The purpose of Foundational Studies is to broaden the understanding of what math is and why math is
important to the non-math major. On the 143 web page, there is a link to the rubric of the Mathematics
Discipline requirements for Foundational Studies. On each test, I will be providing one question for you
to grade based on the rubric.
Listed below are three questions which will assist to prepare the students for the test question. Please
provide these questions in the last five minutes of class.
Communications of mathematical Ideas:
Explain to a mathematician how they could assist you in developing a model (temp vs pressure
for STEM or number vs cost for business) and how that model can assist you in making
decisions.
Formulate and justify generalization
You run a shop in an area which is strongly supported by summer tourists. You keep track of the
number of customers visiting you shop each week. You have the following data.
3rd, 4th week 3rd week
Aug
1st 2nd week
Sept
Customers
502
473
453
????
…….
????
1) Based on the information above, how many customers do you expect in the 2nd week in
August and why?
2) Based on the information above, how many customers do you expect in the 3rd week in
September and why? (this is 6 weeks after your last data point. Rethink your answer and
explain why the data is invalid for the 3rd week in September.
Week
3rd week July
4th week july
1st week Aug
2nd week
Aug
Select an appropriate strategy.
Given the following data, would you use a linear model or a quadratic model to approximate the
data and why?
T ( temp.
Kelvin)
P (pressure
atm)
300
310
320
330
340
350
24.7
25.3
26.4
28
29
32
Based on your model, what would the pressure be at 360 Kelvins?