Analytic Geometry and Calculus

Lectures

Lectures are where I introduce and explore the material, and I want them to feel like a conversation. If something is unclear, put your hand up. If you are thinking it, so are lots of other people in the room.

Lectures were recorded and the videos are linked in the schedule, along with the in-person lecture notes and handouts. Attendance isn't mandatory, but I strongly advise you to go.

Discussion section

An hour and a half of discussion with a GSI every Tuesday (LEC 001) or Thursday (LEC 002), in groups of around 25, following fixed worksheets posted with solutions after section. You can only attend the section you're enrolled in. Section schedules for LEC 001 and LEC 002, and GSI contact details.

• Work as a group. Treat section as a place to understand the material and to find people to work with outside class.
• Participate. If you're confused, you are never the only one. Ask questions and try answering them.
• Share your approach. Even when you're not confident in it, say it out loud to your group.

Office hours

My office hours are Monday 12 to 1pm, Wednesday 1 to 2pm and Friday 2 to 3pm in 796 Evans Hall. GSI office hours are mostly in person, some on Zoom. Office hours schedule.

Come if you're stuck on a homework problem, unsure about your academic path, curious about what research is, struggling and not sure what to do, likely to need a reference one day, or just want a chat. They're also a good place to work in a small study group.

Getting up to speed

Math 16B continues Math 16A, so it assumes a good knowledge of that course or an equivalent such as AB Calculus, and the precalculus that comes before it.

• Precalculus cheatsheet. A lightning quick overview.
• Precalculus course. A complete course to explore yourself. I'll say which topics to review as we go.
• Math 16A. Videos for the whole of 16A. At a minimum, look at the review videos and notes.

Textbook

Lial, Greenwell and Ritchey, Calculus with Applications, 11th edition (ISBN 9780133886832).

Homework

Due each Friday at 11:59pm on Gradescope, graded on completeness. Your two lowest scores are dropped. Homework schedule, how to upload your work, and solutions. If you have trouble submitting, contact your GSI.

You may discuss problems with classmates, but you must write your solutions on your own.

• Be organized. Work in small installments rather than the night before.
• Do the hard problems. They get harder as you go, and the hardest ones matter most.
• Think before asking. Spend at least 30 minutes on a hard problem on your own first. Knowing what doesn't work is as valuable as knowing what does.

Projects

Roughly every two to three weeks there's a project, a chance to explore a topic in more depth. Think of each as an extended homework problem. Projects are submitted on Gradescope as a PDF of fixed length using the project template. Your lowest score is dropped. All projects.

Exams

You can miss one midterm for any reason without penalty, but missing both seriously harms your grade. There are no make-up exams except in truly exceptional circumstances.

No calculators and no notes. To get full credit you need the right answer and a clear, readable justification. Unjustified answers get little or no credit. Cross out incorrect work.

After each midterm there was a short window to request a regrade, which could lower the score as well as raise it. Final exams cannot be regraded. If you didn't sit the final you automatically failed the course.

Grading

Your letter grade reflects how clearly you understand the material and how well you can apply it to a wide range of problems. Broadly:

• A range. The central concepts are fully understood. Techniques, with their subtleties, are mastered and applied accurately to a diverse set of problems.
• B range. The central concepts are reasonably understood, with minor misunderstandings. Core techniques can be applied fairly accurately.
• C range. The central concepts are vaguely understood, with major misunderstandings. Techniques work only in the most standard examples.

To be as fair as possible I also take the historical class average into account, so a hard exam is reflected in the letter grades.

Incomplete grades can only be given if unanticipated events beyond your control make it impossible to finish the course and you are otherwise passing with a C- or above.

Getting help

The Student Learning Center supports this class with exam review sessions and drop-in tutoring. It's a truly fantastic resource.

For enrollment, contact Marsha Snow or enrollment@math.berkeley.edu.