Home, 1/20 (last message)

Somehow, it took me a while to write this final update. Chances are, only my eyes will see it. But, inexplicably, you are here, so you can get a few bits of information, like the statistics for exam scores and letter grades. (Be aware that average scores for the final exam are always lower, because none of the students who have an A in the class take it. Also, the average for homework for 5.3 and 5.5 is above 100 because a number of people turned in the bonus homework for 5.5, while I counted it out of only the total of points for 5.3.)

I greatly enjoyed teaching this class and hope you found it useful — it definitely should be if you are taking further calculus courses. Thanks to everyone who engaged in the class and actively participated during homework discussion. You make my job easier!

It's too late to wish you a good winter break, so I hope you have a good spring semester!


Home, 12/5

The final exam can occur as early as Wednesday and as late as Friday. My preferred time is Thursday at 10:30 in our usual classroom, with a final exam for another class. If you cannot make that time, email me and we will arrange something. Recall that the final exam is optional - you take it if you wish to try to improve the grade I assigned you. It replaces your weakest two exam grades if it is better (this means better than the average of the two exams).

The final exam will consist of six pages and will be comprehensive, covering all the material we had during the semester. No one should have trouble finishing it, as it is 50% longer than our usual exam, but you get twice the time. The questions will be very much like the questions we had on the five exams, therefore, if you are taking the final, make sure you can do all the problems on the exams we had. Check out a sample final on the scores and docs page, too.


Home, 12/2

Exam 4 didn't turn out too well, so I am allowing a redo for up to 10 additional points. If you want to take advantage of this, submit the redo by the time you take Exam 5. Do the same for redo of Exam 3 if you haven't turned it in already.

Exam 5 is scheduled for Monday at 1:30 in room 308, where one of my classes has a final exam. (If you cannot make this time, come on Tuesday at 10:30 in our usual clasroom for the exam.) It will cover sections 4.7, Appendix B and 5.1-5.3. Check out sample exam 5 for some representative problems. Problems 10, 11 and 12 come from section 5.5 that we did not cover, so such problems will not be on the exam. They will be replaced by problems from the other sections the exam is covering, typically ones like we had on homework. We'll take 75 minutes for exam 5, so everyone should have enough time to finish it.

You will receive your overall score on the same day after you take exam 5 so you can decide whether to take the final exam. If you do, a convenient time for me would be Thursday at 10:30, when another of my classes has a final exam, but if this does not work for you, we can arrange a time from Wednesday to Friday.

Because section 5.5 is useful if you take Calculus 2, I am making it a bonus homework. Please turn in all outstanding homework by Friday.

If you need to see me, here is the office hour schedule for finals week:

To attend an office hour on Zoom, send me an email, so I can start the meeting.

Good luck on final exams!


Home, 11/23

Relax a little after exam 4. I hope to grade it tomorrow or the day after, and will post grades to Canvas so you can have this information sooner.

Homework for section 4.5 is due on Monday, but if you can turn it in earlier, that would be better.

On Monday, we will start new sections in chapter 5. I will write up the notes for this section by Sunday evening.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!


Home, 11/19

Exam 4 has been rescheduled to Tuesday.

Homework for sections 4.3 and 4.4 was due yesterday, but you can turn it in until Monday.

On Monday, we will finish up section 4.7 and take any questions you may have ahead of the exam.


Home, 11/12

Exam 4, covering sections 4.1-4.5, is scheduled for Friday. Check out sample exam 4 to see what it will be like.

Exam 3 turned out poorly. To help you with the scores, I am letting you turn in corrections to problems on pages 3 and 4, for up to 10 additional points on your score. Turn this in by Monday:

Homework for sections 4.1 and 4.2 is due tonight. On Monday, we will work on homework in sections 4.3 and 4.4, which I plan to have due on Wednesday, so you can get it back before the exam.


Home, 11/5

Take a little breather after exam 3. If you haven't done so already, last chance for submission of section 3.7 homework is tonight.

On Monday, we start with section 4.1. Notes for this chapter are now available on the website and on Canvas/files.


Home, 10/29

Exam 3, covering sections 2.8, 3.1-3.3, 3.5 and 3.7 is scheduled for Friday. Check out sample exam 3 for some representative problems.

On Monday, we will finish homework discussion of section 3.5, with sections 3.3 and 3.5 due on Tuesday. I plan on making section 3.7 due on Wednesday, so that you can get it back before the exam if you turn it in by Wednesday night.


Home, 10/22

Exam 2 turned out decently, but a few people are struggling with the basic task of taking derivatives. This is essential for everything we will be doing in the future, so, if necessary, please review the differentiation rules. Do a lot of the odd-numbered problems in the recommended homework - then you can check the answer in the back of the book.

Exam 2 solutions and grade statistics can be found on the "scores and docs" page.

On Monday, we will discuss homework in section 3.2, with anticipated due date for sections 3.1 and 3.2 on Tuesday.

Looking ahead, exam 3 is likely in the second half of week after next.


Home, 10/14

On Monday, we will discuss homework in sections 2.8 and appendix A.


Home, 10/8

Uh-oh, looks like I forgot to update this page last week, but not much has happened.

Exam 2 is scheduled for Wednesday, covering sections 2.1-2.7. Homework over sections 2.5 and 2.6 are due today, and 2.7 is due on Monday, so you can get it back before the exam. If you cannot make these deadlines, you can still submit the homework a day or two later, until the assignment closes.

Check out sample exam 2 to get an idea of what our exam might look like.


Home, 9/23

Exam 1 turned out average. You can see the class grade statistics on the "scores and docs" page, along with a solution of the exam.

On Monday, we will finish section 2.4. and start discussing homework over it. Homework for sections 2.3 and 2.4 is due on Wednesday.


Home, 9/16

On Monday, we will finish discussion of homework in section 2.2. and then continue with new material. On Tuesday, homework for sections 2.1 and 2.2 will be due.


Home, 9/9

Exam 1, covering sections 1.3-1.6, is scheduled for Wednesday. Calculators will be allowed and needed for a problem or two on this exam only. On future exams, calculators will not be allowed.

Check out sample exam 1 on the "scores and docs" page to get an idea of what the exam may look like. While it will resemble the sample one in many ways, don't expect it to be the same thing with some numbers changed. Rather, think of it as covering the same essential ideas as the sample exam. Try to do the sample exam in 50 minutes to see if you have enough proficiency.

Homework for sections 1.5 and 1.6 is due on Sunday.

On Monday, we will continue with section 2.1. On Tuesday, about half the class will be devoted to any questions you may have ahead of the exam. Chapter 2 blank notes have been posted — print them so you may follow the class more easily.


Home, 9/3

On Tuesday, we will continue with section 1.6. Section 1.6 rounds out the chapter, so expect an exam soon, week after next.

Nothing is due right now (sections 1.5 and 1.6 will be later next week) unless you have not submitted homework for 1.2 and 1.4, which is still possible. So go ahead and take it easy for the long weekend!


Home, 8/26

On Monday, we will discuss homework from section 1.2, and homework for sections 1.2 and 1.4 will be due on Tuesday at the earliest. Recall that if you missed something in homework discussion, photos of the board are always on Canvas/files.

After homework discussion, we will continue with section 1.5.

Many people seem rusty with their algebra or trigonometry. To additionally help you review some necessary skills, you can check out supplementary materials for review on the "scores and docs" page. There is a textbook-like document with examples ("Essential Mathematical Skills") and some additional problems ("More Problems"). On page 3 of our regular homework sheet you can see the sections of "Essential Mathematical Skills" that I find most important for our course. I will not be collecting any homework from this review (all of it is 100% optional), but if you would like to make sure you are doing things correctly, I can look at your solutions.

Tutoring information for the Ross Center has been updated on the "free tutoring" page.


Home, 8/19

On Monday, we start with section 1.4.

Homework for sections 1.1 and 1.3 is due on Tuesday — upload on Canvas as a single file.


Home, 8/15

Welcome to the course! Look around to familiarize yourself with the layout of these webpages. To get to other pages, click on the links in the menu (or drop-down, if viewing on a smartphone). The most often-used pages are in the first line of the menu (or the first several choices of the drop-down). "Scores and docs," for example, has all the documents for the course.

Your first exercise is to find the syllabus on these pages and read it. The items there that are typically of greatest interest to students are from "Homework" to "Make-ups."

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. For now, here is some information on recitation sections, Canvas and assignment submission procedures.

Recitation Sections: Graduate teaching assistants hold two hours per week of additional question-and-answer sessions — you may find these optional sections useful. See schedule under "free tutoring" — you can go to any of the recitation sections.

Canvas: Canvas will mainly be the repository of class notes, your grades, and a place to upload homework. Information about the course and weekly messages will be posted to this website (also accessible from Canvas). (Why bother with the website outside of Canvas? Two reasons: it's easier to make updates to it, and it stays public, something I value, and you may grow to as well, as a service to future students of this same course.)

Assignments and exams: For increased convenience of assignment submission and return, all written assignments will be submitted and returned on Canvas. Exams will be taken in person.

Assignment submission: is through Canvas as PDF files only, to facilitate easier grading and return.

If you are scanning, resolution of 100dpi has been good enough for exam solutions, so it should be adequate for your assignments. (Resulting smaller files are quicker to upload and download).

If you don't have a scanner, take pictures with your phone, and try to lay the assignment sheet on a flat surface with good lighting. Use a lower resolution setting for the camera, to reduce final file size. Then use an app to bundle the pictures into a PDF. Some phones have native support for this, for others you can download a free app. Here are some that have been recommended to me: default notes app on the iPhone, Adobe Scan, Tiny Scanner, CamScanner, Notebloc.