Mathematics

MA 114-001 Home Page

Semester: Fall 2004
Time: MWF 8:05 - 8:55 a.m.
Place: Harrelson 107

Name: Stephen Schecter
E-mail address: schecter@math.ncsu.edu
Office location: Harrelson 349
Office hours: 9:10 - 10:00 a.m. MTWHF
Office telephone number: 515-6533
Office fax number: 515-3798

Name: Douglas Marks
E-mail address: ddmarks@ncsu.edu
Office hours: 10:15 - 11:00 a.m. MW in Harrelson 358

Name: Sameer Shapariya's
E-mail address: sjshapar@unity.ncsu.edu
Supplementary Instruction sessions: Go to SI home page, click on "Students," then on "Schedule of sessions," and scroll down to MA 114-001.

Elementary matrix algebra including operations, inverses, and systems of equations; introduction to linear programming including the simplex method; sets and counting techniques; elementary probability including conditional probability; Markov chains; applications in the behavioral, managerial and biological sciences.

MA 101 or equivalent.

Lavon Page and Sandra Paur, Topics in Finite Mathematics, Pearson, 1996, $30.25.

Click here for the schedule of lecture topics and tests.

Attendance at all meetings of the class is expected. Students are expected to arrive on time, to behave in such a way as to contribute to the learning environment, and to stay until the class ends.

We will make a seating chart on Monday, August 23. Please decide by then where you would like to sit. We will use the seating chart to take attendance and to pass back tests.

The attendance record is used to answer inquiries by University administrators. It is not used in grading.

We will use WebAssign for submitting and grading homework. Check WebAssign regularly for assignments and due dates. In general, the assignment on a section will be due about five days after the section is discussed in lecture.

Here is a short document on getting started with WebAssign.

In addition, I may assign homework from the text to be done at home and discussed (but not turned in) at the next class. Homework assignments are here.

I sometimes send e-mail to the class. E-mail goes to the address you have given to the University. To see what this address is, go to the University OnLine Directory and look yourself up. If that is not the e-mail address you want, there is a link that lets you change it.

The Matrix Algebra Tool helps with matrix algebra.

The Row Op Tool helps with row operations.

You can watch MA 114 video lectures over the internet at the MA 114 Online Home Page.

Tutoring in MA 114 may be available through the Mathematics Department Multimedia Center. The Multimedia Center also has videotaped MA 114 lectures.

The Undergraduate Tutorial Center offers supplementary instruction for our class. (Click on "Students," then on "Schedule of sessions," and scroll down to MA 114-001.)

WebCT can be used for on-line discussions about the course, and to check your test grades. (You check your homework grades through WebAssign.)

To log in to WebCT, go to http://webct.ncsu.edu, log in, and click on MA 114-001. Then click on "Discussions" or "My grades."

If you click on "Discussions," you will see a list of discussion topics, and you will see if there are any messages you have not read. You can post messages under the various topics, read messages, and reply to messages. Only people in our class have access to these messages.

You can use the topic "About us" to introduce yourself to the class. The topic "All" includes all the messages from all the topics.

Apparently only the instructor can create new topics. If you would like a topic added, send me an e-mail.

Some suggestions about messages:


• When you compose a message, try to give it a subject that helps people decide if they want to read it. The subject should not be "Re: previous message" if a different subject would be clearer.
• The compose window has an equation editor to help you type mathematics.
• If you post a message that you later regret, let me know. I can delete it.

Some suggestions about WebCT:


• WebCT pages have help buttons at the upper right.
• The managers of WebCT suggest that you not use your browser's back and forward buttons within WebCT.
• There is much helpful information at http://webct.ncsu.edu.

There will be four hour tests and a final exam. For dates see the schedule.

If you miss a test, I will need a letter documenting the reason. Makeup tests can only be given for reasons such as illness, family emergency, participation in a University-sponsored event, required court attendance or military duty, or religious observances as certified by the Department of Student Development. See the University policies.

If you know you will be absent on a test date, you must clear the absence with me in advance and schedule a makeup date. In the case of an unanticipated absence on a test date, you must give me documentation and schedule a makeup date as soon as possible. Again, see the University policies.

On all tests that you turn in for this course, you must show your work to receive credit.

• 10% of your grade will be based on WebAssign assignments.
• Each of the four hour tests counts as 18% of your grade.
• The final exam counts as 36% of your grade.
• The percentages add up to 118%. We adjust as follows:
  • If the lowest of your test and exam grades is an hour test, it is dropped.
  • If the lowest of your test and exam grades is the final exam, it only counts as 18% of your grade.

Please review the University guidelines on academic integrity here (items 7 - 13).

The NC State policy on working with students with disabilities can be found here.

NC State home page