MAT 118 — Spring 2012 Problem Sets MAT 118 — Spring 2012 Syllabus MAT 118 — Spring 2012 Exams

MAT 118 Course Webpage
Mathematical Thinking

Spring 2012

  • Problem sets
  • Exams
  • Syllabus

  • Course Announcements
  • Course Description
  • Prerequisites
  • Text
  • Lectures
  • Recitations
  • Office Hours
  • Grading System
  • Hand-backs
  • Academic Resources
  • Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Academic Integrity
  • Critical Incident Management


  • Course Announcements Announcements about the course will be posted here. Please check the site regularly for announcements (which will also be given in lecture and/or in recitation).

    Course Description The description in the undergraduate bulletin: Development of quantitative thinking and problem solving abilities through a selection of mathematical topics: logic and reasoning; numbers, functions, and modeling; combinatorics and probability; growth and change. Other topics may include geometry, statistics, game theory, and graph theory. Through their engagement in problem solving, students develop an appreciation of the intellectual scope of mathematics and its connections with other disciplines.

    Prerequisites The prerequisite is a grade of C or better in MAP 103 or level 2+ or higher on the mathematics placement examination.

    Text

    Peter Tannenbaum, Excursions in Modern Mathematics, 7/E. available at the University Bookstore @ Stony Brook.
    In addition to the required textbook above, for part of the course there may be additional course notes which will be made available through the Blackboard page.

    Lectures The instructor for this course is Jason Starr. There are assigned readings in the syllabus which are to be completed before lecture. During lecture the instructor and the students will discuss the material in those readings, there will be exercises to practice the material, etc. For the lectures to be effective, you must complete the assigned reading from the syllabus before lecture.

    Lecture is held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:35 — 10:30AM in Harriman Hall 137. Harriman Hall is in the bottom of C4 on the online campus map.

    Recitations Please register for and regularly attend one of the recitations. Your recitation instructor is the instructor who knows you best and who answers any questions about grading on problem sets and exams. Your recitation instructor will have input in the assignment of final letter grades.

    Recitation Time Room Instructor MLC hours Other Office Hrs. Office Hrs. Room
    R01 W 5:20-6:15PM SB Union 231 Anant Atyam Tue, Wed 4-5PM Tue 5-6PM Math 2-105
    R02 M 12:50-1:45PM EarthSpaceSci 183 Anant Atyam Tue, Wed 4-5PM Tue 5-6PM Math 2-105
    R03 Th 12:50-1:45PM Physics P112 Patricio Gallardo Th 10:45AM-12:45PM Th 2:30PM-3:30PM Math 2-118

    Office Hours Office hours are Tuesday and Thursday, 11AM-12NOON in Math Tower P-143, and Monday 2PM-3PM in the Math Learning Center.

    Grading System The relative significance of exams and problem sets in determining final grades is as follows.

    Midterm 1.
    20%
    Midterm 2.
    20%
    Problem Sets 1 — 10.
    20% (= 2% x 10)
    Final Exam.
    40%

    Students have asked about their standing at this moment, prior to the final exam, based only on the midterms and problem sets. The following target ranges are based on TOTAL POINTS. To compute your total points, add your scores on all 10 problem sets (to get a total out of 200), add two times your score on Midterm 1 (midterm score out of 200), and add two times your score on Midterm 2 (midterm score out of 200). This sum is your TOTAL POINTS, a number out of 600 (200 plus 200 plus 200).

    Hand-backs
    Graded problem sets and exams will be handed back in recitation. If you cannot attend the lecture in which a problem set or exam is handed back, it is your responsibility to contact your instructor and arrange a time to pick up the work (typically in office hours).

    You are responsible for collecting any graded work by the end of the semester. After the end of the semester, the instructor is no longer responsible for returning your graded work.

    Academic Resources There are a number of organizations on campus offering tutoring and other academic resources in various locations. The mathematics department offers drop-in tutoring in the Math Learning Center. You are strongly encouraged to talk to a tutor in the MLC if you have an issue and are unable to attend your lecturer's or recitation instructor's office hours (or if you have previously arranged to meet them in the MLC).

    Please be aware that tutors in the MLC deal with students on a first-come, first-served basis. Thus it may be preferrable to speak with your lecturer or instructor in their office hours. (Even if you find them in the MLC, they may be obliged to speak to other students before speaking with you.)

    For students living on campus, there are also tutoring centers available in the residence halls.

    Required Syllabi Statements
    The University Senate has authorized that the following required statements appear in all teaching syllabi on the Stony Brook Campus. This information is also located on the Provost's website: http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/provost/policies.shtml.

    Americans with Disabilities Act.
    If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services, ECC(Educational Communications Center) Building, Room 128, (631)632-6748. They will determine with you what accommodations, if any, are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.

    Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with their professors and Disability Support Services. For procedures and information go to the following web site: http://www.ehs.sunysb.edu and search Fire Safety and Evacuation and Disabilities.

    Academic Integrity Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty are required to report any suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. Faculty in the Health Sciences Center (School of Health Technology & Management, Nursing, Social Welfare, Dental Medicine) and School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary/.

    Critical Incident Management Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of University Community Standards any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn. Faculty in the HSC Schools and the School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. Further information about most academic matters can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin, the Undergraduate Class Schedule, and the Faculty-Employee Handbook.


    Back to my home page.


    Jason Starr
    4-108 Math Tower
    Department of Mathematics
    Stony Brook University
    Stony Brook, NY 11794-3651
    Phone: 631-632-8270
    Fax: 631-632-7631
    Jason Starr