Mathematical Modeling

1Goals of this Section

This section is on learning to use mathematics to model real-life situations.

1.1Terminology To Know

These are important terms and notations for this section.

1.2What is mathematical reasoning?

This section aims to introduce the idea of mathematical reasoning and give an example of how it is used.

1.3Logical Deduction

This section analyzes the previous example in detail to develop a three phase deductive process to develop a mathematical model.

1.4Types of Information

This section aims to explore and explain different types of information.

1.5Is 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.

1.6Math as a Language

This section contains important points about the analogy of mathematics as a language.

1.7Types of Numbers

This section aims to name and explain the common sets of numbers.

1.8Numeric Model Walkthrough

This is a detailed numeric model example and walkthrough.

1.9Embrace Laziness!

This section aims to show the virtues, and techniques, in generalizing numeric models into ‘generalized’ models.

1.10Variables and Their Roles

This section explains types and interactions between variables.

1.11Generalized Model Walkthrough

This is an example of a detailed generalized model walkthrough

Variables, Functions, Graphing, and Universal Properties

2Goals of this Section

This section is on functions, their roles, their graphs, and we introduce the Library of Functions

2.1Terminology To Know

These are important terms and notations for this section.

2.2Relationship vs. Equations

In this section we discuss a very subtle but profoundly important difference between a relationship between information, and an equation with information.

2.3Relationship vs. Functions

In this section we discuss what makes a relation into a function.

2.5Functions Require Context

In this section we demonstrate that a relation requires context to be considered a function.

2.8Domain, Codomain, and Range

In this section we cover Domain, Codomain and Range.

2.10Set Notation

In this section we cover how to actual write sets and specifically domains, codomains, and ranges.

2.12Function Notation

This section covers function notation, why and how it is written.

2.14f(x) Notation

This section covers notation.

2.16Function Composition

We cover the idea of function composition and it’s effects on domains and ranges.

3Graphing Introduction

This section introduces graphing and gives an example of how we intuitively use it.

3.1Terminology To Know

These are important terms and notations for this section.

3.2French History and Dinosaurs!

This section introduces the origin an application of graphing.

3.3Graphing To Relate Variables

This section describes how we will use graphing in this course; as a tool to visually depict a relation between variables.

3.4Graphs Aren’t Precise

This section describes how accuracy and precision are different things, and how that relates to graphs.

3.5Using Graphs

This section covers what graphs should be used for, despite being imprecise.

3.6Vertical Line Test

This section describes the vertical line test and why it works.

4Library Of Functions

This is an introduction and list of the so-called “library of functions”.

4.1Parent Functions

This section provides the specific parent functions you should know.

5Universal Properties

This section introduces the idea of studying universal properties to avoid memorizing vast amounts of information.

5.1Terminology To Know

These are important terms and notations for this section.

5.2Geometric Vs Analytic Viewpoints

We discuss what Geometric and Analytic views of mathematics are and the different roles they play in learning and practicing mathematics.

5.3Geometric Perspective

We discuss the geometric perspective and what its role is in learning and practicing mathematics.

5.4Analytic Viewpoint

We discuss the analytic view of mathematics such as when and where it is most useful or appropriate.

5.5Even Functions

This section describes the geometry and useful symmetry of even functions, as well as how to test for them analytically.

5.6Odd Functions

This section describes the geometry and useful symmetry of odd functions, as well as how to test for them analytically.

5.7Intro: Rigid Translations

An introduction to the ideas of rigid translations.

5.8Rigid Translations: Geometrics

This section describes the geometric perspective of Rigid Translations.

5.10Rigid Translations: Analytics

This section describes the analytic perspective of what makes a Rigid Translation.

5.12Transforms: Geometric

This section describes the geometric interpretation of what makes a transformation

5.13Transforms: 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.

5.15Transform 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.

5.17Points 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.

5.18Sign Charts

This section describes one of the most useful tools in mathematics - especially in calculus - the sign chart!

5.19Points of Interest on Graphs - Extrema

This section describes extrema of a function as points of interest (PoI) on a graph.

5.21Continuity

This section describes one of the most important concepts in calculus - continuity!

5.22Points of Interest on Graphs - Discontinuities

This section describes discontinuities of a function as points of interest (PoI) on a graph.

5.24Algebra 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.

5.26Equals 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.

5.27One and Zero; the Most Useful of Numbers

This section describes the very special and often overlooked virtue of the numbers Zero and One.

5.28Inverse Functions

This section introduces the geometric viewpoint of invertability.

5.29Horizontal Line Test

This section discusses the Horizontal Line Test

5.31Inverse Function - Analytic View

This section introduces the analytic viewpoint of invertability, as well as one-to-one functions.

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