Math 53

Colleges & Universities University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>I have Hutchings for Math 53 next year.
Do we do all of the chapters from the book (Ch. 9-13)?
Do we do every single problem in the chapters? Or just odd/even?</p>

<p>Also, my book’s table of contents shows a review chapter, Ch. 8, but I don’t have it (bought a used book). Maybe it was torn out? Does Hutchings teach this chapter in addition to Ch. 9-13 or w/e?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Yeah I think you do all the chapters if they’re still using the same edition.</p>

<p>They’ll give you a select number of problems, usually all odd.</p>

<p>I don’t think he did chapter 8. I think it starts with chapter 9.</p>

3

<p>

We’re using the slim paperback blue book by Stewart - is it the same one?</p>

<p>I noticed that some of the problems in the book were proofs - does Hutchings skip these or do we actually need to know proofs? (Proofs are my worst nightmare >_>)</p>

<p>Lastly, are there any other materials besides the Stewart book we need for the class? Is there a specific calculator we need to buy? I’m still using my 6 year old TI83+</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

4

<p>Yup it’s that one. Chapter 8 is probably missing because the blue book is custom-made for Berkeley and only has 9-13 because that’s the only chapters Math 53 uses.</p>

<p>I don’t think Hutchings allow calculators so you don’t need anything fancy. I think they require you to get a reader but honestly it was pretty useless.</p>

<p>As for proofs…they generally don’t assign those because no one likes them. Might vary depending on your TA though. Here’s the catch: the math department is too poor to afford actual graders, so they just check to see if you did the work. So if they do assign proofs, just BS them. And I don’t think Hutchings has proofs on tests but I could be wrong…</p>

5

<p>when do we need to get books by?</p>

6

<p>

What’s a reader?</p>

<p>And no calculator?! I’m hoping that the problems on the tests are fairly easy calculations then?</p>

7

<p>A reader is basically a pseudo-textbook that some classes have.</p>

<p>Calculators are not allowed, but you definitely won’t need them. You can find Hutchings’ old exams from a quick Google search. His midterms are pretty easy, but the finals tend to be a bit harder (median on the spring 2007 final was about a 50%). You won’t need to do any proofs, though I think there was one problem from the spring 2007 final that was sort of like a proof.</p>

8

<p>A calculator isn’t really necessary considering the material for 53. You should already know how to do addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (and it’s not like you’re going to be given some really long calculation), and you should know how to graph by now.</p>