course Phy 201 wg痁Lx߲assignment #001
......!!!!!!!!...................................
00:55:07 `q001. Explain the difference between x - 2 / x + 4 and (x - 2) / (x + 4). The evaluate each expression for x = 2.
......!!!!!!!!...................................
RESPONSE --> The parenthesis indicate that you shold do what is inside of each first then go to the next step and divide the two solutions. If x=2 the answer to the first expression would be 4 and the answer to the second would be 0. The answers are different because of the first beginning step that the perenthesis make. confidence assessment: 1
.................................................
......!!!!!!!!...................................
00:58:26 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.
......!!!!!!!!...................................
RESPONSE --> I missed the first expression, but I do see my mistake. I did not use the multiplication and division first rule. I did the second expression as explained and was correct. self critique assessment: 2
.................................................
......!!!!!!!!...................................
01:03:11 `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.
......!!!!!!!!...................................
RESPONSE --> The difference is the same as the previous question. With thw first expression you would do the multiplication and division first then move to addition and subtraction. In the second expression you do the work inside the parenthesis first then move on to the next steps. If x=2 then the answer to the first expression would be 20 and the answer to the second expression is 24. confidence assessment: 1
.................................................
......!!!!!!!!...................................
01:09:01 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.
......!!!!!!!!...................................
RESPONSE --> I am apparently a bit rusty on my math and after seeing the answers I realize what steps went wrong. Even so I would have been wrong in the first expression because I multiplied the answer of 2^ by the next x which I made 4 for some reason. This gave me 16 then I added 4 and got 20. In the second expression I was not used to seeing it written with the ^ symbol and didn't realize that I should multiply the 2 to the sixth power. self critique assessment: 2
.................................................
......!!!!!!!!...................................
01:13:02 `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?
......!!!!!!!!...................................
RESPONSE --> The numerator is -1. The denominator is 19. The solution looks like it would be -.05. confidence assessment: 0
.................................................
......!!!!!!!!...................................
01:14:34 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 ].
......!!!!!!!!...................................
RESPONSE --> This one stumped me and I'm not even sure if I understand the solution. Hopefuly I will work my math skills back up to par during the beginning of the course. self critique assessment: 1
.................................................
......!!!!!!!!...................................
01:17:29 `q004. Explain, step by step, how you evaluate the expression (x - 5) ^ 2x-1 + 3 / x-2 for x = 4.
......!!!!!!!!...................................
RESPONSE --> First you subtract 5 from 4 since they are in parenthesis which gives you -1, next I am not sure due to my infamiliarity to equations being written this way. confidence assessment: 0
.................................................
......!!!!!!!!...................................
01:18:31 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.
......!!!!!!!!...................................
RESPONSE --> self critique assessment: 2
.................................................
......!!!!!!!!...................................
01:20:43 *&*& 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.
......!!!!!!!!...................................
RESPONSE --> I will most likely need ot know this method of notation because if entered from a standard keyboard it will need to look like this. self critique assessment: 3
.................................................
......!!!!!!!!...................................
01:23:31 `q005. At the link http://www.vhcc.edu/dsmith/genInfo/introductory problems/typewriter_notation_examples_with_links.htm (copy this path into the Address box of your Internet browser; alternatively use the path http://vhmthphy.vhcc.edu/ > General Information > Startup and Orientation (either scroll to bottom of page or click on Links to Supplemental Sites) > typewriter notation examples and you will find a page containing a number of additional exercises and/or examples of typewriter notation.Locate this site, click on a few of the links, and describe what you see there.
......!!!!!!!!...................................
RESPONSE --> There are examples of typewriter formats of expressions and links to pictures of the same expression in standard format. confidence assessment: 3
.................................................
......!!!!!!!!...................................
01:25:19 end program
......!!!!!!!!...................................
RESPONSE --> I understand. self critique assessment: 2
.................................................