Mathematical Investigations III, Fall 2011

Below you will find the daily homework assignments as well as various other useful items. Visit this page whenever you miss class! (Not that you ever will....)

For previous semester's quizzes and exams, please visit my Fall 2009 website.

• [1] Thursday, 18 Aug: Download the course syllabus. Download the introductory survey.
  
  Finish Worksheet 1 for Friday. Remember what finish means: it's OK if you really can't get a problem or two having tried for a while. Write down, as far as you are able, where you got stuck.


• [2] Friday, 19 Aug: Calculator pick-up is Tuesday, August 23, from 4:15-6:45 in A-155. You MUST bring your ID in order to pick up your calculator!
  
  Download TI89 tips for linear regression.
  
  What is e? Come to class Monday with your best answer. Also think: what grows more crazily, $y=x^{1,000,000,000}$, or $y=1,000,000,000^x$? Why?
  
  Finish up to Worksheet 3. Be prepared for a short Quiz either Tuesday or Thursday.
  
  For an extra (and entirely optional) challenge: solve the Daredevil Logarithm equations.
  
  Be sure to bring your computers Monday! We will be using Winplot. Everyone should have it on their computers already, but if you don't, you can download it. Ask someone in your wing if you need to.

• [3] Monday, 22 Aug: Be sure you understand the proof we did today! You should try to summarize it on page Logs 6.1. Finish the practice problems 1 and 2 on Logs 6.2. Also, be sure to have Winplot working!


• [4] Tuesday, 23 Aug: Here are the learning objectives for the unit on logarithms. Here are some good practice problems on logarithms. Answers are at the end of the document.
  
  There will be a short quiz on Thursday on basic properties of logarithms. Meet in the Math Study Area. Problems on the quiz: Logs 1: pages 1 and 2, Logs 2: all, Logs 3: all, Logs 4: #1, Logs 5: #1, Logs 6: #1-9.
  
  Mr. Kammrath has written some notes on logarithms for you. Thank him when you see him! (Note: Some of these ideas will come up later. Pages 1 and 2 might be helpful right now.)


• [5] Thursday, 25 Aug: Problem Set correction: For #2, use the coefficients on the answer sheet.
  
  Here is paragraph proof for the Third Law of Logarithms.
  
  You should have ready to hand in a paragraph proof of the logarithm proof we discussed in class. Your work should be in complete sentences, and you should be able to read it out loud and it should make grammatical sense. Also, finish #1 and 2 on Logs 7.1.
  
  We will also discuss the Problem Set. I will ask you how many problems you've done (two per day, remember?). So be ready with questions!
  
  Download the first quiz on logarithms. Download the solutions.
  
  
• [6] Friday, 26 Aug: Note: Grades in PowerSchool currently have a weight of 0. After the next quiz or test, they will have a weight of 1. (This is so you have a chance to bring up your grade before it is posted.)
  
  Students receiving below an 8/10 must annotate their quizzes for Monday. For each problem: (1) rework the problem correctly, (2) explain why you think you made your error. You must set up a meeting with me next week to discuss your quiz.


Problem Set correction: On #9, the problem should read $f(-5)=0$, $f(3)=0$, and $f(10)=0$.

Finish up to Logs 8.1 for Monday. We will do Logs 8.2 in class. Also, be prepared with questions from Logs 7. We will be putting several problems on the board Monday.

• [7] Monday, 29 Aug: Finish up to the first page of Logs 10 for tomorrow. Make sure you understand Logs 8.2. We will be using this very soon!


• [8] Tuesday, 30 Aug: Be prepared for a brief (20 minute) quiz on Logs 7 and Logs 8 for Thursday. The section Practice VII on the website above is useful. Also, Mr. Kammrath has another set of notes on logarithms for you.
  
  More practice: Solve for $y$: $$4\log_4(5x)-3\log_2(y)+3=0.$$ Finish Logs 11.1 for Thursday. There will be a Notebook check during the Quiz. Remember to meet in the Math Study Area.
  
  Solution to the above problems: $$y=2\sqrt[3]{25x^2}.$$ (Hint: Convert to base 2 logarithms first.)


• [9] Thursday, 1 Sept: Download the help file for regression in excel.
  
  Finish Logs 11 for Friday.
  
  Download the second quiz on logarithms. Download the solutions.


• [10] Friday, 2 Sept: Here is the Light Intensity Lab.

• [11] Tuesday, 6 Sept: Log Relays tomorrow! So study...remember we have a test Friday.
  
  Also, omit #4 and 12 on Logs 12. Hint for Logs 13: Use Excel, not your calculator! Everything is fine on Logs 14.


• [12] Wednesday, 7 Sept: Finish Logs 14 for tomorrow.


• [13] Thursday, 8 Sept: Here are solutions to Logs 14.
  
  Don't forget the exam tomorrow!


• [14] Friday, 9 Sept: Problem Set 3. Solution page for Problem Set 3.
  
  Download the exam on logarithms. Download the solutions to this exam.

• [15] Monday, 12 Sept: You may still receive points for turning your Light Intensity Lab to turnitin.com. You have until Tuesday at midnight.
  
  Finish both the handouts for Tuesday!
  
  Here are solutions to Problem Set 1.


• [16] Tuesday, 13 Sept: Finish Poly2 for Thursday. For the last problem, remember the formula $$h(t)=h_0+v_0t+\frac12at^2.$$


• [17] Thursday, 15 Sept: FRED Quiz tomorrow. Go directly to the Math Study Area!
  
  You should finish Poly4 for Friday as well.


• [18] Friday, 16 Sept: Here are the Daredevil Polynomials!
  
  Here is a sample of graphing with Mathematica. First, download the file, and then click on it to execute.
  
  Homework for Monday: complete Poly 5.3. Also, hand in corrected Problem Sets. Explanations are not necessary, but you will be responsible for knowing this material for next week's quiz.

• [19] Monday, 19 Sept: OK, really do the Problem Set corrections this time! Tomorrow if possible, else Wednesday.
  
  Finish Poly6.2 for Tuesday.
  
  Don't forget: a Trader Joe's chocolate bar to the first one who can produce a polynomial with a bounce point on the $x$-axis and a bounce point on the line $y=1$. You must justify your answer (not just show me a graph).


• [20] Tuesday, 20 Sept: Download the handout on polynomials and logarithms.
  
  Finish up to Problem 3 on Poly8 for Thursday. Also, finish corrections (due tomorrow), and bring questions for Friday's quiz.
  
  These was a calculator found in our classroom. Email me if you lost yours.


• [21] Thursday, 22 Sept: Donwload the Original Problem assignment.
  
  Quiz tomorrow! Meet in the math study area. Problems to study from the Problem Set: #1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10. The quiz is on Worksheets 4-6 and Problem Set questions. Notebook check during the quiz!
  
  In-class work on Original Problems will follow. Bring ideas!


• [22] Friday, 23 Sept: Finish Poly 9 for Monday. Be working on your Original Problems! Bring me a draft if you feel you need to. I'll comment!

• [23] Monday, 26 Sept: Finish up to Poly 10 for Tuesday. We will answering a lot of questions tomorrow.


• [24] Tuesday, 27 Sept: Reminder: You need to submit your assignment to turnitin.com by midnight Thursday. Your assignment is due at the beginning of class. If you are tardy because you are printing out your paper, your assignment will be late. Finish Poly 11 for Thursday.


• [25] Thursday, 29 Sept: Finish Poly 12.4 for Friday.


• [26] Friday, 30 Sept: Finish Poly 12.5 for Monday. For Poly 14, you may OMIT the following (although you may do them for extra practice): #2(b), 12(c), 13(a), 15, 21, 22, and 24.
  
  Bring Problem Set questions for Monday!

• [27] Monday, 3 Oct: Here is another practice test.


• [28] Tuesday, 4 Oct: Problem Sets due Thursday before you leave! Also, finish Worksheet 13 for next Tuesday.
  
  Download the exam on polynomials. Download solutions to the exam.


• [29] Thursday, 6 Oct: For Problem Set #5: Do Problems #3, 8, and 10. The other problems we will be doing online.

• [30] Tuesday, 11 Oct: Finish the homework on rational functions.


• [31] Wednesday, 12 Oct: Finish the exploration we began in class today. Upcoming assignments:
  
  
  • Finish Poly 13 by Friday.
  • Exam rewrites by Monday: if you scored below a 37, you should hand in, on a separate sheet of paper, your rewritten problems (with comments on why you thought you made your mistakes). Hand in your exam with this rewrite.
  • Problem Set due next Thursday. No early. See Thursday, 6 Oct. for details on what is due.


• [32] Thursday, 13 Oct: Finish the in-class work and also Poly 13 for tomorrow.


• [33] Friday, 14 Oct: Finish up to Problem #7 for on the homework for Monday. Remember to bring Problem Set questions.

• [34] Monday, 17 Oct: Update: There will be early credit if your online and paper Problem Sets are done Wed. by 4:00.
  
  We will take the quiz at the end of the class, so meet in the classroom. You will have the first half of the class to work on problems and ask questions.


• [35] Tuesday, 18 Oct: Reminder: Problem Sets are early by 4:00 Wednseday.
  
  Download the first quiz on rational functions.


• [36] Thursday, 20 Oct: Finish the Rational Functions 7 handout for Friday.


• [37] Friday, 21 Oct: For Monday, finish the handout on rational inequalities, as well as the first two problems on the error analysis handout.

• [38] Monday, 24 Oct:


• [39] Tuesday, 25 Oct: Solve: $$\dfrac{65}{x+4}<15-2x.$$ Download a previous exam on rational functions.
  
  Also, bring TWO copies of your Original Problems to class Thursday, ONE WITHOUT YOUR NAME OR OTHER IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ON IT. Thank you!


• [40] Thursday, 27 Oct: Download Mr. Kammrath's helpful notes on holes and asymptote. Study for the exam tomorrow!
  


• [41] Friday, 28 Oct: Download the exam on rational functions. Download solutions to this exam.
  
  Get working on your Problem Set!

• [42] Monday, 31 Oct: Download the Unit Circle applet. Thanks, Saieesh! Finish the first handout for tomorrow. Be prepared to discuss!


• [43] Tuesday, 1 Nov: Finish up to page 3 of the Mathematica notebook for Thursday.


• [44] Thursday, 3 Nov: Here is a great resource on radian measure (see Chapter 4, especially Sections 1 and 2).


• [45] Friday, 4 Nov: Here is the Google doc for Problem 4: click here.

• [46] Monday, 7 Nov: Be sure to check ALL problems by graphing! Also, complete up to and including 4.1 for Tuesday. Quiz Thursday!


• [47] Tuesday, 8 Nov:


• [48] Thursday, 10 Nov: Finish Worksheet 6 for Friday.


• [49] Friday, 11 Nov: Finish Worksheet 8.1 for Monday. And write some Original Problems!

• [50] Monday, 14 Nov: Finish Worksheet 9 for Tuesday. We'll be going over 8 and 9 tomorrow, as well as taking some questions for the make-up quiz.


• [51] Tuesday, 15 Nov: Finish Worksheet 10 for Thursday, and be prepared for a notebook check.


• [52] Thursday, 17 Nov: Original Problem due Friday! Remember, you need one copy to hand in with your name, and another without your name!


• [53] Friday, 18 Nov: Here is the prompt for your reflection.

• [54] Monday, 21 Nov: Possible "Problem Sets" for Thursday, 1 December, taken from the online trigonometry text (see Day 44):
  
  
  • Section 5.2: #13, 14, 19, 20, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30.
  • Section 6.2: #1-3 (or some subset; ask me!).
  • Propose your own: Find a topic or topics you need to review, and read those sections and do a bunch of problems. No reasonable offer refused!

Reminder: you only need to do ONE of the three options (although some students are doing half of the first + half of the third; this is OK too). DO NOT DO ALL THREE!!!! (Unless you really want to.) ((I did already tell you this.))


• [55] Tuesday, 22 Nov:

• [56] Monday, 28 Nov: Finish Worksheet 12 for Tuesday.


• [57] Tuesday, 29 Nov: Here is some unit circle practice from Ms. Dover: Practice Sheet 1, Practice Sheet 2, and Practice Sheet 3..


• [58] Thursday, 1 Dec: Here is the Dr. Who Problem Set.
  
  Here is Saieesh's improved unit circle applet. It's great for testing your knowledge of inverse trigonometric functions, and fun to use! Download it today!


• [59] Friday, 2 Dec: Please complete up to and including Trig. 14.1 for Monday.

• [60] Monday, 5 Dec:


• [61] Tuesday, 6 Dec: Please finish up to Problem 4 on Worksheet 15 for Thursady. Do every other letter....


• [62] Thursday, 8 Dec: Remember: Quiz corrections are due tomorrow!!!


• [63] Friday, 9 Dec: Exam Monday! On Worksheet 18, you may skip: #2b, c, d; 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. On Worksheet 19, you may skip: 3a, b, c, d, e; 6, 7, 8, 9b.
  
  By next Friday (by 11:59 p.m.), you should electronically submit to my IMSA email address (vmatsko@imsa.edu) a pdf document which contains (in this order): your brief reflection, then the three graded Original Problems (again! in order). The filename should be of the form lastname_MI3E.pdf if your class ends Mod 15 every day, and lastname_MI3L.pdf if your class ends Mod 20 every day. This assignment is worth 35 points. Full credit is given only if your file is sent to the correct email address, the documents are in order, and the file is named correctly. Ten points are deducted for each infraction of these very simple rules....

• [64] Monday, 12 Dec: Continue working on the Review Problem Set!


• [65] Tuesday, 13 Dec: Remember: If you scored below a 75% on the exam, here's what's available:
  
  
  • Review on solving trigonometric equations, Wed., A148, 1:00-2:00, Mr. Kammrath;
  • Review on trigonometry in general, Wed., A151, 2:00-3:00, Ms. Dover;
  • Make-up quiz on solving equations, any time from 2:00-4:00 Thursday; you can get from 2 to 5 points back on your exam (depending on your exam score).
  
  Scores are now in PowerSchool.


• [66] Thursday, 15 Dec:


• [67] Friday, 16 Dec: Here are solutions to the Problem Set Review.

last modified 2011