MTH 121, Linear Programming, Elementary Functions, 4 credits—Summer (S02) 2008

• Detailed syllabus for the course.
  
  
• Place and Time: Mon, Wed 6:30–9:50 PM in 164 SEB.
  
  
• Office hours: Wed 1–2 PM, or by appointment (SEB 347).
  During office hours I let everyone who showed up into my office and discuss questions in a round-robin manner. If you need to see me outside regular office hours, ask or e-mail me to set up an appointment.
  
  
• Textbook: Finite Mathematics and Applied Calculus, by S. Waner and S. R. Costenoble, 4th edition (Thomson–Brooks/Cole, 2007, ISBN 0-495-38427-5). The third edition of the textbook is also acceptable, a mapping of the exercises between the two editions can be found here. A copy of the textbook, student solutions manual, alternative textbooks, and other material will be available on 2-hour reserve at Kresge Library.
  There is a web page for the text, which provides online tutorials, chapter and section reviews, and a variety of online downloadable utilities.
  Used copies of the third edition can be ordered on Amazon.com
  
  
• Homework assignments:
  I will assign homework regularly, and it will always be due next class. Your solutions should be nicely presented. Write as clearly and cleanly as you can, use sentences, and explain the main steps. I encourage you to work in groups and discuss the problems and their solutions with each other. However, the actual solutions you submit should be your own work (see Academic honesty for more info).
  The homework assignments from the 4th edition of the textbook.
  The homework assignments from the 3rd edition of the textbook.
  
  
• Quizzes: There will be no quizzes.
  
  
• Midterm Exams: There will be two 90-minute midterm exams scheduled for Wednesday, May 21 and Monday, June 9. These are closed-book exams, and each of them will be worth 20% of your final grade. No make-up exams will be given. If you miss an exam with a valid excuse, its weight will be transferred to the final exam. Calculators will be allowed.
  Results will be available on Moodle. You can find previous exams here
  
  
• Midterm Exam 1: Material for Midterm Exam 1: Sections 5.1–5.3, 1.3–1.4.
  Solutions are available on Moodle.
• Midterm Exam 2: Material for Midterm Exam 2: Sections 5.1–5.3, 2.1–2.3, 3.1–3.3.
  Solutions are available on Moodle.


• Final Exam: On Monday, June 23, 2008, 6:30–9:30 PM, 164 SEB.
  The Final Examination will be a closed-book, comprehensive exam, and it will be worth 60% of your final grade. Calculators will be allowed.
  Results will be available on Moodle.
  You can find previous exams here.
  
  
• Make-Up Policy: No make-up exams will be given. If you miss an exam with a valid excuse, its weight will be transferred to the final exam.
  
  
• Final Grade: Your course grade will be based on the total percentage scores you have earned during the term on all exams. There is no fixed grading scale for this course; a conversion formula from your percentage score to final grades will be determined at the end of the course. The following list shows the usual grade that a given percentage score will earn: 95%->4.0; 80%->3.0; 65%->2.0; 50%->1.0. After each exam, an indication of class performance and an approximate grade conversion for that exam will be announced. I may make adjustments and exceptions if I deem necessary.
  Results will be available on Moodle.
  
  
• Calculator Policy: For this course you will need a calculator with exponential and logarithmic functions. You may use the calculator on all tests, quizzes, and homework assignments, and it is important to learn to use it effectively. In particular, know how to do basic calculations, how to use the exponential and logarithmic functions, and when to use approximations instead of exact results, being aware of how many digits of accuracy you can expect an answer to have. To receive full credit on tests, be sure to show all the mathematical work necessary for setting up a calculation before using the calculator, and include some intermediate results as well. Calculators often provide you with ways to verify an answer (e.g. by graphing with a graphing calculator, or plugging in particular values of variables). Using a calculator to store formulas you need for a test is not permitted.
  
  
• Computer Usage: Computer laboratories are not a formal part of this course. However, there are some excellent computer algebra packages (such as Excel and Maple) available that support many of the course objectives.
  
  
• Class notes:
  • Notes from class on June 18, 2008.
  • Notes from class on June 16, 2008.
  • Notes from class on June 11, 2008.
  • Notes from class on June 9, 2008.
  • Notes from class on June 4, 2008.
  • Notes from class on June 2, 2008.
  • Notes from class on May 28, 2008.
  • Notes from class on May 21, 2008.
  • Notes from class on May 19, 2008.
  • Notes from class on May 14, 2008.
  • Notes from class on May 12, 2008.
  • Notes from class on May 7, 2008.
  • Notes from class on May 5, 2008.
  
  
• Academic honesty:
  Cheating is a serious academic crime. Oakland University policy requires that all suspected instances of cheating be reported to the Academic Conduct Committee for adjudication. Anyone found guilty of cheating in this course will receive a course grade of 0.0 in addition to any penalty assigned by the Academic Conduct Committee. Working with others on a homework assignment does not constitute cheating; handing in an assignment that has essentially been copied from someone else does. Receiving help from someone else (other than me) or from unauthorized written material during a test or the final exam is cheating, as is using a calculator as an electronic "crib sheet."
  
  
• Study habits:
  I can only guide and help you by providing the framework for the course: you are responsible to learn the material. Most of this learning must take place outside the classroom. This will usually take two to three hours outside of class for each hour in class, but may take longer in some cases. Our aim is to be able to apply the material to new situations, hence the focus is on understanding rather than memorizing. How can you achieve that?
  • Read the textbook: This must be done carefully and slowly. You may need to re-read and analyze sentences, since the text is very dense, unlike a novel. You should have pencil and paper ready to work with while reading to draw pictures and fill in omitted steps. Understand and learn the concepts and the important methods. Whenever possible, read the relevant sections before we discuss them.
  • Ask questions: in class, during office hours, or in the Academic Skills Center. If you have difficulties, get it clarified as soon as possible. If you make a mistake, rework the problem with the idea that you will not make similar mistakes later.
  • Practice: You will need to solve a lot of problems to get the necessary problem-solving skills and understanding of the concepts. I recommend that at first you solve some problems using your notes and the textbook as help, make sure you understand the methods, and then solve more problems (including the homework assignment problems) without any outside help. Keep doing this until you are able to solve the problems with no help.
  • Review the material regularly: It will take time and practice to digest and really understand the new concepts and methods.
  • Study with others: if you can, discuss solutions to problems with your classmates, e.g. in study groups.
  • Avoid wasting your time: If you are unable to make progress on a problem in 15-30 minutes, ask for help.
  • Avoid wasting my time: Know the relevant concepts and methods, and spend at least 15 minutes on any problem before asking for help.