MATH 102 - Quantitative Reasoning4 Credit: (4 lecture, 0 lab, 0 clinical) 4 Contact Hours: [Math Level 4 ] This is a terminal course in mathematics intended to satisfy the mathematics general education requirement for students pursuing bachelor’s degrees. Topics covered will include voting methods, graphical displays, probability distribution, weighted average & expected value, absolute vs relative change, mathematical modeling (linear, exponential, logistic), regression analysis, correlation vs causation, exponential growth & limitations, and introductory statistics. OFFERED: every semester
Course Goals/ Objectives/ Competencies: Goal 1: Interpret and communicate quantitative information and mathematical and statistical concepts using language appropriate to the context and intended audience.
- Use appropriate mathematical and statistical language in oral, written, and graphical forms.
- Read and interpret authentic texts such as advertisements, consumer information, government forms, and newspaper articles containing quantitative information, including graphical displays of quantitative information.
Goal 2: Make sense of problems, develop strategies to find solutions, and persevere in solving them.
- Develop an answer to an open-ended question requiring analysis and synthesis of multiple calculations, data summaries, and/or models.
Goal 3: Reason, model, and draw conclusions or make decisions with mathematical, statistical, and quantitative information.
- Draw conclusions or make decisions in quantitatively based situations that are dependent upon multiple factors.
- Present written or verbal justifications of decisions that include appropriate discussion of the mathematics involved.
- Present written or verbal justifications of decisions that include appropriate discussion of the mathematics involved.
Goal 4: Critique and evaluate quantitative arguments that utilize mathematical, statistical, and quantitative information.
- Evaluate the validity and possible biases in arguments presented in authentic contexts based on multiple sources of quantitative information (e.g., advertising, internet postings, consumer information, political arguments).
Goal 5: Use appropriate technology in a given context.
- Use a spreadsheet to organize quantitative information and make repeated calculations using simple formulas.
- Use the internet to find quantitative information on a given subject and evaluate the validity and possible bias of information based on the source.
- Use internet-based tools appropriate for a given context (e.g., an online tool to calculate credit card interest).
Goal 6: Draw conclusions and/or make decisions based on analysis and critique of quantitative information using proportional reasoning.
- Solve real-life problems requiring interpretation and comparison of complex numeric summaries which extend beyond simple measures of center.
- Solve real-life problems requiring interpretation and comparison of various representations of ratios (i.e., fractions, decimals, rates, and percentages).
- Distinguish between proportional and nonproportional situations and, when appropriate, apply proportional reasoning.
Goal 7: Draw conclusions and/or make decisions by analyzing and/or critiquing mathematical models, including situations for which the student Quantitative Reasoning Course Outcomes QR must recognize underlying assumptions and/or make reasonable draw conclusions or make decisions and communicate their rationale based on understanding, analysis, and critique of self-created or reported statistical information and statistical summaries.
- Analyze and critique mathematical models and be able to describe their limitations.
- Use models, including models created with spreadsheets or other tools, to estimate solutions to contextual questions, identify patterns, and identify how changing parameters affect the results.
- Choose and create models for bivariate data sets, and use the models to answer questions and draw conclusions or make decisions.
Goal 8: Apply probabilistic reasoning to draw conclusions, to make decisions, and to evaluate outcomes of decisions.
- Evaluate claims based on empirical, theoretical, and subjective probabilities.
- Use data displays and models to determine probabilities (including conditional probabilities) and use these probabilities to make informed decisions.
Goal 9: Draw conclusions or make decisions and communicate their rationale based on understanding, analysis, and critique of self-created or reported statistical information and statistical summaries.
- Use statistical information from studies, surveys, and polls (including when reported in condensed form or as summary statistics) to make informed decisions.
- Create and use visual displays of data.
- Summarize, represent, and interpret data sets on a single count or measurement variable.
- Use properties of distributions to analyze data and answer questions.
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