Exam Information for Math 308

Spring 2011

As it says on the course syllabus, there are two midterms and a final in MAT308, which count for 25%, 25%, and 35% of your grade, respectively. No Make-up exams will be given. If you miss an exam due to a documented medical or family reason, that score will be replaced by the grade on the balance of the course. If you miss more than one exam for such reasons, you should probably withdraw from the course.

First Midterm: during class on Wednesday, March 9, 2011

The midterm covers Chapters 3 and 10 of the text.
Doing all of the homework problems prior to the exam is a very good idea. Doing additional problems from the text can be helpful. .

If you wish to use a calculator on the exam you may, although it is by no means necessary and unlikely to be of any help: all problems may be readily done without one.

Results: Below is a graph of the grade distribution on the exam.

low score: 17 mean: 52 median: 56 high score: 77 possible score: 77
range letter grade
65-77 A-, A
50-64 B-, B, B+
40-49 C, C+
30-39 C-
15-29 D
0-14 F

You can check your grade here.

Here is a copy of the exam so you can relive the magic. Also, here are the solutions to the exam.

Second Midterm: in class on Wednesday April 13, 2011

The second midterm will cover the material we have covered since the first exam, from chapters 11, 12, and 13.
As on the first midterm, a calculator is allowed but almost certainly of little use.

Results: On average, people did better on this exam than the first, but fewer people did really well.
Below is a graph of the score distribution on the exam.

low score: 30 mean: 51.5 median: 53 high score: 66 possible score: 70
range letter grade
60-70 A-, A
45-59 B-, B, B+
35-44 C, C+
30-34 C-
15-29 D
0-14 F

You can check your grade here.

Here is a copy of the midterm, and here are the solutions.

Homework

Here is a graph of how people are did on homework. Most people did most homework. The grades are calculated dropping the lowest two scores (so out of 9 homeworks), and most people did well.

Final Exam: 5:15pm on Monday, May 23, 2011 in Physics P-113

The final will be cumulative, covering everything that we have done in the class, specifically chapters 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, and sections 14.6 and 14.7. One question on the final is a take-home problem, which you should do in advance and turn in during the final.

I will let you bring a single sheet of notes with you to the exam. The page can be no larger than a standard sheet of letter paper (8.5" by 11"). Note that you can write whatever you think will be helpful on your notes: formulae, examples, or the lyrics to your favorite song.

Results: As usual, some people did well, others not so much. Quite a few people in the middle, this time.
Below is a graph of the score distribution on the exam.

low score: 39 mean: 122.5 median: 123 high score: 158 possible score: 160
range letter grade
135-160 A-, A
105-134 B-, B, B+
75-104 C, C+
50-74 C-
20-49 D, D+
0-19 F

You can check your grade here.

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Page last modified on Saturday, 28 May 2011.