Calculus as October becomes November

Here are some upcoming due dates and events

• R October 26:  Web Assign H-3.4.1
• F October 27:  No class!  Since some of you asked, here is where I'll be.
• M October 30:  Group Homeworks G-3.3 and 3.4
• T October 31:  Web Assign H-3.6
• W November 1:  Check-In 3.6
• R November 2:  Web Assign H-3.7

Calculus in the end of October

Here are some upcoming due dates and events

• F October 20:  Check-In 3.2 on the product and quotient rule
• S October 21:  Family Meet and Greet, 10-11 a.m. (my office, Stager 221)
• S October 22:  Web Assign H-3.3
• M October 23: Group Homeworks G-2.6, 3.1, 3.2 
  --- also, Check-In 3.3 on Trig Derivatives
• T October 24: Web Assign H-3.4 
  --- also, Math club event (see below)
• W October 25:  Check-In 3.4 on the Chain Rule
• R October 26:  Web Assign H-3.4.1
• F October 27:  No class!
• M October 30:  Group Homeworks G-3.3 and 3.4

There's a Math Club event on Tuesday, October 24 at 4:30.  Here's what the Math Club President says:

Come to the "Virtual Tour of the Math Department" presentation at 4:30 PM on Tuesday, October 24th, in Stager 215! 
Come hear about the professors’ research interests, their journeys of becoming a mathematician.  Come hear the experiences of current math major/minors who have studied abroad in a math program and non-math program, who have done summer research/independent study, and who also have a major in physics/computer science.  Come hear from those majors who are graduating earlier, and from recent graduates. Come to know about what resources the department has to offer you.  Come to know anything you need to know about the department...and ask any questions you may have!
Cannot be missed! Looking forward seeing you there!
Sent on behalf of ChengCheng Zhai, Math Club President

Solutions to the first midterm

Here are the solutions to the first midterm.

There was a slight curve on the midterm.  To calculate this curve, what I did was to first add up the points from the problems you solved.  That "total" I then multiplied by 4/5 and added 20.  I then rounded to the nearest whole number.  The curved grade is the circled one on your exam, and that's what I entered into Canvas.

The average grade on the exam (after the curve) was 80.

No group homework this weekend

To give you time to recover after the midterm, I've decided to scratch this week's group homework.  There NO group homework due Monday, October 16!

There is a WebAssign homework (3.1) that will give you practice with the power rule and the exponent rule, due Sunday right before midnight.

You will get more practice on the power rule and exponent rule on WebAssign homework 3.1.2 (due Tuesday October17).  We will have Checkin 3.1 on Wednesday, October 18.

So here is a list of upcoming due dates for the next week :

• October 15:  WebAssign 3.1
• October 17:  Web Assign 3.1.2
• October 18:  Check-In 3.1
• October 19:  WebAssign 3.2
• October 20:  Check-In 3.2
• October 23: Group Homeworks G2.6, 3.1, 3.2

Fall break homework, plus exam topics

For Fall Break, you have three calculus assignments:

1. Do Web Assign Homework H-2.8, by Tuesday the 10th.
2. Get lots of sleep. And then, more sleep.  If your parents ask what you're doing, say, "My calculus homework!"
3. Wash your hands frequently.  

You've been under a bunch of stress, and so the sudden release of tension, combined with easy access to new germs, will bring a bunch of people down.  Don't be one of those people!

*****

What's going to be on the exam?  Really, any material so far is fair game.  I tried to design the midterm with questions that would assess the following skills:

• making connections between physical reality and algebraic expressions
• making connections between graphs and algebraic expressions
• constructing formulas for linear functions
• constructing formulas for exponential functions
• manipulating logarithms (using log rules, and determining inverses)
• graphing compositions of functions and inverses of functions
• evaluating limits that involve 0-over-0
• evaluating or constructing formulas for functions that have various asymptotes and roots
• beautifully demonstrating and applying the definition of the derivative

In particular, the last question on this midterm will ask you to use the definition of the derivative; I will grade this question on accuracy and completeness as well as on correct notation and formatting.  

Hidden within the list of calculus skills above is an ability to do algebra: to factor quadratics, to simplify fractions, to distribute negative signs, to multiply by the conjugate, to manipulate exponents.  These are not the main subject of calculus, but it's hard to do calculus correctly if you haven't practiced your algebra skills.

During the midterm, I will ask you to leave your backpack, cell phone, and other personal belongings at the front of the classroom. You may bring one 8.5"x11" sheet of notes. (You may write on both sides of this sheet). You may not use a calculator, your book, or any other notes.