Reading the book is maybe the hardest step in this list but you will be so much more prepared to succeed on the homework and quizzes. Go slow, take your own notes, try out the calculations as you go.
Key points in the reading:
Section 7.2 is probably one of the most important sections in the textbook to really read. Take your time and try to absorb the story that is being told here. This notation and setup is the backbone for the entire chapter, and if you can understand this story then the rest of the chapter will be relatively straightforward.
Definition 7.5 is a doozy but you need to know all this notation, including the part after the centered equation. That information about delta x, x_k, and x^*_k is really important to understanding what the Riemann sum noation is all about.
Make sure you understand what “signed area” means and why it is automatically this signed area that is computed when you make a Riemann sum approximation.
Definitions 7.6, 7.7, and 7.8 are about special types of Riemann sums; each is different only in the way that the heights of the rectangles are determined (or if a trapezoid is used instead).
Key examples and how they relate to the HW:
Example 1 is a lot like the first three problems in the homework. For those problems you don’t need to use any sigma notation at all, just use the notation.
Examples 2 and 3 are about the sigma notation and all the other ancillary notation that comes with Riemann sums. This is what you’ll be doing in the last three homework problems.
Example 4 is also like the first three homework problems, except that in those homework problems you don’t need to write out the sigma notation. Make sure you understand both the sigma notation and how it relates to the pictures at the end of the example, and what is being added up in each case.
Step 4: Take a break
Don’t forget to rest. And eat. Eat something nice that you like. Eat nice food that makes you feel good. Then go take a nap.
Riemann sums are a really fundamental topic, so there are a lot of videos online about them. But not all of them are relevant or at the same level/perspective as your homework and quizzes, so I’ve looked at a lot of them and chosen some that seem to fit the best. See the list below and use them as you need to.
The rules for Mastery Quizzes are now different. For each section in Chapter 7 you will have exactly two opportunities to take the quiz for that section, and both of those attempts need to be completed in Canvas by the end-of-week deadline of 11:59pm on Sunday.
(For retakes of previous quizzes, I am working on a solution that I will announce in about a week. Most likely you will get a fixed amount of retakes for previous quizzes. The final exam structure will be announced later, but optimally will also consist of Mastery Quiz retakes.)
During each attempt you will have 15 minutes to answer three questions. The questions will appear one at a time and you will not be able to go back to previous questions. You will be able to see your quiz responses only one time, at the very end of the quiz.
As always, the quiz questions are randomized from a large bank of problems that are based on the homework assignments. This means that your second-attempt quiz will likely have completely different problems than your first-attempt quiz, which means that the best way to prepare for your retake is to study the homework assignments.
I strongly recommend that you wait at least 24 hours after your first quiz attempt before attempting your one and only retake for that section; therefore you should try to take the quiz the first time by Saturday afternoon so that you have time to take the retake on Sunday before the 11:59 pm deadline.
You are on your JMU honor to complete each quiz without any outside assistance; no calculators, computers, phones, or any other technology or help from other people.
Because other students will take quizzes at different times, you are also on your honor to not share any information about any quiz or its contents with anyone else. I will take honor violations very seriously; your respect for the JMU honor code will allow us to complete this course online. Thank you for making this possible.
You must finish the WebAssign homework and both quiz attempts before 11:59 pm on Sunday — but having said that, these are not normal times; please just text me if you need an extension due to personal, economic, or family situations.
Good luck, wash everything, stay put, and do what you can to help your families and our nation get through this crisis. Please reach out if you need anything at all.