Course Syllabus – Spring 2004

Course Number: MATH 2703

Course Title: Foundations of Number Systems

Hours Credit: 3 hours

Prerequisites: Completion of core-level mathematics

Instructor: Varies (multiple sections)

Instructor Office Hours: Varies (at least 10hrs/week)

Course Description: Strengthens understanding of structures, sequential development, properties, operations, and ordering in the following systems: whole numbers, integers, and rational numbers; elementary number theory; and problem solving.

Topics: problem solving process; set operations and their properties; numeration systems and other number bases; operations and properties of whole numbers, integers, decimals, and rational numbers; divisibility; prime and composite numbers; greatest common divisor and least common multiple; ordering rational numbers; ratio and proportion; percents; and interest

Text:A Problem Solving Approach to Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers; Billstein, Libeskind, & Lott; Addison Wesley Longman; 2001 7ed.

Learning Outcomes: Students should be able to demonstrate:

  1. an understanding of the standard vocabulary and notation of elementary mathematics;
  2. an understanding of the development of the number systems from the whole numbers
  3. to integers, then rational and reals;
  4. an understanding of operations, properties, algorithms, place value, elementary number theory;
  5. an ability to apply concepts of fractions, decimals, percents, ratio, and proportion in
  6. problem-solving situations;
  7. an appreciation for mathematics from an historical prospective; and
  8. a better understanding of the uses of a variety of manipulatives and other material for the 4 - 8 level.

Grading Methods: Tests, Quizzes, Final Exam, Homework; Percentages to be determined by the instructor

Grading Scale: