Commonwealth University                                                                                                                                                     Fall 2024

 

Discrete Mathematics - Math 250

TuTh 2:00pm – 3:15pm, BCH 306

 

Instructor:  Dr. Kevin Ferland

Email:  kferland@commonwealthu.edu

Web Page: http://facstaff.bloomu.edu/kferland/    ß Class web page can be accessed from here.

Office:  Ben Franklin 225       

Phone:  389-4502, Messages can be left at the Department Office 389-4500.  However, email is better.

Office Hours: MWF 9:55am - 10:55am

                        TuTh 12:55pm - 1:55pm

or by appointment

 

Text Book: 

Discrete Mathematics and Applications, Second Edition, Kevin Ferland, CRC Press © 2017.

 

Calculator:

A calculator can be used as an aid for this course, and you may use it to do your homework when appropriate.  However, always be aware of the times that you do use your calculator, since you will be required to show your work on tests and the final exam.  I.e. THE USE OF A CALCULATOR OR ANY DEVICE ON QUIZZES, TESTS, AND THE FINAL EXAM IS FORBIDDEN.

 

Homework:

The practice of doing homework is perhaps the most important aspect of your learning the material for this course.  Keeping up with the daily homework assignments will enable you to best understand the ideas presented in class.  It will also enable you to filter out those questions that give you the greatest difficulty and that need to be discussed in class.  Some time at the end of each class will be devoted to solving homework questions. You should read each section before it is discussed in class.  This will allow you to get the greatest benefit from class time, rather than merely taking dictation.  Homework will always be assigned for your benefit, and it is important that you do it.  Homework will neither be collected nor graded.

 

Quizzes:

Approximately every week there will be either an in-class quiz or a homework assignment to hand in.  A quiz may be unannounced, although most often quizzes will be announced ahead of time.  There will be NO MAKEUPS since the 2 lowest grades will be dropped.  This will accommodate students who need to miss a class regardless of the reason.   Note:  This portion of your grade will occur in 8 point chunks.  After two quizzes are dropped, your overall quiz percentage will be computed and multiplied by 50 points.

 

Tests:

There will be three in-class tests, each worth 50 points. 

                Thursday, September 26.

Thursday, October 24.

Thursday, November 21.

You will need to be well prepared for each test.  If you have kept up with doing and understanding your daily homework, then studying for the test should not be difficult. Each test will be written under the assumption that you have practiced many problems of a similar type and can therefore work efficiently during the test.  Your ability to do problems in a timely manner could affect your test score.  The tests will not be curved.

 

Final Exam:

Thursday, December 12, 12:30pm – 2:30pm, BCH 306.

The Final Exam will be cumulative.  Do not make plans to leave campus before this exam is over.  If you have a preexisting conflict, then you must see your instructor during the first week of class.  Unless the final exam is missed due to a sudden emergency and the instructor is informed immediately, a missed final exam counts as zero.

 

Attendance / Participation:

You are required to attend every class and to be on time.  Being late will count the same as being absent.  I will keep track of all of this stuff, and I am strict.  You are responsible for everything that goes on in class, and success in this class cannot be expected without regular attendance.  Participation in class by asking and/or responding to questions is expected.  Note that this component of the grade does have an impact on your grade at an amount approximately equal to two steps on the grade scale.

 

Makeups:

There will be no makeup tests given.  If you must miss a test for a legitimate reason, be sure to contact the instructor before the test with verification of the cause of your absence.  If that is not possible, you must contact the instructor at the earliest opportunity. In the case of a documented and excused absence, the missing grade will be made up from the corresponding part of the final exam.  In all other cases the missed exam counts as a zero.

 

Grading Policy:

Quizzes (drop 2)                                                   50 points (total)

                3 in-class tests                                                       150 points (total) 50 points each

                Attendance                                                           20 points

                Final Exam                                                           100 points

                Total Possible                                                       320 points

 

                The minimum number of points required for each letter grade is as follows:

                A             288 points

                A-            278

                B+           266

                B             256

                B-            246

                C+           234

                C             224

                C-            214

                D+           202

                D             192

                F              below 192

 

Academic Honesty:

All cases of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Chair of the Mathematics Department.  There will be no tolerance for cheating.

 

Students with Disabilities:

Any student who may need special consideration because of any sort of disability should make an appointment to see the instructor as soon as possible.