Math for Social Sciences - MATH 1320
Course Information March 30 - May 15
Math 1320 is a precalculus course for liberal arts, business, and other non-science majors. The topics covered include:
- Linear, quadratic, exponential and logarithmic functions;
- Systems of linear equations;
- Matrix algebra;
- The mathematics of finance;
- The algebra of sets; and
- Probability.
Course Objectives
- Calculate the slope of a line; graph a line; find the equation of a line.
- Use linear concepts in a business context (e.g..., supply/demand and break-even analysis)
- Understand the concept of linear regression and use MS Excel to apply it to real-world data to make predictions.
- Calculate the difference quotient using a nonlinear function.
- Read information from graphs and sketch graphs of nonlinear functions.
- Identify the vertex of a parabola as the maximum or minimum of a quadratic formula and apply this concept to real-world problems (e.g..., maximize the profit and minimize the cost).
- Solve exponential and logarithmic equations.
- Construct exponential models in applications problems (e.g..., radioactive decay and bacteria population growth).
- Understand the concept of quadratic and exponential regression and use MS Excel to apply it to real-world data to make predictions.
- Use substitution and elimination to solve systems with two equations.
- Use the method of Gaussian elimination to solve systems with three equations by hand.
- Use technology (MS Excel or graphing calculators) to solve systems.
- Solve real-world problems involving systems of equations.
- Solve applications problems using simple interest and compound interest.
- Find the present value of or payments made on an annuity or loan.
- Find the future value of or payments made into a sinking fund.
- Use technology to solve financial math problems.
- Find the union, intersection, complement, and Cartesian product of sets. Also, find the cardinality of these.
- Draw Venn diagrams from real-world data.
- Do applications-based problems involving: the addition principle, the multiplication principle, permutations, and combinations.
- Identify the sample space of an experiment.
- Understand the properties of a probability distribution.
- Be able to solve probability (including conditional probability) problems.