First Blog- Getting to Know Me- Caitlyn McMunn

1.     What is your full name? Caitlyn McMunn

2.     Do you have a nickname that you prefer to go by? Caitlyn or Cait is fine!

3.     What is your height IN INCHES (not feet)? 70 inches

4.     What is your age in years? 19

5.     What time do you generally wake up on any given day? Between 8:30-9:30

6.     What is your favorite candy? Hershey's cookies and cream bars

7.     What is your favorite snack food? Pineapple

8.     Who is your favorite musical artist/band? Muse and Arctic Monkeys

9.     Do you have any hobbies/things you like to do for fun? Going to concerts, reading, running

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)

I have a background in basic math, algebra 1 and 2, trig, geometry, precalc, and I'm currently taking statistics 

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

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

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) U

Difference quotient U

Limits C

Continuity C

Chain rule (an application of composition of functions) U

Product and quotient rules for derivatives C

Finding local and global maximums and minimums C

Determining inflection points U

Area under a curve U

Anti-derivatives U

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

Integration by parts U

Integration by substitution U

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 C

Simplifying expressions C

Simplifying rational expressions (fractions and fractional polynomials) C

Operations on roots and fractional exponent expressions C

Operations involving whole number exponent expressions V

Finding common denominators V

Inequalities C

Functions V

Absolute value V

Linear functions V

Systems of equations C

Domain and range V

Inverse functions C

Transformations (shifting, scaling, stretching, etc) V

Quadratic functions C

Completing the square C

Exponential functions C

Logarithmic functions C

Base e C

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

Trigonometric concepts C

15.  Have you taken American university’s math 160 (applied precalculus) class? If yes, was your grade a “b” or better? Yes for both

17.  Which social media formats are you familiar with?

Texting            facebook          pinterest           flickr     wordpress         blogspot           tumblr  twitter

google plus      Instagram

I am familiar with texting, facebook, pinterest, blogspot, twitter, google plus, and instagram

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

Texting            facebook          pinterest           flickr     wordpress         blogspot           tumblr  twitter  

google plus      Instagram

 I use texting and instagram most frequently

19.  What is your major? Business Entertainment

20.  Why are you taking this math class? Requirement

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? I will not be taking any other purely mathematical courses, but I am taking accounting as well as microeconomics

22.  What do you hope to learn in this class? How to apply the practice of Calculus to everyday life

23.  Is there anything else you would like me to know about you? I learn best when seeing examples of a topic