Preparation for lecture

Before coming to each lecture Tuesday through Friday, you should read the assigned textbook sections (see the lecture schedule).

If you feel you need another resource before lecture, you can also find video lectures and matching written lecture notes on previous terms' websites.

The video lectures assume that you've already done the textbook readings. So they do not walk through basic definitions but, rather, concentrate on aspects of the topic that you probably didn't fully understand after doing the readings. (The first-week videos are more comprehensive because we are just getting started.)

Lectures

Lecture will be every day on Tuesday through Friday, and also on Monday of Week 1. In these, we will begin with a short lecture on the topic of the day, working through a few example problems.

After the guided lecture, you will work on discussion problems in a group setting. Bring paper and a writing implement, as well as a mobile device for interacting with PrairieLearn. When you work on the problems, you'll want to be able to draft outlines, draw pictures, fiddle with algebra, etc. Almost no one can do this without a way to write and draw.

After drafting your solutions, you should type the solutions into PrairieLearn (as you would during an exam). (Use this brief guide for help formatting equations.) At the end of the week, course staff will give you feedback and mark your work as completed on PrairieLearn.

Study problems and resources

We encourage you see the study resources tab in the top menu for places to find additional study problems. You should write up a solution to each problem on your own, as if you were taking an exam or turning in a graded homework, before checking your answers against the posted solutions. Writing up the answers is important, since it forces you to work through the details and practice composing a polished proof.