Math 263

Discrete Mathematics

 

Mike O’Leary                                                                     Autumn 2002

Office: 301C Stephens Hall                                                     MWF: 12:35 – 1:25 CK 0016

Office Phone: 410-704-3896                                                    Section: 407

Email: moleary@towson.edu                                                    

Office Hours: M 2-3, Tu 2-3, W 6-7.

 

Prerequisites: Four years of high school mathematics or MATH 119.

 

Catalog Description: Sets, logic, induction, functions, relations, sequences, recursion, combinatorics, graphs and trees, matrices with an emphasis on applications in computer science.

 

Learning Objectives:

1.       To develop the ability to think abstractly in order to read, understand and construct mathematical proofs.

2.       To explore some of the discrete structures used in mathematics and computer science, such as sets, functions, and relations.

3.       To develop a familiarity with algorithms, to be able to analyze their output using induction and recursion and to be able to carry them out.

 

Academic Integrity: The nature of higher mathematics requires that students adhere to accepted standards of academic integrity. Violations of academic integrity include cheating, plagiarism, falsification and fabrication, complicity in academic dishonesty, personal misrepresentation and proxy, bribes, favors and threats. Cheating is a serious offense that will have grave consequences for your academic life.

Students who violate these standards will either fail the course outright or, at the instructor’s discretion, may merely receive a zero on any assignment for which the student receives inappropriate assistance. Particularly serious violations of these standards will be referred to the administration for possible additional action.

 

Instructional Material: The primary required text is Discrete Mathematics with Applications, 2nd ed., by Susanna S. Epps, Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 1997.

 

Attendance: Attendance is expected; you should only miss a class for a compelling reason. If you do miss a class, you are responsible for any material that you miss, including any homework assignments given in that class. Unexcused absences can result in a lower grade.

 

Homework: The only way to learn mathematics is by doing problems, problems, and more problems. In addition to the labs, homework will be assigned on a regular basis, and will form a substantial portion of your final grade. Expect to spend a substantial amount of time studying and working on homework. The general rule is two to three hours outside class for each hour inside; this translates to about 6-9 hours of homework and personal study per week.

 

Quizzes: Occasional unannounced quizzes may be given. For purposes of determining the final grade, they shall be treated as a homework assignment.

 

Guidelines for Homework:

                (1) Late work will not be accepted without a compelling reason.

                (2) Assignments are required to be neat, clean, and paper-clipped or stapled.

                (3) Assignments must include the author’s name, and a brief description of the assignment.

                (4) Students are allowed to discuss homework problems with their classmates, however all work that is turned in must be the student’s own work.

                Any assignment that does not meet these criteria may receive a deduction in score, or more generally will simply be rejected.

               

Midterms: There shall be four midterm examinations, tentatively scheduled for September 20, October 14, November 8, and December 11. Attendance is expected. Make-up exams shall only be given for compelling reasons; all excuses are subject to verification.

               

Final Exam: The Final Exam is scheduled for Monday, December 16, from 12:30 – 2:30.  The final exam will not be rescheduled. Attendance is expected; a make-up exam will not be given without an extremely compelling reason. The final exam shall be comprehensive.

 

Final Grade: Final grades shall be determined by the following method:

                Homework/Quizzes              25%

Midterms                                   40%                       

Final                                            35%                       

Note the weight of the final.

                The last day to withdraw from the course with a grade of “W” is November 6.

 

Distance Education: This course is offered via fiber-optic cable to select local high schools. Because of the unusual nature of the course, students must be on their best behavior. The instructor reserves the right to lower the grade of any student who disrupts the class.

               

Help: If you have difficulty completing a homework assignment, do not hesitate to ask for help, either from your friends, or from me. You are welcome to stop by my office, for whatever reason, and at whatever time, even if there are no office hours scheduled then. If you wish, you may also simply send an e-mail message.

 

Web Page: My web page at http://www.towson.edu/~moleary has a page devoted to this course, which contains the syllabus, and copies of exams once they are given. Also archived on that site are copies of all of the old exams that I have given while at Towson.