Bert Lo - Math Instructor - DeAnza College
bert lo
lobert@deanza.edu
408.864.8268
s54a
A moment of historical ignorance:
In 1897, Dr. Edwin Goodwin got the Indiana House of Representatives to unanimously pass a bill which would have effectively pegged the
value of Pi at 3.2, 3.23 or 4.
Learning & Growing
Cheating
Math in the Real World
welcome to winter quarter 2009
If I just wanted an answer, I would have asked a computer
If I want a solution, I'll ask a person
- fri mar 13 @ 11:00am
- thu mar 12 @ 7:00pm
- wed mar 11 @ 4:05pm
Math 1A: Here are the possible questions for the group quiz on Fri Mar 13.
Math 1A group quiz 9 problems
There will be multiple versions of the quizzes, but all questions which may appear are given above. Each quiz
will contain less than half of the questions listed.
- fri mar 6 @ 6:10pm
Math 114: This weekend's home quiz is located in chapter 19, and covers sections 19.2.1, 19.3.1, 19.3.2, 19.4.1, 19.5.1 and 19.5.2. It is due on Sun Mar 8 at 11:59pm.
- wed mar 4 @ 11:55pm
- tue mar 3 @ 8:15pm
I was not at class today because the problem I was having on Monday became worse overnight.
I expect to be in class on Wednesday barring further developments.
- mon mar 2 @ 4:45pm
Math 1A: Here are the possible questions for the group quiz on Wed Mar 4.
Math 1A group quiz 8 problems
There will be multiple versions of the quizzes, but all questions which may appear are given above. Each quiz
will contain less than half of the questions listed.
- wed feb 25 @ 7:55pm
Math 1A: Here are the possible questions for the group quiz on Fri Feb 27.
Math 1A group quiz 7 problems
There will be multiple versions of the quizzes, but all questions which may appear are given above. Each quiz
will contain about half of the questions listed.
- tue feb 24 @ 6:30am
Math 114: There will be a change in the order of the next few sections. You will do 19.2.2 by yourself, since it is
review material. We will cover 19.3.2 (lecture in lab + in class), then go back to 19.2.1 and 19.3.1.
- mon feb 23 @ 4:25pm
Diaries are due tomorrow (Tue Feb 24).
- mon feb 23 @ 3:30pm
- mon feb 23 @ 3:30pm
- mon feb 23 @ 3:30pm
Math 1A: Here is the solution key to use for grading Quiz 6.
You will pick up your ungraded quizzes on Tue Feb 24.
Do your grading using a contrasting color - red, green, purple etc., not blue or black (so I can tell your original work from your grading).
Circle the parts of your work that correspond to the points on the solution key, and the number of points each part was worth.
Write the number of points you earned for each question in the SCORE: area to the right of that question.
Write your total score for the quiz in the SCORE: area on the upper left corner of the front side of the quiz, just beneath the date.
Your graded quizzes are due in class on Thu Feb 26. No late quizzes will be accepted.
You may also submit your graded quiz early.
Math 1A quiz 6 grading key
If you did a problem a different way than I did, and you feel you deserve credit for your work, feel free to talk to me. You should be able to explain why your method is equally valid. If you truly understand what you did, this should not be difficult.
- thu feb 19 @ 6:50pm
Math 1A: Here is the tentative schedule of presentations. The dates listed are the first possible day you will have
to do your presentation. This schedule is very aggressive, so your presentation might be later than the listed date,
but you should plan on being ready by the date below.
Remember that you should come see me before your presentation so I can check if what you've put together fulfills all the
requirements, and so I can give you some presentation tips. Also, Sha, Mark, Tran, Kevin, Fer and Michelle must attend a short
meeting on sign analysis next Tuesday during my office hours (11:00am - 11:50am).
Feb 24 - Lillian - Linear Approximations
Feb 25 - Mei - Newton's Method
Feb 25 - Joanna - Indeterminate Forms and L'Hopital's Rule Part 1
Feb 26 - Luna - Indeterminate Forms and L'Hopital's Rule Part 2
Feb 26 - Desmond - Maxima and Minima Part 1
Feb 27 - Anthony - Maxima and Minima Part 2
Mar 2 - Belinda - Maxima and Minima Part 3
Mar 2 - Calix - Increasing and Decreasing Functions Part 1
Mar 3 - Sha - Increasing and Decreasing Functions Part 2
Mar 3 - Mark - Concavity Part 1
Mar 4 - Tran - Concavity Part 2
Mar 5 - Kevin - Concavity Part 3
Mar 5 - Fer - Graphing Part 1
Mar 6 - Michelle - Graphing Part 2
- thu feb 19 @ 10:50am
Math 1A: Instead of an in-class quiz this week, you will be taking a take home quiz. That quiz will be due at the
beginning of Monday's midterm. Absolutely no late quizzes will be accepted, so don't forget to bring them with you on Monday.
- tue feb 17 @ 3:50pm
Math 1A: Here is the solution key to use for grading Quiz 5.
You will pick up your ungraded quizzes on Wed Feb 18.
Do your grading using a contrasting color - red, green, purple etc., not blue or black (so I can tell your original work from your grading).
Circle the parts of your work that correspond to the points on the solution key, and the number of points each part was worth.
Write the number of points you earned for each question in the SCORE: area to the right of that question.
Write your total score for the quiz in the SCORE: area on the upper left corner of the front side of the quiz, just beneath the date.
Your graded quizzes are due in class on Tue Feb 24. No late quizzes will be accepted.
You may also submit your graded quiz early.
The quizzes were identical, except for the multiple choice question, and the order of the other questions.
Math 1A quiz 5 grading key
If you did a problem a different way than I did, and you feel you deserve credit for your work, feel free to talk to me. You should be able to explain why your method is equally valid. If you truly understand what you did, this should not be difficult.
- tue feb 17 @ 11:15am
Math 1A: Here are the possible questions for the group quiz tomorrow.
Math 1A group quiz 6 problems
There will be multiple versions of the quizzes, but all questions which may appear are given above. Each quiz
will contain about half of the questions listed.
- tue feb 17 @ 6:35am
Math 1A: The following handout contains is for sections 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8. Since we will be covering 3.8 early
(this week), make sure to take a look at the parts on related rates.
Math 1A Sections 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8 handout
- sun feb 15 @ 10:35pm
Math 1A: Go to my website for Fall 2008 (linked at the bottom of this page), and get the review list and solution key
for midterm 2. Read the relevant entries timestamped Oct 29 @ 11:20pm, Nov 2 @ 2:30am, Nov 5 @ 4:30pm.
Study from the review list, and use the solution key only as a guideline for the amount of work to expect.
The questions on your midterm are likely to be different.
Because your midterm will occur during week 8, section 2.9 will definitely be included on midterm 2.
- sun feb 15 @ 10:25pm
- sun feb 15 @ 10:05pm
- thu feb 12 @ 7:10pm
Math 114: This weekend's home quiz is located in chapter 16, and covers sections 16.1.2, 16.1.4, 16.1.5, 16.3.1
and 16.3.2. It is due on Mon Feb 16 at 11:59pm.
- tue feb 10 @ 7:55am
Math 1A: Here are the possible questions for the group quiz tomorrow.
Math 1A group quiz 5 problems
There will be multiple versions of the quizzes, but all questions which may appear are given above. Each quiz
will contain about half of the questions listed.
- mon feb 9 @ 5:55pm
Math 1A: Here are the solution keys to use for grading Quiz 4.
You will pick up your ungraded quizzes on Tue Feb 10.
Do your grading using a contrasting color - red, green, purple etc., not blue or black (so I can tell your original work from your grading).
Circle the parts of your work that correspond to the points on the solution key, and the number of points each part was worth.
Write the number of points you earned for each question in the SCORE: area to the right of that question.
Write your total score for the quiz in the SCORE: area on the upper left corner of the front side of the quiz, just beneath the date.
Your graded quizzes are due in class on Tue Feb 17. No late quizzes will be accepted.
You may also submit your graded quiz early.
To determine which solution key to use, look at the numerator of the second question. It should be either x or 2x.
Math 1A quiz 4 grading key (x)
Math 1A quiz 4 grading key (2x)
If you did a problem a different way than I did, and you feel you deserve credit for your work, feel free to talk to me. You should be able to explain why your method is equally valid. If you truly understand what you did, this should not be difficult.
- fri feb 6 @ 6:15pm
Math 114: This weekend's home quiz is located in chapter 14, and covers sections 14.1.1, 14.1.2, 14.2.1,
14.2.2, 14.2.3, 14.2.4 and 14.3.1. It is due on Sun Feb 8 at 11:59pm.
- thu feb 5 @ 2:15pm
- wed feb 4 @ 11:25am
Math 1A: Here are the possible questions for the group quiz tomorrow.
Math 1A group quiz 4 problems
There will be multiple versions of the quizzes, but all questions which may appear are given above. Each quiz
will contain about half of the questions listed.
- thu jan 29 @ 5:45pm
- thu jan 29 @ 5:15pm
Math 1A: On the self-assessments, more people claimed to use office hours than I have actually seen in office hours.
Remember, I don't grade your self-assessments based on what you said you did or did not do. I only grade them based on
whether you answered every question. (In other words, you can be truthful without it impacting your grade.)
The purpose of the self-assessments is to help you objectively identify the study habits that are preventing you from
reaching the level of success you are capable of.
So, it serves no purpose for you to assess yourself better than you actually are. In fact, rating yourself higher than
reality is a form of denial that makes it less likely that you will improve. (Studies show that this denial is very common
among people in many situations. It is, nonetheless, detrimental to their growth.)
- wed jan 28 @ 7:05pm
Math 1A: Friday's group quiz will consist of only 2 questions. One question will be to prove the value of the limit of a linear function by using the epsilon-delta
definition of a limit. You will be judged on your algebra and the connecting language you use (if, so, then, suppose, let, and, therefore etc.).
The second will be a question you have already seen before because it appeared on another test within the past week and a half. That question will be graded all or nothing. No partial credit.
And I will be grading those quizzes myself.
- wed jan 28 @ 6:20pm
- wed jan 28 @ 5:35pm
Math 1A: On the self-assessments, 24 people said they knew the theorems and definitions precisely, but only 13 people got a
passing score on stating the Intermediate Value Theorem on Quiz 3.
Words of advice:
- It will be very hard to get an A in this class if you don't know the definitions and theorems, since they count for about
7% to 10% of the points.
- If you're not honest with yourself about your study habits, you can't really begin to fix what's wrong.
- wed jan 28 @ 3:05pm
Math 114: Remember that your diary will be due on Thursday. In addition, you will need to complete the following
self-assessment and submit it with your diary as well. You can print this out at home and bring it to class, or I will
have copies in class.
Math 114 Self Assessment 1
- mon jan 26 @ 1:35pm
Math 1A: Here are the solution keys to use for grading Quiz 3.
You will pick up your ungraded quizzes on Thu Jan 29.
Do your grading using a contrasting color - red, green, purple etc., not blue or black (so I can tell your original work from your grading).
Circle the parts of your work that correspond to the points on the solution key, and the number of points each part was worth.
Write the number of points you earned for each question in the SCORE: area to the right of that question.
Write your total score for the quiz in the SCORE: area on the upper left corner of the front side of the quiz, just beneath the date.
Your graded quizzes are due in class on Mon Feb 2. No late quizzes will be accepted.
You may also submit your graded quiz early.
To determine which solution key to use, look at the numerator of the first limit. It should be either 1-x or x-3.
Math 1A quiz 3 grading key (1-x)
Math 1A quiz 3 grading key (x-3)
If you did a problem a different way than I did, and you feel you deserve credit for your work, feel free to talk to me. You should be able to explain why your method is equally valid. If you truly understand what you did, this should not be difficult.
- sun jan 25 @ 10:25pm
Math 1A: Remember that your diary will be due on Wednesday. In addition, you will need to complete the following
self-assessment and submit it with your diary as well.
Math 1A Self Assessment 1
- sat jan 24 @ 12:45am
Math 114: Here is the home quiz which is due in lecture on Mon Jan 26. This quiz is designed to give you more help in
preparing for the midterm. It covers material since the beginning of the quarter. Follow the instructions on the quiz.
Math 114 Home Quiz 2
- thu jan 22 @ 8:05pm
- thu jan 22 @ 11:25am
Math 1A: We will not cover all of section 1.6. For this class, you can skip examples 6.4 and 6.5, and the remainder of the section after the heading "LIMITS INVOLVING INFINITY" on page 128.
- thu jan 22 @ 11:25am
Since no one has come to office hours in the tutorial center for 4 days now, I will be
in my office during my office hours from now on. If you need help during my office
hours, read the whiteboard outside my office to determine where I am, then come get me
and we'll go over to the tutorial center together. If there is no message on the
whiteboard, I should be either inside my office, or in the division office (S31).
- wed jan 21 @ 6:25pm
Math 1A: Here are the solution keys to use for grading Group Quiz 2.
You will pick up your ungraded quizzes on Thu Jan 22.
Do your grading using a contrasting color - red, green, purple etc., not blue or black (so I can tell your original work from your grading).
Circle the parts of your work that correspond to the points on the solution key, and the number of points each part was worth.
Write the number of points you earned for each question in the SCORE: area to the right of that question.
Write your total score for the quiz in the SCORE: area on the upper left corner of the front side of the quiz, just beneath the date.
Your graded quizzes are due in class on Mon Jan 26. No late quizzes will be accepted.
You may also submit your graded quiz early.
To determine which solution key to use, look at the interval for the method of bisections question. It should be either [1,17] or [3,19].
Math 1A group quiz 2 grading key [1,17]
Math 1A group quiz 2 grading key [3,19]
If you did a problem a different way than I did, and you feel you deserve credit for your work, feel free to talk to me. You should be able to explain why your method is equally valid. If you truly understand what you did, this should not be difficult.
- tue jan 20 @ 10:45am
Math 1A: Here are the possible questions for the group quiz tomorrow.
Math 1A group quiz 2 problems
There will be multiple versions of the quizzes, but all questions which may appear are given above. Each quiz
will contain about half of the questions listed.
- mon jan 19 @ 7:05pm
Math 1A: Since we're delaying the first midterm to Mon Jan 26 anyway, it probably makes more sense to have it on Tue
Jan 27. That way, you can study over the weekend, and ask your last questions on Mon Jan 26 in review.
Please let me know your thoughts on this in class tomorrow.
- mon jan 19 @ 6:55pm
Math 1A: Here are the solution keys to use for grading Quiz 2.
You will pick up your ungraded quizzes on Tue Jan 20.
Do your grading using a contrasting color - red, green, purple etc., not blue or black (so I can tell your original work from your grading).
Circle the parts of your work that correspond to the points on the solution key, and the number of points each part was worth.
Write the number of points you earned for each question in the SCORE: area to the right of that question.
Write your total score for the quiz in the SCORE: area on the upper left corner of the front side of the quiz, just beneath the date.
Your graded quizzes are due in class on Thu Jan 22. No late quizzes will be accepted.
You may also submit your graded quiz early.
To determine which solution key to use, look at what value t = in the velocity question (2 or 3).
Math 1A quiz 2 grading key (t = 2)
Math 1A quiz 2 grading key (t = 3)
If you did a problem a different way than I did, and you feel you deserve credit for your work, feel free to talk to me. You should be able to explain why your method is equally valid. If you truly understand what you did, this should not be difficult.
- fri jan 16 @ 6:00pm
Math 114: Your home quiz for this weekend is located in Chapter 13. The names of the quizzes are HOME QUIZ 730 JAN 18 and HOME QUIZ 830 JAN 18. Please take the quiz for your class time only (730 or 830).
The quiz covers sections 13.5.2, 13.1.1, 13.1.2, 13.1.3, 13.2.1 and 13.2.2. There are 10 questions total. There is no
time limit, but once you start the quiz, you must finish it. You cannot suspend it and return at a later time. The quiz will be locked on Sun Jan 18 at 8:59pm.
A reminder about how to get into the quiz:
- Go into any problem or example section in Enable
- Click on ASSIGNMENTS at the top
- Click on MODULES in the middle of the screen
- Select CHAPTER 13
- Click on the home quiz and START
NOTE: Due to continuing problems with the lab quiz for Thu Jan 15, that quiz will not be open this weekend. You only have
to take the home quiz this weekend.
- thu jan 15 @ 8:00pm
Math 114: Here are Helen's open lab hours. She can help you with either algebra or Enable.
- Tu/Th 8:30am - 10:30am in S44
- Tu/Th 11:30am - 12:30pm in S42
- Tu/Th 1:30pm - 4:30pm in S44
- thu jan 15 @ 7:40pm
Math 1A: I'm considering delaying the first midterm to Mon Jan 26. That will give you a little more time to really incorporate section 1.5 (which deals with infinity). However, it means the midterm would occur after the drop date (Fri Jan 23).
Please let me know your thoughts on this in class tomorrow.
- thu jan 15 @ 6:10pm
Math 1A: Go to my website for Fall 2008 (linked at the bottom of this page), and get the review list and solution key
for midterm 1. Read the relevant entries dated from Oct 1 to Oct 9. Study from the review list, and use the solution key only as a guideline for the amount of work to expect. The questions on your midterm are likely to be different.
- wed jan 14 @ 5:20pm
Math 1A: Almost everyone who submitted a graded quiz today made a mistake of some type.
- Graded in pencil or black/blue pen or yellow highlighter - very hard for me to figure out what you gave yourself credit for
- Did not write total score at top of page in space provided
- Gave themselves credit for answers which were wrong due to logical errors
I will be returning those erroneous quizzes for regrading.
- wed jan 14 @ 5:05pm
Math 1A: Here are the solution keys to use for grading Group Quiz 1.
You will pick up your ungraded quizzes on Thu Jan 15.
Do your grading using a contrasting color - red, green, purple etc., not blue or black (so I can tell your original work from your grading).
Circle the parts of your work that correspond to the points on the solution key, and the number of points each part was worth.
Write the number of points you earned for each question in the SCORE: area to the right of that question.
Write your total score for the quiz in the SCORE: area on the upper left corner of the front side of the quiz, just beneath the date.
Your graded quizzes are due in class on Tue Jan 20. No late quizzes will be accepted.
You may also submit your graded quiz early.
To determine which solution key to use, look at what x approaches in the first question. It should be either -1 or 2.
Math 1A group quiz 1 grading key (x -> -1)
Math 1A group quiz 1 grading key (x -> 2)
If you did a problem a different way than I did, and you feel you deserve credit for your work, feel free to talk to me. You should be able to explain why your method is equally valid. If you truly understand what you did, this should not be difficult.
- tue jan 13 @ 4:00pm
- tue jan 13 @ 10:50am
Math 1A: Here are the solution keys to use for grading Quiz 1.
You will pick up your ungraded quizzes on Tue Jan 13.
Do your grading using a contrasting color - red, green, purple etc., not blue or black (so I can tell your original work from your grading).
Circle the parts of your work that correspond to the points on the solution key, and the number of points each part was worth.
Write the number of points you earned for each question in the SCORE: area to the right of that question.
Write your total score for the quiz in the SCORE: area on the upper left corner of the front side of the quiz, just beneath the date.
Your graded quizzes are due in class on Tue Jan 20. No late quizzes will be accepted.
You may also submit your graded quiz early.
To determine which solution key to use, look at what value x = in the first question (3 or 6).
Math 1A quiz 1 grading key (x = 3)
Math 1A quiz 1 grading key (x = 6)
Here are samples to show you what is required.
Math 1A quiz 1 grading sample
Math 1A quiz 1 grading sample
If you did a problem a different way than I did, and you feel you deserve credit for your work, feel free to talk to me. You should be able to explain why your method is equally valid. If you truly understand what you did, this should not be difficult.
- tue jan 13 @ 10:20am
Math 1A: Here are the possible questions for the group quiz tomorrow.
Math 1A group quiz 1 problems
There will be multiple versions of the quizzes, but all questions which may appear are given above. Each quiz
will contain about half of the questions listed.
- mon jan 12 @ 3:10pm
Math 114: Here is the second page of your diary.
Math 114 diary (score log)
The other half of the diary (study log) was posted on wed jan 7 below.
Remember that both halves of the diary together, along with the post-midterm self-assessments, count for about 6% of your
total score for the quarter. Both halves are to be submitted the day after each midterm.
- fri jan 9 @ 6:30am
- wed jan 7 @ 3:35pm
Math 114: If you have already purchased your Enable Math software license, and are dying to try out the
system on your own, the class codes are 7442 (for the 7:30am class) and 7443 (for the 8:30am class).
Make sure to use the correct code for your section. If you are not enrolled and you try to get into Enable, the Enable
system will not lock you out. However, I will remove you manually.
- wed jan 7 @ 11:35am
- wed jan 7 @ 5:35am
Math 114: Here is the first page of your diary.
Math 114 diary (study log)
The other half of the diary (score log), and the tentative schedule will follow shortly.
- wed jan 7 @ 5:15am
- thu jan 1 @ 5:15pm
If you don't receive my e-mails, check your spam/bulk/junk mail folder. My e-mails are BCCed to all 3 classes simultaneously,
which makes it look like spam to some mail filters. Also, set your filter options to accept mail from all the following e-mail addresses:
- lobert@deanza.edu
- lobert@fhda.edu
- bsl3075@deanza.edu
- bsl3075@fhda.edu
If you still can't find my e-mail in your folders, please send your e-mail address to me at lobert@deanza.edu, so I can update your contact information.
- thu jan 1 @ 2:25pm
Here are the greensheets for this quarter. Bring your own copy of these to class on Mon Jan 5.
Math 1A greensheet
Math 114 greensheet
Math 1A: Review chapter 0 of the textbook. It covers precalculus topics which we will not review.
Math 114: Buy the Enable Math Software License from the bookstore.
farewell to fall quarter 2008