SUNY at Stony Brook MAT 118: Mathematical Thinking
Spring 2009

General Information

Place and time:

LectureTuTh 5:20-6:40ESS001 Alexander Kirillov
Rec 1W 5:20-6:15Physics P112 Chris Norton
Rec 2Tu 11:20-12:15 ESS 183 Luoying Weng
Rec 3Th 12:50-1:45Physics P112 Luoying Weng

Instructors and office hours:

Alexander Kirillov
Email: kirillov at math.sunysb.edu
Office hours: Wed 1-2pm, Th 11-1 pm in Math P-143
Chris Norton
Email: chris at math.sunysb.edu
Office hours: 2-3pm on Monday in my office (3-103), 4-5pm on Wednesday in the MLC
Luoying Weng
Email: lweng at math.sunysb.edu
Office hours: Tue 7-8p.m Math tower 2-107, Tue 8-9 p.m, Wed 7-8 Math Learning Center.

Course description: 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; game theory; and other topics.

Textbook: Excursions in Modern Mathematics, sixth edition by Peter Tannenbaum.

Homeworks: You can not learn mathematics without doing mathematics. Each week a homework assignment will be posted online. These will be due the following week in recitation. While you may work together with other students on the homework assignments, write up your own solutions in your own words. The goal of the homework is for you to understand the material, not to merely hand in some paper. Late homeworks will generally not be accepted.

Exams: there will be two in-class midterms and a final exam. The midterm dates are March 3 and April 2. There will be no makeup exams; if one midterm 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.

Grades policy Final grade will be based on the following scheme: Homeworks - 25%; midterms - 20% each; Final exam - 35%.

Information for students with disabilities
If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services at (631) 632-6748 or http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/dss/. They will determine with you what accommodations 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 website: http://www.sunysb.edu/ehs/fire/disabilities.shtml