trying to be a mile wide AND a mile deep
One of the main things students struggle with on exams is identifying the method to use on each problem. When they are learned in class, they are segregated by type, and their distinguishing features are not always highlighted. Here’s a brief cheat sheet on related rates and optimization. optimization related rates sample keywords maximize, minimize, […]
As with related rates, optimization is sometimes approached with some dread. Fortunately, although the calculus has more steps than in related rates, the process is somewhat more cut and dried. A. Make two-word phrase of goal, where first word is minimize or maximize and second word is the name of a quantity. B. Name quantities […]
These are perhaps the epitome of the dreaded “word problem.” Fortunately there is a step by step method for solving them. A. Assign variables to your quantities and find relationship equations for them. B. If relevant, simplify the equations to remove extraneous variables. C. Express given and asked-for rates of change in terms of d/dt. […]
Here are slide presentations for a linear algebra class that claims to include applications, but really barely has enough time to cover the nonapplied material. I made two presentations that could be done in 20 minutes of class time. These are both incorporated to some degree into the math club linear algebra talk I gave, […]
In February of 2011, I gave a talk to the Dartmouth Math Club about linear algebra. This post replicates the page of resources I made for the club members related to that talk, and adds one new one. Slides from the talk. Pdf about uses of linear algebra. From Oliver Knill, Harvard Math, near the […]