Homework Assignments including an introduction to MyMathLab MAT 124 Finite Mathematics Fall 2016 Section 1E

Transcription

1 Hmewrk Assignments including an intrductin t MyMathLab Fall 2016 Sectin 1E Yu cannt learn hw t drive a car by sitting in the passenger seat and watching smene else d the driving. Similarly, yu cannt learn math just by reading the bk and watching yur instructr wrk prblems in class. The nly way t learn math is t practice it yurself, and hmewrk assignments are the best way t practice and master the cncepts presented in this curse. Therefre, it is essential that yu d ALL f the assigned hmewrk! Yu wn t knw whether yu have really learned the curse material until yu try the hmewrk prblems yurself, even if yu feel that yu understand the classrm discussin and the examples in the textbk. Besides, hmewrk makes up 24% f yur curse grade, and it will help yu prepare fr the exams which make up the rest f yur grade. Mst f the hmewrk will be dne nline using MyMathLab, a Pearsn Educatin MyLab/Mastering prduct that prvides an nline interactive learning envirnment. MyMathLab is required fr this curse. There are tw categries f hmewrk assignments: Basic Hmewrk Assignments These assignments will be dne nline using MyMathLab. There will generally be ne basic hmewrk assignment fr each sectin f the textbk that we cver in class. These assignments typically cnsist f multiple-chice r shrt-answer questins designed t help yu learn and practice basic skills. In-Depth Hmewrk Assignments Sme in-depth assignments will be dne nline using MyMathLab, sme will be written up and turned in n paper, and sme will be a cmbinatin f bth. An in-depth assignment may cver ne r mre sectins f the textbk. Questins will ften require mre in-depth analytical and cmmunicatin skills, bth f which are extremely imprtant in studying mathematics. Yu must d bth categries f hmewrk assignments; neither categry by itself prvides enugh pprtunity t practice all f the skills required t succeed in this curse. Yu may have used MyMathLab in ther curses. Hwever, it is still imprtant that yu read this dcument because we will be using MyMathLab in sme ways that may be unfamiliar even t experienced users. Getting Started with MyMathLab Register fr MyMathLab n the first day f class in rder t cmplete the hmewrk due during the first week. T use MyMathLab, yu will need: A cmputer with internet access. (Yu may use cmputers n campus if yu d nt have internet access at hme.) A valid address that yu check daily. (Mrtn Cllege prvides all students with an address if yu d nt already have ne.) A MyMathLab Curse ID (krader29059). A MyMathLab access cde, which is included with new textbks purchased in the Mrtn Cllege Bkstre. If yu bught a textbk withut an access cde (e.g., frm an ff-campus vendr), yu must buy the access cde separately in the cllege bkstre r nline using a majr credit card r PayPal TM accunt. Access cdes can be used nly nce and every student must have his/her wn access cde. If yu are retaking this curse and yu already had purchased an access cde fr the same textbk/ editin used in this class, yu d nt need t buy anther access cde. System Requirements: Befre yu start, g t and select MyMathLab t make sure yur perating system and brwser are cmpatible with MyMathLab.

2 Hmewrk Assignments Page 2 Registratin: If yu have never set up a MyMathLab accunt fr the textbk/editin used in this curse: G t the MyLab/Mastering (ML/M) hme page at pearsnmylab.cm. On the right side f the screen under Register, click Student. Read the nscreen instructins and click OK! Register nw. On the next page, enter the curse ID (krader29059) and click Cntinue. Verify that the curse infrmatin n the far right side f the next page is crrect (ignre the curse end date). If the infrmatin is nt crrect, click Enter a different curse ID. If yu have an accunt fr any Pearsn prduct, enter yur username and passwrd and sign in. If yu d nt have a Pearsn accunt, click Create. Enter the requested infrmatin n the next page t create an accunt. Be sure t use an address that yu check daily. It is recmmended that yu use that same address fr yur username. There are als links t click if yu are nt sure whether yu have a Pearsn accunt, r if yu have an accunt but had frgtten yur username and passwrd. Select a payment ptin n the next page. Mst f yu will select Use an Access Cde. If yu d nt already have an access cde, yu may buy ne nline with a credit card r PayPal accunt. If yu are unable t buy an access cde at the start f the curse, yu can get temprary access fr 14 days withut payment by clicking the link at the bttm f the screen; hwever, yu must pay fr full access befre the end f the 14-day perid in rder t cntinue using MyMathLab. If yu are using an access cde, enter yur access cde (six wrds separated by hyphens) n the next page and click Finish. Once yur registratin is cmplete, yu will see a cnfirmatin page. Yu will als receive this infrmatin by . Print the cnfirmatin page as yur receipt and write dwn yur username and passwrd. Yu are nw ready t begin using MyMathLab! If yu are retaking MAT 124 and yu already have a MyMathLab lgin fr the textbk/editin used in this curse, yu d nt need t buy a new access cde r create anther lgin and passwrd, but yu will need t enrll in this semester s curse using the Curse ID. G t the ML/M hme page and click Sign In. Enter yur username and passwrd and click Sign In. Click Enrll in a Curse. Enter the Curse ID (krader29059) and click Cntinue. Verify that the curse infrmatin is crrect and click Next. The next page will cnfirm yur enrllment. Yu are nw ready t use MyMathLab! If yu need help during the registratin and enrllment prcess: Click Supprt under Students n the ML/M hme page. Cntact Pearsn 24/7 Technical Supprt by visiting r by calling their tll-free help line at (800) Dn t wait until class t ask fr help with the registratin and enrllment prcess; nce yu have lgged ff yur cmputer, yur instructr may nt be able t help yu. Brwser Check: MyMathLab uses a number f cmmn plug-ins. If yu are using a hme cmputer, verify that these plug-ins have been prperly installed the first time yu use MyMathLab: G t the ML/M hme page and sign in using yur username and passwrd. On the fllwing page, click the name f this curse. Click Brwser Check under Welcme t MyMathLab and fllw the instructins. If yu have a pp-up blcker, yu will need t enable pp-ups fr the ML/M website.

3 Hmewrk Assignments Page 3 Using MyMathLab Curse Hme Page: When yu lg int yur curse, yu will see the curse hme page, which is similar t the screen sht belw. The curse hme page prvides useful infrmatin, but there are als sme limitatins that yu shuld be aware f, which are described belw: Annuncements psted by yur instructr will appear at the tp f the screen. NOTE: Only the mst recent annuncements will be visible. T see all annuncements, click All Annuncements at the bttm f this sectin. Upcming assignments are shwn immediately belw the calendar. NOTE: If yu missed any assignments, thse will always appear first, hiding the mst current assignments. Fr a cmplete list f assignments, click View All Assignments. These buttns (described in mre detail belw) enable yu t d hmewrk assignments, wrk n yur Study Plan, watch vides, check yur grades, read the textbk nline, etc. Use this sectin f the screen t run the Brwser Check and read infrmatin frm Pearsn Educatin. This area shws yur verall scre and a summary f wrk that yu have cmpleted. NOTE: Get a better summary f yur grades by clicking Gradebk in the left sidebar, as described belw. Using MyMathLab t d Hmewrk Assignments Befre starting either categry f hmewrk assignment, click Reading Assignments and Hmewrk Instructins n the left sidebar f the curse hme page and then click the chapter number t view: What yu shuld read in the textbk (and what yu may skip). Read the textbk befre starting the hmewrk assignments. Mre infrmatin abut the hmewrk assignments, including tips, additinal instructins, and previews f sme f the in-depth hmewrk exercises. This page will als list any paper-and-pencil exercises (usually frm the textbk) included in the in-depth hmewrk assignment. In-depth hmewrk exercises ften use skills that yu have learned in the basic hmewrk assignments; therefre, yu shuld d the basic hmewrk assignments befre the in-depth hmewrk assignments. T see all f the hmewrk assignments and their due dates, click Assignments n the left sidebar f the curse hme page. Then select All Assignments frm the pull-dwn menu in the upper-left hand crner f the next screen. Basic Hmewrk Assignments: Click the assignment name, then click Questin 1 t begin the assignment. If yu are returning t an assignment that yu have already started, a green (crrect answer) r red (incrrect answer) will shw questins yu have already wrked n. Yu may click thse questins t change yur answers r yu may wrk n a new questin. Yur scre and the maximum scre fr each questin are shwn in parentheses next t the questin number. Partial credit may be awarded. Pay attentin t the due dates; yu will receive half-credit fr any questin that yu wrk r rewrk after the due date. If yu wuld like t wrk n hmewrk prblems after the due date withut changing yur scre (e.g., fr additinal practice), click Review and Practice after yu click the name f the hmewrk assignment.

4 Hmewrk Assignments Page 4 Mst answers are multiple-chice r fill in the blank. Sme answers (e.g., thse invlving fractins and expnents) will require yu t use the palette that will appear at the bttm f the windw when yu click inside the answer bx. The palette is described in the rientatin hmewrk assignment which yu must cmplete befre starting any f the ther assignments. Yu will prbably find sme exercises rather simple; ther exercises (including sme f the multiple chice questins) may require a cnsiderable amunt f wrk. On many hmewrk questins, if yu are having difficulty yu may click Questin Help in the upper right-hand prtin f the windw. The specific help capabilities vary frm prblem t prblem. Help Me Slve This will walk yu thrugh the prblem step-by-step, then give yu a chance t slve a similar prblem. Ask My Instructr will let yu send yur instructr an message abut the prblem. If yu wuld like t ask yur instructr r a tutr abut a hmewrk prblem in persn, it wuld help t Print the prblem. On sme prblems, yu will als find links t multimedia cntent (e.g., vides, animatins) that yu may find helpful. After yu enter an answer, click Check Answer at the bttm f the windw t see whether yur answer is crrect. If the answer is crrect, yu may wrk n the next questin r fr additinal practice yu may g back and click Similar Questin t wrk n anther questin like the ne just cmpleted. In mst cases, if the answer is incrrect yu may rewrk the exercise ne r tw mre times befre MyMathLab will tell yu the answer and mark the questin wrng. If yu d nt get the crrect answer in three tries, ask fr help, then click Similar Questin t try again and imprve yur scre. With all the help capabilities and the pprtunity t red hmewrk exercises until yu get the right answer, it is my expectatin and it shuld be yur gal t get a perfect scre n every basic hmewrk assignment! Questins may be wrked in any rder. T navigate frm ne questin t anther, use the left and right arrws at the tp r the bttm f the windw, r use the pull-dwn menu at the tp f the windw and click n the questin yu wuld like t wrk n. Basic hmewrk assignments d nt need t be cmpleted in a single sessin. T take a break, click Save in the upper right hand prtin f the windw. When yu cme back t the nline hmewrk assignment, yu may wrk the remaining questins and/r change answers that yu have already entered, as described abve. In-Depth Hmewrk Assignments: When peple slve prblems in real-life, they are generally nt given multiple chices nr are they given an infinite number f tries t cme up with the right answer. They must cme up with their wn answers and be able t cmmunicate their results clearly. Thus, getting gd scres even perfect scres n the basic hmewrk assignments with their multiple-chice questins, nline help capabilities and unlimited pprtunity t rewrk hmewrk exercises may nt be a gd measure f hw well yu have learned the material. The in-depth hmewrk assignments attempt t prvide a better measure by giving yu the pprtunity t wrk questins n ne try withut any help capabilities. Sme in-depth hmewrk exercises als give yu practice cmmunicating yur results clearly in writing. In-depth hmewrk assignments may be cmprised f nline exercises using MyMathLab, paper-and-pencil prblems, r a cmbinatin f bth. Nte that MyMathLab categrizes in-depth hmewrk assignments as quizzes. Hwever, unlike nline quizzes yu may have taken in ther math curses, in-depth hmewrk assignments are nt meant t be cmprehensive and yu may spend as much time as yu like n each assignment up t the due date. In-depth hmewrk assignments must be submitted befre the due date. Late assignments are NOT accepted and will be scred as zeres. Begin each in-depth hmewrk assignment as yu wuld a basic hmewrk assignment by clicking the assignment name. The first questin will appear. The number f pints assigned t each questin will appear at the tp f the windw. On in-depth assignments the questins must be wrked in the rder presented. Yu cannt skip questins and cme back t them later and yu cannt rewrk any questin yu have already viewed. There are n nline help capabilities, thugh feel free t refer t yur ntes and the textbk. Pay attentin t all n-screen instructins, especially fr essay questins (which generally require n mre than a few sentences). Yur essay answers shuld be clear, cncise, grammatically crrect and written using cmplete sentence(s) free f spelling errrs. Pints may be deducted fr answers which d nt meet these criteria. The cmmunicatin style used t text yur friends is prbably nt apprpriate fr hmewrk answers. Yu d nt need t cmplete an in-depth assignment in a single sessin. If yu wuld like t take a break, click Save fr Later at the bttm f the windw after cmpleting the prblem in the windw. When yu return t

5 Hmewrk Assignments Page 5 the assignment, yu will nt be able t red any questins yu have already lked at, including the questin that is currently n the screen. Sme questins, especially essay questins, may require a cnsiderable amunt f thught. Yur instructr may prvide a list f these questins befre the hmewrk is assigned. It is strngly recmmended that yu wrk n these questins befre ging nline, and use yur time nline t type yur answers. When yu are dne with the assignment, be sure t click Submit Quiz (at the tp f the windw) befre clsing the windw. Once yu have clicked Submit Quiz yu may n lnger wrk n the assignment, s be sure nt t click this buttn until yu have finished the entire assignment. After yu have submitted the assignment, the Quiz Summary will shw yur scre fr each questin except the essay questins, which will be graded manually by yur instructr (these questins will be indicated by yellw circles n the Quiz Summary). Yu will receive an message when the essay questins have been graded. After an in-depth hmewrk assignment has been graded, yu shuld review yur results as fllws: Click Gradebk n the left sidebar f the curse hme page. On the next screen, click the name f the assignment. Use the pull-dwn menu at the tp f the windw t see yur scre fr each questin. Click n the questin number r use the navigatin arrws (at the tp r bttm f the windw) t review each questin in mre detail and see the crrect answers. On shrt answer questins, a red triangle indicates that yu entered an incrrect answer. The crrect answer will be displayed n the screen. Click the answer bx t see yur incrrect answer. Yu may als find additinal feedback t help yu understand why yur answer was incrrect. On essay questins, yu may view a sample crrect answer by clicking Shw Sample Answer near the bttm f the windw. A pp-up windw may als display written cmments prvided by yur instructr. Yur scre fr each questin will als appear in the upper left-hand prtin f the windw. On any questins where yu did nt receive full credit, make sure yu understand why yur answer was incrrect. If yu have any questins, please ask fr help! Yu may print a questin by using the Questin Help menu in the upper right-hand prtin f the windw. Cntinues

6 Hmewrk Assignments Page 6 The table belw cmpares the tw categries f hmewrk assignments. Basic Hmewrk Assignments will be dne nline using MyMathLab. There will generally be ne assignment fr each sectin f the textbk. Questins generally cver basic skills. Generally cnsist f mre prblems than an in-depth hmewrk assignment. Questins will generally be multiple chice r shrtanswer. MyMathLab will tell yu whether yur answer is crrect immediately after yu cmplete each questin. Yu may rewrk questins as many times as yu like until yu get the right answer. Online help capabilities are prvided fr mst questins. If yu cannt finish the assignment in a single sessin, yu can save yur wrk and finish the assignment later. Yu may answer questins in any rder using the pull-dwn menu at the tp f the windw r the navigatin arrws at the tp r bttm f the windw. Due dates will be psted nline. Yu will get halfcredit fr any questin that yu wrk r rewrk after the due date. In-Depth Hmewrk Assignments may include nline questins, paperand-pencil questins, r a cmbinatin f bth. Assignments may cver ne r several sectins f the textbk. Questins generally cver cncepts and applicatins f basic skills, thugh sme prblems may be similar t thse in the basic hmewrk assignment. Generally cnsist f fewer but mre difficult prblems than a basic hmewrk assignment. Assignments may include essay questins that will be manually graded by yur instructr after the due date. Yu may review yur results and see the crrect answers after the assignment has been graded. Yu nly have ne attempt t answer each questin. There are n nline help capabilities. Hwever, feel free t refer t yur ntes and the textbk. If yu cannt finish the assignment in a single sessin, yu can save fr later. Hwever, when yu return t the assignment yu will nt be able t wrk n any prblems yu had already viewed. Yu must answer questins in rder. Once yu have viewed a questin, yu cannt g back and wrk n it. Due dates will be psted nline (even fr paper-andpencil assignments). Yu will receive a zer fr any questins nt cmpleted befre the due date. Start each assignment as early as pssible. If yu wait until the due date t start yur assignments, yu may nt have enugh time t finish! Keeping up with the assignments will als let yu knw hw well yu understand the material and give yu an pprtunity t ask fr help when yu are having difficulty. If yu have any cmputer prblems while yu are wrking n an assignment, please yur instructr immediately. D nt expect any extensins f the due date because yu started an assignment late r yu waited t cntact yur instructr abut any cmputer prblems. Hmewrk Grades: Hmewrk makes up 24% f yur curse grade, as described belw: Basic and in-depth hmewrk each make up 12% f yur grade. Within each categry, each assignment will be equally weighted regardless f the number f questins. Missing assignments will be recrded as zeres. Expect abut basic assignments and indepth assignments; thus, each in-depth assignment will make up a larger prtin f yur grade than a basic assignment. Because there may be a few ccasins when yu are unable t cmplete an assignment n time, the tw lwest scres will be drpped frm each categry befre cmputing yur average grade. This des nt mean it is alright t skip hmewrk assignments. Yu need t d all f the hmewrk in rder t learn all f the material! On all assignments, multi-part questins will generally cunt mre than single-part questins. Fr nline assignments, the pint value fr each questin is displayed at the tp f the windw.

7 Hmewrk Assignments Page 7 Study Plan A persnalized Study Plan is designed t help yu practice tpics where yu are having difficulty, based n yur nline hmewrk results. Click Study Plan n the left sidebar f the curse hme page t see the bjectives yu need t master, then click Practice t wrk n additinal prblems r Quiz Me t determine hw well yu have mastered each bjective. Study Plans d nt directly affect yur curse grade but they may help yu learn the material and prepare fr exams. Online Gradebk Fr a mre cmplete and accurate view f yur grades than the Overall Scre n the curse hme page, click Gradebk n the left sidebar f the curse hme page, then click Shw Overall Scre (if necessary) in the upper left-hand crner f the next windw, then click Shw Calculatin. In the nline gradebk, hmewrk grades refer t basic hmewrk assignments and quiz grades refer t in-depth hmewrk assignments. Additinal Features f MyMathLab MyMathLab prvides a number f features in additin t thse described abve. Yu are encuraged t explre the ther tabs n the left sidebar f the curse hme page t discver features that yu may find helpful. Buttn n Curse Hme Page Chapter Cntents Multimedia Library Tls fr Success Curse Tls Features Access an nline versin f the textbk and its assciated multimedia cntent, which includes vide lectures fr each sectin f the textbk. (Yu may find the vide lectures helpful if yu have questins after class r if yu miss a class due t an emergency.) Cntent is rganized by textbk chapter and sectin number. Yu may als use this tab t access the hmewrk assignments and Study Plan prblems fr each chapter. Access the nline textbk and ther multimedia cntent, including additinal vides and animatins. Click n this tab t find study aids and links t help yu use yur graphing calculatr. Use this link t access an HTML versin f the textbk r t yur instructr. If the ML/M Website is Nt Available: In the rare event that yu cannt access the ML/M website, yu can still access MyMathLab frm the alternate lgin page: (NOTE: There is an underscre between lgin and mml ). Lg in as usual, then click the curse name. Sme MyMathLab capabilities (e.g., the nline textbk) are nt available, but yu will be able t d hmewrk, take quizzes, wrk n yur study plan and check yur grades. Mre Hmewrk Tips The purpse f MyMathLab is t learn the curse material. Unfrtunately, it is pssible t accumulate hmewrk pints withut learning the material well enugh t succeed in the curse. Here are sme tips t help yu cmplete the hmewrk assignments and learn the material: Befre starting yur hmewrk, reread the textbk, review yur class ntes, and rewrk the prblems discussed in class. Even thugh MyMathLab prblems may nly require yu t enter an answer, get in the habit f writing ut the prblem n paper and shwing all f yur wrk where apprpriate as if yu were turning in a paper hmewrk assignment. This is what yu will need t d n an exam, and yu may find the hmewrk prblems easier t wrk if yu can see what yu are ding. Yur written hmewrk may als help yu study fr exams. Yur ntes and the nline help capabilities may help yu get started n a hmewrk prblem, but t succeed in the curse yu must be able t d the prblems n yur wn. If yu rely n yur ntes r any f the help capabilities r if it takes several tries t get the crrect answer t a basic hmewrk prblem, click Similar Questin fr additinal practice befre ging n t anther prblem. Keep wrking similar questins

8 Hmewrk Assignments Page 8 until yu repeatedly get the crrect answer n the first try withut any help. Better yet, make a list f questins yu had difficulty with and review them peridically. In sme cases, MyMathLab recgnizes nly ne crrect answer per questin. T get full credit, simplify yur answer as much as pssible and pay attentin t any n-screen instructins. Fr example, if yur answer is and yu were tld t rund t the nearest tenth r t ne decimal place, 84.6 is the nly answer that will be marked crrect. All ther answers (including 84.5, 84.59, and 85) may be marked incrrect. On paper-and-pencil exercises, write legibly, shw all f yur wrk, circle yur answers, and fllw any ther instructins in the textbk r prvided by yur instructr. D sme wrk almst every day (at least five days a week). This is much mre effective than trying t d an entire week f hmewrk in ne sitting, and it will help yu keep up with the classrm discussin and the assignments. If yu fall behind, it may be very difficult t catch up and keep up with new material. If yu are having difficulty with a hmewrk prblem, spend at least 10 minutes trying t slve it yurself befre yu seek additinal help (such as using the nline help capabilities, lking up the answer in the back f the bk r discussing the prblem with smene else). If yu are nt sure hw t slve the prblem, write dwn what yu knw abut the prblem. Seeing smething in writing may help yu find a slutin. If yu are still having difficulty with the hmewrk prblems, please ask questins in class, meet with yur instructr, and/r use ther resurces such as the Individual Learning Center, yur classmates r nline resurces. Write dwn questins as yu think f them s yu wn t frget t ask. When yu bring questins t yur instructr r tutr, print the hmewrk prblem and bring the wrk yu ve already dne even if it s nt crrect, s the persn helping yu can see where yu had difficulty. If yu get help with a prblem, ask a tutr r yur instructr fr similar prblems that yu can wrk t make sure yu can d the prblem n yur wn. Watching smene else slve a prblem is nt the same as slving it yurself, and there will be n ne t help when yu take an exam! If yu lse this handut, yu may dwnlad anther cpy frm my website: Click n Curses then MAT 124 Under Curse Dcumentatin click n Hmewrk Assignments.