MAT-144

College Mathematics

Course Syllabus

Version 15.0
College Mathematics

Course Code Type Duration Credit Hours

MAT-144 v:15 Credit Based 49 Days 4.0
.0

Course Description

The course covers mathematics that matter in modern society. Key areas of focus include financial literacy,
numerically-based decision making, growth, scale, and numerical applications. The course applies basic college-level
mathematics to real-life problems and is appropriate for students whose majors do not require college algebra or higher.

Pre-Requisites

None

Co-Requisites

None

MAT-144

C Course Materials

Thinking Quantitatively: Communicating with Numbers

Description:

Use this link to access the text via MyMathLab.

MyMathLab Course Home

Description:

Students are provided access to MyMathLab for this course. MyMathLab is an external website
where the majority of the assignments in this course are completed. Access to MyMathLab is
provided for assignments and assigned reading through the MyMathLab tab within Course Material.

Please note you are not required to submit assignments completed in MyMathLab to LoudCloud.
Your instructor will update your grades within seven days of the due date of your assignment.

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 MyMathLab Announcements

Description:

MyMathLab Integration Support

Description:

NA
MyMathLab Gradebook

Description:

NA
MyMathLab Browser Check

Description:

NA
MyMathLab Multimedia Library

Description:

MyLab Math Guided Worksheets

Description:

NA
The Math Center

Description:

For additional help with mathematical concepts refer to the Math Center, located in the Student
Success Center.

Math Help Links

Description:

Use the following links as additional resources to help with completing the homework assignments and studying for
exams.

CIA World Factbook

Description:

Use the CIA World Factbook to assist you in completing the projects throughout the course.

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 U.S. Department of State

Description:

Use the U.S. Department of State website to assist you in completing projects throughout the course.

Algebra Review Part 1

Description:

"Algebra Review Part 1" provides a review of properties of real numbers.

Algebra Review Part 2

Description:

"Algebra Review Part 2" provides a review of linear equations, formulas, percents, inequalities, and absolute value.

Algebra Review Part 3

Description:

"Algebra Review Part 3" provides a review of graphing linear equations and inequalities, slope of a line, formulas, and
functions.

Algebra Review Part 4

Description:

"Algebra Review Part 4" provides a review of systems of linear equations.

Algebra Review Part 5

Description:

"Algebra Review Part 5" provides a review of exponents and polynomials.

T Topic 1: Mathematical Relationships

Description

Objectives:

1. Compute monthly payments and interest cost of loans.

2. Differentiate between types of statistics.
3. Interpret data from different types of graphs.
4. Use descriptive statistics and graphs to solve application problems.
S Study Materials

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 Thinking Quantitatively: Communicating with Numbers

Description:

Read Chapter 1.

T Tasks

Module 1 Homework

Description:

Complete the Module 1 Homework in MyMathLab. You have unlimited attempts to complete the
homework.

Topic 1 DQ 1

Description:

In Chapter 1 of the text (1-13) you will look at calculating a monthly payment for a loan. A simpler
problem is to compute the amount a loan would cost you in one month.

Using information from an internet source, determine the current interest rate a credit card or loan.
Suppose you borrow $1,000 (or spend $1,000) on a credit card. How much will you owe in one
month? 6 months if you pay nothing for 6 months?

Compute the 6 month cost in two ways:

1. Make 6 monthly computations. Enter these as formulas in a spreadsheet. (The goal here is
really getting you to use spreadsheets and formulas for computations.)
2. Use the formula, A= 1000*(1 + r)^(N) where N = the number of periods (6) and r = the periodic
interest rate = APR/12, where APR is the annual percentage rate.

Here are a couple of options to research loans that do not require personal information.
Top10PersonalLoans, Credit Karma.

A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is required for this DQ.

Topic 1 DQ 2

Description:

Roll two dice and add the numbers. Roll the dice 40 times and record your results. Find the eight
descriptive statistics in the Chapter 1 for this data set.

A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is required for this DQ.

T Topic 2: Ratios

Description

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Objectives:

1. Apply ratios to solve application problems.

2. Solve problems using the properties of the normal distribution.
3. Decide if the normal distribution is an appropriate model for a given data set.
S Study Materials

Thinking Quantitatively: Communicating with Numbers

Description:

Read Chapter 2.

T Tasks

Module 2 Homework

Description:

Complete the Module 2 Homework in MyMathLab. You have unlimited attempts to complete the
homework.

Major Assignment 1

Description:

Answer directly on the worksheet.

This assignment uses a scoring guide. Review the scoring guide on the first tab of the spreadsheet prior to beginning the
assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

Topic 2 DQ 1

Description:

Go to https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/xx.html, choose a country, and

find the following rates: Birth, Death, and Net Immigration for the most current year. Use the rates
and the current population to find the number of each category expected for that year - use ratio
tables and be sure to attach them to your answer.

A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is required for this DQ.

Topic 2 DQ 2

Description:

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 According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the mean height of an American male is 69.3
inches and the mean height of an American female is 63.8 inches. The standard deviation for both
genders is 2.7 inches.

Assuming that heights among a single gender are normally distributed. Find the z-score for your
height in inches using the mean of your own gender and then find the percentile at which you fall
among people of your own gender using the percentile table from problem 25 of the Topic 2
Homework.

A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is required for this DQ.

T Topic 3: Unit conversions

Description

Objectives:

1. Convert units using dimensional analysis.

2. Explain how standard deviation and margin of error relate to statistical surveys.
3. Compute empirical probability of an event.
S Study Materials

Thinking Quantitatively: Communicating with Numbers

Description:

Read Chapter 3.

T Tasks

Module 3 Homework

Description:

Complete the Module 3 Homework in MyMathLab. You have unlimited attempts to complete the
homework.

Quiz 1

Description:

Complete Quiz 1 in MyMathLab. Quiz 1 covers material from Chapters 1-3.

Topic 3 DQ 1

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 Description:

Choose one country that you might like to visit. Select a duration for your trip between two and six weeks, and then
choose a number of participants between 5 and 10 people. Suppose one goal of your group is to speak to every adult
citizen in the country. How many citizens must each missionary need to talk to per day, per hour, and per second to
speak to every adult citizen in that country? Is that goal reasonable?

A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is required for this DQ.

Topic 3 DQ 2

Description:

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the mean height of an American male is 69.3 inches and the mean
height of an American female is 63.8 inches. The standard deviation for both genders is 2.7 inches.

According to Chebyshev’s Theorem 75% of the data for your gender lies between what two heights?
If height is assumed to be normal, what percentage of the data lies between those same two heights?

Look in the Guided Worksheets on page 49 for more information.

A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is required for this DQ.

T Topic 4: Percentages in the Real World

Description

Objectives:

1. Convert between fractions, decimals, and percentages.

2. Determine percent increase or decrease.
3. Solve application problems involving percent.
S Study Materials

Thinking Quantitatively: Communicating with Numbers

Description:

Read Chapter 4.

T Tasks

Module 4 Homework

Description:

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 Complete the Module 4 Homework in MyMathLab. You will have unlimited attempts to complete the
homework.

Major Assignment 2

Description:

Answer directly on the worksheet.

This assignment uses a scoring guide. Review the scoring guide on the first tab of the spreadsheet prior to beginning the
assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

Please note that the Confidence Interval Explanation document is provided for reference and assistance with Major
Assignment 2.

Topic 4 DQ 1

Description:

Define what a percent is? Write your height in inches. Suppose it increases by 15%, what would your new height be?
Now suppose your increased height decreases by 15% after the 15% increase; what is your new height?

A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is required for this DQ.

Topic 4 DQ 2

Description:

Many students take online courses because they are more convenient for their schedules. What are some of the tradeoffs
for taking an online course in a subject such as math? What tools are you using to overcome these challenges?

T Topic 5: Linear Models

Description

Objectives:

1. Solve linear equations.

2. Use spreadsheet applications.
S Study Materials

Thinking Quantitatively: Communicating with Numbers

Description:

Read Chapter 5.

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T Tasks

Module 5 Homework

Description:

Complete the Module 5 Homework in MyMathLab. You have unlimited attempts to complete the
homework.

Quiz 2

Description:

Complete Quiz 2 in MyMathLab. Quiz 2 covers material from Chapters 4 and 5.

Topic 5 DQ 1

Description:

Select one of the options below and create a linear equation to represent the monthly bill for each Plan A and Plan B, you
will have two equations, one for each plan. Find the common number of minutes at which both Plan A and Plan B cost
the same amount. This number of minutes is called the break-even point. Which plan costs more before the break-even
point and which cost more after the break-even point.

Option 1: Plan A $39.99 for 200 min and $1.25 for each min after. Plan B $29.99 for 200 min and $1.50 for each min
after.

Option 2: Plan A $25.75 plus $.75 per min. Plan B $20.99 plus $1.00 per min

Option 3: Plan A $39.99 plus $1.25 per min. Plan B $25.99 plus $1.75 per min

Option 4: Plan A $45.99 for 400 min and $.50 for each min after. Plan B $49.99 for 400 min and $.40 for each min after

A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is required for this DQ.

Topic 5 DQ 2

Description:

In Chapter 1 of the text we looked at calculating a monthly payment for a loan. A related formula is to calculate the
amount accruing when regular payments are made into an interest bearing account - often called the Savings Plan
formula.

(A is the accrued amount after t years of making regular payments, PMT, into an account at interest rate, r%,
compounded n times each year.)

A(t) = PMT·((1 + r/N)N·t - 1)/(r/N)

= PMT*((1 + r/N)^(N*t) - 1)/(r/N)
The second version is essentially in the form used in Excel

Suppose you want to buy a car and have decided that you can save $100 a month. Using information from an internet
source, determine the current interest rate on savings accounts and use the information to answer the following:

1. How much money will you have saved in two year’s time?
2. How much will be interest?
3. Why wouldn’t a linear model work here?

Here is one option to research accounts that does not require personal information: NerdWallet

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 A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is required for this DQ.

T Topic 6: Exponential Models

Description

Objectives:

1. Solve exponential equations.

2. Compare linear and exponential growth.
3. Calculate simple interest.
4. Apply statistics to solve problems.
S Study Materials

CIA World Factbook

Description:

Choose one country from the list provided in the Course Materials that you would consider going to for your mission
trip. Research the country using The World Factbook found on the Central Intelligence Agency website.

U.S. Department of State

Description:

Use the U.S. Department of State website to assist you with your mission trip project.

Thinking Quantitatively: Communicating with Numbers

Description:

Read Chapter 6-7.

T Tasks

Module 6 Homework

Description:

Complete the Module 6 Homework in MyMathLab. You have unlimited attempts to complete the
homework.

Major Assignment 3

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 Description:

Refer to Major Assignment 3 attachments (Major Assignment 3, Major Assignment 3 Details, and Country
List).

Research the country using The World Factbook found on the Central Intelligence Agency website at
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/, other resources such as the U.S. Department of
State website at https://www.state.gov/travel/, and the GCU Library.

Include three or more scholarly resources, including the textbook and The World Factbook.

Use the Country List to help you complete Major Assignment 3.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guides and Templates, located
in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with
the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles
for assistance.

Topic 6 DQ 1

Description:

Use the digits of your birthday as the amount of your initial investment (i.e., 6/25 is $625), calculate the value of this
investment after 10 years at 3.5% APR for interest compounded yearly, quarterly, monthly, and daily. What do you
notice?

A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is required for this DQ.

Topic 6 DQ 2

Description:

Using the average inflation rates from: http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/historical-inflation-rates/ use the

geometric mean to find the average percent change in inflation for the past 5 years.

A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is required for this DQ.

T Topic 7: Personal Finance

Description

Objectives:

1. Find the interest, the balance due, and the minimum monthly payment for loans.
S Study Materials

Thinking Quantitatively: Communicating with Numbers

Description:

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 Read Chapter 9.

T Tasks

Module 7 Homework

Description:

Complete the Module 7 Homework in MyMathLab. You have unlimited attempts to complete the
homework.

Quiz 3

Description:

Complete Quiz 3 in MyMathLab. Quiz 3 covers material from Chapters 6, 7 and 9.

Topic 7 DQ 1

Description:

What are the four major categories of securities? How are they evaluated?

Topic 7 DQ 2

Description:

What are your favorite and least favorite experiences in this class so far? When responding, please refrain from using
names and sharing comments that are inappropriate for the discussion forum.

Grade Scale

Final Grade Column

Letter Grade GPA Value Minimum (%) Maximum (%)

A 4.0 93.0 100.0

A- 3.7 90.0 92.99

B+ 3.3 87.0 89.99

B 3.0 83.0 86.99

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 B- 2.7 80.0 82.99

C+ 2.3 77.0 79.99

C 2.0 70.0 76.99

D 1.0 60.0 69.99

F 0.0 0.02 59.99

I 0.0 0.0 0.01

Grade Categories

Assignments (%) Points Percentile

Major Assignment 3 250.0 --

Major Assignment 2 125.0 --

Major Assignment 1 125.0 --

Module 4 Homework 20.0 --

Module 2 Homework 20.0 --

Module 1 Homework 20.0 --

Module 5 Homework 20.0 --

Quiz 2 50.0 --

Module 3 Homework 20.0 --

Quiz 3 50.0 --

Module 7 Homework 20.0 --

Module 6 Homework 20.0 --

Quiz 1 50.0 --

Discussion Question (%) Points Percentile

Topic 5 DQ 1 5.0 --

Topic 4 DQ 1 5.0 --

Topic 6 DQ 1 5.0 --

Topic 1 DQ 1 5.0 --

Topic 2 DQ 1 5.0 --

Topic 5 DQ 2 5.0 --

Topic 3 DQ 2 5.0 --

Topic 6 DQ 2 5.0 --

Topic 3 DQ 1 5.0 --

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Topic 7 DQ 1 5.0 --

Topic 7 DQ 2 5.0 --

Topic 2 DQ 2 5.0 --

Topic 1 DQ 2 5.0 --

Topic 4 DQ 2 5.0 --

Participation (%) Points Percentile

20.0 --

Participation (%) Points Percentile

20.0 --

Participation (%) Points Percentile

20.0 --

Participation (%) Points Percentile

20.0 --

Participation (%) Points Percentile

20.0 --

Participation (%) Points Percentile

20.0 --

Participation (%) Points Percentile

20.0 --

Class Effective Start: Nov 18, 2019

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