What's the difference between Math 105 and Math 106?
Math 105 covers techniques of differentiation (such as the product and chain
rules), applications of the derivative (such as finding maxima and minima
and doing optimizations), and an introduction to the definite integral.
Math 106 covers techniques and applications of integration, infinite series
(including Taylor series), and differential equations.
Do I have to take BOTH Math 105 and Math 106 to get a Bachelor of
Science degree?
No. If you pass 106 but have not taken 105, that will satisfy the calculus portion
of the B.S. requirement (whether or not you have AP credit for
105).
If I already know the material for 105 and 106, can I skip them both
and still get a B.S. degree?
Yes, IF you have earned credit for 105 and 106 via non-Bates course credits such as
the AP Exam or transfer credit, OR if you pass
Math 206, multivariable calculus.
If I took calculus before but didn't take the AP exam (or did poorly on
it), do I need to start in Math 105?
Not necessarily. You should take our placement exam, which is an anonymous and
non-binding test. As soon as you complete it, you will receive online placement
advice. Please note that unlike the AP exam, passing this placement exam does NOT
give you any official Bates course credit. The exam is available at
http://abacus.bates.edu/~etowne/PlacementExam.htm.
Do I have to take calculus if I'm pre-med?
Requirements vary among medical schools. Some med schools require one
semester of calculus, others require two semesters, and some want a year
of college math. Most accept AP credit for calculus, so if you already
have that, there's no need to retake the same course here; instead, you
might want to enroll in a more advanced math course. If you have
additional questions, please contact the Office of Career Services to make
an appointment (Sue Cook: scook@bates.edu).
Can I take calculus at another college or summer program and transfer
the credit to Bates?
Possibly. The Chair of the Math Department must approve any such
transfer credit, so you need to provide him or her with a detailed
syllabus about the course. Unless you have already taken this non-Bates
course, you should seek approval BEFORE you enroll. You should also
read the Bates Transfer Credit Policy.
If I'm unsure whether to take 105 or 106, what should I do?
Contact Eric Towne (etowne@bates.edu) for placement advice. And
remember that it's easier to start in 106 and switch to 105 than to do the
opposite.
Are both Math 105 and Math 106 offered every semester?
Yes.
Where can I find old exams and other practice materials?
Eric Towne maintains a page with these math resources and many more:
http://abacus.bates.edu/~etowne/mathresources.html.
What is the derivative of xx?
xx(ln x + 1)
What AP scores will give me credit for calculus at Bates?
A 4 or 5 on the BC exam earns credit for Math 105 and 106. A 4 or 5 on
the AB exam earns credit for Math 105, as does a 4 or 5 on the AB
portion of the BC exam. You may also wish to consult the Bates
Advanced
Placement Policy.
If Bates has granted me AP credit for both Math 105 and Math 106, can I
still take one or both of those courses here to earn more graduation
credit(s)?
No.
If I got a 4 or 5 on the AB exam and then a 4 or 5 on the BC exam, how
many Bates credits will I be granted for these scores?
Two, one for Math 105 and one for Math 106. No double-counting is
allowed.
If I got a 4 or 5 on the AB exam and then a 3 or lower on the BC exam with a 4
or 5 on its AB subscore portion, how many Bates credits will I be granted
for these scores?
One, for Math 105. No double-counting is allowed.
What credits will I receive for IB (International Baccalaureate) math?
Each higher level (HL) math course earns 1 credit for a score of 5 and 2
credits for a score of 6 or 7. A subsidiary level (SL) math course earns 1
credit for a score of 6 or 7. The first IB math credit counts for Math
105, the second for Math 106, and any additional credit is considered as
an unspecified credit. No double-counting with AP Calculus or A-level math is allowed.
What credits will I receive for A-level math?
A grade of A in A-level
mathematics earns credit for Math 105 and Math 106. A grade of B or C in
A-level mathematics earns credit for Math 105. No credit is earned for
O-level or AS-level mathematics. No double-counting with AP or IB is
allowed. For further information, see http://www.bates.edu/A-Level-Policy.xml
.
How do I decide between taking a Senior Seminar and writing a Senior Thesis?
The math major at Bates requires a capstone experience, either the Senior Seminar or the Senior
Thesis. The Senior Seminar lasts one semester, and is an intense experience involving group work and
several presentations in a small classroom environment. The Senior Thesis can last one semester or a full
year, and requires you to work both independently and one-on-one with a faculty advisor. To help you
decide which format will be best for you, the Math Department holds two sessions during Winter Semester:
one with faculty, and the other with current seniors but NO faculty. These sessions
give faculty and seniors a chance to talk about their experiences with the Seminar or Thesis, and give
juniors or others a chance to ask questions.
What if I plan to spend my junior year abroad?
We recommend you plan ahead as much as possible, so you can fulfill all your requirements in time for
graduation. Talk with one or more members of the Mathematics Faculty, as well as the Off-Campus
Studies Office. We also suggest you go in your
sophomore year to the sessions listed in the previous question, to help you decide about your senior capstone
experience while you are away.
I'm a junior who wants to write a senior thesis. How should I begin?
You can begin with an idea - or ideas - of what you'd like to work on, or you can start by talking with some
of the mathematics faculty to help decide on your idea. The math department requires its majors to
submit a thesis proposal by the last day of Winter Semester classes in your junior year. Start with our
downloadable
thesis proposal cover sheet, and attach 1-3 pages detailing what you
hope to work on, why, and some references you have consulted. Turn it all in to the current department
chair, a faculty member you've
already worked with, or Georgette in Hathorn 200. Georgette also has paper copies of the thesis proposal
cover sheet.
Where can I go to present my research, and how can I learn more about the
mathematics community?
Go to a conference! There are a lot of possibilities, and we can often find ways to pay for students to
attend if you will be making a presentation. Consider the following possibilities:
How can I find a summer job or research experience involving math?
There are a lot of possibilities, and math department faculty get regular emails and flyers about
opportunities for undergraduates. We forward some of the emails to mathstu and post others. You can also
let us know you are interested, and tell us what kinds of programs you particularly hope to engage in.
(Undergraduate research into number theory? An interdisciplinary team project in biomathematics? Etc.)
Here are some websites you may wish to check into on your own:
What can I do with my math major?
Anything you want! Well, almost. Come talk to math faculty members about it. For some quick insight into
what several other people have done, check out the Math Association of America's
Career Profiles,
a collection of short essays by former math students about their chosen careers.
I've been hearing about LaTeX. What is it?
LaTeX is a system for high-quality technical typesetting. Most mathematicians and many other
scientists use LaTeX to typeset papers, exams, books, and more.
The LaTeX Project Home Page has additional information.
LaTeX is the greatest! How can I get it on my own computer?
Our computers in Hathorn 207 have PCTeX installed on them. PCTeX is a one-installation-does-it-all program,
but it has a fee. If you want free LaTeX for your PC, go to
http://www.miktex.org and choose to install their basic system. This
will likely be plenty for all you ever want to do with LaTeX; you will save yourself time by not choosing the
complete system. After getting MiKTeX, you will probably want a graphical shell to help you interact with
it. One option is TeXShell. It is pretty easy to install,
and you can set up your own buttons to make your life easy and, among other things, create PDF files, so all
your non-mathematically-set-up friends can still read the beautifully typeset math files you send them. To get
similar free software for your Mac, click
here
for a beginner's guide
then download TeXShop here.
I'm trying to learn LaTeX. Help!
LaTeX is one of those things that seems a lot easier if someone who knows it can help you get started.
Eric Towne offers a workshop which provides an
introduction to LaTeX just after the start of each semester; contact him
if you'd like to participate.
Our Bates College LaTeX Manual contains a set of lessons and
exercises to help you learn some of the essentials.
Try online help (Google searches, etc.), other math folks, and/or the LaTeX manuals and other
documentation on the shelves of Hathorn 207 for additional questions.
I'm writing my thesis - MORE help, please!
We have a set of sample thesis files available online. All you have to do
is fill in the blanks and you'll be done with your thesis!"
How do I pronounce "LaTeX"?
This question is more controversial than you might think. We found
a whole web page of TeX
Frequently Asked Questions. Their comments are:
I'm about to present a poster (in class / at a conference
/ at a Bates poster session). How can I best show all the math I've worked on?
The following websites should help you get started.
What math courses fulfill the Quantitative Requirement?
From the current Bates catalog:
"The quantitative requirement is satisfied by any of
the mathematics courses or units and FYS 317. Advanced Placement,
International Baccalaureate, or A-Level credit awarded by the department
for mathematics, computer science, or statistics may also satisfy the
quantitative requirement."