course Mth 173

Zˑnfkassignment #001

Your work has been received. Please scroll through the document to see any inserted notes (inserted at the appropriate place in the document, in boldface) and a note at the end. The note at the end of the file will confirm that the file has been reviewed; be sure to read that note. If there is no note at the end, notify the instructor through the Submit Work form, and include the date of the posting to your access page.

001. Only assignment: prelim asst

qa prelim

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assignment #001

qa prelim

qa prelim

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13:56:07

`q001. Part 1 includes six activities. If you have completed an activity, just enter the answer 'completed'.

This question is appearing in the Question box. The box to the right is the Answer box, where you will type in your answers to the questions posed here.

To use this program you read a question, then enter your answer in the Answer box and click on Enter Answer. In your answers give what is requested, but don't go into excruciating detail. Try to give just enough that the instructor can tell that you understand an item.

After entering an answer click on Next Question/Answer above the Question box.

Do you understand these instructions?

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RESPONSE -->

yes

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13:58:34

This program has created the folder c:\vhmthphy on your hard drive.

Browse to that folder and locate the file whose name begins with SEND. The name of this file will also include your name, as you gave it to the program, and the file will show as a Text file.

Never tamper with a SEND file in any way. It contains internal codes as if these codes are tampered with you won't get credit for the assignment. However you are welcome to copy this file to another location and view it, make changes, etc. Just be sure that when requested to do so you send the instructor the original, tamper-free file.

State in the Answer box whether or not you have been able to locate the SEND file. Don't send the SEND file yet. Note that more questions/instructions remain in the q_a_prelim.

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RESPONSE -->

found it

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13:59:43

`q002. Note that every time you click on Enter Answer the program writes your response to your SEND file. Even if the program disappears all the information you have entered with the Enter Answer button will remain in that file. This program never 'unwrites' anything. Even if this program crashes your information will still be there in the SEND file. Explain this in your own words.

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RESPONSE -->

Every question and answer will be recorded into my SEND file. Even if the program crashes it will still be there.

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14:00:38

Any time the instructor does not post a response to your access site by the end of the following day, you should resubmit your work using the Submit Work form, and be sure at the beginning to indicate that you are resubmitting, and also indicate the date on which you originally submitted your work.

If you don't know where your access site is or how to access it, go to

http://www.vhcc.edu/dsmith/_vti_bin/shtml.dll/request_access_code.htm and request one now. You can submit the q_a_prelim without your access code, but other assignments should contain your code.

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RESPONSE -->

134459

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14:01:05

`q003. If you are working on a VHCC computer, it is probably set up in such a way as to return to its original configuration when it is rebooted. To avoid losing information it is suggested that you back up your work frequently, either by emailing yourself a copy or by using a key drive or other device. This is a good idea on any computer. Please indicate your understanding of this suggestion.

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RESPONSE -->

email answers and often

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assignment #001

001. typewriter notation

qa initial problems

01-07-2007

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assignment #001

001. typewriter notation

qa initial problems

01-07-2007

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14:34:58

`q001. Explain the difference between x - 2 / x + 4 and (x - 2) / (x + 4). The evaluate each expression for x = 2.

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RESPONSE -->

When aswered the difference is that the second problem is multiplied by each parts.

confidence assessment: 1

You need to show the details of your work. Especially the details of how you evaluate the expression for x = 2.

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14:37:12

The order of operations dictates that grouped expressions must be evaluated first, that exponentiation must be done before multiplication or division, which must be done before addition or subtraction.

It makes a big difference whether you subtract the 2 from the x or divide the -2 by 4 first. If there are no parentheses you have to divide before you subtract. Substituting 2 for x we get

2 - 2 / 2 + 4

= 2 - 1 + 4 (do multiplications and divisions before additions and subtractions)

= 5 (add and subtract in indicated order)

If there are parentheses you evaluate the grouped expressions first:

(x - 2) / (x - 4) = (2 - 2) / ( 4 - 2) = 0 / 2 = 0.

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RESPONSE -->

In evaluating the order of operations one must follow a specific order to come to the correct answer.

self critique assessment: 2

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14:39:56

`q002. Explain the difference between 2 ^ x + 4 and 2 ^ (x + 4). Then evaluate each expression for x = 2.

Note that a ^ b means to raise a to the b power. This process is called exponentiation, and the ^ symbol is used on most calculators, and in most computer algebra systems, to represent exponentiation.

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RESPONSE -->

2^2+4= 8

2^(2+4)= 64

confidence assessment: 2

Good.

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14:40:17

2 ^ x + 4 indicates that you are to raise 2 to the x power before adding the 4.

2 ^ (x + 4) indicates that you are to first evaluate x + 4, then raise 2 to this power.

If x = 2, then

2 ^ x + 4 = 2 ^ 2 + 4 = 2 * 2 + 4 = 4 + 4 = 8.

and

2 ^ (x + 4) = 2 ^ (2 + 4) = 2 ^ 6 = 2*2*2*2*2*2 = 64.

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RESPONSE -->

self critique assessment: 3

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14:42:11

`q003. What is the numerator of the fraction in the expression x - 3 / [ (2x-5)^2 * 3x + 1 ] - 2 + 7x? What is the denominator? What do you get when you evaluate the expression for x = 2?

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RESPONSE -->

numerator= -1

Denominator= 7

confidence assessment: 2

You didn't show enough details to document your work.

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14:45:46

The numerator is 3. x isn't part of the fraction. / indicates division, which must always precede subtraction. Only the 3 is divided by [ (2x-5)^2 * 3x + 1 ] and only [ (2x-5)^2 * 3x + 1 ] divides 3.

If we mean (x - 3) / [ (2x-5)^2 * 3x + 1 ] - 2 + 7x we have to write it that way.

The preceding comments show that the denominator is [ (2x-5)^2 * 3x + 1 ]

Evaluating the expression for x = 2:

- 3 / [ (2 * 2 - 5)^2 * 3(2) + 1 ] - 2 + 7*2 =

2 - 3 / [ (4 - 5)^2 * 6 + 1 ] - 2 + 14 = evaluate in parenthese; do multiplications outside parentheses

2 - 3 / [ (-1)^2 * 6 + 1 ] -2 + 14 = add inside parentheses

2 - 3 / [ 1 * 6 + 1 ] - 2 + 14 = exponentiate in bracketed term;

2 - 3 / 7 - 2 + 14 = evaluate in brackets

13 4/7 or 95/7 or about 13.57 add and subtract in order.

The details of the calculation 2 - 3 / 7 - 2 + 14:

Since multiplication precedes addition or subtraction the 3/7 must be done first, making 3/7 a fraction. Changing the order of the terms we have

2 - 2 + 14 - 3 / 7 = 14 - 3/7 = 98/7 - 3/7 = 95/7.

COMMON STUDENT QUESTION: ok, I dont understand why x isnt part of the fraction? And I dont understand why only the brackets are divided by 3..why not the rest of the equation?

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE: Different situations give us different algebraic expressions; the situation dictates the form of the expression.

If the above expression was was written otherwise it would be a completely different expression and most likely give you a different result when you substitute.

If we intended the numerator to be x - 3 then the expression would be written (x - 3) / [(2x-5)^2 * 3x + 1 ] - 2 + 7x, with the x - 3 grouped.

If we intended the numerator to be the entire expression after the / the expression would be written x - 3 / [(2x-5)^2 * 3x + 1 - 2 + 7x ].

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RESPONSE -->

Didn't understand why the x wasn't included in the numerator.

Two operations appear on either side of the 3. One operation is -, the other is /. The division operation has to be done first.

Of course the division operation also involves an expression in brackets, which has to be evaluated before the division can be done.

But you can't do the subtraction until the division has been completed.

self critique assessment: 2

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14:48:33

`q004. Explain, step by step, how you evaluate the expression (x - 5) ^ 2x-1 + 3 / x-2 for x = 4.

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RESPONSE -->

(4-5)^8-1+3/4-2

-1^10/2

5

confidence assessment: 2

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14:49:51

We get

(4-5)^2 * 4 - 1 + 3 / 1 - 4

= (-1)^2 * 4 - 1 + 3 / 4 - 2 evaluating the term in parentheses

= 1 * 4 - 1 + 3 / 4 - 2 exponentiating (2 is the exponent, which is applied to -1 rather than multiplying the 2 by 4

= 4 - 1 + 3/4 - 2 noting that 3/4 is a fraction and adding and subtracting in order we get

= 1 3/4 = 7 /4 (Note that we could group the expression as 4 - 1 - 2 + 3/4 = 1 + 3/4 = 1 3/4 = 7/4).

COMMON ERROR:

(4 - 5) ^ 2*4 - 1 + 3 / 4 - 2 = -1 ^ 2*4 - 1 + 3 / 4-2 = -1 ^ 8 -1 + 3 / 4 - 2.

INSTRUCTOR COMMENTS:

There are two errors here. In the second step you can't multiply 2 * 4 because you have (-1)^2, which must be done first. Exponentiation precedes multiplication.

Also it isn't quite correct to write -1^2*4 at the beginning of the second step. If you were supposed to multiply 2 * 4 the expression would be (-1)^(2 * 4).

Note also that the -1 needs to be grouped because the entire expression (-1) is taken to the power. -1^8 would be -1 because you would raise 1 to the power 8 before applying the - sign, which is effectively a multiplication by -1.

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RESPONSE -->

have to find the answer for the exponents before the multiplication.

self critique assessment: 2

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14:50:20

*&*& Standard mathematics notation is easier to see. On the other hand it's very important to understand order of operations, and students do get used to this way of doing it.

You should of course write everything out in standard notation when you work it on paper.

It is likely that you will at some point use a computer algebra system, and when you do you will have to enter expressions through a typewriter, so it is well worth the trouble to get used to this notation.

Indicate your understanding of the necessity to understand this notation.

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RESPONSE -->

yes

self critique assessment: 2

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"

You need to review your use of the order of operations. I suggest you rework these problems, without looking at the solution, and see if you get them right on the second try.

If you are in Mth 151 or 152, this is less important than in other courses. In most other courses it is pretty important. In calculus courses it is most important.

Let me know if you have questions, or if you would like additional problems of this type to work on..