MTH4419 QUANTITATIVE REASONING
3 Credit Hour
Student Level:
This course is open to students on the college level in either the freshman or sophomore year.
Catalog Description:
MTH4419 - Quantitative Reasoning (3 hrs)
[KRSN MAT1040]
This college-level quantitative reasoning math course is designed to develop students’ abilities to understand and apply mathematical concepts in real-world contexts. This course is a gateway course for liberal art majors and other non-science majors. (Previously known as Contemporary Math.)
Course Classification:
Lecture
Prerequisites:
Minimum grade of C in MTH 4410 Intermediate Algebra or the equivalent, or placed based on mathematics course placement guidelines.
Controlling Purpose:
This course emphasizes quantitative reasoning skills needed for informed citizens to understand the world around them. Topics include logic, basic probability, data analysis, measurement and geometry, personal finance, social choice and decision-making, and other real-world mathematical modeling concepts. NOTE: This course is not intended to supply sufficient algebraic background for students who intend to take Trigonometry or the Calculus sequences for mathematics and science majors.
Learner Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, the student will gain understanding of mathematics and problem solving in today’s society. This course covers topics such as data analysis and interpretation, mathematical modeling, probability and uncertainty, geometry in the real world, finance and economics applications, critical thinking and problem solving, communication of mathematical ideas. The emphasis is on developing critical thinking and quantitative reasoning skills needed to understand major issues in society.
Core Outcomes:
The learning outcomes and competencies detailed in this course outline or syllabus meet or exceed the learning outcomes and competencies specified by the Kansas Core Outcomes Groups project for this course as approved by the Kansas Board of Regents.
UNIT 1: Thinking Critically
Outcomes: The student will learn critical thinking skills and be able to apply critical and logical thinking to analyze various applications.
- Explore common fallacies, or deceptive arguments, and learn how to avoid them.
- Understand and apply the basic components of logic, including propositions, truth values, truth tables, the logical connectors and, or, and if…then.
- Apply sets and Venn diagrams to determine relationships.
- Evaluate and differentiate basic inductive and deductive arguments.
- Apply logic to everyday life situations.
- Examine problem-solving processes, including unit analysis.
- Review standardized units, estimation, measurement and apply them to real-life problems.
UNIT 2: Numbers in the Real World
Outcomes: The student will be able to apply numbers and mathematical concepts to real-world situations and apply mathematical methods to personal finance.
- Recognize uses and abuses of percentages
- Formulate methods to contextualize and provide perspective to the multitude of both significant and minor numerical values encountered in everyday situations.
- Identify and distinguish between random and systematic errors.
- Explain how the CPI is used to measure inflation.
- Adjust prices for inflation with the CPI.
- Discover how seemingly easy numbers may need careful understanding and interpretation.
- Explain the importance of controlling your finances.
- Demonstrate how to make a budget.
- Apply the various compound interest formulas
- Explain investment types: stock, bond, and cash.
- Interpret financial tables for stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
- Utilize important principles of investing.
- Identify the uses and dangers of credit cards.
- Evaluate and analyze advanced strategies for early payment of loans, considering their financial implications and long-term benefits.
- Critically assess and evaluate various considerations involved in selecting a mortgage, weighing factors such as interest rates, terms, and potential impacts on financial stability.
- Assess the mathematical principles embedded in income taxes, exploring their complexity and impact, and critically examine the political issues surrounding tax policies.
- Synthesize an in-depth understanding of the federal budget process, analyzing its intricate components and synthesizing information to comprehend the associated political dynamics.
UNIT 3: Data Analysis, Interpretation, and Risk Assessment
Outcomes: Students will learn to collect, analyze, and interpret data using statistical methods. This includes understanding measures of central tendency, dispersion, and graphical representation of data, along with basic concepts of probability and risk.
- Recall the procedural steps involved in conducting statistical studies.
- Demonstrate comprehension of the significance of sampling in statistical analyses.
- Summarize the eight practical guidelines for evaluating statistical claims.
- Apply knowledge to interpret and construct basic tables and graphs, including various types such as frequency tables, bar graphs, pie charts, histograms, and line charts.
- Utilize investigative skills to explore common types of media graphics.
- Examine correlations and differentiate between correlation and causation.
- Investigate various methods of describing data, focusing on average values, including mean, median, mode, and distribution.
- Analyze common measures of variation, such as the range, five-number summary, and standard deviation, within a given dataset.
- Assess the importance of characteristics inherent to the normal distribution.
- Develop an understanding of basic probability concepts and apply this knowledge to describe risk in real-world scenarios.
- Develop innovative applications of the law of large numbers in real-world situations, exploring novel ways it can be utilized beyond traditional examples like lotteries and insurance.
- Apply permutations and combinations to explore and analyze occurrences of coincidences.
Projects Required:
Instructor determined
Text Book:
Contact the Bookstore for current textbook information.
References:
None required.
Materials/Equipment Required:
Scientific Calculator required, Graphing Calculator (TI-83, 83 Plus) recommended.
Attendance Policy:
Students should adhere to the attendance discussed on the first day of class.
Grading Policy:
A minimum 50% of the course grade shall consist of proctored assessment(s) of which at least 25% of the course grade shall include a comprehensive departmental final exam.
Maximum class size:
25
Refer to the following policies:
402.00 Academic Code of Conduct
263.00 Student Appeal of Course Grades
403.00 Student Code of Conduct
Disability Services Program:
Cowley College, in recognition of state and federal laws, will accommodate a student with a documented disability. If a student has a disability, which may impact work in this class, which requires accommodations, contact the Disability Services Coordinator.
DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR THE OFFICIAL COURSE PROCEDURE CONTACT ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.
(Updated 2/8/2024)
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