Course Number: MTH 104
Credit Hours: 4
Contact Hours: 4 (Lecture); 0 (Lab); 0 (Other)
COURSE RATIONALE: This course is a general math course, intended to inspire students to be actively engaged in mathematical thought. It is designed for students needing a general mathematics course beyond Elementary Algebra. This course will allow students to investigate various problem solving techniques, obtain a better understanding of mathematical ideas that they use on a daily basis, build sharper skills for analyzing life issues that involve mathematics and develop a new perspective and outlook into the way they view the world involving math.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: MTH 104: Foundations of Math. This course allows students to discover some of the mathematics that they use on a daily basis. Students will be actively involved in investigations of mathematics to help them attain a better understanding of mathematical ideas, build sharper skills for analyzing life issues that stem from mathematics and develop a new perspective and outlook at the way they view the world involving mathematics.
Prerequisites: MTH 081 or MTH 082 or higher or appropriate placement by college assessment score
Course Objectives/Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to...
- solve problems using various problem solving techniques.
- develop an understanding of graph theory.
- use algebraic models, both linear and nonlinear.
- use basic probability and statistics to analyze situations that involve random processes.
- solve problems relating to taxes, interest, loans, voting methods, and voting systems.
- develop a deeper understanding of counting using the Fundamental Counting principle and basic combinatorics.
Course Outline:
Problem Solving: Strategies and Principles
- Problem Solving
- Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
- Estimation
Graph Theory (Networks): The Mathematics of Relationships
- Graphs, Puzzles, and Map Coloring
- The Traveling Salesperson Problem
- Directed Graphs
Algebraic Models: How Do We Approximate Reality?
- Linear Equations
- Modeling with Linear Equations
- Modeling with Quadratic Equations
- Exponential Equations and Growth
- Proportions and Variation
Consumer Mathematics: The Mathematics of Everyday Life
- Percents, Taxes, and Inflation
- Interest
- Consumer Loans
- Annuities
- Amortization
- Annual Percentage Rate
Voting: Using Mathematics to Make Choices
- Voting Methods
- Defects in Voting Methods
- Weighted Voting Systems
Counting: Just How Many Are There?
- Introduction to Counting Methods
- The Fundamental Counting Principle
- Permutations and Combinations
Probability: What Are the Chances?
- The Basics of Probability Theory
- Complements and Unions of Events
- Conditional Probability and Intersections of Events
- Expected Value
Resources Included: Upon confirmation of the student's course registration, SC4 will mail an acceptance letter to each student's home address. This letter will contain additional information about login access to the SC4 Portal and establishing a college email account. Students will receive login information to the Canvas learning management system (LMS) via their college email account. The email will provide login procedures necessary to access the online course(s) for which a student is enrolled.
Additional Costs: Required Textbook / Materials: Students or their enrolling schools are responsible to purchase the required textbook and materials listed in the syllabus. Students are responsible for all tuition, books/supplies, and fees the school or school district does not pay; this includes the non-refundable student fee for dropped courses.
To locate your required textbook, use the SC4 Catalog Advanced Search to locate the Section Details and Book Details pertaining to your course section.
- If you have the section number for the course in which you have been registered by SC4, then you can select the Subject of the course name (e.g., Biology) along with the Course Number (e.g., 101) and Section number (e.g., 60) and then click the Search button in order to locate your section description. Click on the Section name and number hyperlink, and scroll down to view the Books Details and Pricing as well as the Book Details, including the required ISBN, title, author, and price. For additional help with textbook information, you may contact the SC4 Bookstore: (810) 989-5725 https://www.bkstr.com/stclaircountyccstore/home.
- If you do not yet have your section number or have not yet registered for the course, then you can locate this information by entering the Term (e.g, Fall 2021), the Course Subject (e.g., Accounting) and Course number (e.g., 211), and select “Online Course” for the Location, prior to clicking on the Search button. Click on “View Available Sections”. Finally click on a section to locate the Section Details and Book Details as described above. NOTE: Prior to purchasing required materials, students should verify that the book details match those displayed in their assigned section once SC4 has completed their dual enrollment registration.
Scoring System: Michigan Virtual does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue diplomas. Michigan Virtual will transmit the final letter grade awarded by SC4 for each dual enrollment course completed to the student and his/her enrolling school.
Time Commitment: Dual enrollment semester sessions are 12-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1.5 or more hours per day in the course to be successful.
Technology Requirements: Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to all web resources linked within the online course content provided by the SC4 Canvas learning management system.
Instructor Support System: For technical issues within your course, contact your SC4 instructor or the college at 810-984-3881.
Instructor Contact Expectations: Students can use their college email or other means provided by their instructor within the course syllabus or within their learning management system once the term has begun when they need instructor assistance. The instructor may describe additional communication options.
Academic Support Available: Disability Services - Support services are available to students at SC4 upon request. For information regarding services provided by St. Clair County Community College, contact the Achievement Center at (810) 989-5759. Students must self-identify their need for assistance.
Required Assessment: Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, instructor-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments.
Technical Skills Needed: No special skills are required beyond being able to operate a computer and use word processing software.
Additional Information: [1] Dual enrollment courses follow unique start, end and last day to withdraw dates for St. Clair County Community College (SC4)’s academic calendar for courses [https://michiganvirtual.org/dualenrollmentdates].
[2] You are consenting to pay the SC4 in-district tuition and fees for the course(s) selected [https://sc4.edu/admissions/tuition-and-fees/]. Michigan Virtual will send an invoice for eligible charges following the enrollment/withdrawal date of each term. Students or their enrolling schools are responsible to purchase the required textbook and materials listed in the syllabus.
[3] SC4 accepts the SAT as qualifying scores for dual enrollment eligibility. If a student has not taken the SAT, then SC4 will evaluate the student’s high school transcript to determine college readiness. Upload the student’s SAT report and/or high school transcript to Michigan Virtual’s Student Learning Portal (SLP) [https://michiganvirtual.org/about/support/knowledge-base/slp-add-sat-and-transcript-files-to-student-account/].
[4] Dual enrollment courses are limited to students attending public or private schools in the State of Michigan. Nonresident or homeschooled students are not eligible to dual enroll.
[5] SC4 will transmit a student’s scores electronically or by mail via Michigan Virtual. Dual enrollment scores will not appear in the SLP.
[6] Students must complete the online webform linked in their registration email before the enrollment will be confirmed.
[7] SC4 will contact the student directly with an acceptance letter and information on accessing the SC4 Portal, a college email account, and the online course content.