Schedule

Finite Math Online
Video-based learning with WebAssign homework
Available via YouTube and viewable with iPad, iPhone, and other mobile devices

Schedule - Spring 2013

This page shows the videos (both at NCSU and at YouTube) which are needed to do the WebAssign homework in this class. The homework is accessed via the WebAssign link (near the top of this page). Once an assignment has appeared in your WebAssignments, WebAssign will show you the due date for the assignment. The way to stay on schedule in this class is to monitor your list of current WebAssignments regularly. There are no surprises. All assignments will appear in your current WebAssignments 10 day prior to the time they are due (except for a few at the beginning of the semester which are due before the semester is 10 days old.) All old (past due) assignments also remain visible within WebAssign. After the semester begins, you may find it easier to find the videos you’re looking for by clicking the link (in the box to the right) to the part of the course that you’re currently working on.

All videos listed on this page may be view full screen at either the NCSU website for this class (by clicking a link) or at YouTube (by clicking a

button).

Important: All university correspondence to students uses students' NCSU e-mail addresses. So it is essential that you check your NCSU mail account. See the General Info page for more information. All your currently scheduled homework assignments are found at WebAssign once the semester begins, and class news is found at the News Page (for which there’s a link at the top of every page in this website).

Part 1 -- Matrices

Videos for Section 1.1 WebAssignments

Simple illustration of how WebAssign works (3:41)

Introduction to matrices and matrix addition (10:15)

Introduction to the matrix tool (4:09)

Videos for Section 1.2 WebAssignments

Matrix multiplication (12:06)

Matrix multiplication using the Matrix Tool (2:20)

Extensions (3:03)

Videos for Section 1.3 WebAssignments

Systems of equations (30:51)

Using the row operation tool to solve a system of equations (7:55)

Videos for Section 1.4 WebAssignments

Matrix Inverses (17:52)

Finding an inverse with either tool (1:43)

Using a matrix inverse to solve a system of equations (2:32)

Summary of strategy for row operations (3:31)

Example on matrices and systems of equations (10:11)

Example using matrices to store data (9:46)

Why the method for finding the inverse of a matrix works (6:30)

Don't let symbols throw you for a loop (2:47)

Videos for Section 1.5 WebAssignments

Modeling population dynamics with matrices (7:19)

Applying the matrix tool to population dynamics (2:55)

Simple example of a human population model (8:53)

Additional Resources: Khan Academy has a vast collection of math related videos. The first 12 of the matrix videos at Khan Academy treat topics that overlap the ones included in MA 114. You are welcome to browse the videos at Khan Academy and use them for additional insight or review. Beyond the first 12 listed at Khan Academy, the remaining matrix videos cover topics that are not needed in MA 114.

Part 2 -- Linear Programming

Videos for Section 2.1-2.3 WebAssignments

Graphing Linear Inequalities (15:18)

Setting up linear programming problems (19:11)

Using the row operation tool to find corner points (1:14)

Solving linear programming problems graphically (24:46)

Manufacturing checkers and chess sets (7:33)

More applications of linear programming (14:19)

Additional Resources: Most of Khan Academy's offerings on linear equations and inequalities are more introductory than you will need. However, the last eight of them give some examples and illustrations that you may find helpful. And if you're rusty on the basics of plotting points or graphing straight lines, some of the earlier videos in this collection may be useful to you. Feel free to browse.

Test on Parts 1 and 2: February 5 - 11 (See Test Info page)

You can bring any books or any written or printed notes that you might find useful. Bring any calculator that you might want to use. The matrix tools listed on the class web site may be used in any way that you wish. Laptop computers and other electronic devices are allowed in the test room only when they operate in battery mode. You are NOT allowed to plug any device into an electrical outlet at the DE Proctoring Center.

Part 3 -- Simplex Method

Videos for Section 3.1 WebAssignments

Setting up the initial simplex tableau (13:41)

Solving a standard problem (21:40)

Solving a standard problem with the row operation tool (6:07)

More review problems (14:50)

Additional Resources: At Khan Academy, counting techniques (Part 4 of this course) and probability applications (Part 5 of this course) are all mixed up together. The only counting videos that don't include probability concepts seem to be one on permutations and one on combinations. However, a large number of illustrations of counting techniques appear in the Khan Academy videos mentioned in Part 5 below. So you'll get some good review of counting techniques if you consult those videos when you get to Part 5. [Note: The Khan Academy videos and most mathematical texts use a different notation for combinations and permutations from what you find in our own videos. What we denote by C(5,3), i.e. the number of combinations in which 3 objects can be chosen from 5 objects, is denoted in most texts by 5C3, and similarly P(5,3) is written generally as 5P3.]

Test on Parts 3 and 4: March 14 - 20 (See Test Info page)

Part 5 -- Probability

Video for Section 5.1 WebAssignments

Sample space and events (17:30)

Video for Section 5.2 WebAssignments

What is probability? (29:09)

Video for Section 5.3 WebAssignments

Uniform probability distributions (43:19)

Permutations example (2:54)

Combinations example (2:27)

Video for Section 5.4 WebAssignments

Conditional probability (41:58)

A neat illustration of the usefulness of conditional probability (5:48)

Video for Section 5.5 WebAssignments

Combining conditional probabilities and tree diagrams (21:56)

Video for Section 5.6 WebAssignments

Independence and independent trials (39:56)

Video for Section 5.7 WebAssignments

Expected value (16:58)

Playing the NC Lottery's "Pick 4" game (1:14) (not on YouTube)

Exact Order (4:34)

Any Order 1 (7:51)

Any Order 2 (6:57)

Additional Resources: Khan Academy has a vast collection of probability videos (about 55). Pretty much everything in the first 42 of these videos is related to this course. So this is a gold mine of additional examples and illustrations. Skip the ones from "Introduction to Random Variables" to "Term Life Insurance and Death Probability", but do watch the last video which features LeBron James.

Test on Part 5: April 10 - 16 (See Test Info page)

Part 6 -- Markov Chains

There's almost a month between Test #2 and Test #3. Make use of that time to get started on Part 6 before Test #3. If you do so, it will allow you to have a fairly leisurely week prior to the start of exams.

Videos for Section 6.1-6.2 WebAssignments

What is a Markov chain? (13:33)