MAT 126

Official Course Description. Survey of modern quantitative techniques in a variety of disciplines. Critical thinking and mathematical/quantitative literacy are emphasized. 

Text and Materials. The course will cover select topics from, Using & Understanding Mathematics: A Quantitative Reasoning Approach 7e, by Bennett and Briggs. The course will also utilize the text’s accompanying online interactive and educational system MyMathLab. We will rely heavily on MyMathLab and you are required to purchase an online access code worth $85. You are not required to purchase a textbook for this course. 

You will be permitted to use a scientific calculator in this course. It is strongly recommended that you purchase a TI-30XS. They are available on Amazon for roughly $20. 

Course Format. Several sections of MAT 126 are offered at Lehman during any given semester. Therefore, a uniform syllabus has been adopted and must be followed. The syllabus culminates in a uniform departmental final exam. A student must pass the final exam to pass the class; there are no exceptions to this policy. For this reason, topics will be covered at a predetermined pace. 

More On The Course. Quantitative Reasoning is an applied introductory level mathematics class. Topics covered will be relevant to everyday life. That said, theoretical mathematical topics are unavoidable. Although prerequisite material will be covered as needed, some individualized review outside of class will be expected. This class will satisfy your Mathematics graduation requirement.  

Communication. Communication is essential to succeeding in this class – this cannot be stressed enough. After identifying topics that may be giving you trouble, please communicate this information to me. It is my goal to create an environment best conducive for learning.  

Getting Help. There are three places that you can (and should) go to for help: 

• Me. I will hold office hours, check email, and make appointments to meet with you.  

• Math Lab. The Math and Computer Science Learning Center (MCSLC) is located in GI-222. It is open 5 days a week and staffed with well-qualified tutors.  

• Your Classmates. Your classmates are a valuable resource to ask questions to and exchange ideas with.  

Your Final Grade. Provided that you attend class regularly and on time, AND pass the Final Exam, your final course grade will be calculated as follows: 

MyMathLab Assignments    20%  

Quizzes (Top 7)                    20% 

Midterm Exam                      30% 

Final Exam                            30% 

Grading scale: 

A = 93-100 (4.0) 

C+ = 77-79 (2.3) 

F = 0-59 (0) 

A- = 90-92 (3.7)   

C = 73-76 (2.0) 

B+ = 87-89 (3.3)   

C- = 70-72 (1.3) 

B = 83-86 (3.0) 

D+ = 67-69 (1.3) 

B- = 80-82 (2.7)   

D = 60-66 (1.0) 

MyMathLab Assignments. Assignments will be available on MyMathLab continuously throughout the semester. Although some class time will be spent on these assignments, you are responsible to complete them all by the due dates with a minimum overall completion of 90%. You are allowed to attempt assignment problems as many times as you like.  

Quizzes. Quizzes will be given in class every two weeks (roughly) and last 10-15 minutes. Quizzes will be announced at least one class in advance and practice quiz problems will be available. There will be 8 total quizzes during the semester, but only your top 7 quiz grades will count towards your average. For this reason, there will be absolutely no make-up quizzes.  

Exams. There will be two in class full period exams, the Midterm and the Final Exam. The Midterm will be announced at least one week in advance. The Final Exam will be given during Final Exam week at a time and on a date determined by the College. During exams, students are not permitted to leave the room and return to continue the exam, once the exam has begun if a student leaves the room their exam will be deemed as finished. 

Notes.  

• There will be no extra credit given of any kind. Your grade will be calculated exactly as indicated above.  

• Students will excessive absences/lateness may fail the course despite having a passing average.  

• Excellent attendance/participation will benefit students with border-line grades.  

Topic Outline. We will cover the following topics in the following order: 

• Numbers in the Real World 

• Absolute Vs. Relative Change, Scaling Up and Scaling Down, Inflation and the Consumer Price Index, Reading Tables and Simpson’s Paradox. 

• Managing Money 

• Percentage Problems, Compound Interest, Savings Plan Formula, Loan Payment Formula. 

• Probability and Statistics 

• Fundamentals of Statistics, Characterizing Data, Measures of Variation, Normal Distribution, Fundamentals of Probability, Combining Probabilities, Law of Large Numbers 

• Modeling 

• Functions, Linear Modeling, Exponential Modeling