MATH 2001-003, Introduction to Discrete Mathematics
Syllabus
Text
The Book of Proof, Richard Hammack, available
here.
Prerequisites
MATH 1300 or MATH 1310 or APPM 1345 or APPM 1350 (minimum grade C-).
Course Contents
Introduces the ideas of rigor and proof through an examination of basic
set theory, existential and universal quantifiers, elementary counting,
discrete probability, and additional topics.
Grading
Your grade will be computed from:
- Homework: 10% (based on the best 10 of 14 assignments);
- Notebooks: 10%;
- Two Midterms: 25% each;
- Final Exam: 25%;
- Class Participation: 5%.
Students will obtain the full 5% for class participation by default. Points
may be deducted for poor attendance and lack of in-class engagement.
Tests
The two midterms will be held during class on Friday, February 14
and Friday, March 20, 2020.
The final exam will be on Wednesday, May 6, 2020,
from 1:30pm to 4pm
in the usual classroom.
(Check that this agrees with your other sources of information!)
Homework
Weekly homework will be collected, usually on Fridays, with the lowest 4 dropped.
Pink problems will be graded (see Homework page). No late homework will be accepted,
to help develop regularity of habits. There are weekly reading assignments,
which you should not leave for later, because pacing is all-important here: you need
time to read, digest, and write your thoughts out, and finish before the next assignment
comes. Hurrying and cramming will undermine the whole enterprise, which depends rather
upon leisurely contemplation.
Notebooks
You are to keep two notebooks, one for the reading assignments (1-3 pages per assignment),
and one for the theory we develop out of Hammack's book (and MacLane's 3 chapters). Each
notebook should be well organized and cleanly written. The process of writing down summaries
of readings is an exercise: by performing it well, you develop
your own thought-muscles, with the side benefit of producing, and then possessing, quality study (and potentially
teaching) material. My advice is to take the following steps: for each reading assignment and
each chapter of Hammack,
- Read once lightly, maybe annotating.
- Come to class, listen to lecture, ask questions, discuss the topics.
- Read again, carefully this time, looking for things previously discussed and considered.
- Put it all together in your head, and write it down.
I will grade the notebooks (5% each) for quality as well as completeness. I'm trying to get you
to develop your own study materials, through your own work, for your own benefit. I will grade
only to ensure that that happens!
Students With Disabilities
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please
submit your accommodation letter from Disability Services to your faculty
member in a timely manner (at least one week before the exam) so that your
needs can be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based
on documented disabilities in the academic environment. Information on
requesting accommodations is located on the Disability Services website
www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices/students.
Contact Disability Services
at 303-492-8671 or dsinfo@colorado.edu for further assistance. If you have
a temporary medical condition or injury, see Temporary Medical Conditions
under the Students tab on the Disability Services website and discuss your
needs with your professor.
Missed Exams
If you know that you are going to miss an exam or cannot take the final
exam at the scheduled time, please notify your instructor at least two classes
in advance.
If you miss a midterm exam for any acceptable reason (e.g.
religious obligation, documented illness), that midterm exam score will be
replaced by an estimated score based on your performance on the other midterm.
If you miss both exams for acceptable reasons, your midterm scores will be
replaced by estimated scores based on your performance on the final.
If you miss the final exam and have not rescheduled it in
advance, you will score zero on the final or receive an incomplete in the
course, depending on the circumstances.
You may not reschedule a final exam after the exam has started.
In order to be excused from an exam for medical reasons, you must either
produce a note from a doctor, or you must obtain prior permission from the
instructor to miss the exam. Self diagnosis and self medication are not
acceptable for this purpose.
Religious Obligations
Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make
every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of
religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or
required attendance. In this class, you should inform your professor of any
conflict as soon as possible, and at least a week in advance.
In the case of conflicts with exams, if you do not inform your instructor
of the conflict at least two classes in advance of the exam,
you must provide documentary evidence of the religious obligation.
Student Classroom and Course-Related Behavior
Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an
appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral
standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity
are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with
race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed,
religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran
status, political affiliation or political philosophy. Class rosters are
provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor
your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please
advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make
appropriate changes to my records. For more information, see the policies
on classroom behavior and the Student Code of Conduct.
Statement on Discrimination and Harassment
The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) is committed to fostering a
positive and welcoming learning, working, and living environment. CU
Boulder will not tolerate acts of sexual misconduct intimate partner
abuse (including dating or domestic violence), stalking, protected-class
discrimination or harassment by members of our community. Individuals
who believe they have been subject to misconduct or retaliatory actions
for reporting a concern should contact the Office of Institutional Equity
and Compliance (OIEC) at 303-492-2127 or cureport@colorado.edu.
Information about the OIEC, university policies, anonymous reporting,
and the campus resources can be found on the OIEC website.
Honor Code
All students enrolled in a University of Colorado Boulder course are
responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy.
Violations of the policy may include: plagiarism, cheating, fabrication,
lying, bribery, threat, unauthorized access to academic materials, clicker
fraud, submitting the same or similar work in more than one course without
permission from all course instructors involved,
and aiding academic dishonesty. Incidents of
academic misconduct may be reported to the Honor Code Council
(honor@colorado.edu; 303-735-2273). Students who are found responsible for
violating the academic integrity policy will be subject to nonacademic
sanctions from the Honor Code Council as well as academic sanctions from the
faculty member. Additional information regarding the academic integrity
policy can be found at the Honor Code Office website.