December 14, 2014
Final exam statistics: n=130; min=4; 1st quartile=38; median=52; 3rd quartile=64; max=80 (1 student)
Here is a histogram of the scores:
December 1, 2014
When studying for the final exam, note that all final exams are worth looking at, at least back to Autumn 2009.
December 1, 2014
Here is a handout including the horizon distance example from Monday with a few more examples and formulas.
November 25, 2014
Here is a review sheet for the final exam.
Here is a sheet of mechanical skills for review.
November 23, 2014
Here are some animations I made to illustrate the difference between linear and sinuosoidal motion.
November 17, 2014
Statistics for the second midterm exam: n=133; min=0; 1st quartile=21; median=27; 3rd quartile=32; max=39 (2 students)
Here is a histogram of scores:
November 7, 2014
Here is a review sheet for midterm 2.
Here are some comments on exams in the archive. Listed are the problems you should do in preparation for the second midterm exam.
- Autumn 2013, MT2, all problems
- Spring 2013, MT2, problems 1, 3, 4
- Spring 2013, MT1, problem 4
- Winter 2013. MT2, all problems
- Autumn 2012, MT1, problem 4
- Autumn 2012, MT2, all problems
- Winter 2012, MT2, all problems
- Autumn 2011, MT1, problem 3
- Autumn 2011, MT2, all problems
- Spring 2011, MT1, problem 4
- Spring 2011, MT2, problems 1, 2, 3
Feel free to ask questions about these, or any other problems, in office hours or on the class discussion board.
Tips for taking exams in Math 120
- Prepare your notesheet well in advance of the exam. As you are studying, when you find you need to look something up to help you solve a problem, put that thing on your notesheet. Then, as you continue studying, refer to the notesheet. That way, when you take the exam, you will have a notesheet that has been tested, and you won't waste time searching for things that might be on it.
- Have a time management strategy for the exam. Here's one suggestion. Give yourself 10 minutes per problem. Start working on a problem on the exam. If ten minutes elapse, and you are not done, go on to another problem. Continue in this way for all four problems. That way, you will have put 10 minutes of solid work into every problem, and have at least 10 minutes at the end with which to check your work, or finish unfinished problems. What you really want to avoid is running out of time without having spent a good chunk of time on every problem.
- Do not erase during the exam. Just "X" out any work that you know to be incorrect - this is much faster, and will not be counted against you.
- If you run out of space, continue on the back of the page. Make a note (e.g., "continued on back") so the person grading knows to look there.
- Do not write explanations. That is, don't write how you would solve the problem: just solve the problem. Explanations will not be graded, and won't get you any credit, so don't waste time with them.
- Even if things get messy, be sure that your work and answer are clear. If the person grading your exam has to work hard to figure out what you are doing, or which expression is your answer, then you risk losing points. Add arrows, circles, whatever you need to make things clear to the grader.
October 20, 2014
Statistics from the first midterm exam: n=147; min=0; 1st quartile=16.5; median=25; 3rd quartile=31; max=40 (5 students)
Here is a histogram of scores:
Below is a table that gives an approximate translation of your exam score into a 4.0 scale. I do not use this translation for any purpose: this is just for you to get a sense of how you did on the exam.
| < 16 | 0.0 |
| 16 | 0.7 |
| 17 | 0.9 |
| 18 | 1.2 |
| 19 | 1.4 |
| 20 | 1.6 |
| 21 | 1.8 |
| 22 | 2.1 |
| 23 | 2.3 |
| 24 | 2.5 |
| 25 | 2.8 |
| 26 | 2.8 |
| 27 | 2.9 |
| 28 | 3.0 |
| 29 | 3.1 |
| 30 | 3.2 |
| 31 | 3.3 |
| 32 | 3.4 |
| 33 | 3.5 |
| 34 | 3.6 |
| 35 | 3.7 |
| 36 | 3.8 |
| 37 | 3.9 |
| 38 | 4.0 |
| 39 | 4.0 |
| 40 | 4.0 |
October 11, 2014
Here is a list of "mechanical" skills you'll want to be sure are sharp for the first midterm.
October 11, 2014
Using the archive of exams is a good idea to get more practice, and to become comfortable with the format and length of the exam.
Some exams in the archive have problems on chapter 7, or even chapter 8, material. Our exam only covers through chapter 6, so not all exam problems in archive are relevant to you for midterm #1. Here are a few suggestions:
- Autumn 2014, MT 1, all problems are good
- Spring 2013, MT 1, skip #4c
- Winter 2013, MT 1, all problems are good
- Autumn 2012, MT 1, problems 1, 2, and 3 are good
- Winter 2012, MT 1, all problems are good
- Autumn 2011, MT 1, problems 1, 2, and 4 are good
- Spring 2011, MT 1, problems 1, 2, and 3 are good
- Winter 2011, MT 1, all problems are good
- Autumn 2010, MT 1, section B, problems 1, 2, and 3 are good
- Autumn 2010, MT 1, section C, problems 1, 2, and 3 are good
October 9, 2014
Here is a review sheet for the first midterm exam.
The exam will be 50 minutes long, in your regular quiz section location.
During the exam, you may use an 8.5x11 inch, two-sided, handwritten notesheet. You may write anything you want to on it.
During the exam, you may use a non-graphing scientific calculator. All other electronic devices are not allowed, and must be turned off and put away for the entire exam.
For extra problem practice, check out the Test Archive at the 120 Materials Website (link at right). Look in the archive for "Midterm #1" exams. Since I will be writing your exam, focus on my past exams (under "Conroy" links).
September 17, 2014
Welcome to Math 120 A Autumn quarter 2014.
Announcements and other useful things will be posted here during the quarter.
Textbook: The textbook for this course is Precalculus, by Collingwood, Prince and Conroy. The book can be purchased at Professional Copy and Print, located at 4200 University Way (on the Ave one block south of the UW bookstore). It is not available at the UW bookstore.
You do not have to purchase the textbook. It is available electronically on the Math 120 Materials Website (link at right), and is linked electronically from the WebAssign homework.
Discussion Board: The course has a discussion board (link at right). This is a great way to ask questions of me in a way that will benefit all students in the course. You can ask about homework questions, studying methods, etc. You can also use it to coordinate study sessions with other students.
Homework: We will be using WebAssign for homework.
WebAssign: You can log in to WebAssign here. This will require your UW Net ID. Your UW Net ID is the part of your university email address before the @ symbol. The password to log in is your UW Net ID password.
You must be enrolled in the course in order to get access to the homework on WebAssign.
You will need to purchase an access code before the grace period ends. You can purchase an access code on the WebAssign website after logging in.
The first homework assignment will be due on the night of Thursday, October 2.
If you are not enrolled in the course, but are trying to add, you can get started on the homework without WebAssign by working the following problems in the textbook (which is freely available on the Math 120 Materials Website ).
Chapter 1: problems 1-10, 14,15
Chapter 2: 2-7, 10, 12, 13
These problems will have different numbers than the ones you will have on WebAssign, but if you write out solutions for these, it won't be too much trouble to rework them with the WebAssign values.
These problems will cover you through the first homework assignment.