Math 233 - Spring 2012

Section Information

Section Time Location Instructor Office Hours (Cupples I, Room 116)
1 MTuThF 9:00am - 10:00am McDonnell 162 John Shareshian MTuW 11:15am-12:15pm
2 MTuThF 10:00am - 11:00am Wilson 214 John Shareshian MTuW 11:15am-12:15pm
3 MTuThF 1:00pm-2:00pm Busch 100 John Shareshian MTuW 11:15am-12:15pm

Please include Math 233 in the subject line of any email message that pertains to this course. This is particularly important if you send the email from a yahoo or hotmail account instead of a cec or artsci account. It will help avoid accidental deletion of your still unread message. My e-mail address is shareshi@math.wustl.edu.

Teaching Assistants

The Math 233 TA is:

Brady Rocks
TA Office Hours: M 4-5pm, Calculus help room (Lopata 323)
T 1-2pm and 4-5pm, Calculus help room
WTh 4:30-6pm (January 110)

Text

University Calculus (Multivariable - 2nd edition) by Hass, Weir, Thomas

Grading Information

There will be three evening exams during the semester, E1, E2, E3, and a final, E4. Times and locations are as follows:

Exam Date Location Time Solutions
E1 Tuesday, February 7 Check here on exam day. 7:00-9:00PM Exam I - Solutions
E2 Tuesday, March 6 Check here on exam day. 7:00-9:00PM Exam II - Solutions
E3 Tuesday, April 3 Check here on exam day. 7:00-9:00PM Exam III - Solutions
E4 Thursday, May 3 Check here on exam day. 3:30PM-5:30PM Exam IV - Solutions


Your final grade will be based on the three exams, E1, E2, E3, the final exam E4, and the Webwork score, W; these are scaled so as to have each a maximum value of 100 points. These five scores are combined according to the following formula:

S = 0.85*(E1 + E2 + E3 + 2*E4 - min(E1, E2, E3, E4))/4 + 0.15*W



The term in parenthesis, T=E1 + E2 + E3 + 2*E4 - min(E1, E2, E3, E4), says that the final exam score, E4, replaces the worst score among E1, E2, and E3, if E4 is not the least value. If E4 is the least score, then all four exams are counted with equal weight. Then the total exam score T/4 and Webwork W are added up with weights 85% and 15%, respectively, to obtain the total score S.

The value of S will be translated into a letter grade of A, B, C, D, F (with plus and minus shadings) in a way that is not stricter than the following table (if the grade distribution of the whole class is significantly lower than usual, then "curving" may be considered, but it is unlikely to be needed):

Numerical Range Letter Grade
[90, 100] A
[80, 90) B
[65, 80) C
[50, 65) D
[0, 50) F


For example, if the evening exam scores are 89, 60, and 81, the final exam score is 94, and the Webwork score is 97, then 94 replaces the 60, and

S=0.85*(89 + 60 + 81 + 2*94 - min(86, 60, 78, 94))/4 +0.15*97 = 90.6.

That gives a grade in the A range.

PLEASE NOTE: In a class of this size, it is almost inevitable that, among students scoring in the range that leads to a grade of A or B, there will be no significant gap between the total score of the nth highest scoring student in the class and the (n+1)st highest scoring student. Therefore, it is almost inevitable that some students will just miss the cutoff for the grades just higher than the ones they get. I will not adjust grades for these unlucky students, no matter how much sympathy I have for them. Of course, if an error has been made in computing a student's score, it should be called to my attention.

The grade A+ is reserved for truly outstanding performance, and is given sparingly, if at all. The grades A-,B+,B- and C+ will most likely be used more often.

Exams


When writing exam questions, I often draw from the list of suggested problems (third column of the course plan below), so make sure that you have solved them prior to a test. These problems may not appear in a given test with exactly the same wording or numerical values as in the book since it is always necessary to restate them in an exam appropriate format, taking into account time limitation and other factors.

Exams typically will consist of 15 multiple choice questions.

Here are a few general items to keep in mind:

You should always bring your Washington University Photo ID to exams. Proctors will check student's IDs.

A small (3" x 5") index card may be used as a "cheat sheet." You may write on both sides and include any information you deem useful.

Only basic scientific calculators are permitted. (No graphing calculators.) Typical models of calculators that are acceptable are: Casio FX-250, Casio FX-260, FX-270, Casio FX-300, Sharp EL-501, Sharp EL-506, Sharp EL-520, Sharp EL-531, Sharp EL-546, TI-30, TI-34, TI-36

Note: Use of a prohibited calculator at an exam is an academic integrity violation. Any detected violation of academic integrity will be referred to the disciplinary committee of the College of Arts and Sciences. (General information about the university policy on academic integrity can be found here.)

Just before each exam you can look up your exam room assignment on the web at this link. The room will likely not be your regular classroom, and it may be a different one for each exam. You will be allowed to enter the exam room a few minutes before the starting time to locate your seat and personalized exam booklet, which will have your name printed on it in large letters.

There will be a short time after each exam is graded when you can look at your graded exam in the Math Office (Cupples I, room 100) if you feel there might have been some error in the grading. After that the exams will be put out in a cabinet by the Math 233 bulletin board on the first floor of Cupples I, for you to pick up. Once the exams are returned it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to check for possible errors in grading.


The Mathematics Department has the following policy in place for the calculus sections regarding date of the final exam and excused absences:

The exam dates including the final were set by the College office before you registered for this class. You are therefore expected to take the exams at their scheduled times. If you are away because of a university sporting event or field trip, then you may arrange for your coach or professor to administer the exam. Excused absences may be granted in the case of illness or bereavement. All excused absences must be granted by Blake Thornton.

The final exam date cannot be changed for reasons of traveling convenience.

Course plan

Visit this course plan on the on-line syllabus regularly to find the latest entry on suggested problems and other useful course information.

PLEASE NOTE: This plan is tentative. It is likely that changes will be made during the semester. Please check every week for changes. You are not obligated to attend lectures, but you are responsible for knowing what I cover in these lectures, which might include items found neither in the plan below nor in the textbook.

Your main course activities will consist in working out homework problems through Webwork, and preparing for exams. As already pointed out, you should also do the suggested problems below (third column of the following table) in preparation for the exams.

Week Sections Suggested Problems
Jan 17 - Jan 20
 10.1, 10.2 10.1: 3, 13, 19, 21, 23, 31, 39
10.2: 3, 5, 9, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 33, 37
Jan 23 - Jan 27

Webwork due: 1/26 		10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 10.3: 1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 25, 27, 33, 37, 43, 65
10.4: 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19
10.5: 1, 5, 9, 11, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27
10.6: 1, 5, 9, 11, 13, 17, 21, 25, 27, 29, 35, 37, 43, 45, 49, 53, 59, 63
AAE Chapter 10: 1, 3, 7
Jan 30 - Feb 3

Webwork due: 2/2 		11.1, 11.2, 11.3 11.1: 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 47
11.2: 7, 9, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 29, 31, 33, 41, 43, 45, 49, 5153
11.3: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 23, 25, 27, 29, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 49
Feb 6 - Feb 10

EXAM I: 2/7 - Review in class: 2/7

 11.4, 11.5 11.4: 3, 7, 11, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 39, 43, 47, 48
11.5: 1, 3, 9, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 37, 39, 43, 45, 47, 51, 53, 55, 59, 61, 65, 67, 69, 73
AAE Chapter 11: 5, 13, 17, 18
Feb 13 - Feb 17

Webwork due: 2/16 		11.6, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 11.6: None
12.1: 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23
12.2: 3, 7, 13, 15, 21, 23, 25, 29, 33
12.3: 3, 7, 9, 11, 13, 19
Feb 20 - Feb 24

Webwork due: 2/23 		12.4, 12.5, 12.6 12.4: 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17
12.5: 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21, 27
12.6:
AAE Chapter 12: 8
Feb 27 - March 2

Webwork due: 3/1 		13.1, 13.2, 13.3 13.1: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 41, 45, 51, 55, 59, 61
13.2: 1, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 47, 51, 55, 57, 61, 63, 67
13.3: 3, 7, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 27, 29, 37, 43, 51, 59, 61, 65, 73, 75, 83, 87
March 5 - March 9

EXAM II: 3/6 - Review in class: 3/6
 13.4, 13.5 13.4: 1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 21, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 37, 47, 51
13.5: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 17, 21, 23, 27, 29, 31, 35
March 19 - March 23

Webwork due: 3/22 		13.6, 13.7, 13.8 13.6: 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 25, 29, 35, 41, 41, 43, 47, 51, 53, 57
13.7: 3, 7, 11, 21, 29, 31, 35, 37, 39, 43, 45, 47, 49, 53, 57, 59, 61, 65, 67
13.8: 1, 3, 7, 9, 11, 17, 23, 25, 27, 37, 39, 43,
AAE Chapter 13: 7, 17, 19, 21, 23
March 26 - March 29

Webwork due: 3/29 		14.1, 14.2, 14.3 14.1: 3, 7, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27
14.2: 1, 3, 7, 9, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 29, 31, 33, 39, 41, 45, 47, 49, 53, 61, 63, 67, 69, 71, 77, 79
14.3: 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21
Apr 2 - Apr 6
EXAM III: 4/3 - Review in class: 4/3
 14.4, 14.5 14.4: 3, 5, 7, 11, 15, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41
14.5: 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 37, 41, 43, 47
Apr 9 - Apr 13


Webwork due: 4/12 		14.6, 14.7, 14.8 14.6: 3, 7, 11, 15, 21, 23, 27, 33
14.7: 3, 5, 9, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27, 29, 33, 35, 37, 43, 45, 47, 51, 55, 61, 65, 67, 71, 73, 81
14.8: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 21, 25
AAE Chapter 14: 7, 23, 27
Apr 16 - Apr 20


Webwork due: 4/19 		15.1, 15.2, 15.3 15.1: 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 15, 19, 23, 25, 29, 35, 37
15.2: 3, 7, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 51, 53
15.3: 1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33
Apr 23 - Apr 27

Webwork due: 4/26 		15.4, 15.5, 15.6 15.4: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17
15.5: 3, 5, 9, 11, 17, 21, 23, 27, 29, 31, 33, 37, 39, 43, 45, 51,
15.6: 1, 3, 9, 13, 21, 23, 27, 37, 41
May 3

FINAL EXAM 3:30 - 5:30 PM

Link to old exams from previous math courses.


Homework

Homeworks are given weekly, except during weeks when there is an exam, and are due on Thursdays by midnight. They are done through Webwork, which is accessed via this link. (You may need to scroll down the Webwork page to find the set.) I will try to have the assignments ready for you to work on a week before they are due.

PLEASE NOTE: Make sure to start your homework early; there is always the possibility of some unanticipated problem with Webwork or the assigned exercises, and no help may be available in the evening of the due date.

Help Resources

There are a number of ways to get help with hard problems or for understanding some material a little better:

Office Hours

My office hours are above. You should feel free to come in and talk about any material. If you can't make it at those hours, you can call me or send me an e-mail and I will try my best to find another time.

The Calculus Help Room

Graduate student Teaching Assistants for the Calculus courses (127,128,131,132, 233) hold office hours at various times, Monday through Friday, at Lopata 323. They will try to help students from other courses with miscellaneous calculus questions. Students who need occasional help with homework during the evening may also visit the Calculus Help Desk in Cornerstone. The exact hours for the calculus help room may be found here: Calculus Help Room Schedule.

Peer-led Team Learning (PLTL)

Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) will be offered for Math 233 this semester. Groups of 6-8 students meet with an experienced student for two hours each weekend to work on a problem set designed to reinforce concepts taught in the course and explore some material in more detail. This is a voluntary, but valuable supplement to your calculus courses. There is a limited number of spots available.

Students can sign up online for PLTL anytime between 5:00pm on Tuesday, January 17 and 11:59pm Sunday, January 22. The link to the application (which will not be functional until the start time above) is: Cornerstone. The link PLTL has more information on CalcPLTL.

Any questions should be directed to Lisa Kuehne.

Useful links

It can be useful and fun to explore the topics of this course using mathematics software. There are many free programs available for free download or web based. Here is one that is especially flexible and easy to use: WolframAlpha. A more geometry based program that is very nice to play with is GeoGebra. I particularly like Scilab, which is a free software alternative to the very popular, but expensive, Matlab. (Easy instalation is required.)



John Shareshian
shareshi@math.wustl.edu
Cupples I, Room 116
(314) 935 - 6786 (office phone)

Department of Mathematics
Washington University
Campus Box 1146
Saint Louis
Missouri, 63130 USA.


Last Updated: January 13, 2011

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