Getting to Know AJ Ledesma

1. My name is Anthony Joseph Ledesma 
2. My nickname is "AJ" 
3. I am 70 inches tall
4. I am 20 years old
5. My alarm is set at 9:30am every morning. 
6. Snickers 
7. Chips with Guacamole
8.  I love all kinds of music and many bands, but at the moment I am listening to Daft Punk while I am submitting this blog.
9.      I love to cook, mostly Mexican food. And I also have a Disneyland Pass (My entire family has one; so every Sunday is family day at Disneyland) 
10.       What is your mathematical background? (Not limited to the list below…list other topics if needed)
    Basic math        algebra1           algebra2           statistics           probability        trigonometry  
11.      What is your comfort level with solving math word problems, math application problems, and conceptual math problems?
    

    
    

    Comfortable (C)  
12.      What is your comfort level with math computations and calculations/using formulas and following steps and procedures?
    
    
    Comfortable (C)
13.  What is your comfort level with any of the following calculus concepts?
    
    
    Write one of the following next to each topic:
    
    
    Very comfortable (V)     comfortable (C)     uncomfortable (U)     extremely uncomfortable (E)
    Curve sketching (C)

    Instantaneous rate of change (C)

    Derivatives (of constant, linear, polynomial, power, rational, exponential, trigonometric, logarithmic functions) (U)

    Difference quotient (C)

    Limits (E)

    Continuity (C)

    Chain rule (an application of composition of functions) (U)

    Product and quotient rules for derivatives (E)

    Finding local and global maximums and minimums (U)

    Determining inflection points (U)

    Area under a curve (C)

    Anti-derivatives (U)

    Integration (of constant, linear, polynomial, power, rational, trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic functions) (U)

    Integration by parts (U)

    
    

    Integration by substitution (C) 
14. .   .   The following are concepts from algebra and precalculus that students taking applied calculus should be comfortable with.

    
    

    What is your comfort level with any of the following algebraic and precalculus concepts? (please note that weakness in any of these areas may make most aspects of this class more challenging than others)

    
    

    Write one of the following next to each topic:

    
    

    Very comfortable (V)     comfortable (C)     uncomfortable (U)     extremely uncomfortable (E)

    
    

    Equations (V)

    Factoring (V)

    Adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing fractions/rational expressions (V)

    Simplifying expressions (C)

    Simplifying rational expressions (fractions and fractional polynomials) (C)

    Operations on roots and fractional exponent expressions (C)

    Operations involving whole number exponent expressions (C)

    Finding common denominators (C)

    Inequalities (C)

    Functions (C)

    Absolute value (C)

    Linear functions (C)

    Systems of equations (C)

    Domain and range (C)

    Inverse functions(C)

    Transformations (shifting, scaling, stretching, etc) (C)

    Quadratic functions (C)

    Completing the square (U)

    Exponential functions (C)

    Logarithmic functions (U)

    Base e (U)

    Graphing (trigonometric, quadratic, linear, exponential, and logarithmic functions) (C)

    
    

    Trigonometric concepts (C)
15. Have you taken American university’s math 160 (applied precalculus) class? If yes, was your grade a "b" or better? Yes, and Better
16.     If you have not taken American university’s math 160 (applied precalculus) class, have you taken a college level (not a college equivalent high school class) equivalent?  If yes, was your grade a “b” or better? I have taken Math 160
17. Have you taken American university’s math 170 (precalculus mathematics) class? If yes, was your grade a “b” or better? I have NOT taken math 170. 
18. If you have not taken American university’s math 170 (precalculus mathematics) class, have you taken a college level (not a college equivalent high school class) equivalent?  If yes, was your grade a “b” or better? No, I not taken American University's math 170
19. Which Social Media formats are you familiar with? Texting, Facebook, Google Plus, Instagram, Snapchat, Yik Yak
20. Which social media formats do you use most frequently? Texting Facebook Instagram 
21. What is your major? Business Administration  
22. Why are you taking this math class? It is required for my major. 
    
    
23. Will you take other math classes in the future at American University or will this be your only math class? If yes, which classes do you anticipate taking? This will be my last math class at AU. 
    
    
24. What do you hope to learn in this class? I hope to learn the concepts that will help me with business concepts 
    
    
25. Is there anything else you would like me to know about you?  I come a big family background; I have 5 siblings and many aunts and uncles. I am first in my family to move far away for college. I was very fortunate to have a great supportive family.