This document provides tips for formatting homework assignments to succeed in Math 170. It recommends (1) reading the textbook, studying, and asking questions; (2) writing each problem and solution on separate lines with space between, showing all work clearly; and (3) providing an example problem solution formatted with each step on a new line and indented continuation lines to improve readability.

1. How to succeed in Math 170
August 24, 2014
These tips will help you format your work in a way that keeps your instructor happy,
makes things easier to grade, and will also help you track your work and identify possible
errors a lot easier. It will also leave room in your work for Jason’s comments on your
homework, which is incredibly valuable.
Note that these are not ALL specific requirements, though some are. The only purpose
here is to give you an idea on how to ideally format your work for the best possible reception
and ease of access for all people involved.
1 Tips for Success
1. Read the Textbook. See the document titled ”How to Read a Math Textbook
2. Study
3. ASK QUESTIONS
4. Attend LA sessions
5. Talk to your peers
2 Homework
This is how your homework should look.
Homewor
Ma
1. On first line, Statement of problem
2. Begin solution on next line.
3. Place each new thought on a new line.
4. Don’t try to cram a whole problem into two lines on your paper. Take the room you need.
5. Place a visible space between each problem.
6. Don’t turn in paper with frayed edges.
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2. 3 Problems
Here is an example of how a problem should look.
Prove that limx→0+
√
x = 0
Solution: Let > 0 be given. Here x0 = 0 and L = 0, so we want to find a δ > 0 such
that for all x:
0 < x < δ ⇒|
√
x − 0 |< ,
or
0 < x < δ ⇒
√
x < .
Squaring both sides of this last inequality gives
x < 2
if 0 < x < δ.
or
0 < x < 2
⇒|
√
x − 0 |<
According to the definition, this shows that limx→0+
√
x = 0.
Note that each line is it’s own thought and statement. If a sentence in your proof goes
longer than one line, each line after the first is indented so that it is easily understood to
be part of the previous statement/line of reasoning. Finally, note that the last line is a
statement of what you have proved.
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