M325K Fall 2007
Unique #: 58830
Lecture : TTh 11:00-12:30 in RLM 7.124
Textbook: Grimaldi, "Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics",
5th edition
Syllabus: Chapters I-VII, with some additions and deletions
Office Hours: TTH 2:05-3:25 in RLM 12.130. 0
Grading Scheme
At most every lecture I shall assign homework, which is to be turned in
on Thursday of the following week. I will not accept late homework,
but I will drop the three lowest or missed homeworks.
The homework counts 20% towards the course grade.
You are encouraged to collaborate in groups on the homework
and further study, and to turn in only one homework per group.
There will be three (3) midterm tests, each worth 15% and covering
the material presented prior to the test.
The comprehensive final test counts 35%.
The worst (or missed) midterm test is replaced by the score from
the final test if that improves the total.
I can't allow you to miss two or more of the midterm tests, though, and
there will be NO make-up test.
Here
are some recent grade distributions resulting from this grading scheme.
Absences drag down the grade as explained below.
I do not grade on the curve. The scheme is this:
90-100: A, 80-89.9: B, 70-79.9: C, 60-69.9: D, below 60: F.
I am not permitted to change this grading scheme, for example by
assigning extra work if a few points are missing for a higher grade.
Also, I do not cook the books,
not even for the most charming, needy, or pushy student.
The midterm tests are scheduled
on the following Thursdays during class time:
October 2, October 30, and December 4.
The
final test is scheduled for
Friday December 12 from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.
Put these dates on your calendar now!
Most test problems are taken from the book, perhaps slightly altered.
There are usually 5-6 problems per test, 7-10 for the final test.
Attendance:
There are
very good reasons to attend the classes you paid for.
Also, I have collected some statistics in previous classes,
and found that on the average 3 lectures missed
during the semester will lower the final grade by one level,
as this graph shows.
I'll elevate this from a statistic to a policy:
I will check class attendance.
The third, fourth, and any further absence will cost 3 points (3%) each.
``Absence'' means ``Absence for any reason'', death, visit to the doctor,
sporting or cheerleading event,
and hangover alike. So do not use your
quota of absences frivolously
and then plead hangover, sports, sickness, or death
to extend your quota. It won't fly.
This is not intended to be punitive, rather, to provide
that extra little push our weak flesh needs from time to time.
Students find a way to come to class most of the time,
and this rule hardly ever needs to be applied.
On the other hand, since I started to require attendance
grades have gone up by nearly one level on the average.
Regrades:
I grade very leniently. If I make a mistake in
grading please let me know and I'll fix it--provided the request
to change a score is made within one week of the test or homework
in dispute being returned to the class.
However, the way I apportion partial credit is my prerogative and
I will not change it. I will not entertain arguments about it;
they merely generate ill will.
How to learn:
The most efficient way to learn the material is to
collaborate
and to read ahead.
I will post slides covering the next one or two lectures
on the web. They can serve as your notes, so you won't have to
scribble along. You should read them ahead of the lecture,
so you can ask questions during the lecture.
Make use of the
Learning Skills Center!
Also, the University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate
accommodations for qualified students with disabilities;
for more information contact the Office of the Dean of Students
at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.
Here is a Practice Exam
in dvi format,
in postscript format,
in pdf format.
Thursday August 28:
Lecture 1.
Due 09/04: p 12 # 6, 8, 10, 12, 14a, 16; p 24 # 2, 4, 8, 14, 26, 30.
Tuesday September 2:
Lecture 2.
Due 09/11: p 34 # 2, 4, 12, 16.
Thursday September 4:
Lecture 3.
Due 09/11: p 54 # 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.
Tuesday September 9:
Lecture 4.
Due 09/18: p 66 # 4, 6, 10, 14.
Thursday September 11:
Lecture 5.
Due 09/18: p 84 # 2, 4.
Tuesday September 16:
Lecture 6.
Due 09/25: p100 # 2, 4, 12.
Thursday September 18:
Lecture 7.
Due 09/25: p134 # 8, 14; p146 # 8, 18.
Tuesday September 23:
Lecture 8.
Due 10/02: p156 # 2, 4, 8.
Thursday September 25:
Lecture 9.
Due 10/02: p173 # 4, 6.
Tuesday September 30:
Review.
Thursday October 2: Test 1
Read
Lecture 10 for fun.
Tuesday October 7:
Lecture 12.
Due 10/16: p208 # 2, 4, 6, 8.
Thursday October 9:
Lecture 13.
Due 10/16: p219 # 2, 4, 6, 8, 12.
Tuesday October 14:
Lecture 14.
Due 10/23: p230 # 2, 4, 8, 12.
Thursday October 16:
Lecture 15.
Due 10/23: Compute a generator of ((840,1001)).
p236 # 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12.
Tuesday October 21:
Lecture 16.
Due 10/30: p240 # 2, 4, 6; p245 # 2, 4, 14.
Thursday October 23:
Lecture 17.
Due 10/30: p252 # 2, 4, 12.
Thursday October 23: Review
Thursday October 30: Test 2
Tuesday November 4:
Lecture 18.
Due 11/13:p p258 # 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 15, 16, 17.
Thursday November 6:
Lecture 19.
Due 11/13: p265 # 2, 4, 6, 8, 12; p272 # 2, 4, 6, 8, 12;
p277 # 2, 4, 12, 14.
Tuesday November 11:
Lecture 20.
Due 11/20: p288 # 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 a-c.
Thursday November 13:
Lecture 21.
Due 11/20: p343 # 2, 4, 6.
Tuesday November 18:
Lecture 22.
Due 11/25: p354 # 2, 4, 6, 10, 18, 22.
Thursday November 20:
Lecture 23.
Due 11/25: p364 # 4, 8, 10, 16.
Tuesday November 25:
Lecture 24.
Due 12/04: p370 # 2, 4, 8, 12.
Thursday November 27: Thanksgiving
Tuesday December 2: Review
Thursday December 4: Test 3
Friday December 12, 9:00 AM: Final Test in RLM 7.124