Mathematics

Professor: Tharanga Wijetunge
Associate Professors: Jeremy Chapman 
Assistant Professor: Wesley Perkins, '15
Director of Developmental Mathematics: Meredith Wright, '04

Mathematics is the language of nature, the Rosetta stone by which we come to understand the inner structure and form of our universe. It is also the language of computers and the key to the burgeoning Information Age. As a tool for understanding the world, it is perhaps the oldest and most enduring— and still, today, one of the most dynamic and exciting. Students in the mathematics major develop an understanding of mathematics as a vital tool of the mind.

The mathematics major is both rigorous and flexible. It provides students a foundation upon which to pursue graduate studies in mathematics or professional training in areas such as law or engineering while permitting them the flexibility to pursue minors in other liberal arts disciplines and to prepare themselves to teach in secondary school. Graduates receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics.

Students who wish to teach secondary school mathematics must satisfy admission requirements for the Liberal Arts Teacher Education Concentration (LATEC) and complete the general education core and education theory curriculum in the secondary education certification program. Additionally, prospective mathematics teachers must take MTH 400, which may be used as a general elective but not as a mathematics elective. We recommend that prospective mathematics teachers take MTH 360 and 380 as mathematics electives.

 

NOTES

MTH 210 may be used to satisfy core requirements. 

MTH 400 may NOT be used to satisfy the Mathematics Elective requirement.

PHY 240, 241, 250, and 251 are recommended general electives.

NOTE: To graduate with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from Lyon College, students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 semester credit hours comprised of our required Core curriculum (44-48 hours), the requirements of at least one major (credit hours vary per major), and a selection of our Liberal Arts electives. They must also earn at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average for all work taken at Lyon College and a 2.00 cumulative grade point average in their major, minor, and concentration.

Degrees

Courses

MTH 001: Intermediate Algebra

Class Program
Credits 3

This course prepares students for College Algebra. Coverage will include basic algebraic operations, polynomials, rational expressions, exponents and radicals, linear equations, quadratic equations, radical equations, absolute value equations, solving inequalities, functions, and graphing. This course may NOT be used to satisfy mathematics proficiency at Lyon College and it does NOT count toward the 120 hours necessary to graduate. It DOES count in a student's course load and DOES count toward a student's GPA. Students who earn less than a 'C' grade in this course must repeat it. 

Prerequisites

Math ACT of 17 or above.

MTH 003: Intermediate Algebra w/Lab

Class Program
Credits 3

This course prepares students for College Algebra. Coverage will include basic algebraic operations, polynomials, rational expressions, exponents and radicals, linear equations, quadratic equations, radical equations, absolute value equations, solving inequalities, functions, and graphing. This course may NOT be used to satisfy mathematics proficiency at Lyon College and it does NOT count toward the 120 hours necessary to graduate. It DOES count toward a student's course load and DOES count toward a student's GPA. Students who earn less than a 'C' grade in this course must repeat it.

Corequisites

MTH 003 LAB

MTH 101: College Algebra

Class Program
Credits 3

A review of algebra and the study of functions, including the polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and their graphs.

Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisites

or Math ACT of 22 or above.

MTH 105: Math for Liberal Arts

Class Program
Credits 3

Exponential growth and decay, simple interest, compound interest, inflation, loans, combinations, permutations, probability, odds, expectation, frequency distributions, descriptive statistics, and the normal distribution.

Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisites

Or Math ACT of 19 or above.

MTH 110: Elementary Functions

Class Program
Credits 3

Exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions and elementary matrix theory including determinants and systems of equations in preparation for calculus.

Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisites

Or MTH 103

MTH 210: Calculus I

Class Program
Credits 4

Limits, differentiation, and integration of algebraic, trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential functions with their applications.

Prerequisites

MTH 110 or permission of instructor.

MTH 220: Calculus II

Class Program
Credits 4

Applications and techniques of integration, sequences, infinite series, and transcendental functions.

Prerequisites

MTH 210 or permission of instructor.

MTH 225: Mathematical Theory of Interest

Class Program
Credits 3

Actuaries focus on using math and statistics to evaluate risk and make strategic decisions. This course covers a range of topics relevant to actuaries, including measurement of interest rates, interest theory, and the pricing of bonds, mortgages, annuities, and other financial instruments. This course will also fully cover all content required by the Society of Actuaries Financial Mathematics (FM) Exam and its equivalents. This online class has optional live sessions.

Prerequisite Courses

MTH 230: Calculus III

Class Program
Credits 4

Vectors and polar coordinates, functions of several variables, partial differentiation, multiple integration, and line integrals, as well as Green’s Theorem, Stokes’ Theorem, and Gauss’ Theorem.

Prerequisites

MTH 220 or permission of instructor.

MTH 325: Probability for Actuaries

Class Program
Credits 3

Actuaries and quantitative professionals deal primarily in probabilities. This course will cover a wide range of topics and introduce you to core probability concepts needed for actuarial and quantitative work. You will be able to apply to concepts of probability to real-world scenarios. This course will also fully cover all content required by the Society of Actuaries P Exam and its equivalents. This online class has optional live sessions.

Prerequisite Courses

MTH 415: Numerical Analysis

Class Program
Credits 3

Error analysis, interpolation, approximate differentiation, approximate integration, solutions to differential equations, matrix manipulation, and solutions to systems of linear equations. (Same as CSC 415)

Prerequisites

MTH 210 and one of the following: CSC 100, CSC 115, or CSC 109

MTH 420: Abstract Algebra I

Class Program
Credits 3

An introduction to the algebraic structure of the integers and groups, including equivalence relations, subgroups, normal subgroups, homomorphisms, Lagrange’s theorem, and Sylow’s theorem.

Prerequisites

MTH 290 and 330 or permission of instructor.

MTH 425: Actuarial Science and Risk Management with R

Class Program
Credits 3

This course focuses on team-based problem solving in actuarial science & risk management. Students will learn the fundamentals of the R programming language, RStudio and R Markdown, and use these tools to complete a range of projects. Projects vary, but may include bond and loan amortization, analysis of the efficient frontier and the capital asset pricing method, insurance liability & estimates of expected loss. This course culminates in a capstone project that ties together skills from throughout the Actuarial Sciences program.

Prerequisites

MTH 210, MTH 225, and either CSC 100, CSC 109, or CSC 115

MTH 440: Advanced Calculus I

Class Program
Credits 3

The real numbers; series; continuous, uniformly continuous, differentiable, and integrable functions; sequences; compact sets; the Heine-Borel theorem; the Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem; limits; and the fundamental theorem of calculus.

Prerequisites

MTH 220 and 290

MTH 441: Advanced Calculus II

Class Program
Credits 3

A continuation of MTH 440 to multivariate calculus, including sequences and series of functions, uniform convergence and power series, partial derivatives, the Inverse and Implicit Function Theorems, and multiple integrals.

Prerequisite Courses

MTH 445: Special Topics

Class Program
Credits 3

An exploration of one or more advanced undergraduate topics in mathematics not included in the list of courses in the catalog. The course name and appropriate prerequisites will be announced well in advance.