Liberal Arts Mathematics

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course Mth 151

004. Liberal Arts Mathematics

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Question: `q001. Consider the statement 'If that group of six-year-olds doesn't have adult supervision, they won't act in an orderly manner.' Under which of the following circumstances would everyone have to agree that the statement is false?

The group does have supervision and they do act in an orderly manner.

The group doesn't have supervision and they don't act in an orderly manner.

The group doesn't have supervision and they do act in an orderly manner.

The group does have supervision and they don't act in an orderly manner.

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Your solution:

The group doesn't have supervision and they do act in an orderly manner.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aThe statement says that if the group doesn't have supervision, they will not act in an orderly manner. So if they don't have supervision and yet do act in an orderly manner the statement is contradicted.

If the group does have supervision, the statement cannot be contradicted because condition of the statement, that the group doesn't have supervision, does not hold. The statement has nothing to say about what happens if the group does have supervision.

Of course if the group doesn't have supervision and doesn't act in orderly manner this is completely consistent with the statement.

Therefore the only way to statement can be considered false is the group doesn't have supervision and does act in an overly manner.

Note that what we know, or think we know, about childrens' behavior has nothing at all to do with the logic of the situation. We could analyze the logic of a statement like 'If the Moon is made of green cheese then most six-year-olds prefer collard greens to chocolate ice cream'. Anything we know about the composition of the Moon or the tastes of children has nothing to do with the fact that the only way this statement could be shown false would be for the Moon to be made of green cheese and most six-year-olds to prefer the ice cream.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating: Ok

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Question: `q002. List the different orders in which the letters a, b and c could be arranged (examples are 'acb' and 'cba'). Explain how you know that your list contains every possible order.

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Your solution:

abc, acb, cba, cab, bca, bac

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aThe only reliable way to get all possible orders is to have a system which we are sure the list every order without missing any.

Perhaps the simplest way to construct all possible orders is to list then alphabetically.

We start with abc. There is only one other order that starts with a, and it is obtained by switching the last two letters to get acb.

The next alphabetical order must start with b. The first possible listing starting with b must follow b with a, leaving c for last. The orders therefore bac. The only other order starting with b is bca.

The next order must start with c, which will be followed by a to give us cab. The next order is obtained by switching the last two letters to get cba.

This exhausts all possibilities for combinations of the three letters a, b and c. Our combinations are, in alphabetical order,

abc, acb, bac, bca, cab, cba.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating: Ok

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Question: `q003. One collection consists of the letters a, c, d and f. Another collection consists of the letters a, b, d and g.

List the letters common to both collections.

List the letters which appear in at least one of the collections.

List the letters in the first half of the alphabet which do not appear in either of the collections.

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Your solution:

Letters common to both collections: a and d

Letters that appear in at least one of the collections: a, b, c, d, f

Letters in the first half of the alphabet which do not appear in either of the collections: e, h, i, j, k, l, m

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aTo letters a and d each appear in both collections. No other letter does.

The letters a, c, d, and f appear in the first collection, so they all in at least one of the collections. In addition to letters b and g appear in the second collection. Therefore letters a, b, c, d, f and g all appear in at least one of the collections.

We consider the letters in the first half of the alphabet, in alphabetical order. a, b, c and d all appear in at least one of the collections, but the letter e does not. The letters f and g also appear in at least one of the collections, but none of the other letters of the alphabet do. The first half of the alphabet ends at m, so the list of letters in the first half of the alphabet which do not occur in at least one of the collections is e, h, i, j, k, l, m.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating: Ok

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Question: `q004. Give the next element in each of the following patterns and explain how you obtained each:

2, 3, 5, 8, 12, ...

3, 6, 12, 24, ...

1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 18, ...

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Your solution:

2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 17 (adds 1 more each time, starting at adding 1, then adding 2, and so on.)

3, 6, 12, 24, 48 (adding each number to itself.)

1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 18, 29 (each number is the sum of the two before it.)

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aThe pattern of the sequence 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, ... can be seen by subtracting each number from its successor. 3-2 = 1, 5-3 = 2, 8-5 = 3, 12-8 = 4. The sequence of differences is therefore 1, 2, 3, 4, ... . The next difference will be 5, indicating that the next number must be 12 + 5 = 17.

The pattern of the sequence 3, 6, 12, 24, ... can be discovered by dividing each number into its successor. We obtain 6/3 = 2, 12/6 = 2, 24/12 = 2. This shows us that we are doubling each number to get the next. It follows that the next number in the sequence will be the double of 24, or 48.

The pattern of the sequence 1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 18, ... is a little obvious. Starting with the third number in the sequence, each number is the sum of the two numbers proceeding. That is, 1 + 3 = 4, 3 + 4 = 7, 4 + 7 = 11, and 7 + 11 = 18. It follows that the next member should be 11 + 18 = 29.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating: Ok

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Question: `q005. The number 18 can be 'broken down' into the product 9 * 2, which can then be broken down into the product 3 * 3 * 2, which cannot be broken down any further . Alternatively 18 could be broken down into 6 * 3, which can then be broken down into 2 * 3 * 3.

Show how the numbers 28 and 34 can be broken down until they can't be broken down any further.

Show that there at least two different ways to break down 28, but that when the breakdown is complete both ways end up giving you the same numbers.

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Your solution:

28

14 * 2

7 * 2 * 2

34

17 * 2

28

7 * 4

7 * 2 * 2

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aA good system is to begin by attempting to divide the smallest possible number into the given number. In the case of 34 we see that the number can be divided by 2 give 34 = 2 * 17. It is clear that the factor 2 cannot be further broken down, and is easy to see that 17 cannot be further broken down. So the complete breakdown of 34 is 2 * 17.

To breakdown 28 we can again divide by 2 to get 28 = 2 * 14. The number 2 cannot be further broken down, but 14 can be divided by 2 to give 14 = 2 * 7, which cannot be further broken down. Thus we have 28 = 2 * 2 * 7.

The number 28 could also the broken down initially into 4 * 7. The 4 can be further broken down into 2 * 2, so again we get 28 = 2 * 2 * 7.

It turns out that the breakdown of a given number always ends up with exactly same numbers, no matter what the initial breakdown.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating: Ok

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Question: `q006. Give the average of the numbers in the following list: 3, 4, 6, 6, 7, 7, 9. By how much does each number differ from the average?

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Your solution:

The average is 6. The highest difference up or down is by 3.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aTo average least 7 numbers we add them in divide by 7. We get a total of 3 + 4 + 6 + 6 + 7 + 7 + 9 = 42, which we then divide by 7 to get the average 42 / 7 = 6.

We see that 3 differs from the average of 6 by 3, 4 differs from the average of 6 by 2, 6 differs from the average of 6 by 0, 7 differs from the average of 6 by 1, and 9 differs from the average of 6 by 3.

A common error is to write the entire sequence of calculations on one line, as 3 + 4 + 6 + 6 + 7 + 7 + 9 = 42 / 7 = 6. This is a really terrible habit. The = sign indicates equality, and if one thing is equal to another, and this other today third thing, then the first thing must be equal to the third thing. This would mean that 3 + 4 + 6 + 6 + 7 + 7 + 9 would have to be equal to 6. This is clearly not the case. It is a serious error to use the = sign for anything but equality, and it should certainly not be used to indicate a sequence of calculations.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating: Ok

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Question: `q007. Which of the following list of numbers is more spread out, 7, 8, 10, 10, 11, 13 or 894, 897, 902, 908, 910, 912? On what basis did you justify your answer?

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Your solution:

Taking the average from both sets, and comparing that to how far away the lowest or highest number in the chain is shows about 3 away for the first set, and closer to 8 or 10 for the second set. Going by that, the second set is more spread out.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aThe first set of numbers ranges from 7 to 13, a difference of only 6. The second set ranges from 894 to 912, a difference of 18. So it appears pretty clear that the second set has more variation the first.

We might also look at the spacing between numbers, which in the first set is 1, 2, 0, 1, 2 and in the second set is 3, 5, 6, 2, 2. The spacing in the second set is clearly greater than the spacing in the first.

There are other more sophisticated measures of the spread of a distribution of numbers, which you may encounter in your course.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating: Ok

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Question: `q008. 12 is 9 more than 3 and also 4 times 3. We therefore say that 12 differs from 3 by 9, and that the ratio of 12 to 3 is 4.

What is the ratio of 36 to 4 and by how much does 36 differ from 4?

If 288 is in the same ratio to a certain number as 36 is to 4, what is that number?

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Your solution:

36 / 4 = 9 is the ratio of 36 to 4

36 – 4 = 32 is the difference from 36 by 4

288 / x = 36 / 4

1152 = 36x

1152 / 36 = x

32 = x

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

`aJust as the ratio of 12 to 3 is 12 / 3 = 4, the ratio of 36 to 4 is 36 / 4 = 9. 36 differs from 4 by 36 - 4 = 32.

Since the ratio of 36 to 4 is 9, the number 288 will be in the same ratio to a number which is 1/9 as great, or 288 / 9 = 32.

Putting this another way, the question asks for a 'certain number', and 288 is in the same ratio to that number as 36 to 4. 36 is 9 times as great as 4, so 288 is 9 times as great as the desired number. The desired number is therefore 288/9 = 32.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating: Ok

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Question: `q009. A triangle has sides 3, 4 and 5. Another triangle has the identical shape of the first but is larger. Its shorter sides are 12 and 16. What is the length of its longest side?

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Your solution:

The two sides given are both proportionally greater by a multiplicative of 4, so going under that principle, the longest side would be 20.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

`a** You need to first see that that each side of the larger triangle is 4 times the length of the corresponding side of the smaller. This can be seen in many ways, one of the most reliable is to check out the short-side ratios, which are 12/3 = 4 and 16/4 = 4. Since we have a 4-to-1 ratio for each set of corresponding sides, the side of the larger triangle that corresponds to the side of length 5 is 4 * 5 = 20. **

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating: Ok

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Given Solution:

`a** You need to first see that that each side of the larger triangle is 4 times the length of the corresponding side of the smaller. This can be seen in many ways, one of the most reliable is to check out the short-side ratios, which are 12/3 = 4 and 16/4 = 4. Since we have a 4-to-1 ratio for each set of corresponding sides, the side of the larger triangle that corresponds to the side of length 5 is 4 * 5 = 20. **

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating: Ok

#(*!

&#This looks good. Let me know if you have any questions. &#

course Mth 163

1/18 11

Note:  If you do not have the disks for your course, you should not complete this exercise at this time.  Complete this once you have your disks.Task:  `q000:  Verify that you have your disks.

Your response (insert your response beginning in the next line):

yes

Note:  If you do not have the disks for your course, you cannot complete this exercise at this time.  Complete this once you have your disks.

Checking disks:

Task:  `q001.  This is for Mth 158 students only. 

Disks for your course should have been packaged with your textbook.  You should follow the instructions given by the publishers to run your disks.

Please verify below that your disks work and that you have been able to access the material. If not, briefly describe the problem.

Your response (insert your response beginning in the next line):

 

 

#$&*  (Note that your response was to go into 'the next line'; your response will therefore be inserted before this line, not after.  This is obvious when you're looking at the form, but if you've copied the form into a text editor it might be less obvious.  Hence this note.)

Student other than Mth 158 students do as follows:

Task:  `q001a.  This applies to all courses except Mth 158, which uses publisher disks rather than disks produced by the instructor.

Class notes, in lecture format with video clips, are distributed on the disks you purchased in the bookstore. 

If you do not have your disks yet you will have to skip this instruction for now, and you will need to return to this exercise when you receive them. If that is the case you may close this assignment after first entering in the response area below a statement that you do not yet have the disks.

Otherwise run one of the disks for your course

1. Insert the disk you have selected into your drive. Open Windows Explorer and run the HTML file in the root folder (simply locate the file and double-click on it).  That file will have a name like disk_1.htm or disk_2.htm, and will be one of very few files in the root folder, so you should be able to locate it easily enough. 

The information on your disk was originally assembled for CD's, and your disk consists of a compilation of a number of CD's.  The HTML file in the root folder will give you a list of the CDs collected on your disk. 

2. When you run the HTML file you will either get a menu of Class Notes or a series of direct links to video clips.

If you get a menu of Class Notes, click on one of the links (#3 would be a good choice but any will do). Otherwise go to the instruction #4.

You will see a page containing notes. If you scroll down the page you will see links to video clips embedded within the notes.

Click on several of these links to see how they work.

4. If you got a series of direct links, click on one of them in order to see how they work. Click on several more so you will be familiar with the format of these video clips.

Describe what you did and what you saw.

Your response (insert your response beginning in the next line; the next line is blank and doesn't include the #$... prompt):

I'm confused at which disks are suppose to be used for the course. I heard that the disks that came with the gray text book provided precalculus by sullivan and is the 8th addition. But my course is not Mth 158 it's Mth 163 (precalculus) and when I insert the disks it automatically runs???

@& Go by the published information, not with what you hear. Get the disk listed for Mth 163. If you ask in the bookstore, they'll know which one that is. It's Labeled Mth 163, PC1 Complete.

That said, the publisher disk might also be useful. However it's pricey and not necessary.*@

 

#$&*  (Note that your response was to go into 'the next line'; your response will therefore be inserted before this line, not after.  This is obvious when you're looking at the form, but if you've copied the form into a text editor it might be less obvious.  Hence this note.)

For Mth 158 students:

Task:  `q001b.  If you are in Mth 158 you should have the publisher's lecture series, which should have either been packaged with your text or purchased separately (according to Textbook Information provided elsewhere).

You should follow the publisher's instructions for using those disks.  Note that you might need to have QuickTime running before you can access the disks.

Check out some of the disks and describe what you see below:

Your response (insert your response beginning in the next line; the next line is blank and doesn't include the #$... prompt):

 

 

#$&*  (your response should have gone on the line above this one)

 

For students in all courses other than Mth 158:

Task:  `q002.  See root folder file and information for a listing of the contents of each disk.  You don't need to understand what you're seeing at this point; that will become clear when you begin your content assignments for the course.

Your response (insert your response beginning in the next line; the next line is blank and doesn't include the #$... prompt):

 

 

#$&*  (your response should have gone on the line above this one)

Task:  `q003. 

Check the rest of your disks.

Each disk should be accessed by browsing to the disk and running the file whose name most closely matches the name of the disk, or the HTML file in the root folder of the DVD. Insert each disk in turn into your drive, browse to the appropriate file, and run it.

If all your disks work, indicate that they do. If you have trouble with any of them, or with these instructions, describe your problems in detail. 

Your response (insert your response beginning in the next line; the next line is blank and doesn't include the #$... prompt):

 

 

#$&*  (your response should have gone on the line above this one)

 

Now highlight and copy your document, paste your copy into the box below. 

Double-check to be sure you have accurately filled in the information at the beginning of this form.

Then click on Submit Form. 

It is suggested that you save a copy of your document as a backup.

When you submit this document you will have complete Orientation Step 5.  Your next activity will be Orientation Step 6.

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#(*!

@& See the note I inserted just below your question.*@