M110 Mathematics and Politics

 

The add about the course: M110 - poster

 

 

Instructor:                  Iztok Hozo

e-mail:             ihozo@iun.edu

Textbook:                   For All Practical Purposes 5th Ed. by COMAP

 

In this course we will examine some of the most important applications of mathematics in everyday life: applications in politics. While historians, psychologists and sociologists are interested in the political events, their social significance, and the workings of the human mind; it is the mathematicians who are interested in quantitative aspects of social interactions.

 

READ MORE ABOUT THESE TOPICS:

 

Voting Systems:                        Chapter 11, Sample Tests: 01, 02, 03

                                                TI-92 program for voting procedures (place voting preferences in a matrix a first).

 

Statistics and Politics:                Chapter 8 ,  Sample Tests: 01, 02, 03

                                                Excellent site on Sampling and Statistics

                                                Math for Reporters

                                                Presidential Poll tracking. All polls

Latest Newsweek poll (Sep. 16, 2000)

                                                Gallup Poll

                                                How to spot a bogus poll, Polls                                    

 

Student Presentations:   Student Projects (click on the link for some ideas)

Power and

Weighted Voting Systems:        Chapter 12 (ZCheck this page), Sample Tests: 01, 02, and 03.

                                                Weighted Voting Systems page

                                     

 

Game Theory:                           Chapter 15 Sample Tests: 1, 2, 3, 4

Short HISTORY of GAME THEORY

Another HISTORY of GAME THEORY

Game Theory Simulation

 

(VERY) TENTATIVE SYLLABUS

Homework/Tests

1

Aug 29

Voting Systems: Majority, Plurality, Hare, Borda, Pairwise Comparisons

Chapter 11: Exercises 1-31

Aug 30

2

Sep 5

 

Sep 7

Homework Due

3

Sep 12

Statistics and Politics:
Statistical Inference
TEST #1

Sep 14

Chapter 8: Exercises 1-55

4

Sep 19

 

Sep 21

5

Sep 26

 

Students Pick Projects

Sep 28

6

Oct 3

 

Homework Due

Oct 5

TEST #2

7

Oct 10

Weighted Voting Systems

Chapter 12: Exercises 1-41

Oct 12

8

Oct 17

 

Oct 19

9

Oct 24

 

Homework Due

Oct 26

TEST #3

Oct 27

Automatic ‘W’ Deadline

10

Oct 31

Game Theory:
Mathematics of Conflict

Chapter 15: Exercises 1-40

Nov 2

11

Nov 7

 

Nov 9

12

Nov 14

 

 

Nov 16

Homework Due

13

Nov 21

 

TEST #4

Nov 23

Thanksgiving Holiday

14

Nov 28

Student Presentations

 

Nov 30

15

Dec 5

 

Dec 7

16

Dec 12

 

 

Dec 14

 

 

 

EXTRA READING ON THE WEB:

 

DEMOCRACY EVOLVES!           More information about voting.

U. S. Electoral College                           Read about the electoral college

Math Alive Lab 6: Voting and Social Choice    Try your own data.

Voting – Page            More information about voting.

Approval Voting A different way to vote.

 

The Mathematics of Voting (U of Alabama Page)

 

Weighted Voting Systems