College algebra
1:00 MW Daily Log

Math 131-02
Spring 2019

week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6,
week 7
, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12,
week 13
, week 14, week 15, week 16

Items in bold were taken for a grade. The abbreviation ANN stands for announcement. The abbreviation MML stands for MyMathLab. Underlined items are clickable; click on it and then print out the handout.
Date
Activities
January 14
ANN: You will see two assignments in MML that are due this upcoming Monday. They are "Chapter O (Orientation) Homework" which will cover the MML interface including how to enter answers and "Review Homework" which will start us off by reviewing some needed pre-requisite skills. In addition, "Section 1.1 Homework" will cover the material we discuss today and Wed. in class; it will be due next Monday, Jan. 21. You will also see "Section 1.2 Homework" that may be due this Monday as well. If we get through the notes next time, it will be due. The syllabus will explain how we will usually have MML due the Monday after the week we finish the notes in class. ANN: We will not have class Wed., Jan. 23. I have to cancel class; sorry for the inconvenience. School is also cancelled on Monday, Jan. 21 for MLK Day. In class, we introduced ourselves to each other and talked over some bits from the syllabus and class policies. I also handed out a handout with information from the math tutoring center. I wanted to cover some 1.1 material, so we cut the syllabus talk short and started the class notes for 1.1. We got halfway through example 1 and will continue next time. I stopped there because the example, after we found the intercepts algebraically, asked for a calculator graph. I wanted to give out some preliminary calculator worksheets to help those of us who are new to or unsure of the calculator. I handed out the worksheets Things to know about your calculator and Getting started on your graphing calculator. If you are rusty or new to the calculator, these will help you get up to speed. The first one is a laundry list of stuff I have found useful over the years. You are likely to find something useful on it even if you are very good already with your calculator. Read it over and do whatever it says. The second one is a basic introduction to the home screen and graphing. Instructions for the TI-83 also work for the TI-84. With that exception, ignore paragraphs that start off talking about a calculator that is not your model. After we finish the notes, I would expect you to try the homework in MML as soon as you can. However, its due date is set for Monday, Jan. 21 to give you some time, as the announcement earlier said.
January 16
ANN: We will not have class next week. Monday is MLK Day and I am taking Wednesday off. In class, I demonstrated how to find the Daily Log (where you are now) on www.stlmath.com. We finished the class notes for 1.1. Since we finished this section of notes this week, the corresponding homework in MML is due next Monday. In addition, you have "Chapter O (Orientation) Homework" and "Review Homework" also due. Be sure to plan ahead if you need to come to campus for homework because the campus will be closed Monday.
January 21
No school: Dr. King Day
January 23
[January 25 is the last day for a full refund.] No class: Cancelled due to teacher sick day
January 28
ANN: As a general rule about MML homework: You should start the MML homework as soon after we start the notes in class as you can. You should work to have it finished a couple of days after we finish the notes in class. Usually, the due dates are set for the following Monday to give you some leeway but it is best to get it done as soon as you can. Remember, as discussed on the syllabus, you can submit MML past the due date but there is a late penalty. It is best to do the homework on time but the late policy lets you submit a few assignments late without any real damage to your overall grade. ANN: I noticed that the MML due date for Section 1.2 Homework was wrongly set at Jan. 21. I will be adjusting some MML due dates after class. Sorry. In class, we started the class notes for 1.2, getting through page 4.
January 30
School was closed due to weather. We will amend the schedule and carry on next week.
February 4
We continued the discussion of the class notes for 1.2, getting through example 7a. I handed out Investigating functions 3 so that you can start on it if you want. However, we will work on more examples in class Wed. and you will be asked to do the worksheet to be collected next Monday.
February 6
ANN: I wanted to clarify my late penalty for MML work. You are allowed to do MML work late but it is worth half credit. However, the late penalty only applies to those problems that are done after the due date. So, if you do half a problem set before the due date and half after the due date, only those problems you do after the due date will have the late penalty deducted from the score. In class, we finished the class notes for 1.2. I reminded students that I handed out Investigating functions 3 last time and it is now officially due Monday. I will collect it at the beginning of class. We started the discussion of the class notes for 1.3/1.4, getting through example 11. We will continue next time.
February 11
I collected Investigating functions 3 and we finished the class notes for 1.3/1.4. (We did skip example 13 because it felt redundant.) I handed out Linear regression on your calculator (TI-82, 83, 84, 85, 86) which gives explicit instructions for performing linear regression on the TI calculators (pages 1-5). In fact, we went over pages 1-4 (skipping page 5) together in class. I expect students to complete page 6 of this worksheet which I will collect next time. I will not be grading the rest of the worksheet, only page 6. We then started the class notes for 1.5/1.6. We got halfway through number 4, meaning we got to the equation (letting x represent the principal on the first loan) .05x + .08(4500-x)=315. I asked students to solve it on their own and we will talk about it next time.
February 13
I collected Linear regression on your calculator (TI-82, 83, 84, 85, 86) (page 6 only, but turn it all in so it stays together). We then finished the class notes for 1.5/1.6. We went on to start the class notes for 2.1, getting through example 2. I handed out Finding maximums and minimums on your calculator. It has instructions for using the calculator to find the minimums and maximums in this section but will not be collected. I also handed out Roots and intersections on your calculator which has instructions on how to find the x-intercepts (zeroes) sometimes needed in this section. It will not be collected either. Both worksheets are for reference only. I am postponing the MML 2.1 homework although if you wanted to start it, you will probably be somewhat successful.
February 18
ANN: Exam 1 will cover 1.1-1.6, 2.1-2.3, and 2.5. I have skipped a couple sections so that we can get this test over and done with. We will meet in MA 308. It will be a 75 minute, MML exam. You are allowed a 3x5 notecard for any notes you like. You can use the front and back of this card. If you do not have a card, just cut a piece of paper to size. Making a good notecard will help lots so take some time on it. Include any formulas or information you do not think you will remember. In class, we finished the class notes for 2.1. I handed out Increasing and decreasing functions which will be collected Wednesday.
February 20
I collected Increasing and decreasing functions. We then covered the class notes for 2.2. We started the class notes for 2.3, getting through example 2. I handed out The composition of functions to be done for Monday. I will collect it.
February 25
ANN: Exam 1 will cover 1.1-1.6, 2.1-2.3, and 2.5 and is set for Mon., March 4. We will meet in MA 308. It will be a 75 minute, MML exam. So you need to know how to log in to both the LC system and MML. You are allowed a 3x5 notecard for any notes you like. You can use the front and back of this card. In class, I collected The composition of functions and we finished the class notes for 2.3. We then started the class notes for 2.5, getting through page 4. We did talk through some of the summary table on page 5 but will need to return to it. We will continue next time.
February 27
ANN: Exam 1 will cover 1.1-1.6, 2.1-2.3, and 2.5 and is set for Mon., March 4. We will meet in MA 308. It will be a 75 minute, MML exam. So you need to know how to log in to both the LC system and MML. You are allowed a 3x5 notecard for any notes you like. You can use the front and back of this card. In class, we finished the class notes for 2.5. I handed out Transformations 2 to be done for Monday. You will turn it in Monday before you take the exam. I will not lecture after the exam.
March 4
ANN: Mon., March 18 is a strict deadline for all work (paper or MML) collected in weeks 1-8. I will not accept late papers from section 3.1 or earlier after that date. In class, I collected Transformations 2. We completed Exam 1. If you need to make it up, you will get an email from me but you should read the syllabus for details.
March 6
We covered the class notes for 3.1. I handed out Manipulating Complex Numbers 3 but it is optional. As it is Spring Break, I wanted only the MML homework to be due (this upcoming Monday, by the way) but I did not want to make a worksheet due after Spring Break. If you do it, you can check your answers by using the calculator. I also have some related worksheets, mentioned in the notes, under Assorted Handouts and Tutorials that will give you some similar problems.
March 18
[March 11-15: No school: Spring Break] [March 18 is strict deadline for all late work from weeks 1-8.] ANN: Next time, I will link to any TI calculators I can to give you a program that will do the quadratic formula for you. It is helpful on some problems although it does output decimal answers. I will explain how that can be helpful even though MML will usually require fractional answers. We started to cover the class notes for 3.2, getting through example 6b.
March 20
We finished the class notes for 3.2. I gave a calculator program to those who had TI84 or 83 calculators. It is called QUADRATC and will help solve quadratic equations using the quadratic formula. I handed out TI83 (or TI82 or TI84) Quadratic formula program QUADRATC to those students. Other students can find another program online or do the work by hand.
March 25
We completed the class notes for 3.3. I demonstrated a bit in MML for that section's homework.
March 27
ANN: Exam 2 over 3.1-3.5, 4.1, and 4.5 is set for Wed., April 10. We will meet in MA 308. You are allowed to bring a 3x5 notecard (front and back) with any notes you want. In class, we covered all of the class notes for 3.4.
April 1
ANN: Exam 2 over 3.1-3.5, 4.1, and 4.5 is set for Wed., April 10. We will meet in MA 308. You are allowed to bring a 3x5 notecard (front and back) with any notes you want. Some MML due dates are curtailed so it is all done by the time you take the exam. In class, we covered the class notes for 3.5. I handed out Solving absolute value equations to be done for Wednesday. We then went on to start the class notes for 4.1, getting through page 4. I handed out Polynomial functions: End behavior and we covered it together (pages 1-4). I introduced the notation from page 1 which we will use although MML does not. I also handed out Polynomial functions: End behavior 2 which is to be done for Wednesday. That is two worksheets due on the same day. However, they are relatively small and I want to give you the opportunity to boost your paper worksheet score.
April 3
ANN: Exam 2 over 3.1-3.5, 4.1, and 4.5 is set for Wed., April 10. We will meet in MA 308. You are allowed to bring a 3x5 notecard (front and back) with any notes you want. Some MML due dates are curtailed so it is all done by the time you take the exam. In class, I collected Solving absolute value equations and Polynomial functions: End behavior 2. We finished the class notes for 4.1. I handed out Quadratic (and higher order) regression on your calculator (TI82, 83, or 84) as a reference for the regression we do in this section; it will not be collected. We started the class notes for 4.5, getting through the "Drawing Graphs" blurb on page 2 at the top. We will start on example 1 next time. However, we did quite a lot in the section since we completed Rational functions: Vertical asymptotes together as a class. It was not collected.
April 8
ANN: Exam 2 over 3.1-3.5, 4.1, and 4.5 is set for Wed., April 10. We will meet in MA 308. You are allowed to bring a 3x5 notecard (front and back) with any notes you want. Some MML due dates are curtailed so it is all done by the time you take the exam. In class, we finished the class notes for 4.5. I handed out Rational Functions: Horizontal and Oblique Asymptotes to be done for Wednesday.
April 10
I collected Rational Functions: Horizontal and Oblique Asymptotes. We took Exam 2.
April 15
We covered the class notes for 5.1, finishing them. We did not do the last page which were optional problems. I handed out Inverses of functions 2 which is to be done for Wednesday.
April 17
ANN: The drop date is Monday, April 22. If you are going to get a D or F, it might be best to drop the course so you receive a W instead which does not affect your grade point average. See me if you have such concerns and we can look at it together. ANN: Exam 3 will cover 5.1-5.6 and possibly 6.1. It is set for Monday, May 6. We will meet in MA 308. You are allowed a 3x5 notecard for notes. Some MML due dates will be curtailed. If we do take the exam then, that will be the last day we meet. We do not have a comprehensive final in the class. In class, I collected Inverses of functions 2 and we completed the class notes for 5.2. I handed out Exploring exponential functions to be done for Monday.
April 22
[Monday, April 22 is the last day to drop and receive a W instead of a D or F.] ANN: The drop date is Monday, April 22. If you are going to get a D or F, it might be best to drop the course so you receive a W instead which does not affect your grade point average. See me if you have such concerns and we can look at it together. ANN: Exam 3 will cover 5.1-5.6. It is set for Monday, May 6. We will meet in MA 308. You are allowed a 3x5 notecard for notes. Some MML due dates will be curtailed. If we do take the exam then, that will be the last day we meet. We do not have a comprehensive final in the class. In class, I collected Exploring exponential functions. We then covered the class notes for 5.3.
April 24
We covered the class notes for 5.4. I handed out Visiting with exponential and logarithmic functions to be done for Monday.
April 29
ANN: All late paper or MML work is due by Mon., May 6. ANN: Exam 3 will cover 5.1-5.6. It is set for Monday, May 6. We will meet in MA 308. You are allowed a 3x5 notecard for notes. Some MML due dates will be curtailed. That will be the last day we meet. We do not have a comprehensive final in the class. In class, I collected Visiting with exponential and logarithmic functions and we covered the class notes for 5.5. I handed out Using log rules to solve equations as an optional worksheet.
May 1
ANN: All late paper or MML work is due by Mon., May 6. ANN: Exam 3 will cover 5.1-5.6. It is set for Monday, May 6. That will be the last day we meet. We do not have a comprehensive final in the class. We will meet in MA 308. You are allowed a 3x5 notecard for notes. Some MML due dates will be curtailed. In class, we covered the class notes for 5.6.
May 6
ANN: Today is the last day for any late work. In class, we took Exam 3.
May 8
Class reserved for testing in case of cancellation on May 7. See syllabus.