First Day Handout

First-day Handout

Spring 2012

M 325K – Discrete Mathematics

55560, RLM 5.120, TTh 9:30 – 11

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Jane Arledge, RLM 9.144, arledge@math.utexas.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Wednesday 11:30-12:30 and Thursday 2:30-4:30

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

TEXT: We will use the book Discrete Mathematics with Applications, fourth 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 an understanding of introductory discrete techniques, as well as an ability to use the language and techniques of proof writing in a discrete context. Topics will include an introduction to formal logic, number theory, sequences, set theory, and functions and relations.

PREREQUISITES: Students must have completed M 408D, M 408L, or M 408S with a grade of C- or better, in order to enroll in this course.

HOMEWORK: I will assign homework each lecture over the material covered in class, and collect each assignment at the beginning of the next class. A subset of the exercises will be graded. These assignments will also be posted on my web page. Plan to spend approximately two hours on each assignment. 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. There will be more than 20 assignments; only the highest 17 will count toward your grade – this will ensure that the occasional missed assignment will not hurt your grade. If we have any graded quizzes or projects (which may not be announced in advance), their scores will be averaged in as homework scores. No late homework, or makeup of in-class work, will be accepted for any reason.

CLASS PARTICIPATION: We will discuss course material in class, and you are expected to participate, both voluntarily and when called upon. You will be asked to present work in class on the board. You may also be expected to do work outside of class and present it. Your grade for this participation begin with a perfect score, which will drop below perfect only if you are not present when called upon, not prepared when called upon with prior warning, or present your work in a substandard manner in class.

EXAMS: There will be two midterm exams. They are scheduled for Thursday, March 1, and Thursday, April 19. These exam dates may change; I will announce any such changes in class well in advance of the exam. The final exam for this class is scheduled on Thursday, May 10 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 any exam, with documentation of the reason, in order for there to be any hope of taking a makeup exam. The final exam score will replace the lower of the two in-class exam scores, if the final exam score is higher that either of them. 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 30% of your grade, and the final exam will also comprise 30% of your grade. 5% of your grade will come from the homework (and possible quizzes and projects), and 5% is a class participation grade. Your letter grade will be given based on your numerical average earned in the class, on a scale not stricter than the following: you are guaranteed a D for 60 or above, C- for 70 or above, C for 73 or above, C+ for 77 or above, B- for 80 or above, B for 83 or above, B+ for 87 or above, A- for 90 or above, and an A for 93 or above.

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 February 1, the class will not show up on your transcript. If you drop a class after that date, the course will show up on the transcript with a “Q” grade. After April 2, it is not possible to drop a course except for extenuating (usually non-academic) circumstances.

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 it is your decision 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. It has been my experience from teaching this course, numerous times, that students who do not attend class have grades below C.

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 contact information 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 90% 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, 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.