MAT 203, Calculus III With Applications

See also: Main Webpage for MAT 203

R03: Wednesday 5:20 - 6:15 pm, Physics 129

R04: Monday, 5:20 - 6:15 pm, Library N3063

Recitation leader: James Cook

email: cook at math dot sunysb dot edu
Office: 2-116, Math Tower

Office Hours:

Monday and Wednesday 1:00-2:00 pm (Math Learning Center)
Tuesday 11:30 am -12:30 pm (office)

Announcements

Announcements will be posted here. You will be expected to have read them!

Comments on Homework Grades : Some students have expressed concern about low scores on recent homeworks (in a few cases even adding a hint of indignation about the grading system). I offer the following points in response:

• The purpose of the homework is, first and foremost, to serve as practice for the exams. By far the most significant portion of your course grade (some 70%) is determined by your scores on the midterm and the final. Consequently, you should treat the homework grades as feedback, rather than Judgement. (Yes, they are averaged and calculated into a "recitation grade", but remember: there will be a curve!)
• If you make a clear demonstration of effort (e.g. by attending recitations regularly and turning in homeworks), you can expect this to be taken into account in determining the recitation grade.
• It may seem unfair to score an assigment based on only one or two problems, but note that (1) that's exactly what the syllabus instructs me to do*; (2) it's not any more unfair than giving quizzes consisting of a single question, which is done in some recitations; and (3) it's actually a lot less unfair than you think: the score patterns are remarkably similar regardless of the number of questions graded. (Yes, once in a while a strong student will be unlucky. But that will happen only rarely -- not enough to significantly affect the student's recitation grade.)
• I have provided an opportunity for extra credit -- which you can still turn in until the final recitation!
• The material in this course is genuinely difficult. It is overwhelmingly likely that you will make mistakes along the way, which may result in the occasional low score. Do not fret about this! Mistakes, lapses, and failures of various sorts are a part of life, perhaps especially in mathematics and the sciences. And, of course, this applies at times even to your recitation leader: if you suspect an error has been made in the grading of your paper, then you should come talk to me about it!

New Homework Policy: Starting Mon Nov 26, students must collect their previous graded homeworks in recitation in order to recieive credit for the homework due that day (no "drop off and leave"). Exceptions must be arranged with me. Be advised that I plan to return graded homeworks the week after the Thanksgiving break.

Homework solutions: