M325K handout

First-day Handout

Fall 2009

M325K – Discrete Mathematics

#57685, RLM 5.122, MWF 1-2 pm

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Jane Arledge, RLM 13.140, arledge@math.utexas.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday, 9 – 11:30 am; Wednesday, 10 – 10:50 am

WEB PAGE: www.ma.utexas.edu/users/arledge

TEXT: We will use the book Discrete Mathematics with Applications, third edition, by Susanna S. Epp. We will cover most of the material in Chapters 1-5, as well as selected additional material from other chapters.

OBJECTIVES OF COURSE: This course serves as a transition from the problem-solving approach of early computational courses, such as calculus, to the entirely rigorous approach of advanced courses. Successful students will leave this course with and understanding of discrete techniques, as well as having become familiar with the language and techniques of proof writing in a discrete context. Topics will include an introduction to formal logic, an introduction to number theory, sequences, an introduction to set theory, functions and relations, and recursion.

PREREQUISITES: Students must have completed M408D or M408L, with a grade of at least C, in order to enroll in this course.

HOMEWORK: I will assign homework from each section of the book and collect each assignment two class days later. A subset of the exercises will be graded. Plan to spend approximately two hours per class period on the assignments. On the class day after I assign homework, I will spent a few minutes answering questions on that section. You are welcome, and encouraged, to work with others on the homework, but your written version of the exercises must be your own work. I am sure that at this point in your mathematical education you understand that you must do the work yourself in order to gain proficiency. The expectation is that you understand the homework; you should see me during my office hours if you cannot work your way through an assigned exercise.

QUIZZES and PROJECTS: There may be a few in-class quizzes or projects, possibly given without notice. There will be no makeup quizzes or projects.

EXAMS: There will be two midterm exams. They are scheduled for Wednesday, September 30 and Wednesday, November 4. These exam dates may change; I will announce any such changes in class well in advance of the exam. The University has scheduled the final exam for this class on Friday, December 11, 2– 5 pm. The final exam will be comprehensive, including the material covered since the second exam. There will be no makeup of exams without a serious reason. You must contact me in advance if you will miss an exam, with documentation of the reason, in order for there to be any hope of accommodation in case of an emergency. You must bring a valid photo ID to all exams. Use of calculators is not allowed during exams.

GRADES: The two midterm exams will each comprise 25% of your grade, and the final exam will comprise 35% of your grade. The other 15% of your grade will come from the homework, and possible quizzes and projects. Your final letter grade will be determined by standard 10-point increments out of 100. I will use plus/minus grades in this class.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Upon request, the University of Texas at Austin provides appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259 or 471-6441 TTY.

DEADLINES FOR DROPPING A COURSE: If you drop a class on or before September 11, the class will not show up on your transcripts. If you drop a class after that date, the course will show up on the transcript with a “Q” grade. After September 23, your Dean must approve drops. After October 21, it is quite difficult to get approval to drop a course, and there may be an academic penalty.

STUDENT CONDUCT: All computers, cell phones and other hand-held devices must be put away out of sight during class.

Please come to class on time. If you will be late or need to leave early for some legitimate reason, please tell me in advance. Coming and going during class is distracting to your fellow students, and they do not like it; I know this because they complain to me about it.

Cheating is dishonorable and disgusting. Keep in mind that honest students do not like cheaters, and often report what they see. If you are caught cheating, you will be penalized as harshly as possible under the rules of UT. Do not cheat.

ATTENDANCE: I have organized this class with the expectation that you will be in class every day, but you decide whether or not to attend. Please understand that it affects only you if you miss class, not me, and I do not take your absences personally. On the other hand, do not email or otherwise contact me to ask what material we covered during class, what the assignments are, when assignments were made, whether or not we had or will have a quiz, what sections the exams will cover, or any other questions that I have answered or will answer during class.

I realize that sometimes an absence is necessary. In such a situation, you should contact a classmate to get notes and information for the class you missed. It is also a good idea to work together during the semester. Please write some names and phone numbers of classmates below.

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ADVICE: You should think about this fact: I will write the lectures and lead the discussion in class, and I will write the exam material (which is 85% of your grade). Therefore, it will be to your advantage to have complete lecture notes to study for exams. Studying the book is good, and being able to do the homework is necessary. However, to use a sporting analogy, doing the homework is exercising during workouts, but taking the exam is playing the game. I will write exam questions that will ascertain whether you have a thorough understanding of the material, and the easiest way to attain such understanding is to work during class, writing notes and listening and thinking and asking questions. The homework exercises are designed to solidify this understanding and enable you to work more quickly when taking exams.

There is a large vocabulary associated with discrete mathematics, much of which may be new to you. In order to be successful in this class, you must learn the definitions. I will point them out in class, and they appear italicized or in definition boxes in the book.