LIFESCI 30A
Mathematics for Life Scientists
Description: Lecture, three hours; laboratory, one hour. Preparation: three years of high school mathematics (to algebra II), some basic familiarity with computers. Mathematical modeling as tool for understanding dynamics of biological systems. Fundamental concepts of single-variable calculus and development of single- and multi-variable differential equation models of dynamical processes in ecology, physiology, and other subjects in which quantities change with time. Use of free computer program Sage for problem solving, plotting, and dynamical simulation in laboratory. Letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
2 of 2
AD
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2024 - Absolutely insane midterm. Not a soul got up before the alarm went off and people had genuine breakdowns after class. At some points it is near impossible to understand lecture, and the ridiculously easy workload and practice midterms do not prepare you at all. A second grade scale should not be necessary if passing the first midterm was possible. Just because she failed her first midterm doesn't mean we ALL deserve to. The textbook is more helpful than the lectures, but even then you drown in boring examples and complete bull. Every NSA who is instructed to guide prospective students into this preposterous class is instrumental in the destruction of any student's impression of fake calculus and self-confidence.
Fall 2024 - Absolutely insane midterm. Not a soul got up before the alarm went off and people had genuine breakdowns after class. At some points it is near impossible to understand lecture, and the ridiculously easy workload and practice midterms do not prepare you at all. A second grade scale should not be necessary if passing the first midterm was possible. Just because she failed her first midterm doesn't mean we ALL deserve to. The textbook is more helpful than the lectures, but even then you drown in boring examples and complete bull. Every NSA who is instructed to guide prospective students into this preposterous class is instrumental in the destruction of any student's impression of fake calculus and self-confidence.
Most Helpful Review
Summer 2020 - I took Ls30A with Dr. V in Summer 2020 and here is my intake: - The class content is very easy and very manageable - Actually read the textbook and watch the videos recommended for you in the syllabus - Dr. V is not good at lecturing...like at all! going to lectures felt like a waste of time and I did not learn anything through her lectures and learned through reading the book - Super easy to get an A and she provides a lot of extra credit - Homework is manageable but can be a little hard sometimes - Coding is a little challenging but your TAs will help you out a lot so go to their office hours. - The midterm and final were open notebook take home, but were very open-ended so some of the questions were not clear. - Take this class if you want an easy A, but only if you are willing to put in the effort to self-study! - Make study groups!!
Summer 2020 - I took Ls30A with Dr. V in Summer 2020 and here is my intake: - The class content is very easy and very manageable - Actually read the textbook and watch the videos recommended for you in the syllabus - Dr. V is not good at lecturing...like at all! going to lectures felt like a waste of time and I did not learn anything through her lectures and learned through reading the book - Super easy to get an A and she provides a lot of extra credit - Homework is manageable but can be a little hard sometimes - Coding is a little challenging but your TAs will help you out a lot so go to their office hours. - The midterm and final were open notebook take home, but were very open-ended so some of the questions were not clear. - Take this class if you want an easy A, but only if you are willing to put in the effort to self-study! - Make study groups!!
AD
2 of 2
