Math 5378: News and Announcements

o I have not included calculus of variations problems in the sample final problems, because I have realized there were quite a few of them already on the last homework. Some topics which were extensively covered by the first and second midterm sample problems, such as solving the geodesic equations explicitly, are not on the sample final, but are likely to show up on the real final. Watch out!

o The Final Exam is coming May 14, 4-6 pm, in the regular class room VinH 301. The final covers what we have studied in class during the term and Sections 1.1-3, 1.5, 2.1-2.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 (through p. 101), 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.2 (skipping the proof of Theorem 2.2), 4.3, 4.5, 5.1, 5.2 (through p. 159, Example 2.1), 5.5, 6.2, 6.3, 6.5, 6.6, 8.1, 8.2 (pp. 264-266), and 8.5 (pp. 287-289) of the textbook. It will be a closed-book, closed-notes exam. The formulas for K and H on p. 91, the first and the second fundamental forms for a surface of revolution from p. 100, and the geodesic equations from p. 156 will be provided on the exam. Remember that the final is 45% worth your grade in class. This means you need a lot of study and good luck!

o Before the final, which will be Tuesday, May 14, 4-6 p.m. in our regular classroom VinH 301: Monday, May 13, there will be a Review Session (VinH 211) 3-4 p.m., and office hours (VinH 324) 2-3 and 4-5 p.m. I am going to post a collection of review problems for the final later this week.

o The mean on the second midterm was 27 out of 40. This is very good, especially if you compare it to the first exam!

o I have made a correction in Problem 3 of the original version of Sample Test II problem set: changed s to s^2 in s = u^2 + 1. Sorry.

o There will be no homework due during the test week (May 1). I will just post a collection of sample test problems within today or tomorrow. A Problem Session before Hour Test II will be on Monday, April 29 from 5 to 6 p.m. in VinH 301.

o Hour Test II is coming May 1, during the regular class meeting. The test covers what we have studied in class since the first test and Sections 3.1, 3.3 (through p. 101), 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.2 (skipping the proof of Theorem 2.2), 4.3, 4.5, 5.1, 5.2 (through p. 159, Example 2.1), 5.5, 6.2, 6.3, 6.5, and 6.6 of the textbook. It will be a closed-book, closed-notes exam. Although the problems will be not oriented on what we studied before Hour Test I, knowledge of the previous material is absolutely necessary to solving many problems on surfaces. The formulas for K and H on p. 91 will be provided on the test, if needed. There will be more computational problems on this test, as compared to the previous one.

o Sunday: 5:15 pm: I have changed Problem 3 to a different problem since the original posting. Please, make sure to download a correct copy: Problem 3 should be about the surface x^2 + y^4 + z^6 = 1.

o You should ignore the questions about geodesics in Problems 5.5.2 and 5.5.4 from Problem Set 10. In the second part of Problem 5.5.10, the book has a misprint. It is supposed to be: Show that v(u) = 2 arctan exp (a+bu) -pi/2 and show that such curve has a straight line as its I-image.

o I will be out of town Monday, April 15 through Thursday, April 18 participating in a workshop in Berkeley, CA. The Monday class will be taken over by Professor Scot Adams. The Wednesday, April 17, class will be rescheduled as a review/problem session before Hour Test II which is coming on May 1. The homework will be due Friday, April 19. The week of April 15-19, I will hold only my Friday office hours 2:30-3:30 p.m. You are very welcome to make an appointment with me for some other time or just stop by.

o I will be out of town Tuesday, April 2, through the morning of Wednesday, April 3. My office hours, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday and 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, will be canceled. You are very welcome to make an appointment with me for (or just stop by) Monday or see me Wednesday from about 12:30 p.m. before the class.

o I will be out of town Friday, March 29. Prof. Scot Adams is going to substitute for me in class. My office hours, 2:30-3:30 p.m. that day, will be canceled.

o The mean on Hour Test I was 15 out of 40. Oh, well, who said the test was too simple?

o I have changed a hint in Problem Set 7. Hit "Reload" when accessing it.

o Although it is called an Hour Test, it will be a 50-minute test. An hour means an academic hour, which equals 50 minutes. Also, I believe, a 60-minute test would be unfair, because this will cause some of you to be late for other classes and even other tests. The good news is that there will be only four problems.

o I have removed Problem 5 from the sample test, because I did not realize how long the computations involved will be. Sorry about that. See a newly posted copy of the sample test.

o Problem Session (Makeup class For February 1): will be held Monday, March 4, 4:30 pm in VinH 6.

o Hour Test I is coming March 6, during the regular class meeting. The test coverage is Sections 1.1-3, 1.5, 2.1-2.4, 3.1 (through Exercise 1.5), and 3.2. It will be a closed-book, closed-notes exam. Come on, it is the IT, and we are serious here. However, you do not need to memorize formulas for K and H on p. 91 - they will be provided during the test.

o Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): If you are seriously interested mathematics, you may wish to try yourself at mathematical research during the summer. There are REU summer programs running at several excellent national research universities, including Minnesota. One of the best REU programs is the one at Penn State; you can request a flyer from me.

o I may be late for my office hours 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, February 6, having a doctor's appointment at 9:15 a.m. Please, wait, I will be in my office, though. I apologize for the inconvenience.

o I added a hint to Exercise 1.1.4 in Problem Set 1.

o Friday, January 25 - today's office hours canceled, due to a family emergency.

o Friday, February 1 - class and office hours canceled. I will be in Washington, D.C., doing an important government job. The class will be rescheduled as a problem solving session before the first test March 6.


Last modified: Mon May 13 11:00:21 CDT 2002