Math 204: Mathematics for Business Analysis I: Fall 2006:
Instructor: Marcus Büker
Office: Halsey Science Center 319
E-mail: bukerm<at>uwosh.edu
Phone: (920) 424-0426
Office hours: 2:00-4:00 (R), 9:30-11:00 (F) and by appointment or chance.
Schedule: See the D2L page
Important Dates: Last day to add the class without my signature: 9/12. (T)Last day for 100% class refund: 9/19 (T)Last day to add the class with my signature: 10/03 (T)Last day to drop the class without ‘late drop’ appeal: 10/20 (F)
Thanksgiving break: Class only meets on 11/20 (M).
| Grades: | |
|---|---|
| Exam 1: Sept 27 (W) 80 points | 20% |
| Exam 2: Oct 25 (W) 100 points | 25% |
| Exam 3: Nov 13 (M) 80 points | 20% |
| Exam 4: Dec 14 (R) 100 points | 25% |
| Weekly quizzes (8 highest scores) 40 points | 10% |
| OPTIONAL FINAL EXAM: See explanation |
Exams:
There are four (4) regular, non-cumulative exams, which vary in number of points. If you miss or ‘bomb’ an exam, you have the option of taking the optional final exam to make up for that exam. The percentage that you get on the optional final will count as a percentage of the number of points for the ‘substituted’ exam (e.g. if you missed exam 3, and got a 70% on the optional final, it would count as 56 points.) Except in extreme circumstances, THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS. Weekly quizzes. About once per week (not on exam weeks), there will be a quiz. It may be on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or it may be on Friday…it may be at the beginning of class, it may be at the end of class. The quizzes will encourage class attendance as well as keep you up to date on the main points that you should be learning. There will be ten (10) quizzes, and you will get to drop the lowest two (2), so there are 40 possible points. THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES. If you miss one or two for some reason, you get to drop those scores anyway.Homework Homework will be assigned daily. I will also post the homework assignments on the D2L page as the semester progresses. Many quiz problems (and some exam problems) will be very similar to the assigned homework problems. AttendanceAttendance is virtually mandatory, as you are responsible for all the quizzes, announcements, changes, course information, and topics that I cover in class; also, it is simply unlikely that you will pass this course without attending regularly.Grading scale (out of 400 points): (This is a strict scale. I may curve exam scores by adding points…but in the end, these are the point breakdowns for grades, so at the end of the semester, please don’t ask me why you got a certain grade “if you were only 1 or 2 points away”.)
92 + 100% (368+ points) = A
87-91% (348-367 points) = AB
82-86% (328-347 points) = B
77-81% (308-327 points) = BC
67-76% (268-287 points) = C
60-66% (240-267 points) = D
< 60% (0-239 points) = F
Textbook: R.A. Barnett, M.R. Ziegler and K.E. Byleen, College Mathematics, 10th Edition
Calculator TI-83/TI-83 PLUS is required. Instruction in class will be based on this graphing calculator. A guide to the TI-83 is posted on the course web page. Please bring your calculator to class everyday.
GENERAL GOALS AND OBJECIVE FOR THE COURSE:
- Identify the basic graphs and properties of polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Apply the knowledge of functions to business applications such as simple, compound or continuous compound interest, ordinary annuities, finding the maximum or minimum for quantities which are quadratic functions, and finding break even points.
- Perform basic operations with matrices, and use matrix methods to solve systems of linear equations. Apply the knowledge of matrices to business problems such as inventory, production, and total cost.
- Use geometric method to solve linear programming problems. Interpret information as an objective function with constraints, set up the linear programming problem, solve the problem and interpret the result in the context of the problem.
- Use basic counting techniques and calculate probabilities, including conditional probabilities. Apply the mathematical knowledge of probability to business problems and interpret the results.
- Represent data with graphical and numerical summaries. Calculate probabilities for binomial and normal distributions. Apply the statistical skills to problems in various business settings and interpret the results.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The first course in mathematics for business students is divided into five parts: Functions, Mathematics of Finance, Systems of Linear Equations and Matrices, Linear Programming, Probability and Statistics. The course will cover most of the material in Chapters 1-8 of the text. The course will cover the following topics.
- Functions: Linear, quadratic, rational, exponential and logarithmic function. Transformation of functions and graphing.
- Mathematics of Finance: Simple and compound interest, future value and present value of annuities, sinking funds, and amortization.
- Systems of Linear Equations and Matrices: Solution of systems of linear equations by graphing, substitution, elimination by addition, Gauss-Jordan elimination and use of matrix inverse. The systems of equations considered will have a unique solution, no solution or an infinite number of solutions.
- Linear Programming: Systems of linear inequalities in two variables, geometric approach to solving linear programming problems in two variables.
- Probability and Statistics: Operations on sets, counting techniques including permutations and combination, basic properties of probability, conditional probability, Bayes formula, random variables and expected values. Graphical description and numerical summaries of data. Binomial distribution and normal distribution.
Communication
I often will send email regarding this class. I will also be using D2L for many things. CHECK YOUR EMAIL REGULARLY, and CHECK the D2L SITE REGULARLY, especially if you miss a class.Special Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with disabilities. Please contact Disability Services (424-3100 (voice) or 424-1319 (TTY)) or visit their web site at http://www.uwosh.edu/dean/disabilities.htm for the University’s accommodation request form and documentation requirements. Information related to an individual’s accommodation request will be kept confidential.
Academic Integrity: (begin official yadda-yadda about cheating.) The Wisconsin Administrative Code states: “Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others academic endeavors.” (§ UWS 14.01) Plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct are serious offenses with severe penalties. See the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Student Discipline Code for definitions of academic misconduct and details about procedures, sanctions, and other relevant information. Just a note: Every semester there always seems to be a few students who just seem to ‘give up’. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE come to me for help if you need it. I should be very accessible with scheduled office hours and plenty of time available for appointments. I don’t want to see anyone left behind in this class. Don’t wait until it is too late. Keep in mind the drop deadlines. I want this class to be a source of learning and enjoyment, not stress.
Tentative Schedule
| Day | Date | Material |
|---|---|---|
| W | 6-Sep | Introduction+1-1 Functions |
| R | 7-Sep | 1-1 Functions |
| F | 8-Sep | 1-2 Elementary Functions: Graphs and Transformations |
| M | 11-Sep | 1-3 Linear Functions and Straight Lines |
| W | 13-Sep | 1-4 Quadratic Functions |
| R | 14-Sep | 1-4 Quadratic Functions |
| F | 15-Sep | 2-1 Polynomial and Rational Functions |
| M | 18-Sep | 2-1 Polynomial and Rational Functions |
| W | 20-Sep | 2-2 Exponential Functions |
| R | 21-Sep | 2-3 Logarithmic Functions |
| F | 22-Sep | 2-3 Logarithmic Functions |
| M | 25-Sep | Review |
| W | 27-Sep | Exam I- Chapters 1 and 2 |
| R | 28-Sep | 3-1 Simple Interest. |
| F | 29-Sep | 3-2 Compound Interest |
| M | 2-Oct | 3-3 Future Value of an Annuity; Sinking Funds |
| W | 4-Oct | 3-3 Future Value of an Annuity; Sinking Funds |
| R | 5-Oct | 3-4 Present Value of an Annuity; Amortization |
| F | 6-Oct | Review: Remember to breathe |
| M | 9-Oct | 4-1 Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables |
| W | 11-Oct | 4-2 Systems of Linear Equations and Matrices |
| R | 12-Oct | 4-3 Gauss-Jordan Elimination |
| F | 13-Oct | 4-3 Gauss-Jordan Elimination |
| M | 16-Oct | 4-4 Matrices: Basic Operations |
| W | 18-Oct | 4-5 Inverse of a Square Matrix |
| R | 19-Oct | 4-6 Matrix Equations and Systems of Linear Equations |
| F | 20-Oct | 4-6 Matrix Equations and Systems of Linear Equations |
| M | 23-Oct | Review |
| W | 25-Oct | Exam II- Chapters 3 and 4 |
| R | 26-Oct | 5-1 Systems of Linear Inequalities in Two Variables. |
| F | 27-Oct | 5-2 Linear Programming in Two Dimensions |
| M | 30-Oct | 5-2 Linear Programming in Two Dimensions |
| W | 1-Nov | 6-1 Logic |
| R | 2-Nov | 6-1 Logic |
| F | 3-Nov | 6-2 Sets |
| M | 6-Nov | 6-3 Basic Counting Principles |
| W | 7-Nov | 6-4 Permutations and Combinations |
| R | 9-Nov | 6-4 Permutations and Combinations |
| F | 10-Nov | Review |
| M | 13-Nov | Exam III- Chapters 5 and 6 |
| W | 15-Nov | 7-1 Sample Spaces, Events, and Probability |
| R | 16-Nov | 7-2 Union, Intersection, and Complement; Odds |
| F | 17-Nov | 7-3 Conditional Probability and Independence |
| M | 20-Nov | 7-3 Conditional Probability and Independence |
| W | 22-Nov | Thanksgiving |
| R | 23-Nov | Thanksgiving |
| F | 24-Nov | Thanksgiving |
| M | 27-Nov | 7-4 Bayes' Formula. |
| W | 28-Nov | 7-5 Random Variable, Probability Distribution etc |
| R | 30-Nov | 8-1 Graphing Data |
| F | 1-Dec | 8-2 Measures of Central Tendency |
| M | 4-Dec | 8-3 Measures of Dispersion |
| W | 6-Dec | 8-4 Bernoulli Trials and Binomial Distributions |
| R | 7-Dec | 8-4 Bernoulli Trials and Binomial Distributions |
| F | 8-Dec | 8-5 Normal Distributions |
| M | 11-Dec | 8-5 Normal Distributions |
| W | 13-Dec | Review |
| R | 14-Dec | Exam IV- Chapters 7 and 8 |
| F | 15-Dec | Optional Final - Chapters 1-8 |