Math: Essentials+
(GN105A) 4 Credit Hours
Spring 2015
Course Description:A college math course geared for the eyes and sensibilities of visual artists. Topics include Non-Euclidean and projective geometry, as well as many areas that are foundational for cinema.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs):
At the end of taking this course you will be able to demonstrate:
1. The ability to solve complex arithmetic expressions by following the rules of the order of operations.
2. Proficiency in the use of fractions and decimals and able to convert between them.
3. A working knowledge of Euclidean and other relevant geometries. 4. The ability to perform algebra and manipulate algebraic equations. 5. The critical thinking skills necessary to solve word problems with an
emphasis on how they are presented in the film and TV industry.
6. The ability to calculate averages of a group of numbers and how averages are used in the industry.
Assignments:
As this is a math class, all assignments will be graded on the correctness of the answers to the problems posed. All assignments need to be written out in either pen or pencil and must show full work for any partial credit to be assigned for incorrect answers. All assignments are given a strict due date with the exception of the weekly out-of-class assignments. Due Dates are firm and no late assignments will be accepted unless the instructor and class (or instructor and student) decide together to change a due date. All assignments are due at the beginning of the designated class session unless the
assignment is designated as in-class.
Evaluation:
Weekly assignments: Given at the end of nearly every class except the last two classes for a total of up to 9 assignments. These are to be completed outside of class and are due at the beginning of the next class. Any late assignments will be docked a flat 20% penalty no matter how late it is. Assignments cannot be turned in, late or otherwise, after the end of the last class. 20% of the final grade.
Quizzes: 5 quizzes will be given at the beginning of class. Quizzes will be
announced. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped. Missed quizzes cannot be made up unless arrangements have been made prior to the quiz. 20% of the final grade.
Class Participation: Active participation in the class will count for 10% of the final grade.
Midterm: The midterm is an in class, interactive evaluation of the student's mastery of the material that has been presented to date. It will count for 20% of the final grade.
Final: The final will be comprehensive, in class and closed notes. It will count for 30% of the final grade.
Quizzes and Exams must be taken on the assigned date and in class unless a prior
agreement has been reached with the professor to have the test proctored at another time. If a student has not received a written or verbal agreement from the professor stating that the test can be rescheduled, then they will receive a zero for that assignment if they fail to show up for it. If a student shows up late to class and all other students have completed and turned in the quiz or exam scheduled for that day, then that test is considered missed and the student will receive a zero for it. Exceptions may be made for genuine
emergencies at the professor's discretion.
Applied Hours:
In order to fulfill the requirements of this course, a student should expect to spend two hours for every credit hour or eight hours per week outside of classroom time engaged in studying, class preparation, take-home assignments, and other requirements.
Attendance Policy:
You will be allowed two (2) absences in this course. If you reach three (3) absences you will receive an “F” and be removed from the roster for the class. Three latenesses equals one absence.
Attendance is critical to learning, academic success, and support for other students particularly during production shoots. Regular and prompt attendance at all Columbia College Hollywood classes is required. Instructors are not obligated to assign extra work or prepare additional examinations for classes missed.
Class attendance policies are determined by each instructor and must be included in the course syllabus distributed the first class session. The College recommends as a minimal policy that students who are absent 20% of the course will be failed.
What constitutes an excused absence is a matter between the student and instructor although The College expects leniency for documented illness and hospitalization, bereavement, personal emergency, military service, and observance of a religious holiday.
Students who do not attend the first two class meetings of a course in which they are registered may be administratively dropped.
If a student wishes to contest the instructor’s application of the attendance policy he/she may petition the Dean of the College. The Dean will conduct an investigation and respond to the petition as quickly as possible. Students who have filed such a petition may attend class sessions while the matter is under review.
Grading:
In keeping with CCH policy, grading is designated as follows:
92.5 – 100 = A 90 – 92.49 = A- 87.5 – 89.99 = B+ 82.5 – 87.49 = B 80 – 82.49 = B- 77.5 – 79.99 = C+ 72.5 – 77.49 = C 70 – 72.49 = C- 67.5 – 69.99 = D+ 62.5 – 67.49 = D 60 – 62.49 = D- Below 60 = F
Definitions of Letter Grades:
A: Performance of the student is at the highest level and demonstrates full and
uncompromised commitment and effort.
B: Performance of the student is at a high level and demonstrates consistent and effective
achievement in meeting course requirements.
C: Performance by the student has been adequate to meet the basic requirements of the
course.
D: Performance by the student has been sub-par to basic requirements, though it meets
the minimum standards.
F: Performance of the student has been such that the minimum course requirements have
not been met.
Cheating/Plagiarism:
Columbia College Hollywood considers cheating on exams and assignments, plagiarism, and knowingly furnishing false information as unacceptable behavior on the part of the
student. This behavior is punished severely. Refer to your Scholastic Catalog for details of the CCH policy on Academic Honesty.
Use of Electronic Devices:
The non-academic use of cell phones and other mobile devices will not be tolerated during class time. All phone ringers must be turned off. Laptops and tablets are permitted but must be used for class purposes during class time. Calculators are permitted at all times. If you do not have one I strongly urge you to buy a scientific calculator for this class.
Textbook:
There is no textbook for this class. All supplemental materials will be provided by the instructor.
Helpful Websites:
There are many websites that have additional examples and explanations of the mathematics covered in this class. Two that are particularly useful are:
The Khan Academy: www.khanacademy.org
This site contains helpful videos demonstrating all levels of mathematics.
Purplemath: www.purplemath.com
A comprehensive site for help and instruction for all college math and algebra.
Schedule of Classes:
Lecture 1: Numbers and types of numbers. Discrete arithmetic expressions and the order
of operations. Introduction to word problems.
Lecture 2: Prime & Composite numbers. Factoring numbers. Finding the greatest
common factor and least common multiple. Introduction to fractions. Discrete arithmetic equations using fractions.
Lecture 3: Introduction to decimals. Continuous arithmetic expressions. Irrational
numbers. Conversions between fractions and decimals. Ratios, percentages, and averages.
Lecture 4: Powers and exponents. Introducing powers and exponents into the order of
operations. Square roots and higher order roots.
Lecture 5: Euclidean geometry. Finding perimeter, area and volume of regular and
irregular shapes. Review for midterm.
Lecture 7: Introduction to logarithms. The placement of logarithms in the order of
operations.
Lecture 8: Introduction to college algebra. Algebra with the four main operations. Lecture 9: Introduction of powers, roots, exponents and logarithms into algebraic
equations.
Lecture 10: Comprehensive study of word problems and the application of college
algebra to word problems.
Lecture 11: Review of the past 10 weeks of the course. Review and preparation for the
final exam.
General Course Rubric
You can expect all assignments to be graded via the following rubric.
Discrete and Continuous Arithmetic (CLOs 1-3, 6)
College Algebra (CLO 4)
Problem Solving (CLOs 3 & 5)
A
Able to perform
fundamental and complex arithmetic operations with very few to no errors.
Understands the order of operations and can execute them properly.
Shows enough work that all steps in the problem can be easily followed.
Able to perform
fundamental and complex algebraic problems with very few to no errors.
Shows enough work that all steps in the problem can be easily followed.
Shows clear understanding of the entire problem and the questions being asked.
Able to translate the language and the syntax of the problem into the correct arithmetic and algebraic operations.
Performs all arithmetic operations with very few to no errors.
Shows enough work that all steps in the problem can be easily followed.
B
Able to perform
fundamental arithmetic with very few errors and
complex arithmetic
operations with few errors.
Understands the order of operations and can execute them with few errors.
Shows enough work that most steps in the problem can be easily followed.
Able to perform
fundamental algebra with very few errors and complex algebraic
problems with few errors.
Shows enough work that most steps in the problem can be easily followed.
Shows clear understanding of most of the problem and most of the questions being asked.
Able to translate most of the language and the syntax of the problem into the correct arithmetic and algebraic operations.
Performs all arithmetic operations with very few errors.
Shows enough work that most steps in the problem can be easily followed.
C
Able to perform
fundamental arithmetic with few errors and complex arithmetic operations with some errors.
Able to perform
fundamental algebra with few errors and complex algebraic problems with some errors.
Shows some understanding of the problem and the questions being asked.
Able to translate some of the language and the syntax of
Understands the order of operations and can execute them with some errors.
Shows enough work that steps in the problem can be followed with some
difficulty.
Shows enough work that steps in the problem can be followed with some difficulty.
the problem into the correct arithmetic and algebraic operations.
Performs the arithmetic operations with some errors.
Shows enough work that steps in the problem can be followed with some
difficulty.
D
Able to perform
fundamental arithmetic with some errors and complex arithmetic operations with several errors.
Shows some confusion with the order of operations.
Shows little work and is missing important steps in completing the problem.
Able to perform
fundamental algebra with some errors and complex algebraic problems with several errors.
Shows little work and is missing important steps in completing the problem.
Has difficulty in
understanding the problem and the questions being asked.
Has difficulty translating the language and the syntax of the problem into the correct arithmetic and algebraic operations.
Has difficulty performing the arithmetic operations.
Shows little work and is missing important steps in completing the problem.
F
Unable to perform fundamental arithmetic without difficulty. Unable to perform complex arithmetic operations.
Has little understanding of the order of operations.
Shows little to no work.
Unable to perform fundamental algebra without difficulty. Unable to perform complex algebraic problems.
Shows little to no work.
Shows no understanding of the problem and the
questions being asked.
Has no understanding of how the syntax and language of the problem translate into arithmetic and algebraic operations.
Unable to perform many of the arithmetic operations.
