Syllabus
MI Math: Logic and Problem Solving
B Module, Yearlong
Room 407
Instructor: Billy Pasour
Intro
The goal of a MI Math course is to introduce the student to a different way of seeing and thinking about math. Rather than working through problems in a textbook, students mimic professionals who use math in their jobs. By seeing math from a practical standpoint, students may gain insights and understanding that cannot be gleaned from the traditional teaching method.
Logic and Problem Solving
In MI: Logic and Problem Solving, the first unit (“Fairness”) capitalizes on the current electoral season to ask questions about fairness in democracy and voting systems beyond that with which we are accustomed. Starting with the Arrow Impossibility Theorem, students will tackle the problem of fairness using logical skills and reason.
The second unit will deal exclusively with word problems like those featured on SAT tests. Students will learn strategies to see to the heart of such problems and how to answer them in the most efficient ways.
A third unit will deal with practical math. Students will learn about compound interest, mortgages, savings accounts, and other financial mathematical milieus and use their knowledge to analyze the best course of financial action for people with various goals and backgrounds.
The unifying theme of these units is that students are given open ended problems with multiple solutions. Some of these solutions will be good and some will be bad. Students will learn the skill of making that distinction, and, in some cases, finding the best solution on mathematical grounds.
Focus Skills
Solve Problems
Put Information in Context
In this course, we will work through problems both as a class and individually. As of the writing of this syllabus, the class is enrolled with six students, and there will be various situations where the students will work in three person teams. Given the nature of the course material, there will be some days when you get the answer immediately, and others when you feel helpless while one of your classmates finds it easy. For this reason, it is important that we all work together and be ready to help each other and explain our reasoning. Portfolio items will be made from problems you solved particularly well.
Grading
10% Homework
40% Projects
50% Work Ethic
The work in this course will be hands on and largely in-class. Because of this, the grade will be based almost entirely on work ethic and projects. There will occasionally be homework assignments over the weekends relating to the in-class projects. Because of the intensive classroom experience, absences will reflect heavily in your grade. If a student is always present for class, creatively offers ideas to overcome problems relating to projects, and works hard on projects with an eye to the big picture, he or she should have no problem getting an A.
Attendance, Rules, etc.
If a student is absent ten or more times, he or she will automatically be withdrawn. If a student is absent several times (but less than ten), his or her grade will undoubtedly suffer, as participation is integral to this course.
