MATH-101/101A Mathematical Thinking
Basic class information
  • The book we are using, Math in Society 2.6 by David Lippman, can be downloaded here.  Here's a local copy as well. 

Week 1.  January 27 - January 31.    
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday
 Syllabus, short introduction to topics we'll cover.

We'll start on voting theory  		Read about voting theory (starts on page 35) up to and including at least the Borda count method.
Thursday
 We'll start on voting theory--the preference schedule, the plurality method, and the majority criterion.

I have notes from an online version:
Introduction to voting theory.
Voting theory framework.
Voting theory framework part II.		 Read about voting theory (starts on page 35) up to and including at least the Borda count method.

Exercises beginning on page 53: 1, 2, 3a-3c.

Homework #1 is on D2L provided we cover the majority criterion.  (Found in the quiz section)

Week 2.  February 3 - February 7.
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday
 The Condorcet criterion, Insincere Voting, Plurality with Eliminations. 3e, 4e, 7, 17,
3d, 4d,  9, 14, 18.

Do homework #2 on D2L.  (Found in the quiz section)
Thursday


Week 3.  February 10 - February 14.    
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday
 The monotonicity criterion, Borda count.
 3d, 4d,  9, 14, 18.

Homework #3 is on D2L and covers Borda count. 
Thursday

Conclusions to Borda count.

Copeland's method which I call pairwise comparisons. 

Independence of irrelevant alternatives criterion. 		Exercises:  3, 4 (all parts).  13, 15, 16, 19, 20.

Homework #4 is on D2L and covers pairwise comparisons. 

Week 4.  February 17 - February 21.
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday
 Conclusions on voting theory.  Arrow's Impossibility theorem. Is IIA a fair criterion?

 Quiz 1 is on D2L and covers all of voting theory.  Take it before next Tuesday.
Thursday
 Weighted voting systems  Starts on page 59.

 Starting on page 70 in the book,  Anything in 1-8 is good.  19, 20.

Week 5.  February 24 - February 28.    
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday
 Coalitions and counting coalitions.  Here's how I count coalitions.. The Banzhof power index. 9 - 14 are good problems.  You should be reading the chapter (Weighted voting systems) as we go along.

Do homework #5 covering the basics of weighted voting when you are ready.

Do homework #6 (Banzhof and coalitions) on D2L when you have tried the book problems.
Thursday
 I was out sick.
 I was out sick.

Week 6.  March 3 - March 7.
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday
 Sequential coalitions.  A word about counting sequential coalitions.  The Shapley-Shubik power index. 15 - 18 are good, 21.

Do homework #7 (Shapley Shubik) on D2L when you have tried the book problems.

Quiz 2 will be ready soon.  It will cover weighted voting.
Thursday
 The last of weighted voting.  Fair division concepts and terminology.  Divider-chooser.  Starts on page 93. Starting on page 108, exercises 1 - 6.

Do homework #8 (basics of fair division) when you are ready.

Week 7.  March 10 - March 14.    
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday
 The lone-divider method for 3 players and more.

Last Diminisher.		 Exercises 7, 8, 17a and b,  18, 19.
Homework #9 covers lone divider.  Take it soon.

11-14 are good problems.  Be sure to try 15.
Homework #10 covers (mostly) last diminisher.
Thursday
 The method of sealed bids. Add 9, 10.
Homework #11 is about the method of sealed bids.

Take Quiz 3 on fair division before the test.
Friday
Midterm Grades


Spring Holiday.  March 17 - March 21.    
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Monday
 No Classes.
 No Classes.
Tuesday
 No Classes. No Classes.
Wednesday
 No Classes. No Classes.
Thursday
 No Classes. No Classes.
Friday
 No Classes. No Classes.


Week 8.  March 24 - March 28.
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday
 Review for test 1.  Bring any questions.
Thursday
 Test 1.

Week 9.  March 31 - April 4.
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday

Thursday


Week 10.  April 7 - April 11.    
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday

Thursday


Week 11.  April 14 - April 18.
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday

Thursday


Week 12.  April 21  - April 25.    
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday

Thursday


Week 13.  April 28 - May 2.
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday

Thursday


Week 14.  May 5 - May 9.
Day
 Class Covers
 Assignments, etc.
Tuesday

Thursday


Finals Week.  May 12 - 15.  See the final exam schedule on my main page or the registrar's page.
Day
 Class and Final Exam Time
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
STAT 141 05 Intro to Stats - Thu, May 15, 2025 -- 10:15 AM to 12:15 PM
MATH 101 05 / 101A 05 Math Thinking - Thu, May 15, 2025 -- 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM