Introduction to Technical Writing in Math 110
How to Use the Technical Writing Assignments
The technical writing skills that you are expected to master will be broken into the Preset
assignment you have already done and four written assignments. Each assignment builds on the
previous ones. Each time you complete a new technical writing assignment, you will be
expected to use the skills you have already learned from the assigned article, the Preset
assignment and the previous assignments. Ultimately, you will be using these skills for a
Project which is worth 10% of your grade.
Each of the four written assignments focuses on different skills. These skills are summarized for
you and an example is given. Also, a rubric for technical writing is developed throughout the
assignments. You should follow these steps in approaching technical writing assignments:
1. Read the summary information about the new skills addressed in the assignment.
2. Read the problem that is used for the Example. Most of these problems come from the
book.
3. Read the example and pay particular attention to the notes at the side. Please be aware
that every piece of technical writing is unique. You should not use these examples as
templates in which you just change a few numbers and words. You should use them to
develop an overall understanding of what makes good technical writing.
4. Read the rubric. Review previous technical writing assignments if you are unsure of any
items in the rubric.
5. Read the problem assigned for your writing. Do the math first. When you are confident
of the mathematics, rewrite your work using the technical writing skills you have learned.
All technical writing assignments should be typed and double spaced, although
calculations, graphs, and tables may be done neatly by hand.
6. Check your work using the rubric. It is always a good idea to have someone else check
your work also.
7. When you turn in your technical writing, staple the printed page with the assignment and
the rubric to the assignment.
The following are general tips that apply to all technical writing assignments.

Write an introduction that summarizes important information.
All technical writing assignments in this course will require that you write a complete
summary of the question(s) that has been assigned. Your summary should “stand alone”
meaning that someone could read it and understand the situation and all your work
without reference to the book or the assignment. If a source is given for information, this
information should always be included in your summary.

Use specific language and values.
Use specific numerical values instead of generalizations. For example, don’t say, “There
was a large increase from 1990 to 2000.” Your idea of “large” may be different from
someone else’s. Instead give specific values or comparisons: “The value tripled from
1990 to 2000” or “The value increased from $20,000 in 1990 to $60,000 in 2000.”
Math 110 Technical Writing Assignment #2: Using Equations and Calculations
Date Assigned:
Date Due:
Focus: Using equations and showing calculations
One of the most important aspects of writing mathematics is writing about the use of equations
(can also be called models, functions or formulas).
 Equations have no value if the reader does not know what the variables stand for.
Therefore, variables should always be defined by the letter being used, what it represents,
units of measurement and whether it is independent or dependent.
 If the equation is given, you should state it was given, and, if appropriate, give its source.
Commonly known formulas with names should be referred to by name, i.e., “using the
Pythagorean Theorem…”
 The meaning of the different parts of the equation should be interpreted in the context of
the problem. This may occur as a part of explaining how the model is created or in the
introductory summary, or it may need to be explained after the function is given.
 The reader should be able to understand how you did your work. This requires some
judgment on your part. A simple calculation does not require much explanation, but
others require a great deal of detail. If you are unsure about how much detail you need,
ask someone who is not familiar with the exercise to read your explanation to see if they
can follow your work. Simple calculations can be described in words but multiple steps
are better shown symbolically (see below).
 Steps on a calculator are not important unless that is the purpose of the explanation.
That will not be the case in these assignments. If you use a calculator in an important
way (beyond doing calculations) you can briefly state that. For example, “The function
was graphed using a calculator. The sketch is shown below.”
 A calculation that is used repeatedly only needs to be explained once.
 Lists of information are often best displayed in a table rather than written in a sentence.
 Explanations should be given for how values in a table are generated.
Example Solution to #106ad, p. 117
Important Points:
 The response is written
as one complete piece
and is not broken into
parts a, b, c from the
question
 Introduction summarizes
information
 Variables are defined
 A brief verbal
explanation is given for
the calculation and the
rest is shown
symbolically
 Results of calculations
are interpreted
 A statement indicates
that calculations are
repeated
 Table summarizes
information
 Table has title and
column labels
The relationship between the number of chirps per minute for the snow tree
cricket, K, and the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, F, is modeled by the
equation K = 4F -160. In this equation the chirps per minute (K) is the
dependent variable and the temperature (F) is the independent variable. The
slope shows that there is an increase of 4 chirps per minute for every
increase of one degree Fahrenheit. The vertical intercept of -160 chirps
does not have meaning in the context of the problem because negative
chirps are not possible. Values can be generated by evaluating the function
at different values of F as shown below.
Let F = 50
K = 4(50) – 160
K = 200 – 160
K = 40
Therefore, when the temperature is 50ºF, the snow tree cricket chirps 40
times a minute. Using the same process, other values can be found.
Temperature and Number of Chirps of Snow Tree Cricket
Degrees Fahrenheit
Chirps per Minute
50
40
70
120
90
200
Assignment:
In the land of Utopia, for persons who make less than $35,000 per year, the income tax they pay
is 15% of their income.
a) Generate a formula that describes the above situation.
b) What is the independent variable? The dependent variable?
c) Does your formula represent a function? Justify your answer.
d) What are the domain and range for this function?
e) Generate a small table of values.
Important note on the Rubric: Note that many of the items in the rubric have the notation “if
applicable”. Not every piece of technical writing should include every item. As the writer, you
have to decide what is appropriate and necessary to answer the question completely. If you are
not sure if you should include an item, ask yourself if the information is needed to make your
work clear to someone who is not familiar with the question.
Rubric
Item
A
Properly formatted (typed, double spaced, attached rubric)
B
Complete sentences with proper grammar, spelling punctuation
C
Language is precise (limited use of pronouns, correct terminology, etc.)
D
Introduction summarizes important information
E
Completely and correctly answers the question(s)
F
G
H
All variables are identified (letter, what it represents, units, ind/dep) (if
applicable)
Equation/formula/model is given and parts of equation are identified/explained
(if applicable)
Calculations (if applicable) are introduced verbally and mathematical steps are
shown
I
Results of calculations (if applicable) are interpreted in a complete sentence
J
Table (if applicable) has title and columns are labeled
Points