Mth 254 Vector Calculus I
Winter 2007

Sample problems


Exam Reminder
Class 23320-070 MWF 3:00 PM
Exam Mar 20 Tuesday 1400-1550 WGND 115
(Class was in WGND 106)

Class 20222-050 MWF 2:00 PM
Exam Mar 23 Friday 0730-0920 KIDD 350
(Class was in CORD 2113)

Section: 050 CRN 20222 MWF 1400-1450 CORD 2113
070 CRN 23320 MWF 1500-1550 WGND 106
Lectures: Bent E. Petersen Kidder 296 737-5163
Email: petersen@math.oregonstate.edu
Recitations: Kyle Hickmann Kidder 324 (phone number unavailable)
Email: hickmank@math.oregonstate.edu
Recitation times: 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400

Calculus is absolutely essential for a proper understanding of physics!"    - Roger Penrose

Where are we?
Contact Information
Assignments, Documents, Sample Problems, Old Tests, etc.
Where are the Answers?
Maple Notes
Grade Distribution
Grade Information by Email
Test Information
Textbooks
Prerequisites
Course Description
Course Syllabus
Calculators
Homework
Call of nature during tests

Official Description

The current official description of Mth 254 appears to be:

Vectors, vector functions, and curves in two and three dimensions. Surfaces, partial derivatives, gradients, and directional derivatives. Multiple integrals in rectangular, polar, cylindrical, and spherical coordinates. Physical and geometric applications. PREREQ: MTH 252.

A better idea of the content of the course may be obtained by reading the Study Guide.


Prerequisites

Most of the first two quarters of calculus is used in Vector Calculus. If you have to think too much about the mechanics of calculus, you will have difficulty in Vector Calculus. The following topics are particularly important.

Textbooks

Dale Varberg, Edwin J. Purcell and Steven E. Rigdon,
Calculus,
8th ed., Prentice Hall, 2000

We are in the process of switching to a new calculus textbook. Varberg, et al, is the one being phased-out though we are still using it in 254. Make sure you get the correct text.

Harold Parks,
Mth 254, Vector Calculus I, Study Guide,
Spring 2005 revision

Calculators

You may use a simple graphics calculator (not a laptop nor a palmtop, etc.) on tests. I will expect that you have at the very least a scientific calculator. Note your calculator will need to be in radians mode (not degrees). Questions about calculators will not be answered during tests. You must know how to use your own calculator.

Any calculator with an alphabetical keyboard is forbidden even if the keyboard consists of little buttons you can hardly see. Any device capable of extensive symbolic manipulation (other than your own brain) is forbidden. If it runs Maple, Mathematica, Matlab, Derive, etc., then it is forbidden. Please don't ask me about TI-xx's or HP-xx's, and so forth. I don't use calculators except to balance my budget and can't really provide a sensible answer.

Telephones, and devices capable of acting as a telephone, may not be used during tests. Please shut them off to reduce interruptions. Any device capable of connecting to the Internet and displaying graphics, or even just text messages, may not be used during tests. Devices which communicate using radio, infrared or even pony express must not be used during tests.

Because many calculators are capable of solving fairly elaborate problems you should expect that test problems may be a little bit indirect, at least in some cases, and require a modicum, or more, of thought.

Calculators may not be shared during tests.


Bathroom

If you must answer the call of nature during a test please bring your paper to the front of the room. There is no need to ask for permission or to explain. If any one else is out (as shown by another paper waiting), I'd prefer you wait until they return, however I don't intend to enforce this preference, as it is too uncivilized.


Syllabus

The Study Guide describes the contents of the course in detail on the inside of the front cover. Roughly, we cover text chapters 13, 14, 15, 16 and part of 12, but not in the same order as in the text.
12 Conics and polar coordinates (in part)
13 Geometry in the plane. Vectors
14 Geometry in space. Vectors
15 The derivative in n-space
16 The integral in n-space

Homework

You should do all of the suggested problems listed in the Study Guide. Additional problems may be assigned.

Tests

In-class test: Wednesday, Feb 14 2007 (multiple choice) 50 minutes

Final exam: 110 minutes

Mar 20 Tuesday 2:00 PM - Mth 254 070 3-PM class - WGND 115
Mar 23 Friday 7:30 AM - Mth 254 050 2-PM class - KIDD 350

You may use a single 8.5 by 11 inch (21.6 by 27.9 cm) notesheet, or smaller, prepared in advance, to bolster your memory on the tests. You may write on both sides of your notesheet. Notesheets may not be shared. If you don't prepare a notesheet in advance you will have to do without a notesheet.

In view of the size of the class, the tests will consists mostly, or entirely, of multiple-choice problems. Be sure you work very carefully. In some contexts guessing is a good stragety, but you may find guessing in calculus is remarkably ineffective unless you first gain considerable experience.


Grade Distribution

Recitation 15 % homework, quizzes, etc.
Mid-term 30 %
Final Exam 55 %

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