Directions for Homework

One of the objectives of this course is that you be able to present your mathematics work in a neat, readable, and mathematically pleasing manner. The following directions will help you to do that, and will also make it easier for me to check your homework. 

1.   Use ordinary size (8½ x 11) notebook paper, not torn from a spiral notebook.

2. Work must be neat and legible.  Use a sharp pencil.  No ink or colored pencil, please. 

3. Use a one-column, vertical format – each problem should appear under the preceding problem.  When you reach the bottom of the page, go to the back of the sheet or a new page.  You may feel like you are wasting paper, but please, do not go across the page.

4. Present your problems in numerical order and leave some breathing space between them

5. No messy erasures and cross-outs.  If you (like me) are a messy writer, do each problem on scrap paper, then copy it neatly onto the paper to be handed in.  Treat it like a homework paper to be graded by your English teacher!

6. Be careful to use proper mathematical notation as shown in the book.  If you are not sure how to use the various types of notation, re-read the worked examples as your guide to proper usage.  The grammar of mathematics is just as important in mathematical presentations as English grammar is for English composition.

7. Show your work.  Sometimes you can get the right answer using the wrong method.  I need to check your method, so answers by themselves (unless obvious) will not be accepted.  The level of detail that you need to show is provided in the book's worked examples.

8. Do not show arithmetic: multiplications, divisions, etc., ugh!  Use a calculator!

9. Graphs must be labeled and scaled.*

10. Place graphs with the problem (not on a separate sheet of graph paper).*

11. If an assignment for a chapter section uses more than one sheet of paper, staple them together in the upper left-hand corner.  Assignments with loose papers, corner folds, corner tears, paper-clips, etc., will be returned, ungraded.  Assignments for different sections are to be stapled separately.

12. Check your answers against the answers in the back of the book.  If your answer doesn’t agree, re-read the book and examples, and try again.

13. If you cannot get an answer to a problem, please ask about it in class or visit the tutors.  You can e-mail me with questions, and I will respond with a hint.

14. Each day, I will provide an opportunity for you to ask about any troublesome problems.

Thanks, in advance, for following these directions.  Please don't make me return your papers for no credit by ignoring them!

* not applicable to College Mathematics