Spring
2008
MATH
240: DISCRETE MATHEMATICS
(9:00 –
9:50 MWF McInnis 254)
Dr. Nicola McLallen
Email: nmclalle@eastern.edu
Office: McInnis
216
Office Phone: 5079
(610-225-5079)
Office
Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 11 –
11:30 am; 2 – 2:30 pm
Course
Prerequisites:
No formal prerequisites, but a strong pre-calculus background is assumed.
Course
Description: This course develops basic symbolic logic, set
theory and proof techniques, and introduces students to discrete structures
including sets, relations, functions, matrices and graphs. These techniques and tools are used to study
basic properties of the integers.
Course
Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Translate statements into
symbolic form using logical connectives and quantifiers.
2. Use symbolic logic and truth
tables to prove the equivalence of statements and determine the validity of an
argument.
3. Identify and correctly use
different methods of proof including direct proof, proof by contradiction and
mathematical induction.
4. Perform operations with sets, relations, permutations, matrices and
graphs.
5. Solve problems using
counting techniques and combinatorics.
6. Correctly prove statements
involving properties of the integers and cardinality of sets.
Text: Discrete Mathematics with Graph Theory by Goodaire and Parmenter.
Attendance Policy: Attendance is absolutely
essential to success in this class. You are expected to attend every class;
please notify the professor if you know you are going to be absent. All exams must be taken at the scheduled
time.
Student Disability Policy: If you have any documented
special educational needs, you are encouraged to work with the
College Policies: Please note that all college
policies pertaining to academic dishonesty, drop/add procedures, and grade
appeal should be followed by students enrolled in this class. Consult the undergraduate college catalog or
ask the professor if you have questions about these policies.
Teaching Methods: In order to succeed in this
course, you need to be an active participant in learning – both in class and
out of class. Class time will be spent
on lecture as well as discussion of homework problems and some group work. To actively participate in class, you need to
prepare by reading the textbook and doing all assigned homework before class
(homework will be assigned each class period, to be discussed the following
period). You are encouraged to work
together with other students and to ask questions and seek help from the
professor, both in and out of class.
Grading and Testing
Procedures: Your
grade will be calculated from your grades on weekly assignments, three in-class
exams and a final exam, using the scheme
Weekly Assignments 35
%
In-class Exams 40 %
Final 25 %.
Weekly
assignments will be due at the beginning of class on Wednesdays, according to
the attached schedule. Instructions for
each assignment will be given in advance.
These assignments will consist of a selection of problems, some from
homework. Solutions to these assignments
must be neat, clear and well-written. An
important component of this course is the development of logical reasoning and
the writing of proofs; this will be tested in these assignments. You may work
together with others on these assignments, but your written solutions must be
your own. No late assignments will be
accepted.
There
will be three in-class exams, to be given on February 13, March 19 and April
16.
The
final exam is cumulative, and is scheduled for 9:00 AM on Wednesday, April
30. All exams must be taken at the
scheduled time. Note that the final exam
cannot be rescheduled, so please plan accordingly.
Letter
grades will be assigned using the grade cut-offs:
93 A
90 A-
87 B+
83 B
80 B-
77 C+
73 C
70 C-
67 D+
63 D
60 D-
0 F
|
MONDAY |
WEDNESDAY |
FRIDAY |
|
January 14 |
16 |
18 |
|
21 MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY |
23 |
25 |
|
28 |
30 Assignment #1 |
February 1 |
|
4 |
6 Assignment #2 |
8 |
|
11 |
13 EXAM 1 |
15 |
|
18 |
20 Assignment #3 |
22 |
|
25 |
27 Assignment #4 |
29 |
|
March 3 MID- |
5 SEMESTER |
7 VACATION |
|
10 |
12 |
14 |
|
17 |
19 EXAM 2 |
21 GOOD FRIDAY |
|
24 EASTER MONDAY |
26 |
28 |
|
31 |
April 2 Assignment #5 |
4 |
|
7 |
9 Assignment #6 |
11 |
|
14 |
16 EXAM 3 |
18 |
|
21 |
23 |
25 |
|
28 Last Class |
30 FINAL EXAM 9:00 – 11:00 |
May 2 |
|
5 |
|
|