Assignments

.

Assignments 0-6
Assignments 7-14
Assignments 15-19
Assignments 20-24
Assignments 25-31

Assignments

Assignments are to be completed within two days after the assignment date.

 

Assignments 0-6:   Modeling and Basic Function Families

Assignment 0 (orientation and assessment)

Distance Students:  BE SURE YOU HAVE CONTACTED YOUR INSTRUCTOR BY EMAIL.  You will receive instructions for enrolling in the necessary Blackboard sessions, and for then completing other preliminary tasks including downloads from the Supervised Study page and the q_a_orientation program.

This preliminary assignment will orient you to the course and give you your first exposure to the subject matter of this course and to the communication process.   This assignment will typically require a week's work, though many students will be able to complete it more quickly while some might require a little longer.  Due to the variable times required to complete the preliminary assignment, each student may choose to work with a one- or two-week delay from the posted Due Dates.

• Distance Students:  Run the q_a_orientation program, all five sections, and email the associated Send files to the instructor according to the instructions you have received.  You may wish to consult the Supervised Study (Mth 195) page for the current term for instructions on downloading and running programs.   Click on Course Documents, Previous Emails and read all relevant messages. 

• Distance Students:  Run the program q_a_initial_pbs.exe.  Do the Precalculus initial problems, the Typewriter Notation Problems and the Describing Graphs problems and send the SEND file to the instructor.  These three assignments may be done on different days and can therefore be sent in different SEND files.  If you have not done this, do so now; however wait until your day's work is done and send all SEND files at the end of the day.

• Distance Students:  Complete the program q_a_int_pbs_communication.exe and email the instructor the appropriate SEND file at the end of your day. 

• Distance Students:  Complete the q_a_rates.exe program. 

• DISTANCE STUDENTS:  NOTE VIDEO VERSIONS OF CLASS NOTES ON CD's, Starting with CD #1.  See CD Contents for table of contents.

Assignment 1

See also Class Notes #01 and #02

q_a_ Assignment 1.

• Be sure you have downloaded the q_a_ program from the Supervised Study page, under Course Documents, Downloads, Precalculus I. Its title is q_a_pc1_1_15, and it applies to the first 15 assignments in your course.  Another q_a_ for the remaining assignments will be posted before you have completed Assignment 15.
  
  The program is optional if you are successful and on schedule with your assignments. Otherwise it is required. More explanation on the homepage.
  
  It is suggested that you use the q_a_ every once in awhile and see whether it saves you more time than it takes you to do it. For some people it will, for others it won't.

Distance Students:  Note that CD's contain class notes with video clips, starting with CD #2.

Suggested Review:  Text Sections 1.1 and 1.2, if necessary

Read and think about Introduction to Central Themes; Examples

Do the Introductory Flow Experiment and conduct the experiment; you do not yet need to go to the documents referred to at the end of the experiment, but you do need to answer the questions posed in the experiment. 

• If you wish to use simulated data for this experiment, go to Randomized Problems, choose Precalculus I and choose Simulated Data for Flow Experiment.

Distance Students:  View Precalculus material on GEN 1   CD and ponder questions posed in documentation.

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 2

q_a_ Assignment 2.

Suggested Review: Text, Section 1.5

Overview and Introduction:  The Modeling Process applied to Flow From a Cylinder (see also Class Notes #01).  Read note below first.

• ** Note:    If so instructed, and only if so instructed, instead of the problems stated in the documents, go to Randomized Problems, Introductory Flow Model (Model 1), and randomly choose one of the nine problem versions.  These problems are similar but not identical to those in your documents. **

Completion of the Introductory Flow Model (Class Notes #02) Distance students: submit your solutions to the exercises. 

• ** Continue to use the Randomized Problems from the preceding document. **

Distance Students:  View Introduction on CD #2.

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 3

q_a_ Assignment 3.

See also Class Notes #03

Properties of Quadratic Functions

• note that the DOS program QUADEQ provides useful practice; use it if practice is required

• Optional Exercises for Practice:  Graphs of selected parabolas  (a series of DOS-based exercises)

Introduction to Matrices (Beginning Summer 01):  Assignment will be posted prior to due date.

Most Basic Properties of Linear, Quadratic and Exponential Functions:  Practice until you can instantly and accurately sketch these graphs.

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 4

q_a_ Assignment 4.

See also Class Notes #04

Suggested Review:  Text Section 3.1

Review of algebra: 

• Text Section 1.1 work all problems highlighted in blue.  If you can't get the correct answer to a problem before looking at the back of the book (check back of book after working), you should do more problems of similar nature.  You are responsible throughout the course for knowing all the algebra in this section.  If you run into difficulties please e-mail the instructor with questions.

Introduction to f(x) notation and the generalized modeling process (Class Notes #04)

• Complete Exercises

Randomized Problems, Week 2 Quiz #1 and submit your solution to a randomly chosen version.

Basic Point Graphs:  Practice until you can instantly sketch the graph of a linear, quadratic or exponential function from basic points.

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 5

q_a_ Assignment 5.

See also Class Notes #05

Suggested Review:  Text Sections 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3

Introduction to Basic Function Families 

Solving Systems of Equations Using Matrices (Starting Summer 01)

Basic-point graphs:  Identifying Equations from Basic Points:  Do quadratic functions only.  Be able to quickly find the equation of a quadratic function from its basic points.

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 6

q_a_ Assignment 6.

See also Class Notes #06

Basic Function Families and Introduction to Rates and Slopes

Randomized Problems, Week 3 Quiz #1 and submit your solution to a randomly chosen version.

Randomized Problems, Week 3 Quiz #2 and submit your solution to a randomly chosen version.

Begin studying for Major Quiz on Assignments 0-6.  See Major Quiz under Tests

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignments 7-14:  Linear Functions, Power Functions and Proportionality

Assignment 7

q_a_ Assignment 7.

See also Class Notes #07

Suggested Review:  Text Section 1.6

Introduction to linear functions (Class Notes #07)

Using Matrices to Calculate Rates (Beginning Summer 01)

Study Linked Outline for summary of topics to be included on the Major Quiz.  Topics through Rates and Slopes (Class Notes #06) are included.  Click on links to see a brief discussion of topics.  Check assignments, class notes and CD for details.

Complete Major Quiz, Covering Assignments Through #6.  See Major Quiz under Tests.  Note also the DERIVE exercise for Assignment 8.  This is a very worthwhile exercise.  It takes an average of about two hours for a typical Precalculus class to work through this exercise, but this time varies with thoroughness of work and other factors.

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 8

q_a_ Assignment 8.

Initial DERIVE exercise  Note that this exercise is optional but recommended for distance students.  DERIVE is available at VHCC in the Learning Lab.

Basic-point graphs:  Identifying Equations from Basic Points:  Do linear functions only.  Be able to quickly find the equation of a linear function from its basic points

Review major quiz; work on DERIVE (suggestion:  work on DERIVE exercise after taking Major Quiz)

Randomized Problems, Week 4 Quiz #1 and submit your solution to a randomly chosen version.

Randomized Problems, Week 4 Quiz #2 and submit your solution to a randomly chosen version.

Randomized Problems, Week 4 Quiz #3 and submit your solution to a randomly chosen version.

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 9

q_a_ Assignment 9.

See also Class Notes #08

Text Assignment:  Section 2.5, #'s 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35

Symbolic Calculation of Slope

Using Matrices to Study the Rate Behavior of the Basic Functions (beginning Summer 01)

Text assignment:  Section 1.3.  Follow the same instructions as for the Section 1.1 assignment of Week 1.

Assignment 10

q_a_ Assignment 10.

See also Class Notes #09

Text assignment:  Sections 2.1 and 2.2.  Read these sections and be sure you understand them thoroughly.

Randomized Problems, Week 5 Quiz #1 and submit your solution to a randomly chosen version.

The Family of Linear Functions

The Equation of a Line, all exercises

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 11

q_a_ Assignment 11.

See also Class Notes #10

Introduction to Proportionality  Exercises 1-10  (Class Notes #10)

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 12

q_a_ Assignment 12.

See also Class Notes #11

Suggested Review:  Text section 3.2, subsection on Power Functions

Power Function Proportionalities  Exercises 1-10 (Class Notes #11)

• Recommended Reading:  Text Section 2.4

Randomized Proportionality Problems:  Study and master one version, use other version for practice (click on desired version):                    

• Version 1    Version 2 

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 13

q_a_ Assignment 13.

See also Class Notes #12, #13

Complete final assignment prior to test 1.

Study Linked Outline

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 14

q_a_ Assignment 14.

Two Examples and a Picture

Optional practice problem set:

• More practice problems  (6 problems, by student request) 

Text Assignment:  Sections 2.3 and 2.5.  Read 2.3 and be sure you understand transformations.  Read 2.5 and to the 'blue' problems, following the usual instructions.

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignments 15-19:  Exponential Functions and Curve Fitting

Assignment 15

IMPORTANT NOTE:  You should now obtain your second set of CD's from the VHCC bookstore.  Call and order them or come in and get them.   Make sure they send or give you the SECOND SET.

q_a_ Assignment 15.

See also Class Notes #14

Introduction to Exponential Functions  Problems 1-28 (Class Notes #14) 

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 16

IMPORTANT NOTE:  You should now obtain your second set of CD's from the VHCC bookstore.  Call and order them or come in and get them.   Make sure they send or give you the SECOND SET.

q_a_ Assignment 16.

Complete Test #1

See also Class Notes #15

Behavior and Source of Exponential Functions  Complete All Problems (Class Notes #15) 

Basic-point graphs:  Identifying Equations from Basic Points:  Do exponential functions only.  Be able to quickly find the equation of an exponential function from its basic points.

Suggested Review:  Text Section 4.2

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 17

IMPORTANT NOTE:  You should now obtain your second set of CD's from the VHCC bookstore.  Call and order them or come in and get them.   Make sure they send or give you the SECOND SET.

q_a_ Assignment 17.

See also Class Notes #16 and #17

Linearizing Data and Curve Fitting  Complete all problems

Using Matrices to Identify Exponential Behavior (beginning Summer 01)

Suggested Review:  Text Section 4.1

Inverse Functions and Logarithms Complete all problems

Suggested Review:  Text Section 4.3

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 18

q_a_ Assignment 18.

See also Class Notes #18 and #19

Logarithms, Logarithmic Functions, Logarithmic Equations  Complete all problems (Class Notes #17)

Fitting Exponential Functions to Data  Complete all problems (Class Notes #18)

Suggested Review:  Text Section 4.4, 4.5

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 19

q_a_ Assignment 19.

See also Class Notes #19 and #20

Suggested Review:  Text Section 4.6-4.8

View and understand an actual analysis used in a physics class in Analysis of a Pendulum Experiment

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignments 20-24:  Polynomials and Properties of Functions

Assignment 20

q_a_ Assignment 20.

See also Class Notes #21

Introduction to Polynomials  Complete all problems

Shapes of Polynomial Graphs  Complete all problems

Suggested Review:  Text Section 3.2

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 21

q_a_ Assignment 21.

See also Class Notes #22

Possible Numbers of Zeros, Approximations   Complete all problems

Suggested Review:  Text Section 3.5

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 22

q_a_ Assignment 22.

Review Exponential, Logarithmic and Polynomial Functions

Properties of Functions Part I              Complete all problems

Basic-point Graphs for Practice

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 23

q_a_ Assignment 23.

See also Class Notes #23

Combining Graphs of Functions    Complete all problems

Graphs for Practice:  Graphs to combine using addition, multiplication, subtraction, division

Text Assignments:  Sections 4.5 - 4.7.  Read sections and problems and be sure you can do everything.

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 24

q_a_ Assignment 24.

See also Class Notes #24, 25

Suggested Review:  Text Section 2.4

Product Functions and Composite Functions   Complete all problems

Graphs for Practice:  Graphs to combine using addition, multiplication, subtraction, division

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignments 25-31:  Sequences; Difference Equations; Wrapup and Review

Assignment 25

q_a_ Assignment 25.

Complete Test #2.

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 26

q_a_ Assignment 26.

See also Class Notes #26

Sex and Drugs            Complete all problems (Class Notes #26)

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 27

q_a_ Assignment 27.

DERIVE strategies for curve fitting      Complete the exercise 

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 29

q_a_ Assignment 29.

The Illumination Experiment  Complete the Exercise

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 30

See also Class Notes #27, 28

Review for Final

When you have completed the entire assignment run the Query program.

Assignment 31

Complete final exam

General Instructions for Completing Assignments