Professor Kate Poirier | OL67 | Fall 2020

Assignment: MAT 1575 X MAT 2680 collab

Due Sunday, October 18, 11:59pm

MAT 2680 students’ instructions

MAT 2680 students, the instructions here are not for you! Do not comment on this post! See the post with your instructions over on the MAT 1575 site here.

MAT 1575 students’ instructions

MAT 1575 students, welcome to the MAT 2680 site! The students in MAT 2680 are learning to solve differential equations. A differential equation is an equation that involves derivatives of some mystery function, for example $f'(x) = f(x)$. A solution of a differential equation is just the mystery function $f(x)$ that satisfies the equation. Can you guess a solution of the differential equation $f'(x) = f(x)$?

MAT 1575 is a prerequisite for MAT 2680 and, to solve differential equations, the students in MAT 2680 have been evaluating an awful lot of integrals, just like you have been! Later in the semester, they will solve differential equations using infinite series; you are just starting your lessons on infinite series!

So the MAT 2680 students are like future versions of you, who have already passed MAT 1575. Even if you are not going to take MAT 2680 yourself, you probably have questions that the MAT 2680 students could answer.

  • Maybe you’d like to ask them what skills or material they think is most important from MAT 1575?
  • Maybe you’d like to ask them what they wish they’d learned better from MAT 1575?
  • Maybe you’d just like to ask them how they succeeded in MAT 1575?
  • Maybe you have a more personal question for them like what their major is, what they like about differential equations, what they liked about Calculus II, or what other math classes they have to take?

Now’s your chance to get some advice from students who are just slightly ahead of where you are on their math journeys!

So, your instructions for this assignment are simple: in the comments below, ask the MAT 2680 students any questions you like.

Since you have not commented in this group before, your comments will not appear right away. They have to be approved by the administrator first, but the administrator is me and I’ll approve any questions as long as they are not too inappropriate. Anyone who asks a question will earn participation credit.

17 Comments

  1. KatieSalas

    Hello MAT 2680 students,

    Thank you for all the tips! One of the things I struggle with is the conceptual stuff. Especially limits. I noticed someone posted about YouTube videos helping, I’d appreciate any channels/people that have helped you. Even if not on conceptual info, but general math as well.

    Thanks,

    Katie

    • Sierra Morales

      Hey Katie,

      If you’re looking to dive into more conceptual content, check out Michel van Biezen on YouTube. I’ll provide you a link that directs you to his “precalculus, trigonometry, calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra” playlist. Just scroll down to Calculus 2 and search for the topic you want to study. If you plan on taking differentials in the future, definitely check out his videos.

      Here’s the link:
      https://www.youtube.com/c/MichelvanBiezen/playlists?view=50&sort=dd&shelf_id=8

      Hope this helps, let me know how it goes. Best of luck!

      — Sierra Morales

  2. Pablo

    Hello I just wanted to know what are some real world uses for Differential Equations, thanks.

    • F.Gonzalez

      Hey Pablo,
      Differential Equations are actually important. They can be applied to real life cases and maybe your major. It is used mostly to predict out comes and to predict the world around us. In medicine, its often used to model the growth or spread of cancer cells. In economics, its used to find the best investing strategies, and in physics it is used to describe the motion of waves and pendulums. There are more uses for differential equations in your career and I highly recommend to take the course.

  3. Kevinces

    Im terrible with limits in Calc 2, what should I expect when I take MAT2680 and how can I prepare myself?

    • Jian Hui

      Hello Kevinces,
      It is fine that you are terrible with limits right now in Calculus 2 class. If you do want to improve to get better with any subject or Calculus 2. Start asking a lot of questions, create your notes (very helpful), go to math tutoring (you must have something ready for them). As right now in MAT 2680 , you will expect a lot of first and second derivates and integral . First way to prepared yourself is start writing down formula and understand how to use them. Hint: You will see the same formula being use in Calc 2 in MAT2680.

    • Jian Hui

      Hello Kevinces,
      It is fine that you are terrible with limits right now in Calculus 2 class. If you do want to improve to get better with any subject or Calculus 2. Start asking a lot of questions, create your notes (very helpful), go to math tutoring (you must have something ready for them). As right now in MAT 2680 , you will expect a lot of first and second derivates and integral . First way to prepared yourself is start writing down formula and understand how to use them. Hint: You will see the same formula being use in Calc 2 in MAT2680.

  4. Imane

    Hello. I would like to know how you approach difficult math 2680 topics. Also, what general advice would you give someone who might be taking Math 2680?

  5. Aram

    Are convergent/divergent and Taylor Polynomials involved in MAT 2680? Also how often are integrals used in this class?

    • Jason Zhu

      Hi Aram,
      There are no convergent/divergent and Taylor Polynomials involved in MAT 2680 as for now. You will see integrals pretty often.

    • Jennifer Agudelo

      Hello Aram, you don’t have to worry about convergent/ divergent or Taylor polynomials in MAT2680 but I do suggest you to continue working hard on integrals because your gonna see it in majority of the question some are simple ones that you should be able to do fast but you can encounter some questions where you will have to apply u substitution

  6. Dixon Bonilla

    Hi MAT2680 I was wondering what is the most difficult thing you’ve done in class so far so I can prepare myself for that subject.

  7. Rafaeldiaz2435

    Do you have any advice for 1575 and 2680? How can I prepare myself?

    • Ariel Itshaik

      Hi Rafael,

      My name is Ariel Itshaik and I highly recommend doing many practice questions. The way i used to study and get better at the different concepts in math were to focus on a set of problems until i have completed each one. Everytime i made a mistake i would redo another question regarding that specific topic. It proved helpful and i think if u give it a try itll work out better for you in the long run.

    • Ariel Itshaik

      Hi Rafael,

      My name is Ariel Itshaik and I highly recommend doing many practice questions. The way i used to study and get better at the different concepts in math were to focus on a set of problems until i have completed each one. Everytime i made a mistake i would redo another question regarding that specific topic. It proved helpful and i think if u give it a try itll work out better for you in the long run.

  8. Erik Santos Castelan

    What topics/skills do I need to practice to succeeded in MAT 2680. Also anything else that can be helpful for MAT 2680?

    • Sheyla Criollo

      Hey Erik, I would definitely suggest that you practice integrals and derivatives because it is involved in basically the entire course. You can also watch YouTube videos about differential equations now in order for you to see what it is like plus when you do take the class it’ll probably be a bit easier since you watched videos.

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