MATH 3A
Calculus for Life Sciences Students
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Preparation: three and one half years of high school mathematics (including trigonometry). Enforced requisite: successful completion of Mathematics Diagnostic Test (score of 48 or better) or course 1 with grade of C- or better. Not open for credit to students with credit in another calculus sequence. Modeling with functions, limits, and derivatives, decisions and optimization in biology, derivative rules and tools. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Professor Murfet is a nice guy, but a horrible teacher. I took calculus in high school and still struggled in this course. The way he teaches in ineffective because he spends too much time explaining concepts, instead of actually helping us understand them. He is very neat and puts time in to the class, but if I could register again, I would not pick him as a professor. His midterms are about 27 points each, which gave me the idea that he almost wanted us to fail. His tests are much more difficult than his practice exams, and some of the questions seem almost impossible to answer. His exams are tricky, so you must study hard in order to recieve a good score. Take advantage of whatever tutoring you can find, and memorize the concepts from his lectures. Do the book problems for extra practice. Some of the things he teaches though, are not in the book or online anywhere because they are "made up." But on a positive note, his accect is very nice, and you can get a giggle out of the lectures if you pay attention. You can get a good grade in the class. Good luck
Professor Murfet is a nice guy, but a horrible teacher. I took calculus in high school and still struggled in this course. The way he teaches in ineffective because he spends too much time explaining concepts, instead of actually helping us understand them. He is very neat and puts time in to the class, but if I could register again, I would not pick him as a professor. His midterms are about 27 points each, which gave me the idea that he almost wanted us to fail. His tests are much more difficult than his practice exams, and some of the questions seem almost impossible to answer. His exams are tricky, so you must study hard in order to recieve a good score. Take advantage of whatever tutoring you can find, and memorize the concepts from his lectures. Do the book problems for extra practice. Some of the things he teaches though, are not in the book or online anywhere because they are "made up." But on a positive note, his accect is very nice, and you can get a giggle out of the lectures if you pay attention. You can get a good grade in the class. Good luck
Most Helpful Review
He's a really nice guy and his lectures are pretty easy to follow. However, he speaks in a really quite voice, so you have to sit in the front to hear what he's saying. The lectures are pretty useless though, I only went to about 75% of the time because I was too tired to get up (the class was at 8 am in the morning) and still managed an A for the whole class. The midterms are really easy, everything is from the book. If you do the homework problems and take the initiative to do some extra ones that he didn't assign, you will be fine. the final is a lot harder because the material covers the whole year. Again, if you do the extra problems in the book, you will be fine. so take this guy if you've taken calculus in high school before. although it's a 8 am class, the final grade you'll get is well worth it.
He's a really nice guy and his lectures are pretty easy to follow. However, he speaks in a really quite voice, so you have to sit in the front to hear what he's saying. The lectures are pretty useless though, I only went to about 75% of the time because I was too tired to get up (the class was at 8 am in the morning) and still managed an A for the whole class. The midterms are really easy, everything is from the book. If you do the homework problems and take the initiative to do some extra ones that he didn't assign, you will be fine. the final is a lot harder because the material covers the whole year. Again, if you do the extra problems in the book, you will be fine. so take this guy if you've taken calculus in high school before. although it's a 8 am class, the final grade you'll get is well worth it.
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Most Helpful Review
He is a nice guy and responds to email but is socially awkward. His exams are on the easier side compared to some of the other professors at UCLA. BUT he can't speak English for shit it's more like Korengrish. Seek outside help such as Covel, AAP, or Swartwood tutoring if you want to do well in this class. Do well on all the homework and one midterm (he drops one midterm). I got a 70 on the first midterm and a 87 on the second and because of that I have a 100 going into the final with the curve. Lecture is pointless since he can't speak English and reads from the book. If you decide to take this class just do the homework, turn it in, and get outside tutoring and you'll be more than fine.
He is a nice guy and responds to email but is socially awkward. His exams are on the easier side compared to some of the other professors at UCLA. BUT he can't speak English for shit it's more like Korengrish. Seek outside help such as Covel, AAP, or Swartwood tutoring if you want to do well in this class. Do well on all the homework and one midterm (he drops one midterm). I got a 70 on the first midterm and a 87 on the second and because of that I have a 100 going into the final with the curve. Lecture is pointless since he can't speak English and reads from the book. If you decide to take this class just do the homework, turn it in, and get outside tutoring and you'll be more than fine.
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Most Helpful Review
Professor Uminsky is a good lecturer. He knows what he is talking about and really wants to make sure that his students learn. He is excited about math and it shows. He does ask a lot of questions and wants the class to answer. He will point to someone and have them answer and if they are wrong, he does not criticize you. Even though he teaches well, his exams are really hard! we will make you memorize things like the intermediate value theorem and he wants you to state it word for word on his exams. As long as you can get at least 50% on the exams, you should be in good shape overall. If you have Daniel Ram for a TA, go to discussions because he is a good TA, although he sometimes gets frustrated. Overall he is good. Take him, just make sure you study
Professor Uminsky is a good lecturer. He knows what he is talking about and really wants to make sure that his students learn. He is excited about math and it shows. He does ask a lot of questions and wants the class to answer. He will point to someone and have them answer and if they are wrong, he does not criticize you. Even though he teaches well, his exams are really hard! we will make you memorize things like the intermediate value theorem and he wants you to state it word for word on his exams. As long as you can get at least 50% on the exams, you should be in good shape overall. If you have Daniel Ram for a TA, go to discussions because he is a good TA, although he sometimes gets frustrated. Overall he is good. Take him, just make sure you study
Most Helpful Review
The class was pretty simple since I'd taken AP Calc, but seriously, if I hadn't, I would not have done well in the class. I felt that Professor Weinstein made everything MUCH more complicated than it needed to be. He's also a little passive aggressive, so watch out for that. Overall, it's a pretty simple class material-wise; just don't rely on the the prof or the TA to actually 'teach' you.
The class was pretty simple since I'd taken AP Calc, but seriously, if I hadn't, I would not have done well in the class. I felt that Professor Weinstein made everything MUCH more complicated than it needed to be. He's also a little passive aggressive, so watch out for that. Overall, it's a pretty simple class material-wise; just don't rely on the the prof or the TA to actually 'teach' you.
Most Helpful Review
I took Math 3A. he is very caring about a students understanding if you have questions about the homework or the lecture he will answer them during lecture. He had overall two midterms and a final, homework on a weekly basis. he also gives out practice midterms and final that are similar to the test. I would take this teacher again if I could
I took Math 3A. he is very caring about a students understanding if you have questions about the homework or the lecture he will answer them during lecture. He had overall two midterms and a final, homework on a weekly basis. he also gives out practice midterms and final that are similar to the test. I would take this teacher again if I could
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