Math 300
Fall 2023
Study Suggestions
and
Details
for
Cummulative Final Exam
-
The final exam
is
Wednesday December 13 from 12:30pm-3:00pm
(usual class room).
The exam will cover:
Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4
as well as
other math topics (including their definitions) that we have discussed, e.g.,:
set containment, operations on sets, Cartesian product,
division algorithm+,
Writing Guidelines and
Symbolically Write Guidelines.
Chapter 1-3 are in class. Chapter 4 is take home.
The in class part is closed notes and closed book.
-
The take-home portion of the final is to be turned in at
beginning of the final.
Pick up and do the take-home portion of the final,
which is in our class filing cabinet (top) drawer
in the small glassed in waiting room outside of LeConte 345 A-D.
-
You must do the take-home portion of the final on the provided printed copy in the filing cabinet.
-
You may use the class handouts and your notes.
-
You may not discuss the problem with other people.
You may not use the internet.
-
If you chose not to to the induction problem before the final,
then you can do it during the final but you cannot use class handouts nor your notes.
-
The final will be proof based and so will be more like Exam 2 than Exam 1.
-
The exam will be a mix of:
- problems you have, and have not, seen before
- problems of varies difficulty levels (from easy warm-up problems to
challenging problems).
The exam is a mix of:
- fill-in-the-blanks/boxes and multiple choice
- short answer and/or working problems by hand (for which you need to show ALL your work),
- writing proofs (following the
Writing
Guidelines).
The main sources of problems are (either exact or slightly changed)
- homework (both from Study Guide homework and Exercise homework)
- examples from class and class group work
- exercises from the book (that were not assigned, this book has lots of good problems)
- the book's examples (including the Progress Checks,
for which the answers are in the back of the book)
- inspirations from the above sources
Think of math as devoloping problem solving skills rather than
regurgitating known facts.
- Proofs are part of the class so make sure you can write a proof (following the Writing Guidelines).
Thus review:
- A good way to study for this exam.
-
Be sure you know all the definitions and results from:
- class handouts (see the Handouts page)
- class lectures
- the book (the Chapter Summaries should help with this).
- You should have a working knowleague of the Symbolically Write Guidelines
as well as the Writing Guidelines.
On the exam, you will not be given these guidelines and you will be excepted to follow them
(as we have been doing in class). So review if needed.
- Review your Study Guides homework including the questions you indicated to yourself on them.
- Review your homework, which includes
looking at comments made on your graded homework.
Learn from your mistakes on the homework so that you do not make the same mistake on the exam.
- Review the class handouts and book's chapter summaries.
- On Piazza click on the folder "selected_solutions/thinkinglands" and
review the posts.
On the topics you are weak, look through the textbook for similar
- examples and progess checks
- exercises (esp. starred ones)
and work these examples and exercies.
-
Without your notes, handouts, and book,
work through the below suggested Practice Problems.
These Practice Problems are a sampling of the type of problems which could be an the exam.
These Practice Problem are, in no way, meant as a comprehensive review for the exam.
-
Practice Problems (A) - (G)
and also (H) and (I).
Give the Practice Problems a honest serious try before looking at the
hints/solutions
for the Practice Problems.
-
Exam Practice Problems from section 3.6 that are posted on the course homework page (with hints).
These problems, which are from our book, are excellent problems!
-
The class is encouraged to discuss these problems on Pizza (under the exam folder).
-
Please post your thoughts/questions on problems to the entire class (rather than just the instructor).
-
Since these problems are not to hand in, feel free to post your solutions (to the entire class) on Piazza.
(Can post a cell phone picture or scanned pdf file - just use "insert" as a "file",
if needed see the "piazza folder" on how to do this).
-
Last minute craming for exams is discouraged. Prof. Girardi will happily answer questions/comments/posts which are posted on Piazza before 24 hours before the exam. However, the class can continue using Piazza until the start of the exam if they so want.
- You can post a post say something such as: I has reserved TCL
Study Room 123 for this Monday for 7-9pm.
Let me know if you want to join. Thanks, Bella.
BTW:
Link to reserve a TCL Study Room on-line.
Prof. Girardi will make comments on Piazza when appropriate.
As with any exam:
- Read the instructions. The question you should be asing yourself is
did I follow the instructions correctly rather than
what is the professor asking for. Full credit will be given
for correctly answering the question asked, with the needed justification
(e.g., if the answer is "Yes", say "Yes because" and then justify
your Yes answer). Remember to use complete sentences.
-
During the exam:
you must put your bags (e.g. backpacks) completely under your desk
(so I do not trip over it),
hats may not be worn (except with prior permission, e.g., medical reason),
and calculators are not allowed (nor needed).
-
During the exam, electronic devices (e.g.: cell phones, earbuds, smart watches)
are to be turned off (if possible) and stored in a closed
(e.g.: zipped, buttoned) bag (e.g.: backpack, purse).
Electronic devices may not be stored in personal clothing (e.g., jacket pocket).
If needed, store your electronic device(s) on the front desk during the exam.
-
At the request of a student, I will project a clock onto the overhead screen.
- Come to the exam well rested.
Findable from URL: http://people.math.sc.edu/girardi/w300.html/
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