I have my Calc II final in 30 minutes

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Discussion Overview

The thread revolves around a participant's anxiety about an upcoming Calculus II final exam, reflecting on their journey in mathematics and seeking encouragement from the community. The discussion touches on the challenges of the course, the significance of passing it, and the potential next steps in their mathematical education.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses anxiety about needing a minimum score to maintain an A in the course, citing a lack of practice on earlier topics.
  • Another participant reassures the original poster (OP) of their mathematical abilities and suggests that courses like abstract algebra and real analysis are also significant milestones.
  • The OP describes a specific problem from the exam involving a Maclaurin Series and an integral, detailing their thought process and challenges faced during the test.
  • Some participants share humorous comments and memes to lighten the mood, while others inquire about the OP's test results.
  • The OP later reports feeling they performed well overall but struggled with specific problems, including estimating an integral using a series representation.
  • There are mentions of differential equations and quantum physics as potential next milestones, depending on individual career paths.
  • Several participants congratulate the OP on their performance, with some light-hearted teasing about their scores.
  • There is a playful exchange about a "secret" known only to those who have passed Calculus II, which adds a humorous tone to the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the significance of Calculus II as a milestone in mathematics education, but there are multiple views on what the next milestones should be, reflecting differing career paths and experiences.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes personal reflections on performance and anxiety related to exams, which may not represent a typical academic experience. Specific mathematical problems and concepts are discussed without resolution, and the OP's understanding of certain topics remains uncertain.

Who May Find This Useful

Students preparing for Calculus II or similar courses, individuals interested in the progression of mathematical education, and those seeking community support during academic challenges.

QuarkCharmer
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I needed to take a break from studying, and nobody was in PF chat to listen to my complaining! I need at least a 65 to keep an A. I don't know why I am so worried about it. Granted, I am out of practice on some of the earlier topics. Anyway, this course is sort of a milestone for me, because a little over a year ago I knew basically 0 mathematics, and I was told that Calculus II was probably the most difficult of the typical selection of courses (calc/deq). At least in (hopefully) passing this course with an A, I will assure myself that I am at the very least capable of higher mathematics. What's the next course that shares a similar "milestone" status? I'm told Analysis.

Anyway, wish me luck, and sorry for creating a pointless rant thread.
 
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Good luck quark!

I'm sure you will end up with a great score! You might have to prove yourself to you, but I already think that you're great at mathematics!

Keep us posted on how you did!

Other milestone coures should probably be abstract algebra and real analysis. Not hard once you know it, but it can be brutal for newbies.
 
Have a great test!
 
QuarkCharmer said:
I needed to take a break from studying, and nobody was in PF chat to listen to my complaining! I need at least a 65 to keep an A. I don't know why I am so worried about it. Granted, I am out of practice on some of the earlier topics. Anyway, this course is sort of a milestone for me, because a little over a year ago I knew basically 0 mathematics, and I was told that Calculus II was probably the most difficult of the typical selection of courses (calc/deq). At least in (hopefully) passing this course with an A, I will assure myself that I am at the very least capable of higher mathematics. What's the next course that shares a similar "milestone" status? I'm told Analysis.

Anyway, wish me luck, and sorry for creating a pointless rant thread.

Good luck!

Don't forget the arbitrary constant on those indefinite integrals! They get me every time.
 
http://memegenerator.net/cache/instances/400x/11/11970/12258100.jpg
 
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micromass said:
http://memegenerator.net/cache/instances/400x/11/11970/12258100.jpg

Oh micro...you crack me up!

Best of luck, QC, it's almost over!
 
:smile:

Killing me here. Too funny.

Hey OP, how did the test go?!
 
Well, I took it alright. There were two problems that I think I messed up something on, but overall, I think I probably scored around a 90. He's good about posting grades the next day if not the same night, so I'll know real soon.

The one that I just couldn't figure out asked me to list the first 4 terms in a Maclaurin Series representation of a function, and then use the Series as a whole to estimate an definite integral.

I believe it was:
\int_{0}^{\frac{1}{2}}cos(x^{2})dx

So, I recalled that:
\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^{n}x^{2n}}{(2n)!} = cos(x)
and so, the representation was:
\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^{n}x^{4n}}{(2n)!} = cos(x)
I used that Series, to list out the first 4 terms (for n:0,1,2,3).

I then put that series in place of the above integral, and the result was some series with 4n+1 and (2n!) in the denominator, that I couldn't quite manipulate to make it look like a known series. I was thinking it would come out to be geometric, well, sort of, it was alternating, so I tried using the alternating series test, but I couldn't figure out how to estimate it's value considering there was no error given to me. I know that:
|e| = |S-S_{n}| <= b_{n+1}
but again, no given error?

After that, they wanted me to find the 8th derivative of cos(x^2) evaluated at zero. There were 2 homework problems we did along time ago like this, but it wasn't coming back to me, this whole problem was a nightmare. I tried setting my series for cos(x^2) equal to the definition of the maclaurin series:

\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^{n}x^{4n}}{(2n)!} = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{f^{(8)}(0)x^{8}}{8!}

and then I set 4n = 8, to find the n for the left side (n=2). I put all n's on the left to 2, and did the math to solve for f^(8)(0) but I got some insane number in the hundreds that just did not seem right. So who knows...

Only my physics final to go!
 
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  • #12
IMO, differential equations and quantum physics are the next "milestones", but it depends on your career path.
 
  • #13
Update:
vdmkc5.jpg

!:!)
 
  • #14
Congratulations! Well done.

Next time - do better. :biggrin:
 
  • #15
Niiiiiiiice :biggrin:

You have defeated Calculus II, but a new opponent awaits :-p
 
  • #16
QuarkCharmer said:
Update:
vdmkc5.jpg

!:!)

I seem to remember a previous post by you (around mid-terms) where you were scoring higher on your assignments. I know it's the end of the semester, but that's no excuse for slacking-off, mmkay?
 
  • #17
Dembadon said:
I seem to remember a previous post by you (around mid-terms) where you were scoring higher on your assignments. I know it's the end of the semester, but that's no excuse for slacking-off, mmkay?

Oh yeah, that test I got a 115 on. I went into PF chat and asked micromass to look it over, because I thought it was really difficult considering the time they gave. Turns out, most people didn't finish it, and I just barely finished it. Due to the professors shortsight on timing, it was curved up 15 points.

I have no idea where the ~7 points came from on this one. I think it's from various one point extra credit things throughout the semester.
 
  • #18
Astronuc said:
Congratulations! Well done.

Next time - do better. :biggrin:

Yeah, better than the 107%. Slacker! :smile:
 
  • #19
OK, now that you passed Calc II, we have to tell you something. It is something that is only known to people that passed Calc II. It is a secret but important knowledge. You are expected to keep this a secret for people not passing Calc II.

Here it is:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #20
micromass said:
OK, now that you passed Calc II, we have to tell you something. It is something that is only known to people that passed Calc II. It is a secret but important knowledge. You are expected to keep this a secret for people not passing Calc II.

Here it is:


http://achtungtshirt.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/danger-sign-rickroll-rick-astley-funny-black-tee-shirt.jpg?w=450
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #21
berkeman said:
Yeah, better than the 107%. Slacker! :smile:
Yeah - we were expecting 110%! :smile:
 
  • #22
Geez, now I am going to have to wear sunglasses every time QC is in chat.

Rhody... :-p
 

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