Republic of the Philippines

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Course Title : MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Course Code :

Course Credit : 3 units

Pre-Requisite : NONE

Course Description :

The course deals with the nature of mathematics, appreciation of its practical, intellectual and aesthetic dimensions, and application of mathematical tools in daily life. The course
begins with an introduction to the nature of mathematics as an exploration of patterns (in nature and environment) and as an application of inductive and deductive reasoning. By exploring
these topics, students are encouraged to go beyond the typical understanding of mathematics as merely a set of formulas but as a source of aesthetics in patterns of nature, for example, a
rich language in itself (and of science) governed by logic and reasoning. The course the proceeds to survey ways in which mathematics provides a tool for understanding. And dealing with
various aspects of present day living, such as managing personal finances, making social choices, appreciating geometric designs, understanding codes used in data transmission and
security, and dividing limited resources fairly. These aspects will provide opportunities for actually doing mathematics in a broad range of exercises that bring out the various dimensions of
mathematics as a way of knowing and test the students’ understanding and capacity.

Institutional Learning Outcomes Programs Outcomes Course Objectives

1. Creative and Critical Thinking Demonstrate broad and coherent knowledge and understanding At the end of the course, the students would be able to
in the core areas of physical and natural sciences.
Apply critical and problem solving skills using the scientific KNOWLEDGE
method.
Gain mastery in the core areas of mathematics: algebra, analysis  Discuss and argue about the nature of
and geometry. mathematics
Demonstrate skills in pattern recognition, generalization,  Use the different types of reasoning to
abstraction, critical analysis, synthesis, problem solving and justify statements and arguments made
vigorous argument. about mathematics and mathematical
Appreciate the usage and role of proof and reasoning and concepts
demonstrate knowledge in reading and writing mathematical  Discuss the language and symbols of
proofs. mathematics
 2. Effective Communication Articulate the latest developments in their specific field of
practice. SKILLS
Effectively communicate orally and in writing using both English  Use a variety of statistical tools to process
and Filipino languages. and manage numerical data
Communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions, both  Analyze codes and coding schemes used
orally and in writing, to other scientists, decision makers and the for identification, privacy and security
public. purposes.
Appreciate the usage and role of proof and reasoning and  Use mathematics in other areas such as
demonstrate knowledge in reading and writing mathematical finance, voting, health and medicine,
proofs. business, environment, arts and design,
Communicate mathematical ideas orally and in writing using and recreation.
clear and precise language.
3. Strong Service Orientation Articulate the latest developments in their specific field of VALUES
practice.  Appreciate the nature and uses of
Work effectively and independently in multi-disciplinary and multi- mathematics in everyday life.
cultural teams.  Affirm honesty and integrity in the
4. Community Engagement Work effectively and independently in multi-disciplinary and multi- application of mathematics in various
cultural teams. human endeavors.
Relate science and mathematics to the other disciplines
Critically evaluate input from others.
5. Adeptness in the Responsible Use of Carry out basic mathematical and statistical computations and
Technology use appropriate technologies in the analysis of the data.
Commit to the integrity of data.

6. Passion to Life-Long Learning Articulate the latest developments in their specific field of
practice.
Gain mastery in the core areas of mathematics: algebra, analysis
and geometry.
Demonstrate skills in pattern recognition, generalization,
abstraction, critical analysis, synthesis, problem solving and
vigorous argument.
Develop an enhanced perception of the vitality and importance of
mathematics in the modern world including inter-relationships
within math and its connection to other disciplines.
Appreciate the usage and role of proof and reasoning and
demonstrate knowledge in reading and writing mathematical
proofs.
7. High Level of Leadership and Demonstrate professional, social and ethical responsibility,
 Organizational Skills especially in practicing intellectual property rights and sustainable
development.
8. Sense of Personal and Professional Demonstrate professional, social and ethical responsibility,
Ethics especially in practicing intellectual property rights and sustainable
development.
Commit to the integrity of data.
9. Sense of Nationalism and Global Develop an enhanced perception of the vitality and importance of
Responsiveness mathematics in the modern world including inter-relationships
within math and its connection to other disciplines.
Appreciate the usage and role of proof and reasoning and
demonstrate knowledge in reading and writing mathematical
proofs.

COURSE PLAN

Week Topic Learning Outcomes Methodology Resources Assessment

SECTION 1: THE NATURE  Identify patterns in nature and  Video watching Essential Mathematics for  Short-response or
OF MATHEMATICS regularities in the world. (K) the Modern World by essay writing
 Pair sharing or small Rizaldi Nocon and Ederlina
 Articulate the importance of
I. Mathematics in our group sharing Nocon  Two-to-three page
mathematics in one’s life. (V) synthesis paper
Week 1 to 2 World  Argue about the nature of  Journal writing
1. Patterns and numbers Nature’s Numbers by Ian
mathematics, what it is , how it is
in Nature and the Stewart
expressed, represented and  Class discussion
World
used. (K) Mathematics in Nature:
2. The Fibonacci
Sequence  Express appreciation for Modelling Patterns in the
mathematics as a huan Natural World by John A.
3. Mathematics helps
endeavor. (V) Adam
organize patterns and
regularities in the Schaums’ Outline:
world Mathematics for the Liberal
4. Mathematics helps Arts by Christopher Thomas
predict the behavior or (2009 McGraw-Hill Co.)
nature and pheno-
mena in the world.
5. Mathematics hels
 control nature and
occurrences in the
world for our own
ends.
6. Mathematics has
numerous applications
in the world making it
indispensable.

SECTION 1: THE NATURE  Discuss the language, symbols,  Individual or small Essential Mathematics for  Written Exercise set
OF MATHEMATICS and conventions of mathematics. group exercises the Modern World by (seatwork)
Week 3 (K) including games Rizaldi Nocon and Ederlina
II. Mathematical Nocon  Quiz
 Explain the nature of
Language and  Class discussion
mathematics as a language. (K)
Symbols Learning the Language of
 Perform operations on  Compilation of Mathematics by Jamison, R.
1. Characteristics of
mathematical expressions mathematical E. (2000)
mathematical
correctly. (S) symbols and
language: precise,
 Acknowledge that mathematics is notations Language and Learning
concise, powerful
a useful language. (V) acroos Disciplines
2. Expressions vs.
sentences Schaums’ Outline:
3. Conventions in the Mathematics for the Liberal
mathematical Arts by Christopher Thomas
language (2009 McGraw-Hill Co.)
4. Four basic concepts:
sets, functions,
relations and binary
operations
5. Elementary Logic:
connectives,
quantifiers, negation,
variables

Essential Mathematics for

SECTION 1: THE NATURE  Use different types of reasoning  Reading and writing the Modern World by  Take-home problem
OF MATHEMATICS to justify statements and proofs Rizaldi Nocon and Ederlina set
Week 4 arguments made about Nocon
III. Problem Solving  Small-group problem  Quiz on proving
 1. Inductive vs. mathematics. (K) solving Mathematical Excursions by using deductive or
Deductive Reasoning  Write clear and logical proofs. (K) R. Aufmann inductive reasoning
2. Intuition, proof, and  Class discussions of
 Solve problems involving patterns
certainty key problems and What is Mathematics Really?
and recreational problems by R. Hersh
3. Polya’s 4-steps in solutions
following Polya’s four steps. (S)
Problem Solving  Organize one’s methods and Schaums’ Outline:
4. Problem Solving Mathematics for the Liberal
approaches for proving and
Strategies Arts by Christopher Thomas
solving problems. (V)
5. Mathematical (2009 McGraw-Hill Co.)
Problems involving
Patterns

SECTION 2:  Use a variety of statistical tools to  Lectures Essential Mathematics for  Take-home problem
MATHEMATICS AS A process and manage data. (S) the Modern World by set
Week 5 – 8 TOOL  Work with Rizaldi Nocon and Ederlina
 Use methods of linear regression
appropriate Nocon  Quiz
and correlations to predict the
I. Data Management statistical software
value of a variable given certain
1. Data gathering and Mathematical Excursions by
conditions. (S)  Class discussion
organizing data, data Aufmann
 Advocate the use of statistical  Quantitative
representation using  Pseudo-proposal Study/Research to
data in decision making. (V) Mathematics: A Practical
graphs and charts; be orally presented.
defense Odyssey by Johnson and
interpreting
Mowry
organized data
2. Measures of central Schaums’ Outline:
tendency Mathematics for the Liberal
3. Measures of Arts by Christopher Thomas
dispersion (2009 McGraw-Hill Co.)
4. Measures of relative
position
5. Probabilites and
Normal Distributions
6. Linear Regression
and Correlation

Week 9 Midterm Examination

At this point, the instructor will choose 3 among the topics from the subsequent table.
Weeks 10 – 12 Topic 1

Weeks 13 – 15 Topic 2

Weeks 16 – 17 Topic 3

Week 18 Final Examination

Week Topic Learning Outcomes Methodology Resources Assessment

Week 10-18 SECTION 2:

MATHEMATICS AS A
TOOL Essential Mathematics for
 Lectures the Modern World by
II. Linear Programming  Use mathematical concepts and Rizaldi Nocon and Ederlina
 Take-home problem
1. Linear Inequalities tools in other areas.(S)  Role-playing Nocon set
2. Geometry of Linear  Support the use of mathematics
Programming in various aspects and  Class discussion
 Integrative Project
Models endeavors. (V) Mathematical Excursions by
3. Simplex Method  Witten exercises Aufmann

Mathematics: A Practical
III. The Mathematics of Odyssey by Johnson and
Mowry
Finance
1. Simple and Schaums’ Outline:
Compound Interest Mathematics for the Liberal
2. Credit Cards and Arts by Christopher Thomas
Consumer Loans (2009 McGraw-Hill Co.)
3. Stocks, bonds, and
mutual funds

IV. Apportionment and

 Voting
1. Introduction to
apportionment
2. Introduction to
Voting
3. Weighted Voting
Systems

V. Mathematics of
Graphs
1. Graphs and Euler
circuits
2. Weighted graphs
3. Euler’s Formula
4. Graph coloring

VI. Mathematical
Systems
1. Modular Arithmetic
2. Applications
3. Group Theory

COURSE GRADING SYSTEM

CLASS STANDING 70%

·       Long Quizzes / Summative Test

·       Recitation/Boardworks

·       Projects/Assignments/Seatwork/Special Report/ Case Analysis

·       Problem set

MIDTERM /FINAL EXAMINATIONS 30%

100%
 Midterm Grade + Final Term Grade = FINAL GRADE
2

Prepared by:

Kenneth James T. Nuguid Ian J. Saguindan

Faculty, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Noted by:

Assoc. Prof. Edcon B. Baccay

Chairperson, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Approved by:

Dr. Lincoln A. Bautista

Dean, College of Science

Dr. Manuel M. Muhi

Vice President for Academic Affairs