The prerequisite for this course is MATH 151 Calculus & Analytic
Geometry I or its equivalent. MATH 140 Differential Calculus is an
acceptable substitute. There is also a programming corequisite: you should
have taken or be currently taking a programming course such as CMSC 201. If
you are unsure about the programming corequisite, consult the instructor.
This course is a prerequisite for several required courses for computer
science and computer engineering majors including: CMPE 212,
CMSC 313, CMSC 341 and CMSC 441. It is also a highly
recommended course for mathematics majors prior to taking MATH 301
Introduction to Mathematical Analysis. As such the main objectives of this
course are: 1) to train the students to read and write mathematical proofs;
2) to develop the students' mathematical problem solving skills; and 3) to
familiarize the students with standard concepts in discrete mathematics.
Final grades will be based upon homework assignments (26% total), quizzes (48% total) and the final exam (26%). The syllabus lists 13 homework assignments and 6 quizzes. However, if a homework assignment or quiz is canceled and not made up (e.g., because school is closed for snow or some other emergency), the proportion of your grade from homework, quizzes and the final exam will remain the same. That is, homework will still count for 26% of your grade and quizzes 48% of your grade (each homework or quiz will have greater weight).
The final letter grades are based on the standard formula:
0 ≤ F < 60, 60 ≤ D < 70, 70 ≤ C < 80, 80 ≤ B < 90, 90 ≤ A ≤ 100
Depending upon the final distribution of grades in the class, there may be a curve in your favor, but under no circumstances will grades be curved downward.
Grades are given for work done during the semester; incomplete grades will only be given for medical illness or other such dire circumstances.
In-class quizzes are scheduled for Thursday 2/23, 3/9, 3/30, 4/13, 4/27 and 5/11. Make every effort to attend --- unexcused absences will result in a grade of zero for that quiz. Each quiz will be held during the last 30 minutes of the class period.
Since quizzes account for 48% of your final grade, it is the main evaluative instrument for this class. You should think of the homework as practice for the quizzes and the final exam as a second chance to show you have learned the material.
At least half of the credit for each quiz will be from a question that requires you to solve a new problem (i.e., not simply a regurgitation of facts). In order to do well in these quizzes, you must be able to do the types of questions assigned for homework on your own. If you do not learn from doing your homework, you will not pass the quizzes.
You are expected to attend all lectures. You are responsible for all
material covered in the lecture as well as those in the assigned reading.
However, this subject cannot be learned simply by listening to the lectures
and reading the book. In order to master the material, you need to spend
time outside the classroom, to think, to work out the homework and
understand the solutions.
Assignments are due at the beginning of lecture. Late homework will not
be accepted --- this is to allow for timely grading and discussion of the
homework solutions. Reasonable provisions will be made for students who
are delayed by traffic, who are on travel, ... Late homework will be
rejected from students who have obviously been working on homework instead
of attending lecture.
Partial credit will be given for serious attempts on the homework problems.
So you should simply turn in whatever you have accomplished by the
beginning of class. If you cannot attend lecture when homework is due, for
some honorable reason, you must make arrangements to submit your homework
directly to the instructor. Do not ask another student to submit your
homework for you. This is to reduce the temptation to cheat (see below).
You are permitted, but not encouraged, to work with other students
on the homework problems. Most of the homework assignments are
straightforward and should be done independently. This increases the
likelihood that you will have mastered the material for the quizzes. The
occasional brain teaser is more suitable for collaboration. If you do
collaborate with other students, you must acknowledge your collaborators by
listing them on the last page of your homework. Also, you must write up
your homework independently. This means you should only have the
textbook and your own notes in front of you when you write up your homework
--- not your friend's notes, your friend's homework or other reference
material.
You should not have a copy of someone else's homework under any
circumstance. For example, you should not let someone turn in your
homework. Cases of academic dishonesty will be dealt with severely. At the
very least, students who submit copied homework assignments will receive a
grade of 0 for that assignment --- this applies both to the person who copied
the homework and to the person who allowed the his/her homework to be
copied.
The UMBC academic integrity policy is available at http://www.umbc.edu/integrity/students.html.
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