BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

City University of New York

199 Chambers Street (Main Building), NY, NY 10007, USA
Department of Mathematics
Instructor Information:
Mat 161.5 - Mathematics Literacy and
Quantitative Reasoning

MAT 161.5 Generic Syllabus Name: Professor/Dr. Nkechi Agwu

Semester/Course Section: Email: [email protected]
Credits/Hours: 3credits, 6 hours Phone: 1-212-220-1337
Office: N598k, Math Complex, Main Building

A generic syllabus means that it is a general mathematics department template for all sections of the course. Your
section syllabus may be modified by the instructor teaching that section. You will be provided with a syllabus
addendum that indicates modifications that are specific to your section. The information in the syllabus
addendum supersedes any conflicts with any information in the generic syllabus.

Course Description:
This course aims to teach students how to interpret quantitative information, analyze quantitative data, and make
inferences in contexts involving mathematical concepts. Topics include proportional reasoning, interpreting percentages,
units and measurement, thinking critically, numbers in the real world, financial management, statistical reasoning,
probability, and linear and exponential modeling. This course satisfies the mathematics requirement for the CUNY
Pathways. This course cannot be used as a pre-requisite for MAT 56 and is not suited for Science, Technology,
Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) majors or any major that requires MAT 56.
Pre/Co-Requisites:
Pre-Requisite: ESL 62 and ACR 94.
Students who score in the range 40 – 56 on the Elementary Algebra ACCUPLACER Exam or students who have
successfully completed MAT 8 are eligible to enroll in MAT 161.5.

MAT161.5 cannot be taken by students who have passed MAT 12, MAT 14, MAT 41, MAT 51, MAT 56, MAT 160,
MAT 161, MAT 56.5, MAT 150.5 or any other credit bearing course.
Student Learning Outcomes and Assessment:
Course Student Learning Outcomes Measurements
1. Students will be able to interpret and draw appropriate inferences from quantitative Homework (online),
representations, such as formulas, graphs, or tables. quizzes, modular
exams, final exam
2. Students will be able to use algebraic, numerical, graphical, or statistical methods to
draw accurate conclusions and solve mathematical problems

3. Students will be able to represent quantitative problems expressed in natural

language in a suitable mathematical format.

4. Students will be able to effectively communicate quantitative analysis or solutions to

mathematical problems in written or oral form.

5. Students will be able to evaluate solutions to problems for reasonableness using a

variety of means, including informed estimation.

6. Students will be able to apply mathematical methods to problems in other fields of

study.

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Updated 5/2017
General Education Outcomes and Assessment:
General Education Learning Outcomes Measurements
Communication Skills- Students will be able to write, read, listen and speak critically and Homework (online),
effectively. quizzes, modular
Quantitative Reasoning- Students will be able to use quantitative skills and the concepts exams, final exam
and methods of mathematics to solve problems.
Information & Technology Literacy- Students will be able to collect, evaluate and interpret
information and effectively use information technologies.

Course Requirements:
1. Workbook: Quantitative Literacy and Reasoning workbook, BMCC Edition 1.0. This workbook was designed
by BMCC Quantitative Literacy with some lessons adopted from the materials developed by the Carnegie
Foundation & the Charles A. Dana Center. Workbook is provided for students free of charge.
2. Calculator and other calculating software: A scientific calculator is required. A TI-30X is recommended.
Graphing calculators and calculator applications on portable devices (including smartphones) are not allowed.
Any software with basic statistical capabilities that is compatible with Microsoft Word, e.g, Excel.
3. Supplementary Materials, Books and supplies: Instructor will provide list of required materials at the
beginning of the semester in the syllabus addendum.

Evaluation and Requirements of Students:

The final grade in this course will be a letter grade. This letter grade will be based on the accumulated percentage out of
100% calculated based on the weights of various categories, using the college grading scheme of A-/A: 90 and above,
B-/B/B+: 80-89, C-/C/C+: 70-79, D-/D/D+: 60-69 and F: below 60. At the beginning of the semester by the instructor
will inform you about are the various categories of work and their weights that will be used to give you a letter grade.

Exemption from MAT 41:

MAT161.5 consists of two parts. The first part assesses the developmental component of the course. Students who fail the
course but achieve at least 70% on the first part will be exempt from MAT 41 and advised to register for MAT161.
Student Services:
1. Math Lab
The Math Lab is located in S535. You will need a valid BMCC student ID to visit the Math Lab. Tutors are available in
the Math Lab for free to all BMCC students. The Math Lab has worksheets with practice problems in stock, as well as
computer- and video-based tutoring.

2. Learning Resource Center (LRC)

To help make your college career a success, the Learning Resource Center (LRC) offers students with academic support
services to strengthen academic skills and meet their learning needs. LRC offers tutorial and instructional computer lab
services and course-specific, non-print supplemental instructional materials. The LRC is located in room S-510 and all
services are available free of charge to registered BMCC students. For more info visit http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/lrc/

3. E-Tutoring
E-tutoring is available to all BMCC students. If you e-mail your question, you will receive response within 24 hours
Monday to Friday except when classes are not in session. Questions submitted over the weekend, if not answered within
24 hours, will be answered on the following Monday. For further information, please call e-tutoring at 212-220-1380,
send an email to [email protected] or visit http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/etutoring/

College Attendance Policy:

1. Absences
At BMCC, the maximum number of absences is limited to one more hour than the number of hours a class meets in one
week. For this course, you are allowed seven hours of absence (not seven days). In the case of excessive absence, the
instructor has the option to lower the grade or assign an “F”, “R”, or “WU” grade. In the case of an online course,
excessive absence will be evaluated based on missing an entire week of classwork and/or homework.
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2. Class Attendance
 Attendance in both regular and remedial courses is mandated by policy of the City University of New York. For
online sections of this class, attendance will be evaluated based on your activity in discussion board assignments.
 Once classes begin, you must officially drop or withdraw from a course that you no longer want to attend before
the deadlines (check the Academic Calendar for specific dates). *

*Please Note: If you do not take action on the course, you will receive a grade of "WU or WN" (based on attendance). If
the Office of the Registrar assigns a WN (which means you never attended the class during the first week of classes), you
are still 100% liable for the tuition. However, if you stop attending at any time during the term then you should receive a
grade of WU (Withdrew Unofficially-same as an "F" grade) which counts as a failure in your GPA and may have
financial repercussions.

3. Lateness
Classes begin promptly at the times indicated in the Schedule of Classes. Arrival in classes after the scheduled starting
time constitutes a lateness. Latecomers may, at the discretion of the instructor, incur an official absence. In the case of
online classes, lateness will be recorded based on late submission of classwork and homework.

Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities:

Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments for this course must contact
the Office of Accessibility. BMCC is committed to providing equal access to all programs and curricula to all students.

BMCC Policy on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Statement:

Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas, words or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one’s own
creation. Using the idea or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and
summarizing, as well as direct quotations require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or
unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism.

Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The
library has guides designed to help students to appropriately identify a cited work. The full policy can be found on
BMCC’s web site, www.bmcc.cuny.edu. For further information on integrity and behavior, please consult the college
bulletin (also available online).

Updated 5/2017
 Weeks Topics Covered Lesson #
Week 1 Introduction to Quantitative Literacy 1.1
Logic, Fallacies, Critical Thinking in Everyday Life 1.2
Week 2 What Percent 1.3
Affordable Care Act 1.4
Whose Footprint is Bigger? 1.5

Week 3 Interpreting Statements About Percentages 1.6

Module 1 Review & Module 1 Assessment Exam 1
Week 4 How Crowded Are We? 2.1
Counting Our Votes 2.2
Measuring Change 2.3
Week 5 Picturing Data with Graphs 2.4
What is Average? 2.5
Week 6 Inflation and Consumer Price Index 2.6
Module 2 Review & Module 2 Assessment Exam 2

Week 7 What are the Chances? 3.1

Multiplication rule of probability 3.2
Addition rule of probability 3.3
Week 8 Measure of spread: range, average deviation and standard deviation 3.4
Quartiles, percentiles and boxplots 3.5

Week 9 Normal Distribution 3.6

Module 3 Review & Module 3 Assessment Exam 3
Week 10 What is the Correct Dose? 4.1
The Facts on the Ground 4.2
The Fixer Upper 4.3
Week 11 Balancing Blood Alcohol 4.4
A Return to Proportional Reasoning 4.5

Module 4 Review
Week 12 Module 4 Assessment Exam 4
Modeling Money 5.1
More Linear Modeling 5.2
Week 13 Linear Regression 5.3
Compounding Interest Makes Cents 5.4
Finance and Loans 5.5
Week 14 Mortgages 5.6
How Fast? (Modeling population growth) 5.7
The Rising Seas 5.8

Week 15 Module 5 Assessment Exam 5

Review for the Final Exam (Take Home)
Week 16 Final Exam Final Exam

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