"In a completely rational society, the best of us would aspire to be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less, because passing civilization along from one generation to the next ought to be the highest honor and the highest responsibility anyone could have."
Lee Iacocca
Math 108 Course Objectives
- Analyze and critique real-world issues and arguments involving probability and statistics.
- Analyze and critique real-world issues and arguments involving probability and statistics.
- Explore the use of mathematical models in describing and making predictions about real-world phenomena.
- Understand the dangers of debt, the power of compound interest, and the advantages and disadvantages of various financial choices.
- Learn to competently evaluate and resolve real-life problems that require quantitative reasoning.
The following is a description of the content included within each of the above objectives.
- Develop the necessary arithmetic and basic algebraic skills to succeed in daily life:
(Brief Review of)
Sets of Numbers
Fractions and Percentages
The Multiplication Principle
Basic Algebra Involving the Four Arithmetic Operations
Plotting Points in the Coordinate Plane
Finding and Interpreting the Slope and Intercepts of a Line
Solving Linear Equations
- Analyze and critique real-world issues and arguments involving probability and statistics:
Uses and Abuses of Percentages
Definitions and Basic Rules of ProbabilityStatistical Tables and Graphs
Characterizing Data Distributions
Normal Distributions, Z-Scores, and Percentiles
Correlation and Causality
Critiquing Statistical Studies and Graphs in the Media
- Explore the use of mathematical models in describing and making predictions about real-world phenomena:
Fundamentals of Mathematical ModelsLinear versus Exponential Growth
Linear Modeling and Real-world Applications
Exponential Modeling and Real-world Applications
Doubling Time and Half-Life
Logistic Growth and Carrying Capacity
Real Population Growth
- Understand the dangers of debt and the advantages and disadvantages of various financial choices:
Taking Control of Your FinancesSimple versus Compound Interest
The Power of Compounding
Savings Plans and Investments
Loan Payments, Credit Cards, and Mortgages
Debt and Its Consequences for Individuals, Families, and Nations
Making Wise Financial Choices
- Learn to competently evaluate and resolve real-life problems that require quantitative reasoning:
Recognizing Fallacies
Propositions and Truth Values
Venn Diagrams
Induction versus Deduction
Analyzing Inductive and Deductive Arguments
Problem-Solving Strategies
Quantitative Reasoning in Everyday Life
