Course Information

• Instructor:
• Professor S. Allen Broughton,
• Office: G207-A
• Phone x8179
• Email: allen.broughton@rose-hulman.edu
• Time & Place: 5'th hour, 11:45 to 12:35, MTRF in O259
• Office hours: 3'rd hour or by appointment
• Class Webpage: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/class/ma/broughton/courses/ma215/
• Text: Indiscrete Discrete Mathematics, course notes by Gary Sherman

 

Course Goals

• introduce students to fundamentals of discrete mathematics, and its applications
• improve problem solving skills of students,
• improve students'computer skills using discrete mathematical models
• improve students' ability at mathematical abstraction
• give students additional experiences in mathematical writing and technical writing

 Major Topics Studied

Course Policies

Grading: The course grade will be based on two in-class tests, a final examination, assigned work, quizzes, worksheets, some routine exercises from the text, and projects.

Exams: The tentative dates for the in-class tests are:

• Test 1: Tuesday Sept 29
• Test 2: Tuesday Oct 27

Projects: Some challenge problems and projects, to develop your ability in application, modeling and problem solving with the material in the course, will be given. These problems will be done as group work. Project rules will be given out with the first project. There are 2-3 projects of about one week's duration.

Binder: Get a 3-ring binder and keep the following in it: course notes, notes you take in class, routine exercises, quizzes, worksheets, tests, and projects. . The purpose of the binder is to help you organize your course materials, do bring the binder to class each day. Most handouts will be hole punched so that you can put them right in your binder. Organize the binder so that the different components are in different sections.  The binder will be inspected periodically for completeness and organization.

Final Grades: Various components of the course will contribute to the course point total as follows:
 

• Be aware of the Rose-Hulman Honor Code and that honesty and integrity in one's work is of the utmost importance. Inappropriate sharing of work and information, including electronic sharing, will not be tolerated

• Note, however that you are encouraged to collaborate with others on homework, and in class you may be directed to work in groups. If you are in doubt about what is or is not appropriate just ask me. If you consult others in your submitted work you must acknowledge their contributions in writing on the assignments. You will not be penalized for honest collaboration, but don't just copy.

Computer Policy:Make sure you have Maple V on your computer and know how to use it. We will also use Magma a discrete mathmatics package which we will learn to use in the course. We will use the computer in class on a regular though not daily basis. I will let you know ahead of time the days to bring it to class. The course work will consist of a mixture of paper and pencil work and computer work.

Exam Policy: The computer or a calculator may be used during hour exams and the final exam, unless otherwise specified. A standard 8.5x11 study sheet may also be used for these exams. The quizzes will be paper and pencil only, without any other aids.