Math 300A: Test Information

Second Midterm: May 19, in class

Office hours for midterm week. Usual after class at the classroom, Wednesday 2-3 at my office, and Study session Thursday 9:30-11:30 in SAV 167.
A meeting conflicts with the Thursday afternoon office hour, so that will be replaced by
extra hours at my office 11:30-12:30 and 5-6 on Thursday,
and also I'll be at MGH Commons Wednesday 8-9 PM.
And of course you may request appointments at other times by email.

Review the "General information for tests" below, it still applies.

Topics for the midterm include everything we've studied in chapters 3, 4, 5, and §§6.1-6.3 of chapter 6.

More information at the "tests" views of the course workspace.

General information for tests

• Hopefully everyone will be healthy and on time for every test, but sometimes emergencies happen. Here is general advice for if you (will) miss an exam: As soon as you know you will miss (or have missed) an exam, email your instructor. (If you don't have access to email, messages may be left at the Math Department office, (206)543-1150.) If you know ahead of time that you will miss a exam for a good reason, email a request to take it early, stating your reason. In case your instructor agrees to the request, suggest times you can take the exam before the rest of the class does.
• Tests for this class will be closed book, no notes. Some axioms and results will be provided on the exam. These will be on the last page of the exam, so that you may detach the page from the test and more easily consult it during the test.
• There will be room on the midterm to work the problems. If you need extra paper, raise your hand. Indicate briefly if you continue a problem on a different page, e.g. "see added sheet."
• Seating at exams.
  • The desk-chairs should be arranged in five rows of seven, with plenty of space between rows for me to get to people who have questions. If you arrive early, your help in arranging the rows would be appreciated.
  • Leave the seats in the front row and near the door empty for the people who arrive at the last minute from classes on the other side of campus.
  • During the test, a seating chart may be passed along your row. When you get the chart, on the next blank line, print your name and sign with your usual signature, also, then pass to the next person. The instructor will collect the chart at the end of the row.
  • Don't sit near your "study buddies," so any unusual similarities in work won't look suspicious.
• A few more test-taking tips: Read instructions carefully, so you don't do more work than you have to. If you do change your answer, cross out rather than erasing. It's quicker, and sometimes your new reasoning is easier to follow if the grader can glance at what you tried first. (Raise your hand if you need more paper.)

First Midterm: Friday, April 21, in class

Extra office hour Thursday 4/20 5-6 in my office.
Reminder of usual office hours: after class at the classroom; Tu 10-11:30 and every day by appointment in my office; and there's a study session/office hours Th 9:30-11:30 in SAV 167.

A list of axioms, including properties of real numbers, will be provided on the test, as well as any previously proved results that you are allowed to use. Also the axioms will be numbered, so that you can refer to them by number in your answers (in short answers, proof outline, and in complete proofs), which should save you some time during the test.

Read instructions in the exam problems carefully. You may be asked to give a proof outline, which means you should give a table of steps and reasons, but do not have to write it up into a proof. You may be asked for a proof, in which case you do not have to write up an outline first (except to the extent that you need to do so to organize your thinking). A problem may say, "You may use 'algebra' as a justification in this problem." This means you don't have to justify each step of algebra, and may say either 'algebra' or the main step, e.g., 'distributing' or 'multiplying both sides by xy,' as a reason for an algebraic manipulation. If the problem does not say "You may use 'algebra' ...," you do have to name each axiom used, as in the examples sent in a recent email about homework 3.

Topics for the midterm include everything we've done to date, in particular all homework including all Practice Problems through week 4. In the text, this means up to and including §3.4. Note that §3.6 is a review and summary of methods of proof, so reading it may be useful for studying for the midterm. There may be one or more problems that are identical or almost identical to homework problems (including all practice problems).

Some more information about particular problem types that may appear on the midterm will be posted soon at the Course workspace.

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