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Math 121 - Calculus for
Biology I |
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San Diego State University -- This page last updated 06-May-13 |
Assignment Information
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Math 121 - Calculus for
Biology I |
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San Diego State University -- This page last updated 06-May-13 |
Assignment Information
This page will give a complete listing of the reading and homework assignments that you are required to do. There is also a listing of the Exam schedule for the semester. The homework will be done with WeBWorK (alternate entrance is http://webwork.sdsu.edu/html/current_courses.html). This is an electronic homework system that is graded automatically on the due date. This system has been extremely successful over the last few years with only a couple of glitches. The grades of students taking the course were highly correlated with the scores on the WeBWork homework assignments, so it is very important that you take this homework seriously (worth 20% of the lecture grade). If you find an error in one of the problems, then please email Joseph Mahaffy. On each problem of each assignment, you are allowed 10 tries to get the correct answer. Information on logging into WeBWorK is given by this hyperlink.
Week 14-15: The Final happens on Monday, May 13, 13:00-15:00 in the lecture room HT140. There are likely to be 8-10 problems on the final. There is a Practice final that was given in the Spring of 2010. Solutions are available. Questions will be very similar to the ones from previous exams and the problems you have been working in WeBWork.
Week 13: Your third Exam of the semester occurs on Wednesday, May 1. A review sheet (with solutions) is available to help you prepare for the lecture part of the exam. The lab part of the exam is Friday, May 3 and a practice lab (with solutions) is available to help you prepare for this part of the exam. The computer number where you will individually take the Lab Portion of the Exam is available. This week is primarily review.
Lab Help: In lab we showed what is expected for graphs (do and don'ts). We have a document on the step-by-step methods to produce a good graph in Excel 2010. Also, there is additional documentation on what is expected through the link to the Good Graph Document. If you own a PC or Mac Laptop, then you can receive a licensed copy of Maple by coming to my office with your laptop or check with one of the TAs during their office hours.
The Department of Math has
free tutoring, and information can be found at the Math Office.
Math/Stats Tutoring is located in LL1103, and details of the schedules can be found at Math Tutoring. (Tutors who are most familiar with this course are Nancy, Shelbi, and Vinnie.) They also
have a list of Private
Tutors .
Grading and Exam Information
This section will give you information about exams throughout the semester. The grading for this course is based on 2/3 from the lecture material and 1/3 from the lab. The lecture grade is 20% from the WeBWorK homework assignments and 80% from the three Exams, and a Final. The lab grade is from approximately 10 computer labs and the 3 Lab Exams, which each count twice a normal lab. (You will be able to drop one lab score.) The labs are due by Thursday at 9 PM, after which no credit is given.
Current rank in class is available. You can find your code number through Blackboard, then determine your code name through this hyperlink. The Solutions to Exams are available through the links below. Note that you should be able to obtain the solutions to your Lab Exam on WebWork.
Your Final of the semester occurs on Monday, May 13, 13:00-15:00. There are likely to be 8-10 problems on the final. There is a Practice final that was given in the Spring of 2010. Solutions are available. Questions will be very similar to the ones from previous exams or the review sheets and the problems you have been working in WebWork. (There will almost certainly be one like one of the Dynamical Systems WebWork questions.) Note that you will only be able to use a Scientific Calculator, so you might want to buy one and practice now (if you haven't already done so). Examples of acceptable calculators are Ativa AT-30, Casio Scientific Calculator, HP 33S, Sharp EL501, and TI-30X. In addition, you can have three 3x5 notecards (both sides).
Solutions to Exams:
Anyone receiving a score less than 50% on the Final will not obtain a grade higher than a C-.
Course Drop Deadlines: The University has a very strict on the drop deadline. You must drop this course by Jan. 31.
Week 1: Add Codes will be distributed in Lab based on the space available and number of students crashing the course. You should start the WebWork assignments immediately and let me know if I made any mistakes entering your name or RedID number for the login and password. See the WeBWorK login instructions for details. We will give very limited help on problems on the Algebra Self-Test, and we will not give any assistance during the semester for questions asked within 24 hours of the problems being due.
You need to familiarize yourself with this website so that you will know where to get the appropriate information for doing well in this course. There is a page that should help you navigate this website if you are not comfortable with the web. Students are entitled to a free account on rohan for receiving email and accessing many of the University computer facilities. (I highly recommend that you obtain this account as rohan has certain abilities that you may want for this course and future courses, which are unavailable by private providers.) More information on this is provided at the SDSU computer facilities website. Preparation: The experience of the Biology and Mathematics Departments with this course in the past has shown that many of you who are taking this course are not properly prepared. Many of you have had a large time gap between your last math course and this one or you simply had poor preparation (often severe disinterest) in basic algebra. On average 25-40% of the students who enroll in this class will either drop this course or fail it (usually from inadequate preparation or unwillingness to work). To help you understand the expectations of students entering this course, there is a Algebra Review using WebWorks. It is your responsibility to work through this Algebra worksheet and try to honestly access your abilities. (When you discuss problems later in the course, we are likely to ask you how you did on this examination.) If you score over 70%, then you are probably prepared for this course. If you score 50-70% on this algebra review, then you may be able to succeed with very hard work. If you score below 50%, then you are not prepared for this course and should enroll in Math 105 or a Community College course to refresh your Algebra skills. This Algebra Review will count toward your homework grade, so it is not an optional assignment. This problem set in WebWork is given by Set ABiocAlg and consists of 48 problems that will be due by Sun. Jan. 27 at 4 AM. (There is also a problem for changing your password and adding email to this account.) Information on logging into WeBWorK is given by this hyperlink. Please note that you may want to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. The software is free for download. Simply click on the icon below and follow the instructions.
Reading assignment: Read all sections in the introduction to be familiar with the course policies and what is expected of you. (You may want to read the CSU and SDSU College of Sciences policy statement also.) Then read the first two sections of the lecture notes, Introduction and Linear. PDF lectures notes for the Introduction (4-Panel) and Linear Models (4-Panel) are available. The problems in WeBWorK called set ABioclinear. These problems are due by Thur. Jan. 31 at 4 AM. The problems in the text, which closely parallel the WebWork problems, are available over the web at homework problems for Linear Modeling. Solutions for these problems are available on the web at Linear Modeling homework solutions with complete solutions to selected problems. Before your Computer Lab on Friday, you should read the Help page for Lab 1 and work ABiocLab1A in WeBWorK that quizzes you on significant points about the Computer Lab that you will be working. These problems are due by Sat. Jan. 26 at 4 AM. You may want to review the Sample Lab that explains many of the steps to creating a good lab for this course. This semester the Computer Lab portion will be different from earlier years to reduce paper and allow WeBWorK to help with grading the Labs. Your first written computer lab is due in GMCS 425 on Thurs. Jan. 31 by 9 PM (in the labeled box. The WeBWorK portion (ABiocLab1) is due by Fri. Feb. 1 at 4 AM.
The first computer lab consists of 4 primary questions and a question associated with the Help page. You can get more information to answer the Help page question from the Lab 1 Help page. More help for the lab can be found in a Lab Manual for Math 121, which is a little out-dated but still fundamentally good. The other 4 questions have multiple parts. You answer some of the questions in WeBWorK much like your homework problems based on the answers that you derive in the Computer Lab. The first part of the Lab (ABiocLab1A) is due by Fri. Jan. 25 at 4 AM, while the second part of the Lab (ABiocLab1) is due by Fri. Feb. 1 at 4 AM (before the next lab). The questions in WeBWorK have parts that are written in a Lab Report clearly labeled. You and your partner will turn in a single Lab Report with 2 cover pages (or one Cover Page for each member of the group if different from 2) in GMCS 425 by Thur. Jan. 31 at 9 PM.
Week 2: To encourage prompt work on the WeBWork assignments, we may not answer any email about WeBWork problems within 24 hours of the time that the problems are due. If you had difficulties with the Self-Test on Algebra, then you should know that the Drop date is Jan. 31. Continue reading the notes in the Linear section, then work the problems in WeBWork called set ABioclinear. These problems are due by Thur. Jan. 31 at 4 AM. The WeBWork problems parallel the ones in the text or on this website. Similar problems to the WebWork are available at Linear Modeling hw problems in the Linear section. From the web, there are solutions to these problems in the text, linear homework solutions and complete solutions to selected problems are available. Formulate questions about both the lab and homework to ask in class. Lectures will cover the material in the Least Squares and Function Review and Quadratics sections. PDF lectures notes for the Least Squares (4-Panel) and Function Review (4-Panel) are available. WeBWork set for Least Squares called set ABioclstsq are due by Tues. Feb. 5 at 4 AM. Parallel homework problems from the text (or website) for Least Squares and Function Review and Quadratics follow the ones in WeBWork. Solutions for the Least Squares (with selected complete solutions) and Function Review and Quadratic sections (with selected complete solutions) are available. There are also problems for the Function Review and Quadratics in WeBWorK called set ABiocfcnrev (due by Thur. Feb. 7 at 4 AM) and set ABiocquad (due by Thurs. Feb. 7 at 4 AM). Similar problems to the WeBWork for the chapter on Function Review and Quadratics are available at homework problems there. Solutions for the Function Review and Quadratic sections (with selected complete solutions) are available.
Week 3: Read the notes in the Function Review and Quadratics section and begin reading the material in the Other Functions and Asymptotes section. PDF lectures notes for the Function Review (4-Panel) and Quadratics (4-Panel) are available. The problems in WeBWorK called set ABioclstsq are due by Tues. Feb. 5 at 4 AM. There are problems for the Function Review and Quadratics in WeBWorK called set ABiocfcnrev (due by Thur. Feb. 7 at 4 AM) and set ABiocquad (due by Thurs. Feb. 7 at 4 AM). In addition, problems for the Other Functions and Asymptotes in WeBWorK called set ABiocotherfcn are due by Tues. Feb. 12 at 4 AM. The WeBWorK problems parallel the ones in the text or on this website. Similar problems to the WeBWork for the chapter on Function Review and Quadratics are available at homework problems there. Solutions for the Function Review and Quadratic sections (with selected complete solutions) are available. Also, homework problems for the section on Other Functions and Asymptotes are available with Solutions for the Other Functions and Asymptotes (with selected complete solutions).
Week 4: Read the notes in the Other Functions and Asymptotes section and the Allometric Modeling section. PDF lectures notes for the Other Function and Asymptotes (4-Panel), and Allometric Modeling (4-Panel) are available. The problems in WeBWorK called set ABiocotherfcn are due by Tues. Feb. 12 at 4 AM. The problems in WeBWorK called set ABiocallometric are due by Sat. Feb. 16 at 4 AM. The WeBWorK problems parallel the ones in the text or on this website. Similar problems to the WeBWorK for the chapter on Other Functions and Asymptotes are available at homework problems with Solutions for the Other Functions and Asymptotes (with selected complete solutions). Similar problems for the Allometric section are available at homework problems with Solutions for Allometric Modeling ( with selected complete solutions).
Week 5: Your first Exam of the semester occurs on Wednesday, Feb. 27. A review sheet (with solutions) is available to help you prepare for the lecture part of the exam and a practice lab (with solutions). The computer number where you will individually take the Lab Portion of the Exam is available. PDF lectures notes for Allometric Modeling (4-Panel) and Discrete Dynamical Systems (4-Panel) are available. The problems in WeBWorK called set ABiocallometric are due by Sat. Feb. 16 at 4 AM. The problems in WeBWorK called set ABiocdiscrete are due by Sat. Feb. 23 at 4 AM. The WeBWorK problems parallel the ones in the text or on this website. Similar problems for the Allometric section are available at homework problems with Solutions for Allometric Modeling ( with selected complete solutions). The text has similar homework problems with Solutions for the Discrete Dynamical Systems (with selected complete solutions).
Week 6: Your first Exam of the semester occurs on Wednesday, Feb. 27. A review sheet (with solutions) is available to help you prepare for the lecture part of the exam and a practice lab (with solutions). The computer number where you will individually take the Lab Portion of the Exam is available. PDF lectures notes for Discrete Dynamical Systems (4-Panel) and Linear Discrete Dynamical Models (4-Panel) are available. The problems in WeBWorK called set ABiocdiscrete are due by Sat. Feb. 23 at 4 AM. The WeBWorK problems parallel the ones in the text or on this website. The text has similar homework problems with Solutions for the Discrete Dynamical Systems (with selected complete solutions). The problems in WeBWorK called set ABioclindiscrete are due by Tues. Mar. 5 at 4 AM. The text also has similar homework in the Linear Discrete Dynamical Models section. Solutions for the Linear Discrete Dynamical Models (with selected complete solutions) are available.
Week 7: Lecture material finishes the Introduction to the Derivative section and begins the Velocity and Tangent Lines and Limits, Continuity, and the Derivative sections. PDF lectures notes for the Introduction to the Derivative (4-Panel), Velocity and Tangent Lines (4-Panel), and Limits, Continuity, and the Derivative (4-Panel) are available. The problems in WeBWork called set ABiocintroderiv are due by Sun. Mar. 10 at 4 AM. The WebWork problems parallel the ones in the text or on this website. The text has related homework problems for the Introduction to the Derivative section. Solutions for the Introduction to the Derivative (with complete solutions) are available. The problems in WeBWork called set ABiocveltang are due by Tues. Mar. 12 at 4 AM. The text has related homework problems for the Velocity and Tangent Lines sections. Solutions for the Velocity and Tangent Lines sections (with complete solutions) are available. WeBWork problems are available for the Limits, Continuity, and the Derivative material and are called set ABioclimits are due by Sat. Mar. 16 at 4 AM. The text has related homework problems for the Limits, Continuity, and the Derivative section. Solutions for the Limits, Continuity, and the Derivative (with complete solutions) are available.
Week 8: Your second Exam of the semester occurs before Spring Break on Wednesday, Mar. 27 . A review sheet (with solutions) is available to help you prepare for the lecture part of the exam. The lab part of the exam is Friday, Mar. 29 and a practice lab (with solutions) is available to help you prepare for this part of the exam. This week begins the Rules of Differentiation and the Applications of the Derivative sections. PDF lectures notes for Rules of Differentiation (4-Panel) and Applications of the Derivative (4-Panel) are available. WeBWorK problems are available for the Rules of Differentiation material and are called set ABiocrules are due by Tues. Mar. 19 at 4 AM. WeBWorK problems are available for the Applications of the Derivative material and are called set ABioapplder (due by Sat. Mar. 23 at 4 AM). The text has related homework problems for the Rules of Differentiation section. Solutions for the Rules of Differentiation (with complete solutions) are available. The text has related homework problems for the Applications of the Derivative section. Solutions for the Applications of the Derivative (with complete solutions) are available.
Week 9: Your second Exam of the semester occurs before Spring Break on Wednesday, Mar. 27 . A review sheet (with solutions) is available to help you prepare for the lecture part of the exam. The lab part of the exam is Friday, Mar. 29 and a practice lab (with solutions) is available to help you prepare for this part of the exam. The computer number where you will individually take the Lab Portion of the Exam is available. This week continues material on the derivative. Read all lecture notes for the Applications of the Derivative and Derivative of ex and ln(x) sections. PDF lectures notes for Applications of the Derivative (4-Panel) and Derivative of ex and ln(x) (4-Panel) are available.WeBWorK problems are available for the Applications of the Derivative and the Derivative of ex and ln(x) material and are called set ABioapplder due by Sat. Mar. 23 at 4 AM) and set ABioexpln (due byThur. Apr. 11 at 4 AM). The text has related homework problems for the Applications of the Derivative and Derivative of ex and ln(x) sections. Solutions for the Applications of the Derivative (with complete solutions) and Derivative of ex and ln(x) (with complete solutions) are available.
Week 10: This week continues material on the derivative. Read all lecture notes for the Derivative of ex and ln(x), Product Rule, and Quotient Rulesections. PDF lectures notes for Derivative of ex and ln(x) (4-Panel), Product Rule (4-Panel), and Quotient (4-Panel) are available.WeBWorK problems are available for the Derivative of ex and ln(x) material and are called set ABioexpln (due by Thur. Apr. 11 at 4 AM). The text has related homework problems for the Derivative of ex and ln(x) sections. Solutions for theDerivative of ex and ln(x) (with complete solutions) are available. Also, WeBWork problems are available for the Product Rule and are called set ABioproduct (due by Tues. Apr. 16 at 4 AM) The text has related homework problems for the Product Rule section. Solutions for the Product Rule (with complete solutions) are available. WeBWork problems are available for the Quotient Rule and are called set ABiocquotient (due by Thur. Apr 18 at 4 AM). The text also has homework problems for the Quotient Rule section. Solutions for the Quotient Rule (with complete solutions) are available.
Week 11: This week continues more rules of differentiation. Read all lecture notes for the Quotient Rule, and Chain Rule sections. PDF lectures notes for Quotient (4-Panel) and Chain (4-Panel) are available.WeBWork problems are available for the Quotient Rule and are called set ABiocquotient (due by Thur. Apr 18 at 4 AM). The text also has homework problems for the Quotient Rule section. Solutions for the Quotient Rule (with complete solutions) are available. WeBWorK problems are available for the Chain Rule and are called set ABioc2chain (due by Thurs. April at 25 AM). Similar problems are available in the text for the Chain Rule section. Solutions for the Chain rule homework are complete (with complete solutions (chain) ).
Week 12: Your third Exam of the semester occurs on Wednesday, May 1. A review sheet (with solutions) is available to help you prepare for the lecture part of the exam. The lab part of the exam is Friday, May 3 and a practice lab (with solutions) is available to help you prepare for this part of the exam. This week continues more rules of differentiation. Read all lecture notes for the Chain Rule sections. This week begins the lecture material on the Discrete Logistic Growth Models and Applications of Discrete Dynamical Systems. PDF lectures notes for Chain (4-Panel), Logistic (4-Panel), and Dynamical Systems (4-Panel) are available.WeBWorK problems are available for the Chain Rule and are called set ABioc2chain (due by Thurs. April at 25 AM). Similar problems are available in the text for the Chain Rule section. Solutions for the Chain rule homework are complete (with complete solutions (chain) ). Also, you should be working the WeBWork problems for the set from the Discrete Dynamical Systems Models (Set BiocDynSys), which are due Tues. April 30 at 4 AM. Discrete Dynamical Systems Models homework are available (with solutions and complete solutions (dynamical systems models)).