Gateway Workshops are in Fowler 301 from 12:30-1:25 every weekday starting September 4.

The gateways are short diagnostics which will measure your abilities in certain fundamental skills. There are four areas to be covered this semester, three review topics and one new topic. You must eventually show 90\% proficiency in each. The topics are described below. We consider the skills in the gateways to be fundamental to your proficiency in mathematics and science. That is why we have separated these diagnostics out from the other evaluation tools in this class.

You will be given the first version of all the gateways in class (lab). We will announce an upcoming gateway exam ahead of time, so you can prepare for it. If you achieve 90% proficiency on any gateway, you will pass that gateway. Those of you who don't achieve 90% proficiency will need to retake the exam at the Gateway Workshops until you achieve 90% proficiency. Your final semester grade will be adjusted for each gateway passed. The highest grade you can receive for classwork alone is a B}. For every gateway passed, your grade will be raised by a third of a letter grade. Thus you can only earn an A by successfully mastering all three gateways.

 Students attending the workshop will be given a new version of the gateway exam. If you score 90 or better, you may leave. If you score below 90, you will remain and work with the gateway faculty coordinator or one of the student assistants on a worksheet designed to help you learn the skills you need to pass the exam. The schedule for the Gateway Workshops will be announced in the next two weeks.

You should also take advantage of the assistance of classmates, the Center for Academic Excellence or your professors. We expect all students to progress through all three gateways this semester. It is imperative that you get started as soon as possible and keep up the pace throughout the semester.

Gateway 1 -- Exponents Review (HELP SHEET and PRACTICE EXAM with SOLUTIONS)
Simplify expressions of the form a^pb^q
Simplify expressions of the form (c^d)^e
Solve equations of the form 2^x = a

Gateway 2 -- Equations Review  (HELP SHEET and PRACTICE EXAM with SOLUTIONS)
Solve linear and quadratic equations
 Solve simultaneous linear equations
 Solve linear inequalities 3x-5<2
 Solve quadratic inequalities (e.g. x²-4>0)

Gateway 3 -- Functions (HELP SHEET and PRACTICE EXAM with SOLUTIONS)
Evaluate functions at real numbers and at algebraic expressions, i.e. given a formula for a function f, you should be able to find f(-2) or f(x-h).
 Know how to compose and decompose functions.
Evaluate algebraic expressions involving functions.
 Write expressions involving functions from a verbal description.
 Find the domain of a function.
 Given a function of two or more independent variables and a constraint equation, reduce the function to a function of one variable.

Gateway 4 -- Derivatives:
 Know the derivatives of elementary functions, e.g. xⁿ, sin(x), cos(x), tan(x), a^x, e^x and ln(x), etc.
 Know the rules of differentiation (product, quotient and chain) and be able to use use them individually and in combination.
Know the limit definition of the derivative.
 

You must pass EITHER Gateway 1 or Gateway 2 AND BOTH Gateway 3 and 4 in order to get an A in this course.