FDMAT 108 - Mathematical Tools for the Real World

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Course Overview

FDMAT 108 introduces the quantitative reasoning process. This process teaches you to use algebraic, computational, statistical, and graphical tools to make informed decisions about financial, family, social, and community issues. FDMAT 108 will satisfy the BYU-Idaho Foundations quantitative reasoning requirement, but it does not serve as a prerequisite for college algebra, trigonometry, or calculus-based courses.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the quantitative reasoning course, students will be able to:

• IIdentify real-world situations (e.g. financial, family, social, or community issues) where quantitative reasoning skills are needed to inform a decision.
• List key assumptions and key variables necessary to apply mathematical models of real-world situations.
• Demonstrate the quantitative skills necessary to use mathematical models.
• Use mathematical models to make an informed decision.
• Evaluate decisions made with the Quantitative Reasoning Process.

Description

In each week of this course you will cover one lesson. Each lesson is typically divided into three folders:

• Folder 1: An interactive, multimedia online lesson, followed by a preparation homework assignment.
• Folder 2: An activity, followed by a homework assignment or case study project.
• Folder 3: A homework assignment or case study project.

Learning Model Architecture

The course follows a weekly cycle of Prepare, Teach One Another, and Ponder and Prove activities. Folder 1 helps students prepare, Folders 2 and 3 provide opportunities for students to further learn course material and share what they have learned during group activities. Homework assignments and case study projects give students an opportunity to Ponder and Prove their learning.

The course is not an independent study course. The group teaching and learning activities require students to cover material at the same time and at the same pace.

This course will cover the same material with approximately the same time commitment as the on-campus course.

Prerequisites

The prerequisite for FDMAT 108 can be satisfied by any of the following:

• ACT Math score of at least 18; or
• SAT Math score of at least 430; or
• ALEKS test score of at least 38; or
• Successful completion of MATH 100B, MATH 100G, MATH 100L, or MATH 101.

Required Materials

• Microsoft Excel is required and is free for all BYU-Idaho students. Although you may have Microsoft Excel installed, it may be necessary to upgrade to a later version. Installing or upgrading Excel is free to BYUI students and can be done here.
• At times it may be helpful to have either a scientific calculator or a graphing calculator. Scientific calculator technology www.ecalc.com is free but requires a download.
• Microphone for online discussions (a headset or ear phones along with the microphone is preferred).

Grading Policies

Reading Quizzes (5%)

Each lesson begins with an interactive, multimedia lesson followed by a reading quiz. This reading and reading quiz should be completed each week prior to your group meeting.

Group Assignments (15%)

For all weeks Teach One Another activities will be required. The activities will prepare you for the Maple T.A. Homework and the Excel Case Study assignments.

Homework (15%)

Homework assignments are completed online using Maple T.A., and links to these assignments are found in each section's folder in I-Learn. On each assignment, you are allowed "unlimited attempts" on the problem sets (up until the closing deadline your instructor has set). You are encouraged to keep a homework journal or log so that you have a paper trail and can reference your work as you prepare for each unit exam. You can check your accuracy on each homework problem as you go along; once you submit the entire assignment, then subsequent attempts will give you new versions of the problems. Homework assignments are due on Thursdays or Saturdays at 11:59 PM MT.

The deadlines for all assignment submissions are due according to Mountain Time.

Excel Case Studies (15%)

Several case studies (using Microsoft Excel) explore applications of the quantitative reasoning process. Project deadlines will be announced by your instructor. Missing a project deadline results in a 50% reduction in the score (within one week of the deadline). After that, no points will be awarded.

Exams (50%)

Three unit exams will be given during the semester (100 points each) and an optional final exam (100 points) that could be used to replace a low exam score if needed. Please note that each test can only be taken once, there are no make-up exams, and missing a testing deadline will result in a zero score. All exams will be taken within the I-Learn system under specific security restrictions framed within your personal integrity and the BYU-Idaho Honor Code.

About the optional final exam: Students who take this cumulative test will have four test scores, so the lowest of the four will be dropped. If the final exam is the lowest score, it will be dropped. So the final exam cannot hurt any student's grade; it can only help.

Grading Scale

A    (score ≥ 93%)

A-   (90 ≤ score < 93%)

B+  (87 ≤ score < 90%)

B    (83 ≤ score < 87%)

B-   (80 ≤ score < 83%)

C+  (77 ≤ score < 80%)

C    (73 ≤ score < 77%)

C-   (70 ≤ score < 73%)

D+  (67 ≤ score < 70%)

D    (63 ≤ score < 67%)

D-   (60 ≤ score < 63%)

F     (score < 60%)

Disclaimers

The instructor reserves the right to change any part of this syllabus at any time during the semester in order to adapt to changing course needs. You will be notified prior to any changes that may take place.