Home, 5/13 (Last message)
The course is over and the final grades are in! You can see all the scores on the "scores and docs" page.
I enjoyed teaching this course, even though many students struggled with it. Special thanks go to students who were active in class (that one in particular)! You always make my job easier and more fun!
Have a good summer!
Home, 5/4
Exam 4 did not turn out well because we covered things a little quickly, but I cut you some slack on the final grades, which are now posted on Canvas.
Final exam is scheduled for Tuesday at 8:15 (so we get a few more minutes of sleep). The final exam is comprehensive, will have 6 pages and will consist of problems very much like what we had on our four exams. Thus, start preparing by making sure that you can do all the problems on the four exams. Check out the sample final exam, and for even more practice, go over the joysheets. All solutions are now posted, except for Joysheet 9.
If you have not turned in Joysheet 9, it is due at the time of the final exam. If you don't have a copy, find it under "joysheets." If you need help on it, see me during office hours.
Office hours for next week are as follows: Monday 10:00-3:00, Tuesday: 2:00-4:00, Wednesday 10:00-3:00 and Thursday 9:00-10:30.
Good luck on finals!
Home, 4/27
MyMathLab for section 5.2 is due tonight. If, while trying to draw graphs you keep getting an error, it's probably because, in the graphing dialog box, you did not change the default base of e (at bottom) to the base relevant to your problem.
On Monday we will discuss section 5.3, which is due on MyMathLab on Monday night. Joysheet 8 is due on Monday - get yours here if you missed it.
Exam 4, covering sections 5.1-5.6, is planned for Friday. Check out sample exam 4 for some representative problems.
After exam 4, you will receive your grade on Canvas by noon on Saturday so you can decide whether to take the final exam.
Home, 4/20
Exam 3 turned out fair. Not that the average of some 65% is great, but is in line with what my other College Algebra classes have scored on exam 3. See solutions and class statistics on the "scores and docs" page.
Our last exam is planned for the last day of classes (Friday, 5/4).
Start preparing now if you would like to improve your grade without
resorting to the final exam.
On Monday we will discuss homework in sections JIT 27 and 5.1 - their MyMathLab is due that same day.
Home, 4/13
Joysheet 7 was due today. If you missed it, obtain it here and submit it on Monday.
Exam 3, covering sections 3.1-3.5, 4.1 and 4.2 is scheduled for Tuesday. Check out sample exam 3 on the "scores and docs" page.
On Monday we will discuss homework in sections 4.1 and 4.2 and take any questions you may have ahead of the exam. MyMathLab for 4.1 and 4.2 has been assigned and is due on Monday, too.
Home, 4/6
Joysheet 6 was distributed in class today and is due on Monday. If you weren't in class, you can get yours under "joysheets".
I am expecting another in-class joysheet next week and I anticipate exam 3 to come on Tuesday, week after next (4/17).
Home, 3/30
On Monday, we will discuss section homework in section 3.2. MyMathLab for 3.2 is due on Monday as well.
I expect an in-class joysheet later in the week over sections 3.1-3.3.
Home, 3/16
With exam 2 behind us, it's time to relax for spring break - hope you have a good one!
For those who would like to work ahead I have assigned JIT 25 and 26 on MyMathLab, but they are due only after the break.
Home, 3/9
Exam 2 is scheduled for Friday - it will cover sections 2.1-2.5. Check out sample exam 2 on the "scores and docs" page for some representative problems. If you are having trouble with the material - as many are - make sure you see me for office hours next week!
Joysheet 4 is due on Monday - if you did not get yours in class, look under "Joysheets." If you find that you are having trouble with it, you can still see me on Monday afternoon for help on it. Sections 2.2 and 2.3 are due on MyMathLab on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Home, 3/2
Exam 1 turned out fairly poorly overall, although there were some good grades. Many people will have to start putting in a stronger effort if they want to pass this class. As always, you can get help from me in office hours, or you can find free tutoring around campus. See appropriate links in the menu.
Section 2.1 has been assigned on MyMathLab. Even though we are not yet done with it, it's open for anyone who might want to work ahead.
I am anticipating exam 2 the week after next.
Home, 2/23
Exam 1, covering sections 1.1-1.6 is scheduled for Tuesday. Problems on it will be like the ones we had in class, on MyMathLab, and on joysheets. Check out sample exam 1 on the "scores and docs" page to get an idea of what it will be like. A good way to practice is to try to work the exam in 50 minutes, the time allotted on the actual exam.
Please note: your exam will
not be the sample exam with the numbers changed. They will be similar
in the sense that the ideas covered will be similar and some problems
will be similar.
Joysheet 3 was turned in today. If you did not turn yours in, get it
to me on Monday. Sections JIT 22 and 23 have been assigned on
MyMathlab, due on Wednesday. (Sections JIT 13, 15 and 21 are due
sooner, on Sunday.) None of those JIT sections will be on the exam.
On Monday, we will finish our review of JIT 23 and review a little for the exam - come with questions!
Home, 2/16
Sections 1.5, 1.6 and JIT 18 are due on MyMathLab on Sunday.
On Monday, we will discuss homework over sections 1.5 and 1.6.
Exam 1 is planned for week after next, most likely Tuesday.
Home, 2/9
Section 1.4 is due on MyMathLab on Sunday.
On Monday, we will work on in-class Joysheet 2, over sections 1.3 and 1.4, and take-home Joysheet 2 will also be distributed.
Home, 2/2
Section 1.2 is due on MyMathLab on Sunday.
On Monday, we will continue our discussion of section 1.3 and have our first in-class worksheet over sections 1.1 and 1.2. You will also get a take-home worksheet that will be due on Thursday. Recall that in-class worksheets get points for effort (4% of overall course grade), and the take-home ones are graded on correctness (8% of overall course grade).
If you are having trouble with the material come to see me during office hours - no appointment is needed for the regularly scheduled hours. Tutoring information has been updated to include when you can get help at the Ross Center.
Home, 1/26
On Monday, we will discuss homework from sections JIT 7 and 14. Those have been assigned on MyMathLab, along with section JIT.6, due Wednesday.
Quite a few people have still not signed up for MyMathLab. Please sign up, or you will miss on doing the homework assignments. Orientation, JIT 17 and 1.1 are due on Tuesday. JIT 6, 7 and 14 are due on Wednesday.
Office hours have been updated - please come to see me when you are having trouble with the material. Also, free tutoring is available - check "free tutoring."
Home, 1/16
Welcome to the course and happy snow day! We are missing our first day of class, during which only a little beyond going through the syllabus is done. Since our time is limited as is, I will leave you to go through the syllabus on your own. Your first assignment is to read through the syllabus (found on the "scores and docs" page), so that on Thursday we can hit the ground sledding.
Otherwise, look around to familiarize yourself with the layout of these webpages. To get to other pages, click on "choose..." and select the page: the most often-used pages are near the top of the menu. All documents (homework assignment, solutions to exams, etc.) can be found at the "scores and docs" page. Links to often-used documents (homework, joysheets) are at the bottom of the list.
Since you are already here, now may be a good moment to sign up for MyMathLab if you already have a code. See the instructions on the "mymathlab" page. (If you don't have a code, or don't know what this MyMathLab business is about, wait until Thursday.)
Note: MyMathLab is necessary to take part in this course and comes at a cost beyond the textbook. If you do not need a paper textbook, a way to economize is to just buy MyMathLab access, because it includes the e-version of the textbook.
These pages will get more content as information becomes available. Check back often: useful information is provided in the "home" section (which you are reading), typically updated weekly.