College catalog's course description

Prerequisites: MCS 121 (Calculus I) and either MCS 220 (Introduction to Analysis: Theory of the Calculus) or MCS 236 (Relation-based Structures)

Instructor: John Holte

Office: Olin 307
Telephone: x7465
Office hours: M 10:30-11:20, T 1:30-2:20, W 11:30-12:20, R 1:30-2:20, F 10:30-11:20
Feel free to see me at other times as well.
E-mail: holte@gac.edu
My homepage: http://www.gac.edu/~holte/

Textbook

CONCRETE MATHEMATICS, 2nd edition
by Ronald L. Graham, Donald E. Knuth, and Oren Patashnik
Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1994
Internet page: http://www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu/~knuth/gkp.html

Class meetings

8:00-8:50 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
Classroom: Olin 320
Regular attendance, both physical and mental, is required.
If you have a disability that requires an accommodation, please see me as soon as possible.

Course web page

http://www.gac.edu/~holte/courses/mcs256/2001S/

MCS 256 Syllabus--Spring 2001

Week	Class Dates	Sections	Topics	Tests
1	Feb. 5-9	Chapter 1	Recurrent problems
2-3	Feb. 12-23	Chapter 2	Sums	F 2/23
4	Feb. 26-Mar. 1	Chapter 9	Asymptotics
4-6	Mar. 2-13	Chapter 3 (part) Chapter 4 (part)	Integer functions Number theory	T 3/13
6-7	Mar. 15-23	Chapter 5 (part) Chapter 6 (part)	Binomial coefficients Special numbers
Spring Break	Mar. 24-Apr. 1
8-9	Apr. 2-10	Class notes	Enumerative combinatorics	T 4/10
9-12	Apr. 11-May 4	Chapter 7	Generating functions Solving recurrences	F 5/4
13	May 7-11	Chapter 8	Discrete probability
14	May 14-15		Wrap-up
15	May 22	Tuesday	Final exam	3:30-5:30

This is a tentative syllabus. Changes may be made during the semester.

Homework and collaborative learning

I encourage you to work with other students in learning the material, both in class and on homework, provided that you do so in such a way that everyone in your group learns the material. You should write your solutions neatly and show clearly how you get your answers, at least in nontrivial problems. Your write-ups should be done independently, in your own words; solutions should not be copied from someone else's paper. You must give credit to those who helped you, including fellow students, and if you get part of your solution from any text (including ours) or internet source, you must cite it so that it can be traced.

Homework rules

• Acknowledge your sources (people and texts).
• In nontrivial problems, show how you get your answers.
• Turn in neat, well-written solutions, not messy first drafts. Trim "fringes."
• Do not copy collaborative solutions; write up solutions in your own words.
• Turn in homework on time. Each class day late reduces the possible points by 25%.

Academic honesty

Page 31 of the Gustavus Adolphus College Academic Bulletin states in part: "The faculty of Gustavus Adolphus College expects all students to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty... In all academic exercises, examinations, papers, and reports, students shall submit their own work. Footnotes or some other acceptable form of citation must accompany any use of another's words or ideas."

Exams

There will be four unit exams and one comprehensive final examination. Some or all of the unit exams may be take-home examinations due on the class day following the day it is given out (due on Monday if given on Friday; due on Thursday if given on Tuesday).

Make-up policy

Make-up exams will not be given except for medical or family emergency reasons. Students who will be absent from an exam for a school-sponsored event should arrange with me in advance to have an exam sent along with the coach. If you miss a class for any reason, you are still responsible for learning what was covered in class and for getting any homework that is due turned in on time. If there is a compelling reason for granting an extension, you must negotiate the arrangements with me. Late homework will be penalized as stated under Homework rules.

Prep Problems, Participation, and Performance

• Prep problems, when assigned, will be due at the beginning of class. These problems are designed to prepare you for the day's class. They will be graded 0, 1, or 2 primarily on effort.
• The following factors contribute to participation and performance.

  Positives	Negatives
  Faithful attendance This counts a lot!	Missing classes, tardiness
  Being prepared	Being unprepared
  Paying attention in class	Not paying attention, sleeping, doing something else, talking while the prof is talking
  Contributing to class discussions	Disruptive behavior
  Asking relevant questions-- I am impressed when I am asked more often about points of mathematics than points of grading.
  Answering questions in class, whether asked aloud or on a quiz	Not knowing the answers
  Curiosity, appreciation, cheerfulness	Apathy, resentment, sullenness
  Turning work in on time	Turning work in late
  Neat, well-written work	Messy work
  Working hard	Hardly working
  Improvement during the term, overcoming setbacks	Going downhill
  Attendance the day before and the day after a break	Skipping class the day before or the day after a break

Percent	Work	Notes
65%	Exams	We will have five examinations: four unit examinations and a comprehensive final examination. The best 4 will count 15% each; The lowest score will count 5%.
25%	Problem assignments	The lowest assignment score will be discarded.
10%	Participation & performance	Attendance, prep problems, pop quizzes, class participation, etc.