Revised Fall 2024

COLLIN COLLEGE EXPANDED GENERIC COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Number: MATH 1324

Course Title: Mathematics for Business & Social Sciences
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 1

Prerequisite
MATH 0314 with a grade of C or better, or MATH 0324 with a grade of C or better, or meet TSI
college-readiness standard for Mathematics; or equivalent.

Course Description
The application of common algebraic functions, including polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, and
rational, to problems in business, economics, and the social sciences are addressed. The applications
include mathematics of finance, including simple and compound interest and annuities; systems of
linear equations; matrices; linear programming; and probability, including expected value. Lab
required.

Textbook/Supplies
Finite Mathematics with Applications in the Management, Natural, and Social Sciences, Lial,
Hungerford, Holcomb & Mullins, 13th edition, Pearson.

Supplies: TI Graphing calculator required.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLO)

Upon completion of this course the students should be able to do the following:

1. Apply elementary functions, including linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, logarithmic, and
exponential functions to solving real-world problems. (Critical Thinking and Communication Skills)
2. Solve mathematics of finance problems, including the computation of interest, annuities, and
amortization of loans. (Empirical/Quantitative and Critical Thinking)
3. Apply basic matrix operations, including linear programming methods, to solve application
problems. (Critical Thinking and Communication Skills)
4. Demonstrate fundamental probability techniques and application of those techniques, including
expected value, to solve problems. (Empirical/Quantitative and Critical Thinking)
5. Apply matrix skills and probability analysis to model applications to solve real-world problems.

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REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES FOR MATHEMATICS

As per the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, mathematics students must develop and
demonstrate the following three required core objectives:
• Critical Thinking Skills - creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and
synthesis of information.
• Communication Skills - effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through
written, oral and visual communication.
• Empirical and Quantitative Skills - manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable
facts resulting in informed conclusions.

METHOD OF EVALUATION

Course requirements
Attending lectures, completing assignments, completing required exams and labs, and knowledge
of calculator use are all required.

Course format
Lecture, lab, and guided practice.

A minimum of four proctored exams, a lab component grade, online homework, and a proctored
comprehensive final exam will be given. Homework and/or quizzes may be used in place of one exam
or in addition to exams. Online homework is required and must be incorporated in the overall course
grade. The final exam grade must count at least as much as any regular exam. The weight of each of
these components of evaluation will be specified in the individual instructor’s syllabus. All out-of-class
course credit, including home assignments, service-learning, etc. may not exceed 25% of the total
course grade; thus, at least 75% of a student’s grade must consist of proctored exams, and no student
may retake any of these exams.

Labs are opportunities for students to apply the concepts taught in class. They fulfill the course’s
learning outcomes while assessing the core objectives skills of critical thinking, communication, and
empirical/quantitative analysis. The lab assignments must be completed outside of class and labs will
be graded and recorded as part of the grading process. Lab credits should count for 10% - 25% of the
overall course grade

COURSE POLICIES

College-wide policies are pre-loaded into the Concourse Syllabi and are not duplicated in the Expanded
Generic Syllabi for each course. Instructor specific policies should be added to the Concourse Syllabus.

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COURSE CONTENT

Proofs and derivations will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor. The student will be
responsible for knowing all definitions and statements of theorems for each section outlined in the
following modules.

Module 1: Linear Equations and Functions

The student will be able to:

1. Determine the domain and range of functions. (SLO 1)
2. Evaluate functions including difference quotient and piecewise-defined functions. (SLO 1)
3. Calculate the composition of functions. (SLO 1)
4. Graph linear functions including supply, demand, revenue, cost, and profit. (SLO 1)
5. Write the equation of a line, given information about its graph. (SLO 1)
6. Use appropriate technology to graph functions. (SLO 1)
7. Solve a system of linear equations in two variables using substitution and elimination. (SLO 1)
8. Model the cost function, price-demand function, revenue function, and profit function. (SLO1)
9. Determine and interpret slope as it applies to business applications including marginal
analysis. (SLO 1)
10. Given a linear revenue function and a linear cost function, or a linear profit function, calculate
the break-even point. (SLO 1)
11. Given a linear price-demand function and a linear price-supply function, find the equilibrium
point. (SLO 1)

Module 2: Special Functions

The student will be able to:

1. Determine the vertex of a quadratic function algebraically. (SLO 1)
2. Determine whether a quadratic function has a maximum value or a minimum value at the
vertex. (SLO 1)
3. Determine the zeros of a quadratic function. (SLO 1)
4. Graph quadratic functions including supply, demand, revenue, cost, and profit. (SLO 1)
5. Given a revenue function and a cost function with at least one being quadratic, or a quadratic
profit function, calculate the break-even point. (SLO 1)
6. Given a price-demand function and a price-supply function with at least one being quadratic,
calculate the equilibrium point. (SLO 1)
7. Maximize revenue or profit and minimize cost. (SLO 1)
8. Graph the basic functions (Identity, Constant, Power, Absolute Value, and Root). (SLO 1)
9. Graph and interpret transformations of functions. (SLO 1)
10. For a polynomial function, identify the degree, the maximum number of zeros, and the end
behavior. (SLO 1)
11. Determine the real zeros of a polynomial function algebraically and/or graphically. (SLO 1)
12. Given a rational function, determine the domain. (SLO 1)
13. Given a rational function, determine any vertical or horizontal asymptotes. (SLO 1)
14. Graph rational functions. (SLO 1)
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 15. Use polynomial or rational functions to solve applications. (SLO 1)
16. Graph piecewise-defined functions. (SLO 1)
17. Use appropriate technology to calculate and graph the regression equation that models given
data. (SLO 1)

Module 3: Matrices

The student will be able to:

1. Add and subtract matrices, including applications. (SLO 3)
2. Organize and interpret data stored in matrices. (SLO 3, 5)
3. Multiply a matrix by a scalar, including applications. (SLO 3)
4. Multiply two matrices, including applications. (SLO 3)
5. Use matrices and elementary row operations to solve systems of equations with unique
solutions, including applications. (SLO 3)
6. Use matrices and elementary row operations to solve systems of equations with non-unique
solutions, including applications. (SLO 3, 5)

Module 4: Inequalities and Linear Programming

The student will be able to:

1. Graph and solve linear inequalities in two variables. (SLO 3)
2. Solve systems of linear inequalities in two variables. (SLO 3)
3. Use graphical methods to determine the optimum value of a linear function subject to
constraints, including applications. (SLO 3)
4. Use the simplex method to maximize functions subject to constraints, including applications.
(SLO 3)

Module 5: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

The student will be able to:

1. Graph a basic exponential function. (SLO 1)
2. Graph base e exponential functions. (SLO 1)
3. Define the logarithmic functions as the inverse of an exponential function. (SLO 1)
4. Write a logarithmic function in exponential form and an exponential function in logarithmic
form. (SLO 1)
5. Determine the domain of logarithmic functions. (SLO 1)
6. Graph a basic logarithmic function. (SLO 1)
7. Use the properties of logarithmic functions to simplify logarithmic expressions. (SLO 1)
8. Solve logarithmic equations. (SLO 1)
9. Evaluate logarithms using technology.
10. Use logarithms to solve exponential equations. (SLO 1)
11. Use logarithms to solve applications. (SLO 1)
12. Solve applications involving growth/decay. (SLO 1)

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Module 6: Mathematics of Finance

The student will be able to:

1. Compute simple interest. (SLO 2)
2. Calculate the total amount due on a loan using simple interest. (SLO 2)
3. Compute the future value using compound interest. (SLO 2)
4. Compute the present value using compound interest. (SLO 2)
5. Calculate the effective rate. (SLO 2)
6. Compute the growth time of an investment. (SLO 2)
7. Compute the future value of an ordinary annuity. (SLO 2)
8. Compute the present value of an ordinary annuity. (SLO 2)
9. Compute the regular payments necessary to amortize a loan. (SLO 2)
10. Create an amortization schedule. (SLO 2)

Module 7: Introduction to Probability

The student will be able to:

1. Compute the probability of a single event occurrence. (SLO 4, 5)
2. Construct a sample space for a probability experiment. (SLO 4, 5)
3. Compute the probability of the intersection, union, and complement of events. (SLO 4, 5)
4. Distinguish between mutually exclusive and non-mutually exclusive events. (SLO 4, 5)
5. Compute the expected value of an experiment. (SLO 4, 5)

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