Algebra to Algorithms -- Math, Spring 2004

Mathematical Methods for Science and Computing
http://grace.evergreen.edu/aa

First class handout
03/29/2004

Faculty 

Name		Phone	  Office      Email                 Office Hours
----		-----	  ------      -----                 ------------
Sherri Shulman 867-6721  Sem 3163    sherri@evergreen.edu   Monday 3-4

This 4 credit component covers Elementary Mathematical Models. We will be using the textbook: Elementary Mathematical Models by Dan Kalman. (http://www.maa.org/pubs/books/emm.html) The themes of this text are the formulation of a model in terms of difference equations and the development of solutions to those difference equations. We will use numerical and graphical methods and explore the idea of expressing the solution to a difference equation as a function. We will explore how those functions can be used to answer questions about the model. The goal of the class is to understand how the mathematical models can answer questions about real problems. (Here is the academic fair handout )

Class Schedule

Class activites will include mathematical reading, discussion, problem solving, short essays, and presentations.

A problem solving session is scheduled weekly with our teaching assitant Josh Saunders. Our math schedule is:
  Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
10-12   Math Models (paragraph and problem assignment due )   Math Models Prep day
12-1:30     Problem session    
3-4 office hours      

Our teaching assistant Josh Saunders can be reached in the QRC or by Josh Sanders email (bathtubdjinn@hotmail.com). Check with him for availability outside the scheduled Wed problem solving session.

Schedule of Math Readings and Math assignments

Week Reading Assignment Additional Resources or comments
1 Ch 1,2 (Sequences and Difference Eqns
  • Ch 1 Reading Comprehension (RC) 1-3
  • Ch 1 Problems in Context (PC) 1-3
  • Ch 2 RC 1,3,4,5,6
  • Ch 2 Mathematical Skills (MS) 2,3,5,7
  • Ch 2 PC 1-10
  1. lec 2 notes
  2. Fibonacci Numbers and branching plants
  3. dynamical growth of rabbit population and fibonacci
  4. definitions of x & y intercepts
  5. slope of line definition
  6. equation of a line from a slope and a point
  7. Here is the review worksheet that we did in class on Thursday.
2
2 Ch 3 (Arithmetic Growth) ! NO CLASS Tues -- Passover
Josh will be here to collect homework and answer questions. Make sure you turn in your homework by Tuesday (if you will be out for Passover, turn it in on Monday to Judy).
  • RC: write a paragraph on problem 1 or 2
  • Problems MS 1, 2(opt), 3,6
  • Problems PC 1-5
group project for Thursday : remember to bring in a news article with data that you can model
3 Ch 4 (Linear Functions and Equations
  • Write a paragraph on RC 2.
  • Problems: RC 3,5,7,8,9,11,12
  • Problems: MS 1d,2a-f,3b,4b
  • Problems: PC 1,3,5
4 Ch 5 (Quadratic Growth)
  • RC: write a paragraph on RC 7
  • Problems RC 1,3,5,6,7,9
  • Problems MS 2,4,6,8,10,12,17,18
  • Problems PC 1,3,5,6
  • Exam next week on THURSDAY !! covering chapters 1-4
Run thru of problem 5 in chap 5 (problems in context).
5 (From here on out, homework due on THURSDAY!) Ch 6 (Quadratic Functions and Equations
  • Write a paragraph on RC problem 1.
  • Problems RC: 2-5
  • Problems MS: 1-5
  • Problems PC: 1,2,4,6
 
6 (The syllabus from here on out is really shifted a half week. So week 6 work (ch 9) is started on Th of week 6 and finished on Tues of week 7. Homework is due on Thurs.) Ch 9 (Geometric Growth)
  • Write a paragraph on RC # 1 or 12
  • Problems RC: 1,2,6-10,12
  • Problems MS: 1-5,8-11,13,15,19,21
  • Problems PC: 2,3,9
  • EXAM next week Ch 5,6,9 Kalman. Open book in Class
A grapher online
7 (Finish week 6 work on Tues, start Chap 10 on Thur. Also, exam on Thurs, ch 5,6,9) Ch 10 (Exponential Functions) , Ch 11 pp 233-236 (Logarithms)
  • Write a paragraph on RC problem #7.
  • Problems RC: 1-11
  • Problems MS: 1,2,3,5,7,9,11,12,13
  • Problems MS: 1-3 p249.
a site with math tables (including logarithms)
8 (Finish Chap 10 (and 3 pp of Logs) on Tues, and start ch 12 on Thurs.) Ch 12 (Mixed Models)
  • Write a paragraph on RC problem #3.
  • Problems RC: 1-6
  • Problems MS: 1-3,4
  • Problems PC: 2,3,4,6
  • Some problems are described as hard - do the best you can.
 
9 (Finish chap 12 on Tues, start ch 13 on Thurs) Ch 13 (Logistic Growth), start on Ch 14 too as a head start on week 10
  • Write a paragraph on RC problem #2.
  • Problems RC: 1-7
  • Problems MS: 1,3,4,5,6,8,9
  • Problems PC: 2
Exams:
10 (Finish chap 13 on Tues) No lecture on Thursday. I will be in class to answer questions and to collect exams/homeworks. Exam and all homework due by 12 PM on Thursday.  

Written Assignments

A weekly paragraph on the reading is required: due Tuesday.

All problem homework assignments are due on Tuesday (NOTE day change!). Josh may not be able to grade homework assignments by the following Thursday, however we will go over the answers to selected problems in class on Tuesday, giving you an opportunity to get early feedback on questions you may have about the assignment.

Credit and Evaluation Policy

Credit and evaluations are based on

Credit is awarded on an all or nothing basis and no incompletes will be given. Failure to attend four or more classes is sufficient grounds for loss of credit. Failure to achieve satisfactory results on exams or failure to submit satisfactory written assignments in a timely way is sufficient grounds for loss of credit.