City College of New York / Center for Worker Education

Course Syllabus
Spring 2023

Department of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

COURSE #: 18504-XCWE(6386) CATALOG DESCRIPTION

COURSE TITLE: Basic Ideas in Mathematics Problem solving, sets, operations on sets,
CATEGORY: Required for prospective functions, numerical systems with different
elementary education majors bases, topics in number theory, probability
TERM OFFERED: Summer term and geometry. Course involves writing
PRE-REQUISITES: Math 18000 exercises and collaborative work. This course
PRE/CO-REQUISITES: is for potential education majors only.
ACADEMIC LOAD: The course will be offered remotely on Tuesday
HOURS/CREDITS: 8 hrs / wk, 4 credits and Thursday, synchronous, on Blackboard.
DATE EFFECTIVE: June ,5th, 2023 Class meets on line, an invitation to the class will
COURSE COORDINATOR: Dorina Cheregi be provided through CUNYFIRST and
Blackboard email.
Office hours: Thursday 4:00-4:30pm,
Class materials will be provided and emailed
9:20-9:50pm
through Blackboard.
E-mail: [email protected]

Sections Topics Hours

1.1, 1.2, 1.3 (Problem Solving) and teach use of the calculator 4
2.1, 2.2, 2.3 (Set Theory and Functions) 7
3.1 (Numeration Systems) 3
4.1, 4.2 (Operations on Integers) 2
4.3, 4.4, 4.5 (Elementary Number Theory) 6
5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4(Rational Numbers as Fractions and Proportional Reasoning) 3
6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4(Exponents and Decimals) 2.5
11.3 (The Pythagorean Theorem) 0.5
7.1, 7.2, 7.4, 7.5(Probability) 9
8.1, 8.2, 8.3 (Statistics) 8
Four in-class Activities 4
________________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL 49

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 COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

After taking this course the student should be Contributes to departmental Learning
able to: Outcome(s):

1. Apply a number of different strategies (including simple algebra) to a, b, c

solve a variety of problems.
2. Use set theoretic concepts to reason and to describe relationships among a, c, e1
various categories of objects and numbers.
3. Solve problems using the concept of functions as rules, ordered pairs, a, b, c
and graphs.
4. Develop fluency with and an appreciation of our whole number a
numeration system, through a study of historical numeration systems and
bases other than ten.
5. Use simple number-theoretic concept (e.g., primes, divisibility) to solve a, e1
problems to deepen the understanding of fraction and decimal operations
learned in Math 18000.
6. Apply the concepts of least common multiple and greatest common a, e1
divisor of two integers to operations on fractions.
7. Model and solve real world problems involving fractions and decimals a, c, d
using set and number theoretic concepts.
8. Demonstrate knowledge of the concept of irrational numbers and their a, c, d, e1
approximations using a calculator; in particular, their occurrence in
geometry. a, c, el
9. Demonstrate knowledge of the relationship, as well as the distinction,
between theoretical and empirical probability. a, b, c, d,
10. Analyze games, compute probabilities of complimentary and compound e1
events and solve simple counting problems.
11. Interpret statistical graphs and numerical data as well as calculate and a, b, c, d
use measures of central tendency and variation.
12. Explain orally or in written form the meaning of mathematical terms, a, e1
operations and theorems as well as solution to problems that they will
present in the future in their own classrooms.

Note: DLO d (use of technology) is limited to the use of the calculator.

COURSE ASSESSMENT TOOLS

1. Four one-hour exams (45%)

2. Writing exercises (6%)
3. Four one-hour activities (3%)
4. Weekly quizzes (6%)
5. Final exam (40%)

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 DEPARTMENTAL LEARNING OUTCOMES

The mathematics department, in its varied courses, aims to teach students to:

a. Perform numeric and symbolic computations.

b. Construct and apply symbolic and graphical representations of functions.
c. Model real-life problems mathematically.
d. Use technology appropriately to analyze mathematical problems.
e. State (e1) and apply (e2) mathematical definitions and theorems.
f. Prove fundamental theorems.
g. Construct and present (generally in writing, but, occasionally, orally) a rigorous
mathematical argument.

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Course Number / Title: MATH 18504 / Basic Ideas in Mathematics
Semester: Summer 2023
Day and Time of Class Meeting: Tuesday,Thursday 6:00-9:20 pm
Instructor name: Dorina Cheregi

A. Course Description:
I. Introduction to Problem Solving
A. Mathematics and Problem Solving
1. Four-Step Problem-Solving Process.
2. Strategies
a. Look for a pattern
b. Make a table
c. Examine a simpler case
d. Identify a sub-goal
e. Examine a related problem
f. Write an equation
g. Draw a diagram
h. Guess and check
i. Work backward
j. Use indirect reasoning
k. Use direct reasoning
B. Explorations with patterns
1. Inductive reasoning
2. Arithmetic sequences
3. Geometric sequences
4. Other sequences
C. Algebraic Thinking
1. Developing algebraic thinking skills
2. Properties of equations
3. Solving equations
4. Application problems
II. Set Theory and Functions
A. Describing Sets
1. One-to-one correspondence
2. Equivalent sets
3. Cardinal numbers
4. Subsets, number of subsets of a set
B. Other set operations and their properties
1. Set intersection
2. Set union
3. Set difference
4. Properties of set operation
5. Venn diagram
6. Cartesian products
C. Functions
1. Definition of function
2. Application of functions
3. Sequences as functions
4. Operations on functions

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III. Numeration Systems
A. Base two system
B. Base five system
C. Base 8 system
D. Base 12 system
E. Base 16 system
F. Addition and subtraction in all bases
IV. Integer and Number Theory
A. Integers and Operations of Addition and Subtraction
1. Integer addition
2. Properties of integer addition
3. Integer subtraction
B. Multiplication and Division of Integers
1. Properties of integer multiplication
2. Integer division
C. Divisibility
1. Divisibility theorems
2. Divisibility rules
D. Prime and Composite Numbers
1. Prime factorization
2. Number of divisors
3. Determining if a number is prime
E. Greatest Common Divisor and Least Common Multiple
1. Definition of the greatest common divisor
2. The prime factorization method
3. Euclidean algorithm method
4. Least common multiple
a. Definition
b. Colored rods method
c. The intersection-of-sets method
d. The prime factorization method
e. Theorem of the greatest common divisor and the least common divisor
f. The Euclidean algorithm method
V. Rational Numbers as Fractions
A. The Set of Rational Numbers
1. Equivalent or equal fractions
2. Simplifying fractions
3. Equality of fractions
B. Addition and Subtraction of Rational Numbers
1. Mixed numbers
2. Properties of addition for rational numbers
3. Subtraction of rational numbers
C. Multiplication and Division of Rational Numbers
1. Multiplication of rational numbers
2. Properties of multiplication of rational numbers
D. Proportional Reasoning: properties
VI. Decimal and Real Numbers
A. Introduction to decimals: theorem and ordering terminating decimals
B. Operation on decimals: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

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 C. Non-terminating decimals
1. Repeating decimals
2. Writing a repeating decimal in the form: a / b
3. Ordering repeating decimals
D. Real Numbers
1. Square roots
2. Irrationality of square roots
3. Properties of real numbers
4. Properties of exponents
VII. Probability
A. How Probabilities are Determined
1. Determining of probabilities
2. Definition of probabilities
3. Properties of probabilities
4. Mutually exclusive events
5. Complementary events
6. Non-mutually exclusive events
7. Properties of probabilities
B. Multi-stage Experiments with Tree Diagrams and Geometric Probabilities
1. Multiplication rule for probabilities for tree diagrams
2. Independent event property
3. Modeling games
C. Odds, Conditional Probability, and Expected Value
1. Computing odds
2. Conditional Probabilities
3. Expected value
D. Permutation and Combinations in Probability
1. Permutations of unlike objects
2. Permutations involving like objects
3. Combinations
VIII. Statistics
A. Statistical Graph
1. Pictographs
2. Dot plots / Line Plots
3. Stem-and-Leaf Plots
4. Back-to-Back Stem-and-Leaf Plots
5. Frequency Tables
6. Histograms and Bar Graphs
7. Line Graphs
8. Scatter Plots
9. Circle Graphs
B. Measures of Central Tendency and Variation
1. Computing Means
2. Understanding the Mean as a Balance Point
3. Computing Medians
4. Finding Modes
5. Choosing the Most Appropriate Average
6. Box Plots
7. Outliers
8. Comparing Set of Data
9. Variance and Standard Deviation
10. Normal Distribution
C. Abuses of Statistics

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B. Learning outcomes (Course Objectives)

The course includes two major features that may be somewhat unfamiliar in a mathematics
class: the use of both required writing exercises and mathematics activities. The purpose of the
activities is to provide a concrete approach to the ideas that underlie elementary school
mathematics. The goal of the writing exercises is to help my students learn to express and
reflect on these ideas.

Cooperative learning is used extensively in elementary school classrooms, so the students will
have some experience with problem solving in a group setting. Activities will be assigned once
a month.

Students in Math 185 are primarily prospective elementary school teachers. In not too many
years, they will be responsible for orchestrating the mathematics learning in their own
classroom. It is very important to provide them with the opportunity to reflect on and clarify
their own thinking about mathematics. Writing activities will encourage students to verbalize,
during the class period, questions and concepts (and misconceptions!) Writing activities will
be assigned three times during the semester.

Chapter I. You should be able to emphasize reasoning with different problem-solving

strategies, including algebraic thinking.
Chapter II. Use set concepts to understand whole numbers, basic operations on whole
numbers, and sequences as functions.
Chapter III. Explain the numeration system and other number bases. Make calculations
involving algorithms for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, along with mental
mathematics.
Chapter IV. Explain the properties of integer numbers in a variety of ways.
Chapter V. You should be able to make calculations involving rational numbers as fractions.
Chapter VI. You should be able to explain the properties of decimals and real numbers.
Chapter VII. You should be able to explain how probabilities are determined and the role of
experimental and theoretical probability, odds, conditional probability, expected value,
permutation, and combination.
Chapter VIII. You should be able to explain the different types of graphs, measures of central
tendency and variation, as well as abuses of statistics.

C. Required books
1. Math 185 Student Handout Packet, by Prof. S. Ring.
2. A Problem-Solving Approach to Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers, by
Billstein, Libeskind, Lott. 9th Edition.

D. Assessment
Writing exercises (3) 6%
7 quizzes 6%
4 one-hour activities 3%
4 exams 45%
Final Exam 40%

Total 100%
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E. Attendance and Lateness Policy

Students are expected to attend every class and be on time, by login in the Blackboard link.
Three lateness is equivalent to one absence.
Students that get more than two absences during the semester will be dropped for excessive
absence. (No distinction is made between excused and non-excused absences.)

F. Academic Integrity Policy

As stated in the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity:
Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, research, or writings as your own.
The following are some examples of plagiarism:
i. Copying another person’s actual words without the use of quotation marks and
footnotes attributing the words to their source;
ii. Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging
the source;
iii. Using information that is not common knowledge without acknowledging the source;
iv. Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignments.

A student who plagiarizes may incur academic and disciplinary penalties, including
failing grades, suspensions, and expulsion.
A complete copy of the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity may be downloaded. The web
address for the document is:
http://www1.cuny.edu/portal_ur/content/2004/policies/image/policy.pdf

G. Cell phones: The use of cell phones in class is inconsiderate and not allowed. Cell phone use
in these places is disruptive and diminishes the quality of class time. Students who do not
abide by this may be asked to leave the class and consequently counted as absent from class.

H. Eating during class. Eating is not allowed during class. It is disruptive and creates cleaning
problems. It is reasonable to snack before class sessions begin or during breaks.

I. Services for Students with Disabilities: In compliance with CCNY policy and equal access
laws, appropriate and reasonable accommodations are administered by the Access Ability
Center /Student Disability Services (AAC/SDS). Students who register with AAC/SDS, and are
entitled to appropriate and reasonable accommodations, must obtain an accommodation letter
from AAC/SDS to present to the Professor that states what their accommodations are. It is the
student’s responsibility to disclose their disability to AAC/SDS for the purpose of registering
and receiving accommodations.
If the student receives exam accommodations, it is strongly encouraged that they send a
remainder to the Professor of the course and cc Debbie Edwards –Anderson, CWE’s AAC/SDS
liaison, at least one week prior to the exam date, so specific arrangements can be made.
For more information, contact CWE’s AAC/SDS liaison, Debbie Edwards-Anderson: 212-925-
6625, Ext. 235 or [email protected].

J. Course Requirement
Four one-hour exams.
Four one-hour activities.
Seven quizzes will be given during the semester.
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 Three writing exercises will be assigned during the semester
Final exam.
Grade is zero (0) for missed quizzes or tests.

K. Camera on/off policy

Students will turn the camera on during presentations and exams.

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L. June
6 Course description, grade, attendance and lateness policy. Pre-test (40 minute test).
Calculator practice.
Sec. 1.1 Four-step problem-solving process. Exercises 1.1: 1-5

8 Sec. 1.2 Explorations with patterns: inductive and deductive reasoning, arithmetic
sequences. Group work. Exercises 1.2: 1 – 23 odd.
13 Quiz # 1. Sec. 1.2 (continuation). Geometric sequences, other sequences. Sec. 1.3
Algebraic thinking. Example 1 – 8. Exercise: 9 (pg. 52).
Sec. 2.1 Describing sets, Equal sets, One-to-one correspondence, Equivalent sets,
Universal set, Venn diagram, Set complement, Subset. Examples 1 – 5. Exercises 2.1:
1 – 11 odd.
Sec. 2.2 Set operations and their properties. Set intersection, set union, set difference.
Properties of set operations. Using Venn diagrams as a problem-solving tool, Cartesian
products. Examples 6 – 13. Exercises 2.2: 1 – 35 odd.

15 Sec. 2.5 Functions. Functions as rules, as machines, as equations, as arrow diagrams, as

tables and ordered pairs, as graphs. Definition of functions, sequences as functions.
Group work. Examples 17 – 19. Exercises 2.5: 1 – 23 odd.
Quiz # 2. Sec. 3.1 Numeration Systems. Base two, Base five, Base eight, Base twelve,
Base sixteen. Examples: 2 – 5. Exercises 3.1: 11 – 31 odd.
Numeration System (continuation). Review Ch-1, Ch-2, Ch-3.

20 Test # 1. Sec. 4.1. Integers and the operations of addition and subtraction. Integer
addition, Properties of integer addition, Integer subtraction. Examples 4 – 9. Exercises
4.1: 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 24, 29, 30, 33.
Collect writing assignment # 1. Sec. 4.2. Multiplication and division of integers.
Properties of integer multiplication. Integer division. Group work. Examples: 10 –
14. Exercises 4.2: 6, 7, 8, 10, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23.

22 Quiz # 3. Sec. 4.3. Divisibility: definition, rules and theorems. Examples 17, 18, 20,
21. Exercises 4.3: 1 – 17 odd.
Sec. 4.4. Prime and composite numbers. Prime factorization, number of divisors,
determining if a number is prime. Examples 24, 25, 26. Exercises 4.4: 1 – 15 odd.
Sec. 4.5. Greatest Common Divisor and Least Common Multiple. Definitions, Colored
Rods Methods, the Intersection-of-sets method, the Prime factorization method,
Euclidean algorithm method. Examples 27 – 31. Exercises 4.5: 1 – 17 odd. One-hour
activity # 1.
Sec. 5.1. The set of rational numbers. Equivalent or equal fractions. Simplifying
fractions. Examples 1, 2. Exercises 5.1: 1 – 33 odd.
Sec. 5.2. Addition and subtraction of rational numbers. Mixed numbers. Properties of
addition for rational numbers. Subtraction of rational numbers. Group work.
Examples 4 – 8. Exercises 5.2: 1 – 13 odd.

27 Quiz # 4. Sec. 5.3. Multiplication and division of rational numbers. Properties of

multiplication of rational numbers. Properties of exponents. Examples 12 – 18.
Exercises 5.3: 1 – 15 odd, 27 – 33 odd.
Sec. 6.1. Introduction to decimals. Ordering terminating decimals. Examples 1, 2, 3.
Exercises 6.1: 1 – 7.
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 Sec. 6.2. Operations on decimals. Multiplying decimals. Dividing decimals.
Examples 4 – 8. Exercises 6.2: 1 – 13 odd.

29 Sec. 6.3 Non-terminating decimals. Repeating decimals. Writing a repeating decimal

in the form a / b. Examples 10, 11. Group work. Exercises 6.3: 1 – 11.
Sec. 6.4 Real Numbers. Irrationality of square roots and other roots. The system of real
numbers, properties, more properties of exponents. One-hour activity # 2. Examples
13, 14. Exercises 6.4: 1 – 24 odD

July 6 Quiz # 5. Collect Writing assignment # 2. Sec. 7.1. How Probabilities are
Determined. Definition of probability. Properties of probability. Mutually exclusive
events. Complementary events. How probabilities are determined. Non-mutually
exclusive events. Examples 1 – 7. Exercises 7.1: 1 – 25 odd.
Sec 7.2. Multi-stage Experiments with tree diagrams. One-hour activity # 3.

11 Test # 2. Solution Test # 2.

Sec. 7.2. Multi-stage Experiments with tree diagrams (continuation). Independent
events. Modeling games. Examples 8, 9. Exercises 7.2: 1 – 23 odd.

13 Quiz # 6. Sec. 7.4. Odds, conditional probability, and expected value. Examples 13 –
16. Exercises 7.4: 1 – 21 odd. One-hour activity # 3.
Sec. 7.5. Permutations of unlike objects, permutations involving like objects,
combinations. Examples: 17 – 21. Exercises 7.5: 1 – 27 odd.
18 Test # 3. Solution Test # 3.
Sec. 8.1. Statistical Graphs. Pictographs, Dot plots, Stem-and-leaf plots, Back-to-back
stem-and-leaf plots, frequency tables, histograms and bar graphs, Line graphs,
Scatterplots, Circle Graphs, Choosing a data display. Group work. Examples: 1 – 2.
Exercises 8.1: 1 – 35.

20 Collect Writing Assignment # 3. Sec. 8.2. Computing Means. Understanding the

Means as a balanced point. Computing Medians. Finding Modes. Choosing the most
appropriate average. Measured of spread. Box Plots. Outliers. Variation: Mean
absolute deviation, Variance, and Standard Deviation. Examples: 3 – 8. Exercises 8.2:
1 – 23 odd.
25 Sec. 8.3. Abuses of statistics. Exercises 8.3: 1 – 9. One-hour Activity # 4
July 27Test # 4. Solution Test
# 4. Previous final exams, sns.
August 1st Final Exam

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