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MATH 20C FA19 E (Swanson)

Exams



Exam philosophy

I write relatively difficult exams with typical medians of 50-75%. Many of you will be used to fixed grade scales where 60% is a failing grade, so this may come as a shock. In our class, your absolute percentage on exams is virtually meaningless because your final grades will be curved in such a way that the class's final score distribution conforms closely to historical score distributions for Math 20C. For instance, the median will be roughly 2.7 (B-), roughly 30% of the class will receive an A+/A/A-, 30% B+/B/B-, 30% C+/C/C-, etc. To give you a sense for how you're performing in the class, after each exam I will post summary statistics on Piazza. Since the course is curved in this way, you would not get a better final grade even if the exams were easier.

It would actually be easier for me to write easier exams, so why do I insist on harder ones? There are several reasons.

Midterm 1: Wednesday October 23, in lecture

Tentative Coverage:
Material from HW1-3, specifically sections 1.1-1.3, 2.1-2.2, and part of 2.3 (partial derivatives).

To study, do practice exams under time pressure (50 minutes). Create a beautiful note sheet that you know well enough to never look at. Review your lecture notes, the homework problems (online and written), and the textbook. Do additional problems from the textbook similar to the assigned ones.

Supplies:
You must bring your student ID and writing implements (pencils/erasers/pens). You may bring an 8.5"x11" handwritten note sheet (both sides). You are not allowed to use anything else (e.g. no calculators or textbook).

Review session:
See Piazza.

Midterm 2: Wednesday November 20, in lecture

Tentative Coverage:
Material from HW4-6, specifically sections 2.3-2.6, 3.1, 3.3.

To study, do practice exams under time pressure (50 minutes). Create a beautiful note sheet that you know well enough to never look at. Review your lecture notes, the homework problems (online and written), and the textbook. Do additional problems from the textbook similar to the assigned ones.

Supplies:
You must bring your student ID and writing implements (pencils/erasers/pens). You may bring an 8.5"x11" handwritten note sheet (both sides). You are not allowed to use anything else (e.g. no calculators or textbook).

Review session:
See Piazza.

Final Exam: Tuesday December 10, 3:00-5:59p.m. in room TBD

Tentative Coverage:
Comprehensive. Material not covered on the midterms somewhat emphasized, including HW7-9, specifically sections 3.4, 4.1-4.2, 5.1-5.5, 6.2, 1.4.

To study, do practice exams under time pressure (3 hours). Create a beautiful note sheet that you know well enough to never look at. Review your lecture notes, the homework problems (online and written), and the textbook. Do additional problems from the textbook similar to the assigned ones.

Supplies:
You must bring your student ID and writing implements (pencils/erasers/pens). You may bring an 8.5"x11" handwritten note sheet (both sides). You are not allowed to use anything else (e.g. no calculators or textbook).

Review session:
See Piazza.

Practice Exams

These will be posted on TritonEd.

The practice exams are adapted from past Math 20C exams. They are provided “as is”. They may differ in content, emphasis, form, rules, number of problems and problem parts, points/weighting, etc. from the exams given this term.

The sections covered on the practice exams are close but may not be exactly the same as in this class.

Additional Math 20C practice exams are posted on Prof. Golsefidy's Math 20C class website. Some are from past Math 20C classes that used a different textbook. The other textbook had some differences in notation and covered the topics in a different order, so topics may have been covered on different exams than this quarter. You can also find other practice exams on other Math 20C course sites.