ARCHIVE - Reading Response and Reflection 7 | Patterning the World: Connecting Mathematics and Science

The reading assignment this week is precalculus Ch 6.1, 6.2 pp369-379, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 to 6.5 and physics Ch 4.7. Remember to fill in all entries below - what you don't know after reading the texts is just as important to us as what you do.

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Precalculus Reading

1. Enter the general parameterized form for the sine function. In place of the B parameter on the input variable use 2pi/P.

2. a) What is the A parameter of the generalized form for the sine function?

2. b) What is the k parameter of the generalized form for the sine function?

2. c) What is the P parameter of the generalized form for the sine function?

3. What is the domain restriction on the input angles that allows the sine function to be inverted? In other words, what are the largest and smallest angles we can allow for the input variable if we want to be able to invert the sine function?

4. a) Write a definition of the tan(theta) using sin(theta) and cos(theta).

4. b) On what input values is the tangent function not defined?

5. Sine and cosine functions are good for modeling what kind of behavior?

Physics Reading

1. What is a free-body diagram?

2. What are internal and external forces. Give an example of each.

3. A traffic light is suspended from 2 wires:

3. a) If both wires have an angle of inclination of 30 degrees measured down from the horizontal, are the forces equal or different? Explain.

3. b) If one wire has an angle of 30 degrees from horizontal (T1) and the other has an angle of 45 degrees from horizontal (T2), which force is larger? Explain.

Reflections

What would you like us to spend class time on from the precalculus readings?

What would you like us to spend class time on from the physics readings?

What material from the past week (or before) are you still having difficulty with? (Please do let us know, but also try to take advantage of all your resources: QuaSR, study groups, appointments with faculty, on-line tutorials & videos, etc.)

Prompt 1: Give specific examples which detail how you have improved habits for achieving success in future work especially in math and science.

Primpt 2: Give specific examples which detail how you have developed increasingly sophisticated skills for learning from text and a variety of other resources.