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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Blog Post #1 - The Intro



My name is Stewart Hiles, but often times I’m simply given the nickname “Stew” and many other offshoots of that.  I’m pretty sure I’m around 68 inches tall, and I’m a bit more certain that I’m 21 years old.  Generally wake up around 9:00, and never sleep in past 12:00.  My favorite candy would have to be a tie between Three Musketeers or Reese Peanut Butter Bites.  Coincidentally enough, my favorite snack food would be Doritos Cool Ranch, which I have a giant bag of right next to me right now.  So healthy.  I don’t necessarily have a favorite band/musician, but I’ll list off a couple ones that come to mind;  Nero, AC/DC, Prodigy.  Hobbies include video games…  and wasting time.  Haha…


1.     What is your mathematical background?
Basic math
Algebra1 & 2
Statistics & probability  
Trigonometry
Precalculus

2.     What is your comfort level with any of the following calculus concepts?

Very comfortable (V)      comfortable (C)      uncomfortable (U)       extremely uncomfortable (E)

Curve sketching                         (V)
Instantaneous rate of change      (C)
Derivatives (of constant, linear, polynomial, power, rational, exponential, trigonometric, logarithmic functions)                         (U)
Difference quotient                     (U)
Limits                                       (E)
Continuity                                  (E)
Chain rule (an application of composition of functions)       (E)
Product and quotient rules for derivatives              (E)
Finding local and global maximums and minimums           (E)
Determining inflection points                                           (C)
Area under a curve                                                         (U)
Anti-derivatives                                                               (Whaaaaaaaat)
Integration (of constant, linear, polynomial, power, rational, trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic functions)                                                             (E)
Integration by parts                                                        (E)
Integration by substitution                                               (E)


3.     The following are concepts from algebra and precalculus that students taking applied calculus should be comfortable with.

What is your comfort level with any of the following algebraic and precalculus concepts? (please note that weakness in any of these areas may make most aspects of this class more challenging than others)

Write one of the following next to each topic:

Very comfortable (V)      comfortable (C)      uncomfortable (U)       extremely uncomfortable (E)

Equations                                            (V)
Factoring                                             (C)
Adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing fractions/rational expressions             (C)
Simplifying expressions                               (C)
Simplifying rational expressions (fractions and fractional polynomials)                (C)
Operations on roots and fractional exponent expressions           (U)
Operations involving whole number exponent expressions       (C)
Finding common denominators                                                                                (V)
Inequalities                                                                                                       (C)
Functions                                                                                                            (V)
Absolute value                                                                                                 (V)
Linear functions                                                                                                               (V)
Systems of equations                                                                                    (C)
Domain and range                                                                                           (V)
Inverse functions                                                                                            (C)
Transformations (shifting, scaling, stretching, etc)                          (V)
Quadratic functions                                                                                        (C)
Completing the square                                                                                 (U)
Exponential functions                                                                                   (U)
Logarithmic functions                                                                                    (U)
Base e                                                                                                                   (U)
Graphing (trigonometric, quadratic, linear, exponential, and logarithmic functions)       (U)
Trigonometric concepts                                                                                                (U)

4.       Have you taken American university’s math 160 (applied precalculus) class? If yes, was your grade a “b” or better?
Yes, it was.

5.       If you have not taken American university’s math 160 (applied precalculus) class, have you taken a college level (not a college equivalent high school class) equivalent?  If yes, was your grade a “b” or better?
N/A

6.     Which social media formats are you familiar with?

Texting  Facebook          tumblr   Google plus       Instagram


7.     Which social media formats do you use most frequently?

Texting  facebook

8.     What is your major? 
Business Adminstration w/ specilization in Accounting

9.     Why are you taking this math class?      
Cuz the teacher is so cool.

10.  Will you take other math classes in the future at American University or will this be your only math class? If yes, which classes will you take? 
Probably none after this.

11.  What do you hope to learn in this class?
Derivatives and Integrals are all I know I’ll learn.
12.  Is there anything else you would like me to know about you?
I typically don’t seek out help unless I feel desperate.

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