| Instructor: | Sean O'Rourke |
| Office: | Math 325 |
| Office Hours: | M: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, W: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm, and by appointment. |
| E-mail: | |
| Lectures: | MWF: 1:00 pm - 1:50 pm in KTCH 1B64 |
| Webpage: | http://math.colorado.edu/~seor3821/teaching/FYSM-1000.18f/ |
| Course Assistant: | Travis Knopf |
"Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body."
-Seneca
In this course, we will immerse ourselves in a series of paradoxes and puzzles that mystify and perplex one's reason. We will explore how mathematical thinking can improve our reasoning and decision-making skills, and allow us to understand the world in a deeper, more meaningful way. Topics include: sudoku, social networks, Friday the 13th, traffic congestion, common knowledge, tennis tournaments, cryptography, the television show Let's Make a Deal and wild-card poker.
There is no assigned text, but we will have readings from various sources throughout the semester.
Your grade in this course will be based on the following:
Every week you will have a written homework assignment, which will give you an opportunity to explore, discuss, and practice the concepts, puzzles, and paradoxes we have learned. These assignments will be announced in class or posted on the course website. Late assignments will not be accepted without documentation or pre-approved permission of the instructor.
Assignments should be legible, have your name on it, and be stapled in order to insure that you get credit. One goal of this course is for you to improve your ability to write clear, precise essays; the assignments (and projects) will be graded accordingly.
I encourage you to discuss the assignments with your classmates, tutors, or me (or any other resources you find helpful). However, the Honor Code requires that the work you turn in must be in your own words and reflect your own understanding.
Each week you will be assigned reading assignments from various sources. You will then complete some online questions (known as warmups) based on the reading. Each warmup assignment is based on 2-4 conceptual questions. These questions serve as preparation for the following lecture and are due one hour before the next class meeting.
Your attendance and participation are necessary parts of this course. To participate you must attend class fully prepared for the day. Participation includes contributing to class discussions, involvement in group work, and asking questions. Questions and comments must be relevant to the topic at hand.
Classroom discussions should be respectful to everyone. Each person is entitled to their own opinion, and classroom discussions are meant to allow us to hear a variety of viewpoints.
At least two major projects will be assigned this semester. For each project, you will choose an appropriate topic, gain approval of that topic from the instructor, conduct an in-depth investigation and exploration on the topic, and then present your findings and discoveries in written and/or presentation form. You are encouraged to also interact with other faculty, graduate students, and experts in the field to further your understanding of the topic. Some projects will be allowed in groups with instructor approval. Each project will be discussed in further detail in class.
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 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. 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.
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.
All students enrolled in a University of Colorado Boulder course are responsible for knowing and adhering to the Honor Code. 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. All incidents of academic misconduct will be reported to the Honor Code (honor@colorado.edu; 303-492-5550). Students who are found responsible for violating the academic integrity policy will be subject to nonacademic sanctions from the Honor Code as well as academic sanctions from the faculty member. Additional information regarding the Honor Code academic integrity policy can be found at the Honor Code Office website.
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 (including sexual assault, exploitation, harassment, dating or domestic violence, and stalking), discrimination, and 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.
Please know that faculty and instructors have a responsibility to inform OIEC when made aware of incidents of sexual misconduct, discrimination, harassment and/or related retaliation, to ensure that individuals impacted receive information about options for reporting and support resources.
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, please notify me as early as possible so arrangements can be made. See the campus policy regarding religious observances for full details.