Mathematical Modeling
What is mathematical reasoning?
This section aims to introduce the idea of mathematical reasoning and give an
example of how it is used.
Logical Deduction
This section analyzes the previous example in detail to develop a three phase
deductive process to develop a mathematical model.
Is this actually math?
This section aims to show how mathematical reasoning is different than ‘typical
reasoning’, as well as showing how what we are doing is mathematical.
Math as a Language
This section contains important points about the analogy of mathematics as a
language.
Embrace Laziness!
This section aims to show the virtues, and techniques, in generalizing numeric models
into ‘generalized’ models.
Variables, Functions, Graphing, and Universal Properties
Goals of this Section
This section is on functions, their roles, their graphs, and we introduce the Library of
Functions
Relationship vs. Equations
In this section we discuss a very subtle but profoundly important difference between
a relationship between information, and an equation with information.
Functions Require Context
In this section we demonstrate that a relation requires context to be considered a
function.
Set Notation
In this section we cover how to actual write sets and specifically domains, codomains,
and ranges.
Function Composition
We cover the idea of function composition and it’s effects on domains and
ranges.
Graphing Introduction
This section introduces graphing and gives an example of how we intuitively use
it.
Graphing To Relate Variables
This section describes how we will use graphing in this course; as a tool to visually
depict a relation between variables.
Graphs Aren’t Precise
This section describes how accuracy and precision are different things, and how that
relates to graphs.
Universal Properties
This section introduces the idea of studying universal properties to avoid memorizing
vast amounts of information.
Geometric Vs Analytic Viewpoints
We discuss what Geometric and Analytic views of mathematics are and the different roles they play in learning and practicing
mathematics.
Geometric Perspective
We discuss the geometric perspective and what its role is in learning and practicing mathematics.
Analytic Viewpoint
We discuss the analytic view of mathematics such as when and where it is most useful or appropriate.
Even Functions
This section describes the geometry and useful symmetry of even functions, as well as
how to test for them analytically.
Odd Functions
This section describes the geometry and useful symmetry of odd functions, as well as how to test for them analytically.
Rigid Translations: Geometrics
This section describes the geometric perspective of Rigid Translations.
Rigid Translations: Analytics
This section describes the analytic perspective of what makes a Rigid Translation.
Transforms: Geometric
This section describes the geometric interpretation of what makes a transformation
Transforms: Analytic
This section describes the analytic interpretation of what makes a transformation and how to use the function notation to perform
(or read) a transformation quickly and easily.
Transform And Translates
This covers doing transformations and translations at the same time. In particular we discuss how to determine what order to do
the translations/transformations in.
Points of Interest on Graphs - Zeros
This section describes types of points of interest (PoI) in general and covers zeros of
functions as one such type.
Sign Charts
This section describes one of the most useful tools in mathematics - especially in
calculus - the sign chart!
Points of Interest on Graphs - Extrema
This section describes extrema of a function as points of interest (PoI) on a
graph.
Points of Interest on Graphs - Discontinuities
This section describes discontinuities of a function as points of interest (PoI) on a
graph.
Algebra with Functions
This section describes how to perform the familiar operations from algebra
(eg add, subtract, multiply, and divide) on functions instead of numbers or
variables.
Equals Signs are Magic!
This section describes the very special and often overlooked virtues of the ‘equals
sign’. It also includes when and why you should “set something equal to zero” which
is often overused or used incorrectly.
One and Zero; the Most Useful of Numbers
This section describes the very special and often overlooked virtue of the numbers
Zero and One.