Faculty of Business Studies

MU123 Discovering Mathematics

Course Outline, Objective and Calendar

Prepared by

Dr. Hassan Sharafuddin

Course Chair

2012/2013
Second semester

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Arab Open University
Faculty of Business Studies
____________________________________________________________________________

MU123: Discovering Mathematics

Course Description
Second semester, 2012/1013

 Course: MU123: Discovering  Credit hours: 8

Mathematics
 Prerequisite: EL099
 Text book: MU123, Discovering
Mathematics, The Open University,
Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA,
2010
 Semester: Spring, 2012/2013
 Important dates:
o Start of tutorial session: Feb 16,
2013
o Mid-term exam : March 23, 2013
o Submit TMA: April 20, 2013
o End of tutorial session: May 25,
2013
o Final Exam: May 30, 2013

Course description
Welcome to Discovering mathematics…
MU123 is a mandatory business course designed to provide mathematical functions for
students enrolled in Faculty of Business Studies in all tracks. The aim is to prepare
students roles as entrepreneurs, producers, and business leaders by developing
abilities and skills that are part of any business environment. Knowledge of
mathematical methods has become a prerequisite for all students interested in careers
in business and skilled trades area.

MU123 looks at a variety of mathematical topics such as numbers, statistics, graphs,

ratios and associated techniques. It also introduces mathematical modeling and some
mathematical operations related to finance, management, accounting, marketing and
economics. The course will introduce you to use common international standards of
measurement when solving problems, analyzing and interpreting data using common
statistical procedures.

Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes are of four types:
- Knowledge and understanding related to the content and subject matter of the
module.
- Cognitive skills associated with analysis and synthesis of the content.
- Key skills that are more general and include the ability to communicate and to
use relevant ICT.

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 - Practical skills related to the subject area.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Understand some key ideas in mathematics, including

some statistics and algebra.
2. Demonstrate relationships graphically and interpret
Knowledge and
completed graphs.
understanding
3. Grasp the mathematical technique for solving
problems.

4. Select and use appropriate techniques and strategies

for solving problems in a range of every day and
abstract contests.
5. Interpret mathematics in real-life situations, checking
Cognitive skills
that answers are sensible within the context of the
problem.
6. Develop simple mathematical arguments.

7. Explain mathematical ideas from the study units in

writing, using appropriate terminology, notation and
style.
8. Develop skills in learning independently – manage
study time, learn actively, reflect on progress and plan Key skills
further learning.
9. Use ICT tools such as the electronic assessment
system and online resources for learning.

10. Describe problems mathematically.

11. Use a computer to help to investigate and solve a
range of mathematical questions and problems.
Practical skills
12. Analyze and comment on the mathematical reasoning
of others.

Teaching and Learning Methods

This course will be taught using a combination of face-to-face lectures and online
tutorials. Formal lectures will be used to demonstrate principles and methods. Support
is available from the tutor and other students in the tutor group. In case you experience
some difficulties, you can contact your tutor during his/her office hours or by email. In
addition, you will have access to the Learning Management System (LMS) and online
forum where you can discuss MU123 with other students. This online forum is an ideal
way for students to help each other by asking questions, or by providing study tips.

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Lectures will be recorded and uploaded on the LMS where you can download any of
these lectures and learn more off-line. Moreover, lectures notes and power point slides
and range of resources, including the study guide, tutorial clips, interactive activities and
assessment will be available in the LMS.

The Course Component

The course component is divided into four books:
1. Book A: Units 1-4
2. Book B: Units 5-7
3. Book C: Units 9
4. Book D: Units 11-13

These four books provide the main foundation for the course, each looking at different
teaching materials that are used. Book A, for example, will help you to revise some
basic mathematical skills and to start studying mathematics more effectively. Book B will
learn you much more about this sort of mathematics, which is called algebra and will
begin to learn the techniques that will allow you to make the most of it. In Book C, you
will develop more algebraic skills so that you can rearrange more complicated formulas
and solve a greater range of equations. Book D look at a second important set of tools
for providing an overview of the data in a dataset. In this book, you will be focusing on
producing and analyzing pictures of the data, in the form of statistical graphs and charts,
to help to reveal significant features. Moving through these teaching materials will
involve you to check each week from the course study calendar which unit in which
book you read next.

MU123 Guide:
This guide provides a guideline for studying the course. You should read the ‘Study
Guide’ before you start working on the units because they contain important information
about MU123. This guide will tell you what you need to do before and whilst you are
studying it.

As well as the study texts that you received with MU123 Guide, other essential learning
resources will be delivered through the LMS website . This website can be accessed
within the Arab Open University website (www.arabou.edu.kw). Any significant updates
to the information in the MU123 guide, and other study text, will be provided on the
LMS.

Scientific calculators
You will need a scientific calculator for MU123, and any model that meets the
specification can be used. You can also use the Windows calculator if you wish. The
‘View’ menu contains an option to switch the calculator to scientific mode.

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Assessment:
Your final grade is based on:
 Tutor marked Assignment (TMA 20% of final grade.)
 Mid-term Exam 30% of final grade.
 Final Exam 50% of the final grade.

Office Hours
We welcome you to come and visit your tutor during office hours with any questions that
you may have. A student unable to attend office hours may contact his/her tutor via
AOU e-mail. Tutors check their e-mails frequently throughout the day and will make
every effort to reply to you as quickly as possible.

Preparation for tutorials:

Please come to each tutorial prepared, having read the material in advance. This will
help you get the most out of every tutorial session. You are encouraged to come
prepared with questions you may have for your tutor.

Attendance:
Please note that attendance is mandatory. Any student absent for more than 3 sessions
will not be allowed to take the final exam.

Plagiarism:
If you submit an assignment that contains work that is not your own, without indicating
this to the marker (acknowledging your sources), you are committing ‘plagiarism’. This
might occur in an assignment when:

 copying word-for-word directly from a text

 using text downloaded from the Internet
 copying or downloading figures, photographs, pictures or diagrams without
acknowledging your sources
 copying from the notes or essays of a fellow student
 copying from your own notes, on a text, tutorial, video or lecture, that contain
direct quotations.

Plagiarism may occur inadvertently due to inexperience. So read carefully all the
course-specific study advice that you receive in your mailings, especially statements
concerning plagiarism and how to reference your sources.

TMA provide a vehicle for assessing your performance during your course and
contribute to your overall course result. However they also assist you in understanding
your subject and aid your learning on the course. When you attempt to use the ideas
and terms of the course independently, you learn more thoroughly and develop your

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own writing style. You are likely to perform better in examinations if you have learned
how to write your own answers to questions in TMA. By submitting work that is not your
own, you are denying yourself the benefit of this valuable learning strategy. Copying the
work of others would be counter-productive to your goal of understanding the course
work and to real achievement. Most students will not wish to take such a negative
approach to studying, and the university does not tolerate it.

You are encouraged to collaborate with others in studying, but submitted work copied
from or written jointly with others is not acceptable, unless collaboration is required in
the particular assignment.

Recommended reading list:

 Business Math , 9th edition, Cheryl Cleaves, et al, Pearson Education, Inc./
Prentice Hall
 Quantitative Methods for Business, 3rd Edition, Donald Waters, FT/Prentice Hall

Course Calendar:

Week
Book Unit Topics to be covered Sections
No.

Course Introduction
- Importance of business math
- Course guide
Week 1 - Assessment
- Attendance
- Course description

Starting point:
- Studying MU123,
- Working with numbers, Sections 1,2 and 3, (pages 7-
Week 2 Unit 1
- Negative numbers. 33)
- Fractions
BOOK A

Mathematical models:
Unit 2 - Using formula,
- Inequalities.
Week 3
- Natural numbers
Unit 3 - Rational numbers
Section 3: page 88-102
Section 4: page 103-107
Section 1: page 120-135
Section 2: page 136-147

Numbers:
Week 4 Unit 3 - Irrational numbers Section 3: page 148-158
- Ratios Section 4: page 159-167

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 - Using percent in External resources
Business
- Trade and Cash
discounts
- Discussing TMA

Statistical Summaries:
- Questions, questions Section 1: page 176-182
- Dealing with data Section 2: page 183-192
- Summarising data: Section 3: page 193-199
Week 5 Unit 4
location
- Measuring with accuracy Section 4: page 210-214
and precision

Algebra:
- Why learn algebra Section 1: page 06 – 09
- Expressions Section 2: page 10 – 19
Week 6 Unit 5 - Simplifying terms Section 3: page 20 – 24
- Brackets Section 4: page 25 – 34
- Linear equations Section 5: page 35 – 49

Week 7 Mid-term exam

Discovering Math of Finance External resources

- Solving for different values Power point slides
using the simple interest
BOOK B

formula.
Week 8
- Calculating simple interest
for parts of years
- Calculating Present value

Graphs:
- Plotting graphs
- Characteristics of straight-line
Week 9 Unit 6 - Equations of straight lines
- Linear models from data
- Reviewing straight line
Section 1: page 62 – 68
Section 2: page 69 – 83
Section 3: page 84 – 103
Section 4: page 104 – 113
Section 5: page 114

Equations and inequalities:

- Rearranging equations Section 1: page 124 – 132
Week 10 Unit 7 - Common factors Section 2: page 133 – 142
- Simultaneous linear equations Section 3: page 143 – 161

Using Math in Credit and Payroll External resource

- Consumer Credit
Week 11
- Calculating Payroll

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 Expanding algebra:

BOOK C
- Multiplying out pairs of Section 2: page 81 – 86
brackets Section 4: page 103 – 109
Week 12 Unit 9
- Manipulating algebraic
fractions

Statistical picture:
- Histograms and bar charts Section 2: page 20 – 26
- Case study Section 4: page 36 – 48
Week 13 Unit 11
- Using Excel in constructing
BOOK D

histograms

Exponential:
- Exponential growth & decay Section 1: page117 – 131
- Working with exponential Section 2: page 131- 138
Week 14 Unit 13
- Logarithms Section 4: page 147 – 157
- Calculate Depreciation

Week 15 Revision

Final exam - Week starts May 30, 2013

Week 16
(the exact date will be announce by the deanship)