Nicholas Salter

We learn vectors, cylinders and quadrics, partial derivatives and the application of this theories in different situations.

The hw was definitely reasonable. Wouldn't say it was super easy or anything, but it definitely wasn't overwhelming!

multi-variable functions, vector functions, space curves, optimization

I took linear algebra with Nick and i really liked it! He explains things very clearly and makes jokes about the material to make class a bit more interesting :) Overall, Nick Salter is amazing. I'm taking his complex because I liked his linear so much!

Ch. 12-14 of Stewart Early Transcendentals: vectors, lines/planes in 3D space, parametric curves, conics, cylinders, quadrics, vector functions, space curves, integrals of vector functions, arc length, curvature, motion (velocity/acceleration), functions of several variables, continuity, partial derivatives, tangent planes, linear approximations, chain rule, directional derivatives, gradient, optimization, Lagrange multipliers How to break down/approach math problems

-Weekly problem sets (20%) -2 Midterms (20% each) -A Final (40%) It's all curved at the end based on cutoffs.

In Professor Salter's class, topics covered include differentiation of vectors, space curves and curvature, functions of more than one variable, level curves and level surfaces, limits and continuity, partial derivatives, total differential, tangent planes, the gradient operator, the directional derivative, multivariable forms of the chain rule, locating maxima, minima, and saddle points, the method of Lagrange multipliers. As a prospective physics student, I found this class to be very helpful, applicable, and interesting. I feel like I have greatly developed the problem-solving skills required for my major greatly.

Nick is a pretty good professor, I'd recommend him for linear if he teaches it again. I never went to class so I can't comment on his teaching abilities, but the class was very organized and the homeworks and exams were doable. The textbook is really helpful and clear and all you need to do well in the class, so I'd advise just keeping up with the material in there. Exam problems were generally easier than the hardest homework problems, so don't be too intimidated - make sure you do all the homework and supplementary problems and you'll be fine.

I was so stressed by the pace and the volume of the material that I am not sure if I got what I should. I spent countless hours working on the homework but even that did not prepare me for the level of mastery required to score on the exams which were quite difficult.

Fair. Grading: 90% - A 88% - A- 86% - B+ not curved, but the distribution of grades means that %As are in the 10-20% range.