Discrete Mathematics

Goals and Objectives

The class will explore a variety of fields of mathematics through in-depth study of their structure and applications. Students will communicate their understanding using mathematical symbols and vocabulary in both solutions and descriptions.

Topics of Study

The curriculum will include units on street networks (graph theory) election methods and fair division Graph theory has applications in scheduling to avoid conflicts, efficient use of resources, creating minimum cost networks, and in delivery problems like the Traveling Salesperson Problem. Our unit on fair division includes methods used in divorce cases and estate division, but can also be applied to less formal cases as well. Cake cutting is the mathematical metaphor commonly used when dividing a physical object that is valued differently by the people dividing it. The most common application is splitting up a piece of property, but the process can be used to divide a pizza (or cake) as well.  Students who earn honors credit for the course will explore the topics in greater depth. Honors work often includes more advanced problems, projects and written work. Request a copy of the honors curriculum if you are interested in pursuing honors credit.

Expectations

Members of the class will treat all others with respect at all times. Students will come to class prepared and fully engage themselves during class. Students will perform to the best of their ability, complete assignments thoroughly, thoughtfully and on time, and show significant effort in their work outside class. Students will participate in the class with good faith. This involves participating actively in class discussions and activities, using work time well, seeking help when needed, responding to suggestions for improvement, working diligently on problems with which one is not immediately successful, and supporting a respectful and productive learning environment.

Materials

Students should have a three-ring binder to organize materials and store collections of their work.

Homework

Homework is graded for timely, thorough completion. Assignments are worth full credit if they are complete, show good effort and are submitted on time. Partially completed assignments, assignments that show less than adequate effort and late assignments are worth three-fourths credit if turned in by the Monday after they are assigned. Assignments turned in later than the Monday after the due date or that are grossly incomplete or show very little effort will earn at most one-fourth credit.
Homework Central (http://hs.riverdale.k12.or.us/~dthompso/homework) is updated with daily assignments.

Late work and make-up work

If students miss class when an assignment is due, they should bring it on the next day they come to school, or email it to me at dthompso@riverdale.k12.or.us

There are times when students can’t hand an assignment in on time. Students should discuss the problem with me beforehand and arrange an alternate due date. In cases of emergency, students should contact me via phone or email, or talk to me before school.

Students who miss class are responsible for finding out what happened in class, getting assignments, and making up the work. If able to do assignments at home, students should check Homework Central for the work. If materials are required, students should contact me to arrange to pick up materials or have them emailed. If this does not work, students should check with me on their first day back. Quizzes, exams and long term projects must be completed the day the student returns to school, except in the case of long-term absences where the student missed new material.

Mastery of Skills

Students are assessed on mastery of skills explored through the trimester. Students will take a quiz on recent material approximately once every ten days. There will be a unit exam at the end of each of the units of study. The mastery grade is worth 65% of the class grade and homework grade is worth 35%.

Contact information

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at school at (503)892-0722, or by email at dthompso@riverdale.k12.or.us