This is a reminder that amnesty for a non-graphing calculator is over.

If you come to the quiz tomorrow with a graphing calculator, you will be asked to put it away. Make sure, if you need a calculator, that it is a non-graphing calculator.

Quiz #2 will happen during the last 20 minutes of class tomorrow. It covers Sections 1.7, 1.8 and 2.1.

This will be short due to pressing time constraints!

Today in 121, we looked at the ways limits can screw up. These include the presence of jumps in the graph, vertical asymptotes, and too much oscillation. We could also have a limit not exist if the left-hand and right-hand limits both exist at our point but don't agree. Then we began talking (as briefly as possible) about the formal definition of a limit.

Tomorrow we will finish our look at the formal definition of limit and prove the existence of a couple of easy limits. Then we'll start talking about "limit shortcuts and rules." You'll have earned it by then.

We spent today talking more about limits. We showed how to make tables of function values as we approach a particular x-value of interest. We noted that for the polynomial, we could have just substituted the x-value of interest and gotten the right limit value. It turns out that this approach always works for limits involving polynomial functions.

We can often try the same technique on limits for rational functions, as long as we stay away from "bad" x's. If we approach an x-value that makes the denominator zero, our only hope is to factor the numerator and denominator of our rational function and hope for some cancellation. If we cannot both factor and cancel, the limit will either not exist or be infinite.

Thursday, we'll talk about the ways limits can screw up and the formal definition of limit. We'll also prove the existence of a couple of easy limits. See you then.

Our final exam has been set for Sunday, December 14th, from 7:00 to 9:30 pm in Dewey 309. The exam will be cumulative.

From the Learning Support Center ...

Need help in your math classes? Math help sessions start Tuesday Sept. 2! Qualified peer tutors are ready to help you out in almost any level math class. Math help sessions are available every night, except Friday and Saturday, from 7-10 p.m. Math help sessions will be held in Partridge 128. Help sessions are free and require no appointment -- just drop in with questions or hang out and do your homework! Contact Ted Ingham at the Learning Support Center (fourth floor Kreitzberg Library, ext. 2131, ringham@norwich.edu) for more information.

Help session help will be posted to the Get Assistance page of my.norwich.edu.

This is a reminder that Quiz #2 happens this Friday, September 5th, toward the end of class.

Today was the end of the "review period." We answered some questions on the homework from Section 1.6 and then began talking about the difference between algebraic functions and transcendental functions. Two types of transcendental functions are the exponential and the logarithmic functions. These are discussed in Section 1.7. We reviewed the relevant properties of each.

We then briefly recalled the trigonometric functions. We recalled the SOHCAHTOA version of sine, cosine, and tangent, and then expanded to the unit circle. Using the circle, we were able to show the periodic properties of sine and cosine.

On Wednesday, we move into Chapter 2, talking about limits of functions.