Math 140: Unit 1

Due Date: Wednesday September 18, 2002

Topics
Units 1 begins with a review of the properties of sets and a review of the real numbers and some basic geometry. The next topics are addition and multiplication of polynomials and rational expressions (quotients of polynomials), and factoring of polynomials. The last part is a review of the long division and synthetic division of polynomials.

• Algebra Review (A.1)
• Geometry Review (A.2)
• Polynomials and Rational expressions (A. 3)
• Polynomials Division; Synthetic Division (A.4)

Study guidelines

• Section A.1 of Appendix A: Algebra Review
  • Reading: Appendix section A.1
  • Problems: Work through a representative sampling of the suggested problems in section A.1 listed below until you feel confident that you know the material. 
    • A.1: #3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 49, 51, 53, 55, 59, 63, 67, 69, 71, 75, 79, 83, 85, 91.
      
      
• Section A.2 of Appendix A: Geometry Review
  • Reading: Appendix section A.2
  • Problems: Work through a representative sampling of the suggested problems in section A.1 listed below until you feel confident that you know the material. 
    • A.2: #1, 3, 11, 13, 17, 21, 23, 29, 31, 33, 39.
      
      
• Sections A.3 of Appendix A: Polynomials and Rational Expressions
  • Reading: Appendix section A.3
  • Problems: Work through a representative sampling of the suggested problems in section A.3 listed below until you feel confident that you know the material. 
    • A.3: # 3, 9, 11, 17, 23, 35, 47, 53, 59.
      
      
• Section A.4: Polynomial Division and Synthetic Division
  • Reading: Appendix section A.4
  • Problems: Work through a representative sampling of the suggested problems in section A.4 listed below until you until you feel confident that you know the material. 
    • A.4: # 1, 7, 11, 13, 17, 27, 33, 41, 45.
      
      
• Supplementary material (optional) for Appendix A:
  • Video lectures are available in the Media Reserve room of the ISU library. They are listed under Math 140: Poon.
  • Graphing Calculator Help
  • Prentice Hall Tutor Center: The Tutor Center is operated by Prentice Hall, and the tutors can be contacted by phone, fax, or e-mail. To register, you will need the access code that comes with your book.

Unit Exam #1
After completing the above work, do the following:

1. Before taking Unit Exam #1, you should have completed the Online Testing Practice. If not, then do so now.
2. Read the exam description:
   • This exam has 15 questions, and will count 15 points toward your grade. 
   • The exam has a one hour time limit.
   • Calculators may be used on this exam.
   • Some questions in this unit are multiple choice. For the other questions, be sure to look under the entry box for the expected format of the answer.
     • The answer to some questions is a list of values in a specified order, separated by commas. This type of answer will always be explained in detail in the problem.
     • Some of the questions on this exam (and on subsequent exams) ask for an approximation instead of an exact answer. These problems will ask you to give an answer that is "accurate to at least two decimal places" (or possibly one decimal, or three decimals, etc.). In this case, you would have to enter at least two digits after the decimal point. For example, if you calculate your answer to be 1.41421356237, then you could enter 1.41, 1.414, 1.4142, etc. When you view your corrected exam, you will see that the "correct" answer is given in the form 1.4142 ? 0.01. The question mark means "plus or minus", so anything within 0.01 of the first number counts as correct.
     • If a question does not ask for an approximation, then your answer should be exact.
     • Questions that ask you to factor a polynomial require a special non-standard format for the answer: you must separate each factor with a semicolon. For example, the answer for x²-3x+2 should be written as x-1;x-2 or x-2;x-1, the answer for x²-2x+1 should be written as (x-1)^2, and the answer for x³-2x²+x should be written as x;(x-1)^2 or (x-1)^2;x.
     • There are a couple of application problems on this exam. Remember you should not add any units such as "miles" or "meters" or "seconds" to your answers.
3. Complete the online Unit 1 Pretest assignment. You may use your book and notes if you wish.
   • Directions: Click on the link above, then choose Unit 1 Pretest.
   • The pretest must be completed by the due date listed at the top of this page.
     However, you may redo the pretest as many times as you like before the due date.
     Your best score counts, and it will be rescaled to 5 points maximum.
4. If you are having trouble with any of the problems listed above or on the Pretest, spend some time working with the tutors listed on the Help page.
5. Go to the Math Computer Lab (449 Carver) to take the online proctored Unit 1 Exam. Remember to bring identification. You may NOT use your book or notes on this exam.
   • Directions: Click on the second link above, then choose the Unit 1 Exam.
   • The proctored unit exam should be completed by the due date listed at the top of this page, and may be repeated under certain conditions. See the Detailed Schedule page for specific rules.

   Note: Remember that you can always go back and take practice exams on this unit after the due date has passed. In particular, this will help you prepare for the midterm and final exams.

   • Directions: Click on the link above, then choose the Unit 1 Practice Exam.

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