Post One: Getting to Know You.

1. What is your full name? Yan Shi
2. Do you have a nickname that you prefer to go by? Nope! Yan's fine. c: (pronounced like the English word yawn)
3. What is your height IN INCHES (not feet)? 60 inches.
4. What is your age in years? Recently turned 19.
5. What time do you generally wake up on any given day? 9AM, give or take.
6. What is your favorite candy? Gummy bears!
7. What is your favorite snack food? I love sweet potato chips.
8. Who is your favorite musical artist/band? I really enjoy Panic! at the Disco.
9. Do you have any hobbies/things you like to do for fun? I love reading non-fiction books based around social sciences. I also like drawing/sketching, playing video games (I just brought my 3DS and a few games with me), and watching television (hulu is my friend in dark times). I dig writing, too.
10. What is your mathematical background? (Not limited to the list below…list other topics if needed)

Basic math algebra1 algebra2 statistics probability trigonometry  

High school Precalculus high school calculus

college algebra (taken at a college/university) AP stats

AP calculus college level calculus (taken at a college/university)

11. What is your comfort level with solving math word problems, math application problems, and conceptual math problems?

Very comfortable (V) comfortable (C)    uncomfortable (U) extremely uncomfortable (E)

12. What is your comfort level with math computations and calculations/using formulas and following steps and procedures?

Very comfortable (V) comfortable (C)    uncomfortable (U) extremely uncomfortable (E)

13. What is your comfort level with any of the following calculus concepts?

Write one of the following next to each topic:

Very comfortable (V) comfortable (C)    uncomfortable (U) extremely uncomfortable (E)

Curve sketching C

Instantaneous rate of change C

Derivatives (of constant, linear, polynomial, power, rational, exponential, trigonometric, logarithmic functions) V

Difference quotient C

Limits U

Continuity C

Chain rule (an application of composition of functions) C

Product and quotient rules for derivatives C

Finding local and global maximums and minimums C

Determining inflection points C

Area under a curve C

Anti-derivatives C

Integration (of constant, linear, polynomial, power, rational, trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic functions) C

Integration by parts U

Integration by substitution C

14. The following are concepts from algebra and precalculus that students taking applied calculus should be comfortable with.

What is your comfort level with any of the following algebraic and precalculus concepts? (please note that weakness in any of these areas may make most aspects of this class more challenging than others)

Write one of the following next to each topic:

Very comfortable (V) comfortable (C)    uncomfortable (U) extremely uncomfortable (E)

Equations V

Factoring V

Adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing fractions/rational expressions V

Simplifying expressions V

Simplifying rational expressions (fractions and fractional polynomials) V

Operations on roots and fractional exponent expressions C

Operations involving whole number exponent expressions V

Finding common denominators V

Inequalities V

Functions V

Absolute value V

Linear functions V

Systems of equations V

Domain and range V

Inverse functions V

Transformations (shifting, scaling, stretching, etc) V

Quadratic functions V

Completing the square U*

Exponential functions C

Logarithmic functions C

Base e C

Graphing (trigonometric, quadratic, linear, exponential, and logarithmic functions) C

Trigonometric concepts C *I just require review of how to do it. Most of the concepts above just require a little jogging of the mind.

15. Have you taken American university’s math 160 (applied precalculus) class? If yes, was your grade a “b” or better? I didn't take it.

16. If you have not taken American university’s math 160 (applied precalculus) class, have you taken a college level (not a college equivalent high school class) equivalent?  If yes, was your grade a “b” or better? I haven't taken any college level math classes.

17. Which social media formats are you familiar with?

Texting facebook pinterest flickr wordpress blogspot tumblr twitter

google plus Instagram

18. Which social media formats do you use most frequently?

Texting facebook pinterest flickr wordpress blogspot tumblr twitter

google plus Instagram

19. What is your major? Journalism. Leaning towards print journalism.
20. Why are you taking this math class? It was a required math course for me. I also wanted to take applied calculus as a sort of redemption thing -- I want to do better than I did in my AP calc class.
21. Will you take other math classes in the future at American University or will this be your only math class? If yes, which classes do you anticipate taking? This will probably be my only math class unless something else comes up.
22. What do you hope to learn in this class? I mean, everything and anything that Professor Little is willing to impart on us? Aha, I guess I'm looking forward to honing my critical thinking and problem solving skills.
23. Is there anything else you would like me to know about you? Not that I know of.