MTH 120 -- Discrete Mathematics

MWF 11 -- Bradley Hall 126

Description

Introduction to graph theory, Boolean algebra, mathematical induction, and elementary combinatorics. (Three hours.)

Objectives

In addition to the relatively straightforward skills of applying algorithms, counting sets and so on, you should develop the more complicated ability to solve problems.
This means that you should learn to analyze questions you haven't been asked before and put standard techniques together in new ways to answer those questions.
You also need to communicate mathematics clearly and effectively, in both oral and written forms.

Text

Discrete Mathematics, fifth edition, by Dossey et al.
I expect you to read this book.
If parts of it don't make sense, ask questions over email, in office hours or in class.

Homework and Quizzes

I will assign reading and problems on a regular basis.
Unless I specify otherwise, the standing reading assignment is the next section of the text.
At the start of any class, I may do one of the following: give you a short quiz on the reading, quiz you more substantially on the material, or collect your solutions to the problems.
Topics are eligible for the reading quizzes the day I plan to cover them and for the more substantial quizzes and solution collection two classes after I cover them.
Success generally involves investment of at least six hours per week outside of class in reading and attacking homework.

Exams

We will have two hour-long in-class exams and a two-hour final.
The in-class exams are on 23 September and 28 October.
The final will be on Friday, 9 December at 12 p.m. in the same room as the class.
All exams are cumulative.

Grades

Each in-class exam counts for 20% of your grade.
So does the combination of your homework and quizzes.
The final counts for the remaining 40%.
Totals correspond to letter grades as follows: 100-85%=A, 84-70%=B, 69-55%=C, 54-40%=D, 39-0%=F.

Studying

You should expect to study the material for this course a minimum of six hours per week outside of class.
If you don't work on discrete math at least an hour per night, every night (with one day off per week), your chances of earning a decent grade are not good.
You don't learn math by watching, you learn it by thinking and doing.

The following is how I suggest you study for this course.
(For more extensive study tips, check my page on the topic.)

Each night, read the section that is going to be covered the next day.
Yes, read ahead. Trust me, it helps.
(Also, reading quizzes are a lot harder if you don't read.)
Look for relationships (similarities and differences) between the new section and the sections that came before. (There are usually many.)
Try the practice problems and some of the exercises.
Come to class the next day prepared to ask questions about any concept or problem you don't understand.
After class, attempt to complete all of the assigned problems.
Again, ask questions about things that still don't make sense.
Remember that there is quite a bit of help available.
If you don't understand the material, get help soon.

Getting Help

It is your responsibility to learn the material for this course.
I am interested in your success, though, and have suggestions for the times when you don't understand everything:

Talk to me.
Really.
I expect you to talk (about math) during class.
If there are still things you don't get, come to my office hours, which are Thursday at 9; Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10; and Wednesday at 2.
(These are subject to change. The schedule on my web site is current.)
If you need different office hours, make an appointment.
Talk to your classmates.
I encourage you to work together on homework and other problems outside class.
You need to spend plenty of time alone with the material, but lone wolves tend not to do as well as people with support systems.
Note that when someone explains a concept or problem to someone else, the explainer often benefits as much as the explainee.

Rules

If you miss a class, it's your responsibility to get notes from a classmate.
Keep phones and other electronic communications devices silent and out of sight.
No matter how good you think you are at multitasking, you can't understand math well while wondering if the picture your friend just posted is of a real puppy.
During quizzes and exams, you can look at your paper, the front of the room or the ceiling, but please don't look anywhere near your classmates' papers.
Even if you're really just staring off into space, your eyes facing such a direction gives a very uncomfortable impression.
There are no make-up quizzes or exams.
Your Bradley email is considered an official communication medium.
Be sure to check it regularly.
I believe that cheaters should be expelled from the university.

A Final Note

Keep in mind that time spent on classwork is generally more productive when it's balanced with good nutrition, sufficient sleep, and a bit of exercise.