125 in the subject line
of your e-mail so that I know which class you are in (and that your e-mail is not spam!)
Assignments, Quizzes and Exams
All homework, quizzes and exams have firm dates. Extensions will NOT be granted.
Date Due
01/28/11
02/11/11
02/18/11
02/25/11
03/04/11
03/11/11
03/25/11
04/08/11
04/22/11
05/06/11
05/13/11



Chapter 2 homework and quiz
Chapter 3 homework and quiz
Chapter 6 homework and quiz
Chapter 7 homework and quiz
Chapter 9 homework and quiz
Midterm exam covering chapters 2, 3, 6, 7, 9
Chapter 11 homework and quiz
Chapter 12a homework and quiz
Chapter 12b homework and quiz
Chapter 13 homework and quiz
Final exam covering chapters 11 - 13
Homework will be done through MyLabsPlus and is based on chapters 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 & 13
of the textbook. Homework must be completed according to the schedule above. Each exam
covers roughly 21 sections of material.
There will be 9 chapter quizzes (chapter 12 has 2 quizzes), which will be administered through
MyLabsPlus. Quizzes must be completed according to the schedule above. In order to take a
quiz, you must have completed all homework for that chapter with a score of at least 70%. If you
do not have at least a 70% on each assignment, you will not be able to take that chapter quiz.
There will be two exams that will be administered at the testing center located on the Skokie
campus of Oakton Community College. If you need to take the exam at the Des Plaines
campus, it is your responsibility to inform me no later than March 1st. If you are not able to
take the exams at one of our campuses, please contact Robin Nash at rnash@oakton.edu in
order to make alternative arrangements as soon as possible.
You will be given 3 hours to complete each exam. If you arrive within 3 hours of the close of the
testing center, you will only be allowed to work on the exam until the testing center closes and no
additional time will be given for the exam. The due dates of these exams are listed below.
Grading
Exam 1
Available 03/05/11 – 03/11/11
Exam 2
Available 05/07/11 – 05/13/11
Homework Average
Quiz Average
30%
30%
20%
20%
Course grades will be determined as follows:
90% - 100%
80% - 89%
70% - 79%
60% - 69%
Less than 60%
A
B
C
D
F
A grade if "I" (Incomplete) must be formally requested of the instructor by the student and may be
granted only if the student has missed no more than one test for the entire term and the student’s average
is at least 70. The decision to grant the "I" grade will be made by the instructor alone. No incomplete
grades will be given without documented evidence of serious illness or circumstances.
Other Course Information
If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to
reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the
ASSIST office in Instructional Support Services. All students are expected to fulfill essential course
requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree
program.
Important Dates
January 18
Spring 2011 semester classes begin.
January 22 noon
Last day to submit proof of residency, business service agreements and
chargebacks/joint agreements.
February 13
Last day to withdraw from 16-week courses and have course dropped from record.
Last day to change to audit for 16-week courses.
February 20
Incomplete (I) grades from fall 2010 semester for which faculty have not submitted
final grades will become an "F" after this date.
February 21
Presidents’ Day holiday. College closed.
March 12 noon
Last day for filing graduation petitions.
March 13
Last day to withdraw with a "W" from 16-week courses; Students will receive a grade
in all courses in which they are enrolled after March 13.
March 14 – 20
Spring recess
March 28
Registration opens for Summer, 2011 semester
April 11
Registration opens for Fall, 2011 semester
May 12, 13
Evaluation days
Outline of Topics
1. Statistics
A. Displaying Statistical Data
1. Frequency tables
2. Relative and cumulative frequency
3. Graphing qualitative data: bar graphs, histograms, polygons, and ogives
B. Measures of Central Tendency
1. Arithmetic mean, median and mode
2. Means, medians, and modes with frequency tables
C. Measures of Dispersion
1. Range, variance, standard deviation
2. Finding measures of dispersion with frequency tables
D. Measures of Position
E. The Normal Distribution
1. Area under the normal curve
2. Finding Z-scores
3. Finding probabilities based on Z-scores
2. Consumer Applications
A. Simple interest, compound interest, and continuous compounding
B. Effective rate of interest
C. Markup, markdown
D. Annuities
1. Future value, sinking funds
2. Present value, amortization
E. Consumer loans, installment buying
F. Mortgages
G. Life insurance
3. Counting and Probability Theory
A. Counting
1. The multiplication principle
2. Permutations and combinations
B. Probability
1. Definition and basic properties
2. Sample spaces
3. Tree diagrams
4. Odds and expectation
5. General addition and multiplication rules
4. Geometry with an Emphasis on Measurement
A. Fundamental Concepts of Geometry
1. Points, lines, planes, angles
2. Plane shapes
a. Triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, circles
b. Perimeter and area
c. Congruent and similar shapes
3. Additional applications to triangles - sins, cosine, and tangent
4. Networks
B. Three-dimensional Geometry
1. Rectangular prisms
2. Cylinders
3. Spheres
5. Problem Solving, Modeling and Using Technology
A. Applications of computer algebra systems / graphic calculators / Internet.
1. Graphs of equations and inequalities
2. Interpreting graphs of equations
3. Solving systems of equations graphically
B. Computational skills
1. Interpreting and developing models for real application problems and checking results
2. Systems of inequalities and linear programming
3. Developing models for real application problems using linear programming
C. Statistical skills
1. Calculation of statistics and parameters
2. Generating graphs
3. Applications of the normal distribution
4. Probability simulation
6. Set Theory, Logic and Boolean Algebra
A. Statements and symbols
B. The algebra of sets
1. Union, intersection and complement
2. Venn diagrams
C. Reasoning, logic and problem solving
1. Conjunction, disjunction and negation
2. Conditional and biconditional statements
3. De Morgan’s Law and equivalent statements
D. Valid arguments
1. Truth tables
2. Applications