Preparing for the final exam

Here are the subjects that you will want to study for, in preparation for the final exam:

• Graphs: how to draw graphs of functions given information about height, slope, and concavity
• Graphs: how to interpret graphs of functions by using height, slope, and concavity
• Limits: computing limits, especially of the form 0/0
• The Definition of the Derivative (almost like an essay question, where content, form, and syntax all matter)
• Tangent lines: how to derive them, and what they tell us (or don't) about the function
• Algebraic derivative rules:  the chain, product, and quotient rules, along with rules for derivatives of functions
• Applications of derivatives to physical situations, especially regarding optimization
• Applications of derivatives to algebraic and graphical situations, especially regarding optimization
• Antiderivatives
• Riemann Sums
• Integrals, especially representing area under a curve
• The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus: using antiderivatives as a tool to compute area

Here is a copy of a final exam I gave in 2006.   Here are the solutions to that exam.

Here is a copy of a final exam I gave in 2011.  Here are the solutions to that exam.

I will hold open office hours before the exam -- tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, December 13 from 9 to 5.

Our exam will be Thursday December 14 at 7 p.m. in the Lisa Bonchek Adams Auditorium.  We will share that space with another calculus class.  When you arrive, place your backpacks (etc) at the front of the room and then look for a desk with a yellow exam.  We'll alternate the rows Crannell, Ressler. and empty (the empty rows are so that we can get to you if you have questions).    You don't want to take the green exam!

The front page of your exam reads,

Directions: During this exam, please leave your backpack, cell phone, and other personal belongings at the front of the classroom. You may use one sheet of notes. (You may write on both sides of this sheet). You may not use a calculator, your book, or any other notes. 

This exam contains 11 questions on 10 pages. If you have any questions during the exam, please do feel free to ask for clarification. 

Please save 5–10 minutes for writing up your solutions neatly. If you would like to leave early, please leave quietly so that you don’t disturb your classmates. 

Solutions to the second midterm

The solutions to the second midterm are here.

The rest of the semester . . .

Friday November 17:  Web Assign Homework H-4.6.2 is due 4 p.m.

No other homework (group homework or webassign) due before Thanksgiving break.
Monday, November 20:  Check-in 4.6.2

Thanksgiving break homework:

• Get lots of sleep!
• Wash your hands, too.
• Web Assign H-4.8 due Sunday, November 26

Monday, November 27:  Check-In 4.8.  No Group homework due.

Tuesday, November 28: Web Assign H-5.1

Wednesday, November 29:  Check-In 5.1

Thursday, November 30: Web Assign H-5.2

Friday, December 1:  Check-In 5.2

Sunday, December 3:  Web Assign H-5.3

Monday, December 4:  Check-In 5.3

              also, Group Homeworks G-4.6.2, 4.8, 5.1, 5.2 due.

Tuesday, December 5:  overflow, in case we need time

Wednesday, December 6:  Begin review, I hope.

Solutions to Group Homeworks G-4.3 and G-4.6

Here is a solution to group homework G-4.3.

Here is a solution to group homework G-4.6.

mid-November Calculus happenings

Here are some up-coming calculus events

• Wednesday, Nov. 8:  Check-In 4.3.
  We're starting section 4.6 in class.  The homeworks for this section will take a good bit of time; I strongly suggest starting them early, so you can figure out where you get stuck, and ask questions in class.
• Thursday, Nov. 9:  Nothing due.  (But look at Web Assign!!!)
• Friday, Nov. 10:  Check-In 4.6.   This one will be 10 minutes -- 5 where you can talk to classmates, and then 5 minutes alone.
• Sunday, Nov 12:  Web Assign H-4.6.
• Monday, November 13: Group HW G-4.2, 4.3, 4.6
• Tuesday, November 14: Nothing due.
  Open office hours, 9 a.m. -11:30 a.m. and again 12:30 p.m.--3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 15:  Midterm 2.
• Thursday, November 16:  Nothing due, but do as much of Web-Assign H-4.6.2 as you can.
• Friday, November 17 in class, we'll do more with word problems.  We'll have a half-hour to look over Web Assign problems, so feel free to bring your computer.
  Web-Assign H-4.6.2 is due after class at 4:00 p.m. (Friday).

What's due in early November

Here are some upcoming assignments in early November.

• Thurs., Nov. 2: WebAssign H-3.7
• Fri, Nov. 3: Check-In 3.7
• Sun, Nov. 5: WebAssign H-4.2
• Mon., Nov. 6: Group Homework G-3.6 and G-3.7
•         also, Check-In 4.2
• Tues., Nov. 7:  WebAssign 4.3
• Wed., Nov. 8:  Check-In 4.3

At this point, we'll start section 4.6, Optimization problems.  These are word problems, which we'll want to spend a bunch of time on.  We'll see how that goes . . . I'll assign homeworks when I think you're ready for them.

The midterm on November 15 will cover material up through section 4.6.   See the previous blog post for lots of information about preparing for the midterm.

The second midterm

Our second midterm will be in class on November 15.

As before, I encourage you to review by practicing problems.   You can

• redo Group homework problems
• practice the Flashcard problems, especially pages 9-21 (available from a link ---> over there)
• redo your WebAssign problems.

Here is a copy of the midterm I used last fall; here are solutions to that midterm.

If, while you're practicing, you realize you need some help, you can

• see the math tutors (available Sun-Thurs 4p.m. - 10 p.m.), or 
• come see me.   

As usual, my office hours are whenever my door is open, or by appointment.  In addition, I'll have

• "Open Office Hours" on Tuesday November 14, 9 a.m. -- 3 p.m.

The directions on the front of this year's second midterm reads,

Directions: During this exam, please leave your backpack, cell phone, and other personal belongings at the front of the classroom. You may use one sheet of notes. (You may write on both sides of this sheet). You may not use a calculator, your book, or any other notes. 

This midterm contains (6 or 7) questions on 7 pages. If you have any questions during the exam, please do feel free to ask me for help or for clarification. 

Please save 5–10 minutes for writing up your solutions neatly. If you would like to leave early, please leave quietly so that you don’t disturb your classmates. 

This midterm asks questions about material up through section 4.6.