Welcome to Week 1 of MAT135 - Reasoning and Resources: Tools for Life!

This page is your central hub for all the information shared in class and the notes we took together. Please use these resources, along with the links on Diigo, to complete your assignments and deepen your understanding of the material. This course, Topics in Contemporary Mathematics, aims to equip you with valuable reasoning and problem-solving skills applicable to everyday life.

Key Concepts for Week 1:

  • Problem Solving Strategies: We'll be exploring different approaches to tackling mathematical problems, including Polya's problem-solving process.
  • Inductive and Deductive Reasoning: Understanding the difference between these two fundamental reasoning methods is crucial. Inductive reasoning involves forming general conclusions from specific observations, while deductive reasoning starts with general principles and applies them to specific cases.
  • Estimation and Approximation: Developing the ability to make reasonable estimations is a valuable skill in many contexts. We will practice techniques for approximating quantities and evaluating the reasonableness of results.

Essential Resources for Week 1:

  • Course Syllabus: MAT135_Spring 2011 Course Syllabus

    This document outlines the course objectives, grading policies, schedule, and other important information. Please review it carefully.

  • Class Notes: 11-01-24 Chapter 1

    Detailed notes from our first class covering key concepts from Chapter 1. These notes will be a valuable reference as you work through the assignments.

  • Project Signup Sheet: Link

    Sign up for your project topic here. Remember, early sign-up ensures you get your preferred topic!

  • Diigo Group Link: Link

    Join our Diigo group to access additional resources, share interesting articles, and collaborate with your classmates.

Example of Inductive Reasoning:

Consider the sequence 2, 4, 6, 8... Using inductive reasoning, we might observe that each number is 2 more than the previous number. Therefore, we might conclude that the next number in the sequence is 10. This is represented as $a_n = 2n$, where $n$ is the term number.

Example of Deductive Reasoning:

We know that all squares have four sides (general principle). Figure ABCD is a square (specific case). Therefore, Figure ABCD has four sides (conclusion). This can be formally stated, if all shapes A have characteristic B and shape C is shape A, then shape C has characteristic B.

Remember to actively engage with the material, ask questions, and participate in class discussions. I'm here to support your learning journey in MAT135! Good luck with Week 1!