Math 300 
Spring 2007

Students / Syllabus

Ron Buckmire: 
Contact / Home / Schedule

Course Schedule

Requirements / Comps Preparation

DUE JAN 30

1. Fill out the "Math Major Declaration Form" and bring to class.
2. Start thinking about an area of interest to research next week

 HW: Visit the Mathematics Magazine and College Math Journal Search engine. Find 4 articles related to some area(s) of interest of yours. Locate and skim at least one of the articles.  Write 1-2 paragraph summaries of each article. Give oral presentation in next class.

DUE FEB 6

1. Find 4 articles on a possible mathematical topic of interest.
2. Prepare a 2-4 minute oral presentation on what you have found.

 HW: Write up one of the problems you had most difficulty answering on one of the Comps Part 1 Exams. Write up a detailed solution, showing all steps.

DUE FEB 13

1. Hand in a 1-2 page type written draft solution of a Comps part 1 Exam question you found difficult

 HW:  Compile a list of the 10 most important concepts for each of the courses you are assigned (done by group)

DUE FEB 20

1. Hand in the 10 Most Important Concepts summaries, one for each of the 5 fundamental courses: Calculus 1 (Sanchez, Ulloa & Joy), Calculus 2 (Ferenc, Steinberg & Cometto), Multivariable (Ulloa and Gillan), Discrete (Gillan, Ferenc & Sanchez) and Linear (Steinberg Cometto & Joy)
2. Begin work on type-written solutions to the 2004 and 2005 Comps Exams in "course" groups.

 HW: With your group members, begin to write up solutions to all of the Comps Part 1 exam questions for the fundamental courses that you are assigned.

DUE FEB 27

1. Hand in a REVISED1-2 page type written solution of a Comps Part 1 Exam question you found difficult (Writing Assignment #1)
2. Continue work on type-written solutions to the 2004 and 2005 Comps Exams in "course" groups.

DUE MAR 6

1. Hand in type written solutions of the 2004 and 2005 Comps Exams  each of the 5 groups: Calculus 1 (Sanchez, Ulloa & Joy), Calculus 2 (Ferenc, Steinberg & Cometto), Multivariable (Ulloa and Gillan), Discrete (Gillan, Ferenc & Sanchez) and Linear (Steinberg Cometto & Joy)
2. Begin work on Writing Assignment #2

DUE MAR 20

1. Hand in first draft of individual comprehensive survey of one of the fundamental courses of your choice (Writing Assignment #2)

DUE MAR 27

1. Hand in 2-page summaries of the 10 most important concepts in Multivariable Calculus, Linear Systems and Discrete Mathematics (1 per group). This will serve as the first draft of the "200-level" Gateway Help sheet for each of these Sophomore courses.

DUE APR 3

1. Hand in revised, final draft of individual comprehensive survey of one of the fundamental courses of your choice (Writing Assignment #2)
2. Email me a paragraph describing  your career interests and/or short term goals so that the Campus Career Center can tailor their presentation to your specific needs.

DUE APR 10

1. Hand in (and email TeX files) revised drafts of 2-page help sheets (concept summaries) for Linear, Discrete and Multivariable gateways.
2. Prepare individual oral presentation of the solution to a Comps Part 1 question from 2004 or 2005 (probably one that you had formally written up previously)

DUE APR 24

1. Hand in (and email TeX files) of drafts of Linear, Discrete and Multivariable gateway questions . (Ten per each course)

DUE APR 31

1. Hand in Writing Assignment #3 (1-3 page paper on a mathematical research topic of interest to you which COULD serve as a topic on which to do your Comps Part 2 Senior Project)

Plotting a 3-D surface of z=2-x²+y² with contours.

Using Matlab
x=linspace(-5,5,20);
y=linspace(-5,5,20);
[X,Y] = meshgrid(x,y);
Z=2-X.^2 +Y.^2;
surfc(x,y,Z);

Using Mathematica
Plot3D[2-x^2+y^2, {x,-5,5}, {y,-5,5}]
ContourPlot[2-x^2+y^2, {x,-5,5}, {y,-5,5}]