Inga Johnson
Assistant Professor
Department of Mathematics
Willamette University
302 Collins Bldg.
ijohnson(at)willamette(dot)edu
503.370.6551
Exam 1: Monday, Sept 24. Here is an example exam from spring 2006.
Exam 2: Monday, Oct 29.
Project 2: Monday, Nov 12.
Math 130 - Contemporary Mathematics - Syllabus
Class Meetings: MWF 12:40-1:40, Collins 204
Course Description: This course covers a variety of modern mathematical topics that have contemporary applications. Topics include decision making with applications to voting and apportionment, networks with applications to planning and scheduling, population modeling, financial math, patterns and symmetry, and fractals.
Textbook: EXCURSIONS IN MODERN MATHEMATICS, Peter Tannenbaum, 6th ed.
Course Grades:
Your course grades will be calculated as follows:
Daily Worksheets: approx 125 points (approx 25 worksheets @ 5 points each)
Projects: 100 points (2 @ 50 points each)
Exams: 150 points (2 @ 75 points each)
Final Exam or Final Project: 100 points
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 475 points
A/A- range: 90-100% points possible
B+/B/B- range: 80-89% points possible
C+/C/C- range: 70-79% points possible
D range: 60-69% points possible
F range: 59% or fewer points possible
Daily Worksheets: The Daily Worksheets will generally be done in groups of two or three. A single worksheet with all members' names will be handed in for credit. (Minority reports are OK if the group can't reach consensus.)
Projects:
1st project due date: October 3 (meetings to discuss your 1st project ~ Sept 17 & Sept 20.)
2nd project due date: November 12 (changed from Nov 7)
3rd project due date: December 7 or take final exam
Project topics will be selected from a specified subset of the End of the Chapter section entitled `Project and Papers', or students may select their own topic but the topic must have prior approval of the instructor. A topic can be selected from any Chapter in the text as long as the material the project refers to has already been covered in class. No two projects can be from the same Chapter. No more than two projects can be from the same Part of the textbook. (The text has 4 Parts & we will be covering selected sections in Parts 1-3.) Completed projects should be 2-5 pages in length and include a bibliography (when applicable). If you select a final project instead of the final exam, then this project should be substantial in content. You will present your third project in a poster session on the last day of class. Bistro bucks will be awarded to the winning poster.
Exams:
Exam 1: week 4 (Sept 16-21, exact date tba)
Exam 2: week 10 (Oct 29-Nov 2, exact date tba)
Final Exam: Friday Dec 14, 2-5PM (optional, see Project 3 and due date)
Special Note: If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please make arrangements to meet with me within the first two weeks of the semester. Please request that a Disability Services staff send me the appropriate forms verifying your disability and specifying the accommodation you will need. If due to a disability you are to be allowed extra time on an examination you must remind me during the week before the exam so arrangements can be made.
Academic Honesty: In accordance with Willamette University CLA catalog: ``Plagiarism and cheating are offenses against the integrity of the courses in which they occur and against the College community as a whole... Ignorance of what constitutes plagiarism shall not be considered a valid defense. If students are uncertain as to what constitutes plagiarism for a particular assignment, they should consult the instructor for clarification. A faculty member may impose penalties for plagiarism and cheating ranging from a grade reduction on an assignment or an exam to failure in the course." For further information about the Willamette University academic honesty policy please refer to the CLA catalog.