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Course Syllabus

MATH 0850 Math Literacy

  • Division: Natural Science and Math
  • Department: Mathematics
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 4; Lecture: 4; Lab: 0
  • Prerequisites: A minimum ACT of 15 or successful completion of Math 0700 with a C or better, or appropriate placement test score. Prerequisite score or class must have been completed within the last two years or student must (re)take the placement test.
  • Corequisites: None
  • Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
  • Semester Approved: Spring 2025
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2029
  • End Semester: Fall 2030
  • Optimum Class Size: 24
  • Maximum Class Size: 32

Course Description

This course prepares students to take GE math courses (MATH 1030 or MATH 1040) or to take the prerequisites required for more advanced math courses. A graphing calculator and internet access are required.Students are taught to use technology and other mathematical tools (such as algebra, geometry, and statistics) that will help them understand and analyze real-world data with more confidence. They will develop, implement and analyze mathematical models to understand a variety of authentic--and personally relevant-- situations relating to basic personal finance, investment, and business management just to name a few.

Justification

This course is designed to lead students to better numeracy and quantitative literacy in preparation for a non-algebra GE level course such as Math 1030 or Math 1040. These courses generally lead to non-STEM careers. While this course provides some algebra, it also focuses on geometry and statistics which is what better prepares students for the recommended GE courses (Math 1030 and Math 1040).

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be familiar with several types of graphs and charts commonly used to represent data and will be able to intrepret them and create an appropriate graph or chart for a given data set.
  2. Students will be able to make connections and distinctions among linear, quadratic and exponential equations, their graphs and the uses for each as models in our world.
  3. Students will be able to correctly use common Metric and US/Imperial units of measure for length, area, and volume and to make sense of the world of numbers by applying dimensional analysis to convert results to equivalent forms with different units of measurement.

Course Content

Math 0850 covers a wide variety of concepts from basic math, geometry, algebra, and statistics. Specific topics include arithmetic operations on real numbers, order of operations, equations, inequalities, graphing, scientific notation, area, volume, the Pythagorean Theorem, linear functions, quadratic functions, exponential functions, unit conversions, rates of change, percentages, basic probability, measures of center, and statistical graphs.Math 0850 strives to make the content applicable to students by using real-world examples and applications. This may be accomplished by student projects such as restaurant meal analysis for a restaurant of their choice, landscape planning using HOA guidelines and a budget, developing a simple blueprint for a themed water park they invented, or exploring the costs associated with purchasing a car including monthly payments, insurance, and upkeep. It may also be accomplished by in class activities such as currency exchange, investment comparison, and simple analysis of data that students collect or research.