MAT 118
Mathematical Thinking


Stony Brook, Fall 2003
Last update: December 03

Check the end of this page for announcements and postings regularly!

Lecturer: Detlef Gromoll, Math 5-116
Phone: 632-8290, Email: detlef@math.sunysb.edu
Classes: MF 12:50-2:10pm, Engineering 145
Office Hours: M 3-4 (UG Office P-143), Th 2:30-3:30 (5-116), and by appointment
Lecture 1: Paul Kumpel, Math 3-120
Phone: 632-8264, Email: pkumpel@math.sunysb.edu
Classes: MWF 2:15-3:10, Physics 113
Office Hours: MW 3:30-4:30 (3-120) & F 3:30-4:30 (UG Office P-143)
-->
Teaching Assistants:
      Ming Xu, Email: mxu@math.sunysb.edu
Recitation 01: M 9:35-10:30 (Earth&Space 183)
Recitation 03: Tu 9:50-10:45 (Earth&Space 79)
Office hours: M 3-5 (2-104), W 3-5 (Math Learning Center [MLC] S-240A)
      Michael Chance, Email: mchance@math.sunysb.edu
Recitation 02: W 3:50-4:45 (Earth&Space 181)
Office hours: TuWTh 2:30-3:30 (4-122)
      Maria Ma, Email: mx_pianogirl@yahoo.com
Recitation 04: Th 9:50-10:45 (Earth&Space 183)
Office hours: MWF 12-1 (Math Learning Center [MLC] S-240A)

About this Course:   There is much more to mathematics than just calculations and solving equations. In this course we will examine several mathematical topics accessible to students with an understanding of high-school mathematics. These will be selected from among the following: voting methods; the mathematics of money; probability; graphs, paths and networks; tilings and polyhedra; number theory. (3 credits)

Prerequisites:   Equivalent of MAP 103, or level 2+ on the mathematics placement examination, or permission of instructor.

Text:   George Gilbert, Rhonda Hatcher: Mathematics - Beyond the Numbers, John Wiley & Sons (2000).
The course will cover material from Chapters 1,3,4,6,7,8. The textbook is intended to be read. Study the assigned sections before the lecture. This will greatly increase your comprehension, and enable you to ask intelligent questions in class. Further optional reading will be suggested below.

Grading:   There will be 3 short tests, 40 minutes each, about once a month; all given in class - no makeups. If one short exam is missed because of a serious (documented) illness or emergency, the semester grade will be determined based on the balance of the work in the course. A final examination will be held on Monday, December 15, 2-4:30. Students are expected to ensure when they register for this course that they will be available for the final examination, and that they do not have too many final exams on that date. The final course grades in MAT 118 will be determined as follows:
      Homework/Recitation/Quizzes 35%, Short Tests 10% each, Final Exam 35%
We will give up to 10% extra credit for a project, to be assigned later. Incompletes will be granted only if documented circumstances beyond your control prevent you from completing the course work, according to strict University rules.

Recitation/Homework:   You can not learn mathematics without doing mathematics. It is essential to actively take part in the recitation and to solve problems: Each week a homework assignment will be posted further down on this page (usually M or Tu). It is due the following week F by noon with your TA, so will not be accepted in class (for R 04, it is due Th in recitation, for technical reasons). Homework will be graded, returned, and discussed. While you may work together with others in the class (which can be a rewarding experience), write up your own solutions in your own words. Since homework earns credit, it is assumed that everyone submitting particular problems has solved them individually. The goal of the homework is to understand the material, not to merely hand in some paper. Late homework will not be accepted.

Approximate Course Schedule:
      Week of       Sections
        9/03-05       [Organization & Survey]
        9/08-12       1.1, 1.2, 1.3
        9/15-19       1.3, 1.4, 1.5
        9/22-26       3.1, 3.2, 3.3
        9/29-10/03   3.4, 3.5       (Test 1 - M 9/29)
      10/06-10       4.1, 4.2, 4.3
      10/13-17       4.4, 4.5
      10/20-24       4.6, 4.7
      10/27-31       6.1, 6.2       (Test 2 - M 10/27)
      11/03-07       6.2, 6.3
      11/10-14       6.3, 8.1
      11/17-21       8.2, 8.3, 8.4
      11/24-26       8.6               (Test 3 - M 11/24)
      11/27-28       Thanksgiving Break
      12/01-05       8.6, 8.7, 7.1
      12/08-12       7.2 & Review
      12/15             Final Exam

Special Needs: 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 are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.
Students requiring 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.stonybrook.edu/fire/disabilities.asp

Week by Week Details:   Assignments are listed here.
  9/08-12 | Study 1.1 and 1.2 in detail; read through 1.3 | Homework problems:
                    pp15-19   2,12,16,22       pp28-32   4,6,12,14       Bonus: p32   15
  9/15-19 | Review 1.2 | Study 1.3-5 in detail | Homework problems:
                    pp39-45   2,10,12,16       pp51-58   6,8,12,16       Bonus: p44   20
            Voting methods calculator applet
  9/22-26 | Review all of Chapter 1 for Test 1 | Study 3.1-3 in detail | Homework problems:
                    p133   2,12,20,30       pp138-139   12,18,22,28       pp150-153   4,26,40,46
            Financial calculator applet
  9/29-10/03 | Review 3.3 | Study 3.4-5 in detail | Homework Problems:
                    pp161-163   8,10,18,22       p174-180   8,12,24,28       Bonus: p162   24
          Important:   Note that this week has a different schedule! Because of the holiday, Wednesday is on a Monday schedule. So there is a lecture on W, and R01 meets as well, whereas R02 does not meet this week unless there are special arrangements.
  10/07-10 | Review 3.5 | Study 4.1-3 in detail | Begin reading 4.4 | Homework Problems:
                    pp192-195   2,14,28       pp200-201   2,18       pp205-206   2,8,10,12       Bonus: p195   32
            Coin-flipping applet
  10/13-17 | Review 4.3 | Study 4.4 and 4.5 in detail | Begin reading 4.6 | Homework Problems:
                    pp215-220   8,14,20,32       pp232-234   2,20,32,36       Bonus: p220   38
            Permutations, combinations, and factorial calculator
  10/20-24 | Review 4.4 | Study 4.5 and 4.6 in detail | Homework Problems:
                    pp242-244   4,8,12,18       Bonus: p244   34
  10/27-31 | Review 4.6 | Study 4.7 and 6.1 in detail | Homework Problems:
                    p248-252   2,8,24       pp375-379   2-14 even,16,26,30       Bonus: p379   32
  11/03-07 | Review 6.1 | Study 6.2 and 6.3 in detail | Homework Problems:
                    pp396-403   2-6 even,12,16,20       pp411-414   2-10even,16,20,24       Bonus: p403   32
                    (due F 11/14 noon)
            Traveling salesman problem calculator
  11/10-14 | Review 6.3 | Study 8.1 in detail | Begin reading 8.2 | Homework Problems:
                    pp479-480   4,12,16,18,20,22,40,46,52,56       Bonus: p480   65
                    (due F 11/21 noon)
  11/17-21 | Review 8.1 | Study 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4 in detail | Homework Problems:
                    pp486-487   2-20 even,26,32,36,42       pp493-495   4,12,20,26,28,30       Bonus: p487   46
                    (due M 11/24 in class - this is also practice for Test 3)
            Check digit calculator
  12/01-05 | Review 8.4 | Study 8.6 in detail; survey 8.7 | Begin reading 7.1 | Homework Problems:
                    p521   2,4,6,10,13       Bonus: p521   14
                    (due in recitation next week 12/08-12)
            Affine cipher calculator
            Letter frequency calculator
            RSA and Hill Cipher calculator
  12/08-12 | Study 7.1 and 7.2 in detail | Begin final review of all course material covered | Homework Problems:
                    Bonus (only): pp426-428   20,28,32       pp442-444   8,12,18,28

          Note:   All remaining course work is due Monday, December 15, 5pm. Leave papers preferably with your section leaders, or drop them off in my office 5-117 by the above deadline. Extra bonus credit from homework, the exams, and a project below will be counted altogether as additional input, which we will use to improve your course grade (based just on the regular scores) by up to 20% (or one grade).

          Short Exam 1 was given M 9/29 in class (40 minutes), covering all of Chapter 1.
It will be returned in recitation during the week 10/07-10. Since R02 does not meet because of the schedule change, check with your TA during his office hours.
          Short Exam 2 was given M 10/27 in class (40 minutes), covering Chapters 3 and 4.1-6.
It will be returned in recitation during the week 11/03-07.
          Short Exam 3 was given M 11/24 in class (40 minutes), covering Chapter 6 and Sections 1 through 3 from Chapter 8. It will be returned in recitation during the week 12/01-05