Information about Quizzes and Tests for Math 324A, Autumn 2011

Final Exam Wednesday, Dec. 14, 8:30-10:20 in our usual classroom. See ground rules and advice for all tests below on this page. Comprehensive, but emphasis on Chapter 16.
Sample final exam. You'll recognize one problem which I used on our second midterm.
Five additional review problems.
Solutions for the sample test and the additional review problems CORRECTED as of 4:44pm Tuesday: corrected minus signs in limits in answer to sample final #3, and misstatement of integral in last line of answer to #6.

Office hours before the final in my office, PDL C338:
Monday, Dec. 5, 1:30-4, no appointment necessary.
Tuesday, Dec. 6, 11-5, email to confirm a specific time (or request other times).

Second midterm on Friday, Nov. 18 at the usual class time and place. See ground rules and advice for all tests below on this page.
Information specific to the second midterm (e.g. sample test, extra office hours, etc.).

First midterm on Friday, Oct. 21 at the usual class time and place. See ground rules and advice for all tests below on this page.
Information specific to the first midterm (e.g. sample test, extra office hours, etc.).

Quizzes

First quiz: Wednesday, Oct. 5, on §§15.1-15.4.
Sample first quizzes: Last year's quiz. Older quiz - note that it's twice as long as ours will be.
Solutions for sample quizzes (pictures and some details of calculation omitted).
Results and answers to first quiz.

Second quiz on Wednesday, Oct. 12, on setting up triple integrals. Sample quiz 2 questions.
Answer to first sample quiz question. A student's answer to second sample quiz question. (This answer was written with no time constraint, so the explanation is more detailed than you would write during a timed test or quiz. But it's a good example of the kind of clear explanation you should aim for, as time permits.)

Third quiz on Wednesday, Nov. 2, on parametrized surfaces. Sample quiz 3 questions. Answers to Sample quiz 3 questions.

Fourth quiz on Wednesday, Nov. 9, §§14.5-14.6. Sample quiz 4 questions. Answers to Sample quiz 4 questions. Answers for Quiz 4.

Fifth quiz on Wednesday, Dec. 7, on §16.7: Surface integrals of vector fields. You will be given a description of a surface and a vector field. You will be asked (a) to find a parametrization of the surface, and to (b) set up a surface integral for a the vector field using the parametrization you found in part (a). This means the integrand needs to be entirely in terms of the parameters (not x, y and z unless you are using them for parameters). Example: the second line of the displayed equation in Example 4, p. 1088, which starts with ∫₀^2π∫₀^π ... .
Sample quiz 5. Answers to Sample quiz 5 questions.

General information about quizzes. Quizzes will be 10-15 minutes long and worth 10 points each. Your best 4 quiz scores will count towards your course grade. There will be at least 5 quizzes, probably all on Wednesdays. The main purpose of quizzes is to check your grasp of one or two key ideas or skills studied in the preceeding week, and help you identify areas for improvement.
No notes, only non-graphing calculators (but I'll write problems I don't think will require a calculator).

If you (will) miss a quiz or exam: As soon as you know you will miss (or have missed) a quiz or exam, email me. (If you don't have access to email, call me: my office phone is (206)543-9458, messages may be left at the Math Department office, (206)543-1150.) If you know ahead of time that you will miss a quiz or exam, suggest times you can take it before the rest of the class does.

Information for all tests (midterms and final)

• See comment above about missing a quiz or test.
• Notes. You may bring one notebook (8.5 by 11 inches) sized sheet of handwritten notes. The main reason for allowing notes is to encourage "top down" studying (organizing your thinking about the material, identifying common themes, etc.) and, conversely, discourage "bottom up" studying (merely memorizing formulas). Handwritten notes are required so that you have to think about the material to produce the notes, which is also a good study technique. It's OK to write on both sides of the paper, but it is in your interest to summarize thoughtfully, so you are not spending precious exam time reading through detailed notes.
• Only non-graphing calculators allowed. I will write the tests so I don't think you will need a calculator, so if you don't have a non-graphing calculator, you don't need to get one. In particular, you should leave answers in "exact" and unsimplified form: if the answer comes out to 2.5 + π - 1/6 - cos(π/3), you should evaluate cos(π/3) but otherwise may leave the answer as is. Do not evaluate trig functions at "nonfamous angles", e.g. leave cos(3/2) as is. Do NOT give a decimal approximation to the answer, because I can figure out your thought process better from the exact answer.
• You do not need to bring paper. There will be room on the exams to work the problems, and if you need extra paper, just raise your hand.
• Seating at exams. If you arrive early, please help arrange the chairs so that there is room between rows for me to get to students to answer questions. Also, leave the seats in the front row and near the door empty for the people who arrive at the last minute from classes on the other side of campus. During the test, a seating chart may be passed along your row. When you get the chart, on the next blank line, print your name (so I can read it) and sign with your usual signature, also, then pass to the next person. I will collect the chart at the end of the row.
• Show your work and/or reasoning (unless the question says you don't have to.) An answer with no justification for how you found it may be worth little or no partial credit. Don't be afraid to use some English as well as symbols.
• A few more test-taking tips: Read instructions carefully, so you don't do more work than you have to. Don't simplify a complicated algebraic expression unless required to (or if it's easier because you need it for the next step). If you do change your answer, cross out rather than erasing. It's quicker, and sometimes your new reasoning is easier to follow if I can glance at what you tried first. (Raise your hand if you need more paper.)

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Most recently updated on December 13, 2011