Thursday, June 6, 2013

Review and Final

We will review for four days before the special end-of-year schedule.  Make sure you look over the list of Proofs and Theorems you need to know.  The Final Exam Archive of the math department has a bunch of old finals (with answers!) for additional practice.  (Note: topics change a bit from year to year so don't freak out if there is a question on something we didn't cover.)  Also, all test corrections and grade mistakes must be taken care of by Thursday, June 13th.

6/07  Review Day 1 (Basic Functions, Polynomials and Limits) [answer key]
6/10  Review Day 2 (Trigonometry)  [answer key]
6/11  Review Day 3 (Vector and Parametric Equations)  [answer key]
6/12  Review Day 4 (6/13 for G-Block)  (Conics, Polar, Exponential and Log)  [answer key]

6/17  Long Block Review: Practice with 2010 Final  [answer key]
6/19  Optional Drop-in time 12:00 to 2:00 in room 816 for last questions

6/20  Math Final Exam 8:30 - 10:30 am

         E-Block room:  167       G-Block room:  164

         Remember to bring pencils, eraser, calculator (and maybe extra batteries?), a stomach full of
         healthy breakfast and a brain refreshed by a good night's sleep.  And your books.

6/24  Come see me to get your grades

Friday, May 24, 2013

Conics

We don't have much time so this last unit is done very quickly with little in the way of extensions.  You will need to be able to complete the square (see p.41 of Demana if you forget how)!  Conic Sections are covered in Ch 8 of the Demana book and Ch 6 of the Brown book.

5/24  Circles and Ellipses (see p.15 of Demana for some circle review)
         HW B p.249/9 and D p.599-600/3-36 by 3's, 46, 53 (omit eccentricity) 

5/27  Memorial Day
5/28  Parabolas (algebra, geometric, focus-directrix)
         HW D p.587-590/3-42 by 3's, 49-55 odd, 59, 61, 74-76
5/29  Hyperbolas (algebra, geometric, focus-directrix)
         HW D p.609-610/3-36 by 3's, 51,52,54,55,59,61
5/31  Parametric Definitions for all conics
         HW finish handout

6/03  Review (old answer key)
         HW finish handout (Extra Credit B p.250-251/21,22)
6/04  MCAS (Bio) B A G H D
6/05  Conics Test  

Friday, May 17, 2013

Sequence, Series and the end of the Year

A quick unit on Sequences and Series. All the homework is in the Brown book (Ch 13).

5/20   Explicit & Recursive; Geometric, Arithmatic, Harmonic Sequences
          HW pp.477-479/18-33 by 3's, 34, 37, 39, 43-45, 48-50, 53, 56
          HW pp.481-485/1,2,11,12,13-17 odd,19,20,22,23,26,27,29,32-34

5/21  Finite and Infinite Series; Sigma Notation
          HW pp.508-510/9, 11, 25, 27, 39
          HW pp.489-492/10-13, 17, 19, 27, 29, 35, 39, 41, 44

5/22  Limits and Sums of Infinite Sequences and Series, Practice (answer key)
          HW pp.496-498/3-33 by 3's, 34-36
          HW pp.502-505/9-21 odd, 29,31,33,37,38,41-43

5/24  Sequence and Series Quiz
         Circles and Ellipses (see p.15 of Demana for some circle review)
         HW B p.249/9 and D p.599-600/3-36 by 3's, 46, 53 (omit eccentricity) 

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Matrices

The study of matrices involves the most recent applications of mathematics that we study. While understanding the techniques required to manually manipulate the data, we will spend a lot of time using the calculator and the computer.  We will be moving through matrices quickly with a lot of applications.  It is chapter 7 in the Demana book and chapter 14 in the Brown book.

Here is the list of Skill Objectives.

4/26   Algebra 2 Review day
          HW B p.521-522/9,11-13,16;  p.526-528/5-11 odd, 12, 15, 16, 18
                  D p.540-542/33-39 odd, 43, 45, 48, 52

4/29   Matrix Multiplication, Augmented Matrices, etc.
          HW Extra Problems on Matrix Multiplication (link to online Row Operations site)
4/30   Applications of matrices to linear systems
          HW handout includes 6 problems and these Demana problems:
                  p.554/67-70, 73, 74, 76, 78, 79, and p.563/13, 15, 21
5/01   Transformations Day 1 HW p.1-4 of handout
5/03   Transformations Day 2 HW p.5-7 of handout

5/06   Communication Matrices WW B p.540-542/3,5,7,9-13  (AP Chem Exam)
5/07   Markov Chains (probability with matrices)
          HW finish handout plus Brown p.547-550/5, 9-11, 14-17
5/08   3D Matrix Apps HW do all of handout
5/10   Determinants with vectors HW handout problems 1-7 (AP Stats)

5/13   MCAS (No G-Block) Determinants in 3D HW handout problems 8-14
5/14   MCAS (No E-Block) Determinants in 3D HW handout problems 8-14
5/15   Determinant summary, Review HW handout  (AP US History Exam)
5/17   Matrix Test (Practice Test, Solutions)

Finish (and understand) all packets by then and you should be fine. Look over your Matrix Skills sheet to be sure.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Vectors


Here is the syllabus for the topics. In Demana it is the beginning of Chapter 6.  In Brown it is Chapter 12.  The skills you should know for manipulating and using vectors are listed here.  Make sure you know how to do all of them before the test!

4/01   Intro to Vectors
             Demana p.464-465/3-27 by 3's and 29-39 odd and Brown p.423,425/5-7, 17-20
4/02   Angles between vectors, The Dot Product
             Brown p.444-445/1-19 odd, 23, 27-29
4/03   Vector Proofs (D: 6.1 and B: 12.1, 12.2)
             finish worksheet plus Brown p.425-426/21-23 and p.429-431/11,12,15,18,27-29,33,34
4/05   Equations of Lines, Vectors in 3D
             finish worksheet plus B p.436-437/17,18,23 and D p.466/63,64
             If you still feel that you need extra practice to feel comfortable with the material,
             section 12.5 in the Brown book is the place to go (clear explanations, good
             diagrams, comprehensive problems).

4/08   More 3D: Equations of Planes, vectors perpendicular to planes (B: 12.5)
             Worksheet problems 1-10 plus B p.452/42-45 and p.455/15,21,28-31,33,34
             We talked about equations of planes & vectors perpendicular to the planes. Read the
             corresponding explanations in the book. They are very clear, have lots of examples and
             better pictures than anything I can draw. (This reading should be considered
             part of the homework!)
4/09   Spheres, vectors & planes, Angles between planes (B: 12.5, 12.6)
             B p.450-451/11,13,17,27,31-36,41,42 and p.456-458/21,25,27,34,35,37-39
4/10   The Cross Product
             Vector Cross Product worksheet
4/12   Projections, Distance from a point to a plane
             Work on worksheet and do "Points, Lines and Planes in 3D" problems 11-14

4/13-4/21   April Vacation

4/22   Review Day 1 (download a practice test, download solutions)
  • We went through finding the distance from a point to a line in 2D and a point to a plane in 3D. The question arose about finding the distance from a point to a line in 3D. Look again at the homework problems in the Brown book: p.457-458/34-39.
  • For projection practice, do Demana p.473/25-28 and 58a.
  • If you did not do so, finish the 3D points, lines and planes worksheet (problems 11-14).
  • Other than that, go back and make sure you have done and understood all of the previous homework in light of the objective skills of the unit. 
4/23  Extension problems
4/24  Vector Unit Test

Monday, March 25, 2013

Polar Practice Test

Here is a practice test.  I don't have an answer key yet but it is good to try the problems.

Find more old tests with answers here.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

The schedule seems to have realligned...

SNOW DAY UPDATE (see below)

Since things seems to have realligned, here is the rest of the polar coordinate schedule, now with dates. The test is scheduled for the day after the first night of Passover.  I know this will be a problem for some of you so please see me early to make arrangements if you cannot take the test that day.


3/15     Cylindrical & Spherical Coordinates  
            HW Worksheet

3/18        cis, Products of Complex Numbers
              HW B p.406-407/10, 12, 15, 17, 24-31 and D p.512/63 (derive Quotient Rule)
3/19       SNOW DAY  

3/20 (E)  Powers and Roots of Complex Numbers (De Moivre's Theorem)
              HW B p.410-411/4,5,9-14 and p.413/5,6,8,11-13
3/21 (G)  Powers and Roots of Complex Numbers (De Moivre's Theorem)
              HW B p.410-411/4,5,9-14 and p.413/5,6,8,11-13
3/22 (E)   Extra Practice HW finish worksheet

3/25 (G)  Extra Practice HW finish worksheet
3/25 (E)   Review
3/26 (G)   Review
3/26 (E)   Polar Test
3/27 (E)   Extra Complex Problems3/28 (G)   Polar Test

Important Dates
3/21  MCAS Day 1 (Hr G H A)
3/22  MCAS Day 2 (D E F B C)
3/25  MCAS Day 3 and 1st night of Passover
3/26  2nd night of Passover
3/28  End of Term 3
3/29  Good Friday - no school

Monday, March 11, 2013

Parametric Addendum

Given that it was tough giving Parametric equations enough time in class, I am changing the first assignment on parametrics to section 12.3 of the Brown book.  Do the following problems on pages 437-439/23-29, 39, 40.  This is our new Day 3.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Polar Coordinates

This is a quick but interesting unit on another way of describing the location of points in space.  It is a somewhat surprising application of trig that can also be used to work with complex numbers.  The schedule is plagued by holidays and MCAS but we will work around it as best we can. Polar coordinates are covered in the Demana book in sections 6.4-6.6 and in the Brown book in Chapter 11.  I am using Day1 notation rather than dates because the E-Block and G-Block sections will be off (due to the half day - but not if there is a snow day on the 7th!).

Day 1    Intro to Polar  CW Brown p.400-402/1-11 odd
            HW Demana p.492-493/5,6,23-30,52-54,61,63
Day 2    Converting equations and graphs (polar <=> rectangular)
            HW D p.500-502/5,7-13,17,21,23,45,49,53,55
Day 3    Parametric Equations 
            HW B p.437-439/23-29, 39, 40
Day 4    Parametric Equations some more
            HW Worksheet
Day 5    Cylindrical & Spherical Coordinates  

            HW Worksheet
Day 6    cis, Products of Complex Numbers
            HW B p.406-407/10, 12, 15, 17, 24-31 and D p.512/63 (derive Quotient Rule)
Day 7    Powers and Roots of Complex Numbers (De Moivre's Theorem) 
            HW
B p.410-411/4,5,9-14 and p.413/5,6,8,11-13
Day 8    Extra Practice 
            HW finish worksheet
Day 9    Review
Day 10  Polar Test (could be 3/25 for E-Block, 3/26 for G-Block, neither date is optimal - see below)


Important Dates
3/07  Professional Development Half-Day C B H F
3/19  MCAS Day 1 (Hr G H B)
3/21  MCAS Day 2 (Hr G H A)
3/22  MCAS Day 3 (D E F B C)
3/25  1st night of Passover
3/26  2nd night of Passover
3/28  End of Term 3
3/29  Good Friday - no school


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Sum and Difference Links


There are several resources to view proofs of the angle addition and angle subtraction identities.  Look them over and make sure you understand them.  You will be required to prove some of the basic identities on your test and the proofs of these identities require diagrams which may not occur to you during a test situation if you haven’t thought about them before.

Demana Precalculus 5.3 page 421 (a distance formula based proof)

Brown Advanced Math 10.1 p.369 (a law of cosines based proof)

Mr. Richardson’s PowerPoint presentation
            download here

Another website with very elegant triangle proofs:

Monday, February 11, 2013

Trig Identities


Lots of Proofs this unit! We start with simplifying practice and then jump in.

Note: We will be using the Demana book for most, but not all, of the assignments.

2/12   Trig Identity basics
          HW D p.410-411/3-60 by 3's, 69-73 odd
2/13   Simplifying for a solution
          HW D p.411-412/52-62, 75-82, 85
2/15   Proving Trig Identities
          CW D p.418/11-33 odd

2/16 - 2/24 February Vacation

2/25   Recap and More Practice with Trig Identities
          HW D p.418-419/35-51 odd, 52-60, 71
2/26   Review all, Sum and Difference Formulas
          HW D p.425-427/3,5,7,13,17,21,27,29,31-35,37,43,45,47,48,52,55,73
2/27   Double Angle, Half Angle and Power Reducing Formulas
          CW B p.374/39-41, p.385/45-47
          HW D p.432/3-30 by 3's, 39-45 odd, 53
3/01   Review and Extension Problems  CW Worksheet
          HW B p.384-385/3, 5, 52, 53 and p.390-391/23, 26-28, 43, 44

3/04  More Practice
3/05  Trig Identities Test

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Dealing with the Test/Snow Day

The test will happen on Monday, February 11th due to the snow day.   You may email me this weekend if you have questions.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Geometric Trig

Post-test homework was to do the area and identity worksheet. We continue with the more geometric applications of trigonometry. For this unit we will use primarily the Brown book.

1/28  9.2  Area Formula and applications
                HW p.342-344/1-19 odd, 20-22, 35, 36
                (p.344/34 is a bonus problem - turn it in for extra credit)
1/29  9.3  Law of Sines
                HW p.347-349/1-27 odd
1/30  9.4  Law of Cosines
                HW p.352-354/1-17 odd, 22
2/01  9.1 - 9.4  Mixed Trig Problems
                HW p.337/31-33, 37;  p.349/28;  p.354/23 and p.356-358/11,14,18,21,24,25

2/04  9.4  Mixed Trig Problems
                HW p.357-358/29-37
2/05  9.4  Mixed Trig Problems
                HW p.358/38, 39, 40, 42
2/06  Review and Extension Problems (Practice Test/Answer Key)
2/08  Test of Geometric Trig

The Geometric Trig test will have questions that require a full understanding of the trig area formula, the Law of Sines, and the Law of Cosines. There will be one problem (chosen by me) from the "C" problems on page 358 (not 41 or 43). I have not assigned every problem in the unit but notice that after you finish these problems you should be able to find the area, the sides, the angles, the length of the median/angle bisector/altitude, and the radii of the inscribed and circumscribed circles for any triangle - among other things.