Math 25: Unit 8

Target Date: Thursday November 30
Deadline: Friday December 1

Note: The information on this page is for the 6th edition of the textbook.

Table of Contents:

Topics
Study Guidelines
Unit Written Assignment
Unit Pretest and Exam Description
Checklist

Topics

This unit begins our study of the conic sections: parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas.

We will only consider conics in standard position (parabolas with vertex at the origin, ellipses and hyperbolas with center at the origin), and in standard orientation in this unit. We will study translated conics and rotated conics in Unit 9. Therefore, certain portions of sections 11.2-4 (detailed below in the Study Guideline) will not be covered in this unit.

• Parabolas (11.2)
  • definition
  • focus, vertex, axis, directrix
  • graphing a parabola
  • finding the equation of a parbola
  • applications
• Ellipses (11.3)
  • definition
  • foci, major and minor axes, vertices, center, x and y intercepts
  • graphing an ellipse
  • finding the equation of an ellipse
  • applications
• Hyperbolas (11.4)
  • definition
  • foci, transverse and conjugate axes, vertices, center, x and y intercepts, asymptotes
  • graphing a hyperbola
  • finding the equation of a hyperbola
  • applications

Study guidelines for the 6th edition of Sullivan's Algebra and Trigonometry

These reading and problem assignments are designed to help you learn the course material. You should complete all of these problems, check your answers in the back of the textbook, and get help with the problems that you missed. Most of the problems are odd-numbered, so you can check the solutions in the Solutions Manual.

The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics, so while these problems will not be collected or graded, you will probably not do well in the course if you do not complete these and check your work as described above. After completing these problems, go on to the Unit Exam Description below and follow directions.

• Section 11.1: Conics
  • Reading: section 11.1
    
    
• Section 11.2: Parabolas
  • Reading: section 11.2
    Read objectives 1-3 and objective 5 (Reflecting Property).
    Read and work through examples 1-5 and example 8 and their matched problems.
  • The parabolas applet illustrates the various types of parabolas which have vertex at (0,0).
  • Objective 4 (Vertex at (h,k)) will be covered in Unit 9. However, you should be able to find the equation of any parabola using the definition on pages 733-734.
    • Additional examples.
  • Practice Problems: 11.2 #1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 19, 25, 27, 51-61 odd
    
    
• Section 11.3: Ellipses
  • Reading: section 11.3
    Read objectives 1-3 and objective 5 (Applications).
    Read and work through examples 1-4 and example 7 and their matched problems.
  • The ellipses applet illustrates the various types of ellipses which have center at (0,0).
  • Objective 4 (Center at (h,k)) will be covered in Unit 9.
  • Practice Problems: 11.3 #1-4, 5-23 odd, 51-67 odd
    
    
• Section 11.4: Hyperbolas
  • Reading: section 11.4
    Read objectives 1-4 and objective 6 (Applications).
    Read and work through examples 1-6 and example 9 and their matched problems.
  • The hyperbolas applet illustrates the various types of hyperbolas which have center at (0,0).
  • Objective 5 (Center at (h,k)) will be covered in Unit 9.
  • Practice Problems: 11.4 #1-4, 5-25 odd, 49-55 odd
    
    
• Supplementary material (optional):
  • Student Solutions Manual
  • Algebra Review booklet
  • CD lecture series (step-by-step video examples on CD)
    • Section numbering on the CD's corresponds to the 7th edition of the textbook. Use the section correlation guide to find the corresponding sections for the 6th edition.
  • Video lectures are available on reserve in the CR library.
    • Section numbering on the video lectures corresponds to the 7th edition of the textbook.
  • For tutoring help, visit the Prentice Hall Math Tutor Center. Tutors can be contacted by phone, fax, or e-mail. To register, you will need to first obtain an access code from me.
  • Graphing Calculator Help

Unit 8 Written Assignment

Complete the following problems by Thursday November 30 :

• View or print this handout with the detailed assignment
  (pdf format - you will need a copy of Acrobat Reader to view and print the file)

Be sure to read and follow the Homework Guidelines.
Post a question on Blackboard if you are unsure of how to begin one of the problems.

Unit 8 Pretest and Exam Description

After completing the above work, do the following:

1. Read the exam description:
   • This exam has 20 questions, and will count 20 points toward your grade. 
   • This exam has a one hour time limit.
   • Unless otherwise specified, all questions on this exam require an exact answer. You should not try to use a calculator approximation for these questions.
   • Be sure to look under the entry box for the type of answer expected.
     • Some problems expect a list of values or formulas separated by commas, such as 16,9. The values must be listed in the order requested in the problem.
     • The answer to some problems is an equation (for example, the equation of a line). In this case, simply type in the equation. For example, your answer might be y=2x-3.
2. Complete the online Unit 8 Pretest assignment. You may use your book if you wish, and redo the pretest as many times as you like. Your pretest score will be scaled to 5 points maximum.
   • Directions: At the testing web site, choose the Unit 8 Pretest.
   • The pretest must be completed by the deadline date listed at the top of this page.
     However, you may redo the pretest as many times as you like before the deadline date. Your best score counts, and it will be rescaled to 5 points maximum.
   • See the instructions for pretests.
3. If you are having trouble with any of the problems listed above or on the pretest or practice exams, make use of the help resources listed on the Help page.
4. Go to one of the testing labs to take the online proctored Unit 8 Exam assignment (see the instructions for proctored exams). Remember to bring identification, and remember that you will not be able to take the unit exam after the deadline date given at the top of this page. You may NOT use your book or notes on this exam.
   • Directions: At the testing web site, choose Unit 8 Exam.
   • The proctored unit exam must be completed by the deadline date listed at the top of this page, and may be repeated under certain conditions. See the Detailed Schedule page for specific rules.

   Note: Remember that you can always go back and take practice exams on this unit after the deadline has passed. In particular, this will help you prepare for the midterm and final exams.

   • Directions: At the testing web site, choose Unit 8 Practice Exam. After the deadline has passed, this exam will be available in practice mode.

Unit 8 Checklist

Make sure that you have finished the following items to complete Unit 8:

• Read the material listed in the Study Guidelines.
• Practice the problems listed in the Study Guidelines, and use any of the listed supplementary material to help you understand the concepts.
• Complete the Unit Written Assignment.
• Complete the online Unit Pretest (read the exam description first).
• Complete the online proctored Unit Exam.

Distance Education students: Remember to check in each week with the instructor, and participate in the online discussion forums on Blackboard.

Math 25 home page