DISCRETE MATH (MATH 270A), FALL 2006

 

Instructor: Tyler McMillen, McCarthy 161A

                    email: tmcmillen at fullerton dot edu, phone: 278-8208

 

Class Number:     15228                          or          15229
Class Time:        MW 1:00 – 2:15            or       MW 2:30 – 3:45    
Class Room:      EC 165  

 

Office Hours:  MW 12:00-12:45, 4:00-5:00; F 12:00 – 2:00, or by appointment


Website: http://math.fullerton.edu/tmcmillen/M270A/index.html 

Homework assignments, solutions, course announcements, and additional materials will be found here.

 

Text: Discrete Mathematics (Sixth edition) by Richard Johnsonbaugh

 

We will cover most of the material chapters 1-7 and 11 of this text.

 

Course Description:  Discrete mathematics is a hodgepodge of many different topics, including logic, proofs, combinatorics (theory of counting), set theory, recurrence relations, and graph theory, among others.  These topics are somewhat disjointed, but there are common themes that run throughout all aspects of this course.  One of these is the importance of proof and sound mathematical reasoning.  This course is less about number crunching and applying formulas and more about careful thinking and reasoning than you have probably experienced in your earlier math courses.  You will hopefully gain a certain measure of mathematical maturity.  The prerequisites are limited.  We will not need Calculus (except perhaps in a very occasional homework problem), and many of the problems we explore will rely less on previous mathematical knowledge and more on the “right” type of thinking and analysis.  I hope you will find it challenging and fun.

 

Homework and Quizzes:  Homework assignments will be due to the envelope outside of my office door by 5:00 p.m. on the day it is due. No late papers can be accepted. For each assignment, some problems will be graded in detail for mathematical correctness, and some credit will also be given for the overall completeness of the work, regardless of the correctness. The homework is very important, and you should work hard at it. You may work together with friends and get any help from me you need, provided your final solution write-up is done in your own words and is not merely copied. I will supply formal solutions to some of the problems on the webpage.  Quizzes may be given in lieu of handing in the homework, in which case problems will be taken directly from the homework.  Additional problems might appear on the homework as well, which are similar but not identical to the homework problems.  Each quiz will carry the weight of one homework assignment.  Homeworks/quizzes will be given approximately once per week.  The lowest homework/quiz score will be dropped

 

Exams:  There will be two mid-term exams, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 4th, and Wednesday, November 29th.  A comprehensive final examination will be given as called for in the class schedule, at the following times:

            1:00 class:  Monday, December 11, 2:30 – 4:30 pm

            2:30 class:  Wednesday, December 13, 2:30 – 4:30 pm

No makeup exams will be given.  All exams are closed book/notes/calculators.

 

Attendance, Preparation and Participation (APP):  It is especially important that you show up for class every day ready to participate and learn, having read over and thought about the material discussed in the previous class, and having tried the relevant homework problems.

 

Grading:  Homework (35%), Two Midterms (20% each), Final Exam (25%). Also, I reserve the right to raise or lower your class percentage by a maximum of 5% based on your APP.  Plus/minus grades will be given as appropriate.  No extra credit will be given.

 

Academic Dishonesty:  Short version:  No cheating.

 

Long version:  Students who violate university standards of academic integrity are subject to disciplinary sanctions, including failure in the course and suspension from the university.  Since dishonesty in any form harms the individual, other students and the university, policies on academic integrity are strictly enforced.  I expect that you will familiarize yourself with the academic integrity guidelines found in the current student handbook.

 

Emergency Information:  In the event of an emergency, take all your personal belongings and leave the classroom.  Go to the lawn area near the Engineering/Computer Science building.  Stay with class members for further instructions.  For additional information on exits, fire alarms, and telephones, "Building Evacuation Maps" are located near each elevator.