Math 126
Information About the Final Exam

Rules:

• Structure of the exam: There are 8 problems at 25 points each, for a total of 200 points.

• Learn your TA's name and section letters: Tests with wrong or incorrectly spelled TA names or section letters will lose 4 points.

• Notes: You may use two 8 1/2" by 11" one-sided pages (or one sheet written on both sides) of your own handwritten notes (no photocopied or printed material). You may also bring a small model of the xyz-axes to the test.

• Show your work: If your work demonstrates that you had the right idea, you might get partial credit even if your answer is wrong or incomplete. On the other hand, if your answer is not justified by your work, you might lose points even if your answer is correct.

• Answers: Use the boxes for answers when possible. Measurements must be made with a ruler, and lines and vectors must be drawn with a ruler. Lines or vectors drawn without a ruler lose 4 points.

• Calculators: The test will be written so that you won't need them; we prefer that you leave numerical answers in unsimplified form. However, you may bring a calculator to the exam to check your arithmetic. Laptop computers are not allowed.

• Simplifying: Simplify algebraic and numerical answers to the point where they can be evaluated by a precalculus student with a calculator. For example, a dot product such as (a, 2b+2, b² ) ^. (a+1, b, 0) = a(a+1) + (2b+2)b + 0 must be worked out, but need not be simplified. Leave exact answers in exact form: unless you're asked to approximate an answer or to find an answer graphically, a decimal approximation to exact numbers such as 1+2sqrt(3) or cos(5/9 pi) is incorrect.

• If you have questions: Raise your hand and someone will come to your seat.

• Makeup exams: The final exam must be taken at the time listed above unless you are prevented from doing so by religious or other extraordinary circumstances of grave personal import. To request a makeup exam, you must file a petition in the Math Advising Office, Padelford C-36, no later than Monday, Dec. 4 (not Oct. 27 as listed in the Common Finals handout).

• Other information: See the handout titled Ground Rules for Taking Common Finals (available here in HTML or PostScript format) for general information about calculus finals in the Mathematics Department.

Topics:

There will be eight problems on the exam, approximately two from each of the following categories:

1. Partial derivatives, directional derivatives, and the chain rule (Sections 14, 15, 16, 18);

2. Linear approximations, tangent and normal objects (Sections 17, 19);

3. Optimization (Sections 20, 21, 22);

4. Integration (Sections 23, 24, 25, 26).

Preparing for the exam:

• Review problems: There are practice problems on pages 165-170 and pages 245-248 of [LN].

• Sample exams: To get an idea of what the exam problems will be like, look at Sample Test #2, [LN] pages 171-174, and the Sample Final Exam, [LN] pages 249-255.

• Old exams: You can buy reprints of old Math 126 exams at Professional Copy 'n' Print.

• Review sessions: The lectures on Wednesday and Friday, December 6 and 8, will be review and question/answer periods. Come prepared with questions!

• Math Study Center: Communications B-14. Hours: Sunday 2 to 6, Monday through Thursday 9:30 to 9:30, Friday 9:30 to 1:30, Saturday closed.

• Office hours: The lecturer and TA's will have regular office hours during the week of December 4-8. In addition, there will be the following extra office hours:

  Thursday, Dec. 7   4:00-6:00    A. Pasquale   Study Center
                     6:00-8:00    J. Huang      Study Center
                                             
  Friday, Dec. 8     11:30-1:30   J. Lee        Study Center
                     1:30-3:30    A. Burago     Padelford C-8-K
                     3:30-5:30    W. Pohl       Padelford C-430
  

How to get your exam back:

1. If you want your final with the course grade on it left outside your TA's office, sign and date the release at the bottom of the front page of the final exam. Please realize that the released tests can be seen and/or taken by anybody who walks by. The released finals will be available outside your TA's office by Thursday, December 14, 12:00 noon.

2. If you want your final mailed to you, bring to the final a self-addressed 8 1/2" by 11" envelope with 55 cents postage on it, marked "First Class," sign the appropriate spot on the front page of the final exam, and turn in the envelope with your exam.

3. If you do neither of the above, your TA will keep the final and you can pick it up during his or her office hours next quarter.