Soumik  Pal

Note to the student                                                             Homework and Syllabus

The Course

This course covers a few miscellaneous topics from calculus. Most of our time will be spent on calculus in three dimensions. We first cover the basics of analytic geometry in three-space. We then discuss parametric equations and introduce the differential calculus of vector valued functions. This part of the class finishes with an introduction to multivariable integration. The last few weeks are devoted to Taylor polynomials and Taylor series. This material is useful for making approximations and for solving differential equations. We will use locally produced notes for this part of the class instead of the textbook. These notes are available here.

Text and Calculators

The text is Multivariable Calculus by James Stewart (custom text for UW).

You will need a scientific calculator for Math 126. Graphing calculators are not allowed on quizzes and exams. See the calculator policy here. 

Grades

Your grade is determined by how you do relative to the class as a whole. Grades will be based on total points earned. There are 200 possible points:

• Worksheets--20
• Homework--20
• 2 Midterms--30 points each
• Final--100

Worksheets

There are worksheets for Math 126 that will be done during some TA sessions. You will do these problems in small groups and your TA will help you work through them. Worksheets give you enough supervised practice to go off and do the homework. They may also be used to introduce new ideas and methods that have not been covered in lecture. Treat the worksheets seriously as they help you learn how to think and write mathematics with your TA present to help you if you make a mistake. Your TA will will keep a record of your participation and performance in these worksheet sessions.

Homework

Homework will be assigned daily, see the syllabus for the problems due. You are responsible for all the problems assigned (ie: any of it could appear on the exams). The problems assigned during the week will be collected in TA Section on the following Tuesday.

Unfortunately, the amount of homework that can be graded is limited. Each week two of the problems will be chosen at random to grade. They will be worth 3 points each. This makes a total of 6 points. In addition to this, you will receive a score out of 4 points reflecting the percentage of the homework you completed. (For example, if you completed about 75% of the assignment, you would receive an additional 3 points.) Thus the total possible score for each assignment is 10 points. No late homework will be accepted.

Exams

There will be 2 midterm exams. They will be given on the dates listed in the syllabus. They are 50 minutes long and will be given in Quiz Section. You must bring a Photo ID to all exams.

Final Exam

All sections of 126 will have a common final exam. The time and location of the exam will be announced later. Note that this is not the time listed in the final exam schedule. Students MUST PETITION IN ADVANCE if they have a legitimate reason to take a make-up final. Petition forms are available in the Math Advising Office, C-36.

Rules for taking exams

• You are allowed to use one handwritten 8.5 by 11 sheet of notes.
• Graphing calculators are not allowed. A scientific calculator may be useful.
• There are no make-up exams. If you have a compelling and well-documented reason for missing a test, speak to the professor about it.

TA section

On Tuesdays and Thursdays you will meet with a Teaching Assistant in a smaller group. This gives you a chance to get more of your homework questions answered. Some days there will be a worksheet that you can work on while the TA circulates and answers questions. On some weeks there will a practice midterm exam. You will hand in homework on Tuesdays to your TA and they will return it to you, probably a week later. The midterm exams will be held in TA Section.

The TA's are: