Home, 5/4
Exam 4 turned out pretty well. You can see the statistics and the solutions in the usual place.

The final exam is on Monday at 10:30. The final exam replaces your weakest exam grade if it is better. To find out whether you should take the final, find out your grade first (I either gave it to you already, or you can email me from your murraystate account to get it), and then check with the grade computer to see what you would need to make on the final in order to get a better grade.

The final exam will be much like our regular exams, only 50% longer (6 pages instead of 4). The best way to start preparing for a final exam is to make sure you can do all the problems on our  past exams. The problems on the final will be very much like those problems. All the blank exams and joysheets are available on the website, along with their solutions. If you need help with anything, come to see me during office hours (make an appointment if you cannot make it during the hours below).
Finals week office hour schedule

Monday 9:00-10:30 & 1:00-3:00
Tuesday 10:30-3:00
Wednesday 1:00-3:00
Thursday 9:00-10:30

Good luck with finals!

(scroll down for previous messages)

Home, 4/27
Exam 4 is scheduled for Thursday. It will cover sections 14.1 and 15.1-15.3. Check out sample exam 4 in the usual place.

On Tuesday we will cover sections 15.2 and 15.3, as well as answer any questions ahead of the exam. If you want to look ahead, work on homework in the sections covered on the exam.

I will have the exams and final grades done by Friday. We will meet at a specified time on Friday for you to pick up your exams and final grades so that you can decide whether to take the final exam on Monday of finals week (recall it replaces your weakest exam, but only if it is better). If you cannot come to this meeting, try to find me at the office on Friday, or email me from your Murray State account, and I will send your grade.

Joysheet 10 (last one!) was is due on Thursday and is due on Thursday of next week. If you would like yours before Tuesday, you can find it in the usual place.


 Home, 4/20
Next week we start on a new chapter. We will have one more exam, on Thursday of the last week of classes, after which I will let you know what your grade is for the course. If you are not happy with it, you can take the final exam in an effort to improve it (consult with the grade computer to see if it is feasible, or ask me).

In the meantime, if you haven't yet given me Joysheet 9, get it to me as soon as possible.



 Home, 4/13
Exam 3, covering 12.1-12.5 is scheduled for Thursday. On Tuesday, we will work on section 12.5 and take any questions over homework in 12.3-12.5, as well as any other questions ahead of the exam.

Joysheet 9 was given out yesterday, due on Thursday. If you don't have one and would like to get it before Friday, look in scores and docs.


 Home, 4/6
Joysheet 8 was given out on Thursday and it is due on Thursday of next week. You can find it in the usual place. Our next exam will be happening very soon (we have two exams to go before the end of the semester) - I expect it will happen the week after next.

Exam 2 turned out poorly. All the problems were fairly standard, so I am guessing that people are not really working on their homework. Missing classes may have something to do with it as well. You can see the statistics and find the solutions to the exam on the scores and docs page. The next two exams are generally easier, so try to do your best on them to improve your grades.


 Home, 3/30
After exam 2 there is no assignment for next time. Take some time to relax (if your other courses are not bearing down on you) and recharge your batteries for the end of the semester rush!


 Home, 3/16
Joysheet 7 was distributed on Thursday and is due on Thursday after spring break. If you would like to have it before Tuesday, get it among the "complete joysheets" on the scores and docs page.

Exam 2, covering 11.1, 11.4, 11.6-11.8 has been scheduled for the Thursday after spring break. On Tuesday we will go over homework in 11.7 and 11.8 and take any other questions you may have ahead of the exam. Check out the sample exam: all the problems are representative of what may come on our exam.

Have a great spring break!


 Home, 3/9
Joysheet 6 was distributed on Thursday and is due on Thursday of next week. If you would like to have it before Tuesday, get it among the "complete joysheets" on the scores and docs page.

Last week I forgot to comment on exam 1. It turned out poorly, although it was not a very difficult exam, and was very similar to what we did in class and had on joysheets. Generally, since exam 1 covers the hardest part of the course, its results are not strong. This semester they were even more so, perhaps owing to worse attendance and joysheet submission rate than usual.

Folks, this is not difficult stuff, but it does need some work from you - it cannot be mastered in an afternoon. If you want a decent grade, you will have to work on homework problems and joysheets. The good news is that our remaining exams have usually been easier for students, so now is a good time to start studying, so you can get your grade up with easier material.

And there will be an opportunity to show you are working soon: Exam 2, covering 11.1, 11.4, 11.6-11.8 has been scheduled for the Thursday after spring break. In the meantime, we will start covering topics in chapter 12.

The grade computer has been updated so that it reflects the grade structure of our course. Try it to see what you need to make on the next exam in order to have a desired overall grade.



Home, 3/2
Joysheet 5 was distributed on Thursday and is due on Thursday of next week. If you would like to have it before Tuesday, get it among the "complete joysheets" on the scores and docs page. If you weren't in class on Thursday, you will have to do the dice roll experiment yourself and find groupmates to pool your results with.


 Home, 2/24
After exam 1, you may relax one weekend.

If you haven't yet turned in Joysheet 4, try to get it to me as soon as possible (I take off for lateness, and the fee depends on how many days your assignment is late).


 Home, 2/17
Exam 1 is scheduled for Thursday (2/23). It will cover chapter 8. Check out the sample exam 1 to see what a typical exam looks like. You may ignore problem 4, as we have not done such things this semester. Material that may come on our exam, but does not appear on the sample exam is the segment on taxes in 8.1 and the one on the average daily balance method in 8.5 (so make sure you study that from the book).

Joysheet 4 was handed out yesterday, it is due on Tuesday. If you did not get a chance to pick yours up, you can find it on the scores and docs page.


 Home, 2/10
On Thursday, Joysheet 3 was handed out (due Thursday of next week). You can still pick it up on Tuesday, or, if ou would like it sooner, it is on the "scores and docs" page, with all previous joysheets (see complete joysheets).

I anticipate that our first exam will be during the week after next, covering chapter 8.


 Home, 2/3
Homework in 8.3 is assigned for discussion on Tuesday. Joysheet 2 was also handed out on Thursday, which is due on Thursday of next week. You can get it in class on Tuesday or download it from the "scores and docs" page.


Home, 1/27
Homework in 8.2 is assigned for discussion on Tuesday. I'll probably have a new joysheet for you next week as well.

Today I uploaded some sample exams to the "scores and docs" page. They are good guides for what may come up on our exams.


 Home, 1/17
Welcome to the course!  Look around to familiarize yourself with the layout of these webpages.  Note that the most important links at right are highlighted.  All documents (homework assignment, solutions to exams, etc.) can be found at the "scores and documents" page.

 These pages will get more content as information becomes available.  Check back often: useful information is provided in the "home" section (which you are reading), typically updated weekly.  Homework assignments will be updated when we start a new chapter.