Math 105, Fall 2011 -- FAQ

Math 105 (Topics in Mathematics), Fall 2011
Frequently Asked Questions

MyMathLab

The answer to your question may also be on this page:

How do I do homework assignments in MyMathLab?

Log on to MyMathLab and click on the "HOMEWORK" button at the left side of the screen. A new tab will open with a list of assignments and due dates, with the current assignment last. Click on the name of the assignment (e.g., "Homework #2") to start working.

If the homework assignments don't show up, and you see a link on the left side of the page that says "Math 105, Fall 2011", click on it. If you don't see it, try refreshing the page or logging out and logging back in.

If I get an answer wrong, can I redo the problem?

Yes, you can redo the same or a similar problem. The list of problem numbers at the top of the homework screen tells you which problems you haven't received full credit on yet. Clicking on a problem you've already done will give you the same or a similar problem, which you can attempt again to raise your score.

For problems with only a few possible answers (like multiple-choice and true-false questions), you may get a limited number of tries (otherwise, it would be possible to get credit simply by repeated blind guessing). However, you can always go back to the problem and ask the system for a similar problem.

Can I redo problems for practice after the due date?

Yes. From the main MML menu, click on "Gradebook", then "Entire course to date." Each homework assignment will have a link marked "Review." Click on that to redo the problems for practice. If it's after the due date, your grade will not change. The "Do Similar Problem" feature is also still available --- this is a great way to study for tests.

How do I check my grades in MyMathLab?

Log on to MyMathLab and click on the "GRADEBOOK" button at the left side of the screen. A new tab will open with a list of assignments, due dates, and the grades you received.

If you click on the "Show Overall Score" button at the top of the Gradebook, it will give you a rough estimate of how you are doing so far. The later in the semester, the more accurate this estimate tends to be. To convert the overall score to a letter grade, us a standard scale (90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, etc.)

How do I use the electronic version of the textbook?

Log on to MyMathLab and click on the "eBook" button at the left side of the screen.

I need help with my homework.

You have several options:

MyMathLab includes many inline help resources (the "Help Me Solve This," "View an Example," "Textbook" and "Calculator" buttons on the right side of the screen. Try these and see if they work for you.
Find another student to work with. This is especially helpful if you try to "think out loud": describe to the other person what you think the problem is about, what you know, and where you are getting stuck.
Go to the Help Room, Snow 151, which is open 10-5 on weekdays (except during class and Prof. Martin's office hours.)
Go to Prof. Martin's office hours (Tuesdays, 9-11 AM, Snow 623).
You can send e-mail to math105-f11@math.ku.edu. (You may not get an instant response, and it can be harder to communicate over e-mail than in person --- but we'll do our best.)

I need technical help with MyMathLab.

If you need immediate technical help, Pearson has a 24-hour support line at 1-800-677-6337. (Note that Pearson does not provide help with the homework problems themselves!) You can also text chat live with or e-mail a Pearson representative. In all cases, you may have to be patient (a typical wait time on the live chat is 15 minutes). You may also want to check Pearson's technical FAQ.

If there is a recurring problem, please let us know by e-mail at math105-f11@math.ku.edu, although we may not be able to solve the problem immediately.

I turned in the homework on time but the system told me it was late.

MyMathLab is accurate about timestamps. Check that your time zone is set correctly, and make sure to submit your homework well before the weekly deadline (Wednesday evening, 11:59 PM).

If you encounter a problem submitting your homework before the deadline, send an e-mail to math105-f11@math.ku.edu describing the problem, and call Pearson at 1-800-677-6337 for immediate technical support.

Why can't we use the KU Blackboard site?

A fair question. A lot of the material on the MyMathLab site comes from the textbook, so it's owned by the publisher (Pearson) and isn't currently available through Blackboard. The cost of the course packet (custom textbook + MyMathLab access) is approximately the same as that of a standard textbook.

How do I register on the MyMathLab website?

The course packet available at the KU Bookstore includes an access code for MyMathLab. Once you have the course packet, go to the MyMathLab website to register. Here are instructions for registering. You will need the following information:

A student access code (provided with the course packet available at the KU Bookstore)
The Course ID, which is martin72146
KU's zip code, which is 66045
A valid e-mail address (which should be the same one you use for Enroll & Pay)

Make sure you register with the same first name, last name, and e-mail address that you use on Enroll & Pay; otherwise, your grades may not be recorded properly!

What's the difference between MyMathLab and CourseCompass?

There isn't any. Some older Pearson materials refer to CourseCompass instead of MyMathLab. It's the same system.

Can I purchase a MyMathLab subscription without buying the textbook?

Yes. Go to mymathlab.com, enter the course ID (martin72146), and purchase an access code using a credit card. They will charge you $80 (as opposed to the textbook plus access code, which is $104 at the Bookstore). The MyMathLab subscription does include an online version of the textbook, so either way is fine.

Alternately, if you plan to buy the book later, then MyMathLab has an option for you to register temporarily without paying. I'm not sure exactly where it happens in the registration process, but at some point, you will have the option of signing up for 17 days of free registration. If you choose that option, then you will be able to sign on and work on the homework assignments, and you can enter the access code when you get it from the KU Bookstore.

Enrollment/Registration

Is Math 105 the right course for me?

Math 105 fulfills the second-level requirement for B.A. and B.G.S. degrees in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The prerequisite is Math 101 (College Algebra) or Math 104 (Precalculus), or 2 years of high school algebra and a score of 26 or more on Enhanced ACT Mathematics, or a qualifying score on the Mathematics Department placement test. For questions about placement, consult the Mathematics Department Advisor, Lindsey Deaver, or your own departmental advisor.

Can I add the course late?

The last date that you can enroll without the instructor's permission is Friday, August 26. In general, the only reason for an exception is that you intend to take the course but are unable to enroll in time (e.g., because of a enrollment hold). In that case, you should:

notify both Lindsey Deaver (Mathematics Department Advisor) and Prof. Martin of your situation;
attend lectures, register for the course on MyMathLab, and complete the homework assignments while you are waiting for the hold to be lifted;
enroll as soon as possible.

The last day the Registrar will permit you to add a class is Monday, September 19. This deadline cannot be changed by individual instructors.

There are two sections of Math 105 listed on the Registrar's site. Which is which?

Prof. Martin's KU course ID is 13988. If you are on campus and you are coming to Budig 120, this is the course you should be enrolled in. Double-check the instructor's name and KU course ID number.

What are the Add/Drop dates?

The authority on this is the Registrar's Office, specifically the official KU academic calendar.

The last day to add/drop sections online is Friday, August 26.
First Period Drop ends on Monday, September 12.
The last day to add a class is Monday, September 19.
Second Period Drop ends on Wednesday, November 16.

Why am I not getting announcements by e-mail?

E-mail announcements go to a list that is automatically generated from students' registered KU e-mail addresses. You can confirm that you are on the course mailing list here. If you don't see the Math 105 mailing list on your subscriptions, make sure that your KU e-mail address is registered. If that still doesn't work, contact KU Information Technology for help.

Tests and Exams

How do I study for tests?

Do problems, do problems, do problems!

You can redo homework problems and similar problems on MyMathLab --- your score won't change if the deadline has passed, but the problems themselves are always available (go to the "Gradebook" section of MML, then use the "Review*quot; links next to each assignment).
Sample test problems are available on the "Test Problems" section of MyMathLab. Working on the practice problems will not affect your grade. (Even though MML thinks the problems are a "quiz", I will not see the "grade" that MML gives you, and it will not affect your actual grade in Math 105.)
The textbook has lots more exercises (labelled "Walking," "Jogging," and "Running" in increasing order of difficulty). For many topics, you can try making up your own problems! For example, if you are studying Chapter 2, you can make up your own weighted voting system and calculate the Banzhaf and Shapley-Shubik distributions yourself, then try to convince a friend that you have the right answer.

What aids are permitted on tests?

You may use a calculator, but no other aids. In particular, all cell phones must be turned off during tests.

How do I find out my assigned seat for the tests?

Assigned seats are available through MyMathLab; click on the "SEAT ASSIGNMENT" button from the home screen. (MyMathLab thinks the seat assignment is a grade, but just ignore that.) Here is a seating map of Budig 120. Single-letter seats are on the bottom floor, AA through MM are the side sections and the two rows on the balcony, and NN through VV are higher up.

I will not be able to attend class on the date of an exam. Can I schedule a makeup?

Yes. E-mail math105-f11@math.ku.edu as soon as you find out about the conflict. I will work with you to arrange a makeup test as soon as possible after the date of the exam. The makeup will be comparable in scope and difficulty to the regular exam. In general, I will assume that you are telling the truth about family or medical emergencies, but I reserve the right to ask you to provide appropriate documentation.

I missed the last exam. Can I schedule a makeup?

As a rule, no. Makeup tests are only for the purpose of accommodating schedule conflicts of which you inform the instructor in advance. If you have a legitimate, documentable emergency that prevented you from taking the test, contact me as soon as possible.

Miscellaneous

Do I need a calculator?

Calculators are allowed on the tests, but not required. Any model you have should be okay, since you will only need it for arithmetic (for example, you won't need graphing capabilities). The KU Bookstore sells simple calculators for under $10.

Can I save money by buying a used copy of the textbook?

Maybe. The MyMathLab subscription costs $80 by itself. The Bookstore's package (custom edition of the textbook plus MyMathLab access) costs $104. Therefore, if you can't find a copy of Tannenbaum (7th edition) for $24 or less, your cheapest option is the course packet at the Bookstore.

Can I get extra credit?

Yes, there is an extra-credit assignment, that requires some independent work. The deadline for submission is 11:59 PM on December 8 (the last day of classes).

What happens if I miss class?

If you will not be in class on an exam day, inform me (Prof. Martin) in advance to make appropriate arrangements (see above). For a regular lecture day, you do not have to inform me of your absence.

Are lecture notes available online?

I will post the overhead "slides" on the main website as I create them. I don't recommend that you use the slides instead of coming to class, but if something goes by too fast in lecture then you can use the slides to fill in the gaps. The slides are also a resource for material I discuss in lecture that isn't in the textbook. (By the way, the MyMathLab site includes a set of PowerPoint slides, but I won't be using these.)

Currently, the slides are not available from MyMathLab, just the course website.

Do not repost the slides to any other part of the Internet --- they are for your private use only.

Can I make an announcement to the whole class?

I permit some announcements, at my discretion. You must clear the announcement with me first, you must finish making your announcement before class starts at 3:00 PM, and you may not use class time to distribute or collect anything. I do not permit announcements that are in any way political (e.g., candidates for student office, or political advocacy groups). As a general rule, I will permit announcements of campus events open to all students. My granting permission for an announcement should not be construed as any kind of endorsement.

Can you recommend a private tutor?

Before considering a private tutor, visit the Help Room in Snow 151. At least one TA is in there at almost all times from 10-5 on weekdays (and I drop by when I can); here is the complete schedule. The TAs are there for the express purpose of helping students with homework problems --- think of them as tutors you've already paid for with your tuition dollars.

If you are still looking for a private tutor, you may contact me individually. The Math Department does not officially maintain a list of tutors, but sometimes tutors will post flyers near the undergraduate lounge on the third floor of Snow Hall.

Last updated Tue 11/29/11 7:30 AM CDT

Math 105 (Topics in Mathematics), Fall 2011 Frequently Asked Questions

MyMathLab

Enrollment/Registration

Tests and Exams

Miscellaneous

MyMathLab

Enrollment/Registration

Tests and Exams

Miscellaneous

Math 105 (Topics in Mathematics), Fall 2011
Frequently Asked Questions