This course is designed to introduce students to systematic, mathematical thinking as it applies to classical problems in the history of mathematics and as it connects to modern society. Meets the General Education Mathematical Sciences requirement, and is offered each semester. The typical course audience is students majoring in behavioral sciences, social sciences, languages, fine arts, and elementary education .
There are two standard texts for the course, and instructors may choose one at their discretion. The content is similar in both texts, which are listed below:
For All Practical Purposes: Mathematical Literacy in Today's World, directed by COMAP: the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications, and published by W.H. Freeman and Company. Contact 1-800-446-8923 to request an examination copy.
Excursions in Modern Mathematics, by Peter Tannenbaum and Robert Arnold and published by Prentice-Hall. Contact 1-800-282-0693 to request an examination copy.
The Messiah College library has a series of videos under the title For All Practical Purposes which parallel the course material for both texts very closely. Some topics are missing in the video series, because it has not been updated as the FAPP text was revised. Perform a key-word search for a particular topic in the library catalog to find appropriate videos in the series.
The website www.whfreeman.com/math provides online quizzing for students, teaching tips, a discussion forum for instructors, and links to additional websites. This site can be a useful place to look for project ideas.
Printed study guides and test banks are available for each text, upon request from the publisher.
The campus computer labs (Frey 145, Frey 166, Jordan 161, and LIB 22, as well as newer labs as they come online) each contain 24 machines which are equipped with Microsoft Office, Wordperfect Suite, Derive, Cabri2 geometry, and other software which may be useful. To reserve a computer lab for a class session, contact Sandy Kline (x7200) by phone or email as early in the semester as possible and at least one week prior to the class session.
Dr. Angela Hare, associate professor in the math department, is the course coordinator for MAT 101. Her office is Frey 326, extension 7230, and email AHare@messiah.edu.