Follow:
|
To properly prepare for your upcoming midterm exam, here are some pointers:
- The exam covers part or all of Lessons 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 14, and 15 in my book.
- You will note that I have omitted Lesson 3 (Riemann Sums). That
lesson is rarely on exams, and one prof has definitely assured his class that it will not be on this upcoming midterm.
- Technically, Lesson 1 is not really on your exam either, because you aren't supposed to know inverse trig yet. However, that lesson also includes a review of trigonometry in general, and trig is an extremely important component of this course and your midterm exam, so I recommend you do study this lesson.
- Make sure you have
thoroughly memorized the 17 Elementary Integrals on page 1 of my book.
- If you not have already done so, be sure to get some index cards and start getting them made up, as I outline on page 6 of my book. In the homework for each lesson, I tell you what questions you should put on the index cards. Essentially, it is all the integrals you come across. For example, at this stage, that would be the 17 elementary integrals from page 1,
and the integrals from Lesson 2, #1, Lesson 4, #1, and Lesson 7, #1.
- The key is put one integral question (and only one) on the front of the index card. DO NOT NOTE WHAT NUMBER IT IS OR WHAT LESSON IT IS FROM!
- Then, on the back of the card, you can either write the solution (but I wouldn't), or (what I would do), just note what lesson and page it is from in my book.
- If you do this while you are studying
the lesson, it won't take but a moment to note the integral on a card, instead of leaving yourself with the tedious exercise of making hundreds of cards all at once.
- Then, once, you have the cards made, you can shuffle them up, and try cards at random, testing yourself on your ability to recognize how to solve an integral out of context.
- It is often the case that students think they're ok at solving integrals, but don't realize how much they need the hint of "this is a u
substitution integral" or "this is an integration by parts integral" to get them going. This frequently leads to disaster on exams, where students blank out completely trying to solve an integral.
- This is even more important as we learn additional techniques in Lessons 8 to 10, so don't forget to keep making the cards, and to keep shuffling them and practicing right up to your final exam!
- The same prof has assured his students that you
will not have to draw any graphs for parametric equations or polar curves on this midterm. A graph may be given to you already drawn. The emphasis from these two lessons will be in doing the derivatives, getting slopes or equations of tangent lines, and finding areas. I do recommend you study the graphing sections of both Lessons 14 and 15 to familiarize yourself with the concepts as that may be necessary to help you to find the points of
intersection in a given graph, for example. Do omit any question that asks you to find arc length, circumference, or surface area in my lessons. Those are concepts that won't be taught until later. But do make sure you have studied the derivatives, tangent lines, and area questions.
- Make sure you work through all the midterm exams provided in the book of old exams the department sells at the Book Store. The midterms in that
book are covering the same topics as your midterm. However, omit any questions asking you to do volume. That topic is not included in this year's midterm.
Good luck, and am happy to assist if you have a question while studying. My preference is that you contact me via Whatsapp @ my phone number
204-489-2884. |
|
