Math 242. Calculus of Several Variables

Peter Braunfeld (course captain)
Spring 2003

As course captain, I’d like to welcome you to Math 242. I sincerely hope that you will find this course interesting, useful, and even enjoyable.

A few words of advice: Your instructor and I are prepared to help you in any way we can. But, in the last analysis, you will have to take on the responsibility for learning this material-no one can learn it for you. So, I urge you to work hard and consistently throughout the semester-attend class regularly, do the assigned homework, ask questions, and seek out help right away from your instructor whenever you feel you don’t understand. (Also see Getting help below)

It’s especially important to keep up. Don’t let things go till just before an exam! Once you fall behind, you may find it very difficult to catch up. Also, please remember that mathematics is not a spectator sport. You can’t learn math by just watching your instructor do it at the board-just as you can’t learn how to swim by just watching an expert swimmer. In both cases - math and swimming - you have to do it yourself. That’s why it’s so important for you to do the homework assignments.

My very best wishes to you for a successful semester!

Peter Braunfeld
Professor of Mathematics

Course Captain:

Name: Peter Braunfeld
Office address: 169 Altgeld Hall
Office phone: 244-5185
Office hours: by appointment-contact me by e-mail (best), or phone
e-mail: pbraunfe@uiuc.edu

Information about the course: This packet of materials contains the following information:

Prerequisites for Math 242: Please make sure that you meet the prerequisites for Math 242:

a) credit for M120 and M130; or
b) AP calculus exam AB > 3 and M130 proficiency; or
c) AP calculus exam BC > 3

If you don’t, please see Dianna Armstrong (221B Altgeld Hall) as soon as possible.

Getting Help:

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

TA

Name:
Office address:
Office phone:
Office hours:
E-mail:

Course Captain

Name: Peter Braunfeld
Office address: 169 Altgeld Hall
Office phone: 244-5185
Office hours: by appointment-contact me by e-mail (best), or phone
e-mail: pbraunfe@uiuc.edu

GRADING POLICY FOR MATH 242 (3 hours)

Before the final exam, you will have four grades:

3 Hour Exams + Homework and/or quizzes

We will weight the top three of the four above grades at 20% each

We will weight the lowest of the above four grades at 10%

Total (pre-final exam): 70%

Final Exam: 30%

Letter Grades:  
  A: 93 - 100    A- : 90 - 92
B+ : 87 - 89     B: 83 - 86 B- : 80 - 82
C+ : 77 - 79     C: 73 -76 C- : 70 - 72
D+ : 67 - 69     D: 63 - 66 D-: 60 - 62
  F: 0 - 59

MATH 242 HOUR EXAM SCHEDULE

Hour Exam I: Wednesday, February 19
Hour Exam II: Wednesday, April 2
Hour Exam III: Friday, May 2

NOTE:

  1. Attendance at hour exams is mandatory. If you are absent, and wish to make up an hour exam, you must present an excuse that satisfies your instructor.
  2. The schedule of final exams (May 8 - May 16) can be found in various university publications, including the following web page: www.fms.uiuc.edu/Schedules/Final%20Exams/SpringSchedule.htm
    Your instructor will remind you of the time of the final exam later on in the semester.
  3. Final exams are usually given in your regular classrooms. Check with your instructor a week or so before the end of the semester.
  4. Important Note: Only a dean in your college can excuse you from the final examination. In all cases, if at all possible, try to let people know before an exam that you will be absent.