MATH 31A
Differential and Integral Calculus
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Preparation: at least three and one half years of high school mathematics (including some coordinate geometry and trigonometry). Requisite: successful completion of Mathematics Diagnostic Test or course 1 with grade of C- or better. Differential calculus and applications; introduction to integration. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
I had professor Ricardo Salazar for two straight quarters (Math 1 & 31,) and I can say he is a fair professor. First, his grading schemes were similar for both classes. His grading consisted of the following: two midterms, one final, homework, and quizzes. He will take out your lowest midterm grade, but will, instead, count the final at a higher percentage. Second, as a lecturer, he can be very difficult to listen to, as he mumbles, speaks softly, and has an accent. I would highly recommend you sit in the front. He mainly focuses on concepts and proofs, and seldom solved problems. He is pretty helpful in office hours, and is very approachable. The main reason people dislike him is the same reason people dislike math. As aforementioned, Salazar is a decent math professor. Would I recommend him? Sure; but ultimately, the decision is up to you.
I had professor Ricardo Salazar for two straight quarters (Math 1 & 31,) and I can say he is a fair professor. First, his grading schemes were similar for both classes. His grading consisted of the following: two midterms, one final, homework, and quizzes. He will take out your lowest midterm grade, but will, instead, count the final at a higher percentage. Second, as a lecturer, he can be very difficult to listen to, as he mumbles, speaks softly, and has an accent. I would highly recommend you sit in the front. He mainly focuses on concepts and proofs, and seldom solved problems. He is pretty helpful in office hours, and is very approachable. The main reason people dislike him is the same reason people dislike math. As aforementioned, Salazar is a decent math professor. Would I recommend him? Sure; but ultimately, the decision is up to you.
Most Helpful Review
If this is Claus Schubert, then I love him. I took him freshman year for 31A and 31B. He's way of teaching is very effective even though it is simple differentials and integrals. He was one of the few teachers I've had that got a standing ovation at the end of the quarter. He's AWESOME.
If this is Claus Schubert, then I love him. I took him freshman year for 31A and 31B. He's way of teaching is very effective even though it is simple differentials and integrals. He was one of the few teachers I've had that got a standing ovation at the end of the quarter. He's AWESOME.
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Most Helpful Review
He does all right at conveying the concepts, but the questions he gives on the midterms and finals are much more difficult than anything he goes over in class or assigns in the homework. The average class grade on the first midterm was a 69%. Also most people in the class took AP calculus in high school so its a tough curve. Good luck.
He does all right at conveying the concepts, but the questions he gives on the midterms and finals are much more difficult than anything he goes over in class or assigns in the homework. The average class grade on the first midterm was a 69%. Also most people in the class took AP calculus in high school so its a tough curve. Good luck.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2022 - This class was easy but you have to use Khan academy. There's two midterms with the two grading schemes and one final. The professor teaches in a way that makes it so his problems in class are easy and the questions on the tests are hard. But if you study and do the homework you will be fine. They key is practicing problems.
Fall 2022 - This class was easy but you have to use Khan academy. There's two midterms with the two grading schemes and one final. The professor teaches in a way that makes it so his problems in class are easy and the questions on the tests are hard. But if you study and do the homework you will be fine. They key is practicing problems.
Most Helpful Review
Let me just say that I took this class in high school and had a 4 on the AP exam. I am so glad I knew the material. It's very tough to understand his English; I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't taken it. The first midterm is easy, but it gets progressively harder from there. He told us to memorize proofs that would show up on the test, and it turns out, they didn't show up. Average on the final was under 65%. I ended up with a B in the class. Class is curved at the end, after all points are added up, median is a B-.
Let me just say that I took this class in high school and had a 4 on the AP exam. I am so glad I knew the material. It's very tough to understand his English; I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't taken it. The first midterm is easy, but it gets progressively harder from there. He told us to memorize proofs that would show up on the test, and it turns out, they didn't show up. Average on the final was under 65%. I ended up with a B in the class. Class is curved at the end, after all points are added up, median is a B-.
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Most Helpful Review
Summer 2020 - Professor Sprouse is fairly generous in the way he grades. I believe he gave everyone who got a 90% or higher as their overall final grade an A, not an A-. Whenever I had a question and I emailed him, he was prompt in responding which I was very appreciative of. The homework was a bit much but I will say it prepares you well for the two midterms and the final. He docked a few points on the exams for minor errors, but I think this is the norm for math professors. VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure you go over the notes very carefully and take note of the way he wants you to solve problems on the exams because if you do it your own way and still get the right answer, he will mark off a ton of points if not all of them. Solve the problems the way he wants you to solve them and you can figure out the way he wants you to solve them by carefully examining his notes. The bottom line is if you need to take Calc 31A, take it with Professor Sprouse. He is nice, a little funny, and really cares about his students. With Covid-19 going on, he was very understanding and tried to make the difficulty of the class fit the trying times we are currently in as best he could. In addition, my TA Mr. Johnson was great. I would highly recommend him as well.
Summer 2020 - Professor Sprouse is fairly generous in the way he grades. I believe he gave everyone who got a 90% or higher as their overall final grade an A, not an A-. Whenever I had a question and I emailed him, he was prompt in responding which I was very appreciative of. The homework was a bit much but I will say it prepares you well for the two midterms and the final. He docked a few points on the exams for minor errors, but I think this is the norm for math professors. VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure you go over the notes very carefully and take note of the way he wants you to solve problems on the exams because if you do it your own way and still get the right answer, he will mark off a ton of points if not all of them. Solve the problems the way he wants you to solve them and you can figure out the way he wants you to solve them by carefully examining his notes. The bottom line is if you need to take Calc 31A, take it with Professor Sprouse. He is nice, a little funny, and really cares about his students. With Covid-19 going on, he was very understanding and tried to make the difficulty of the class fit the trying times we are currently in as best he could. In addition, my TA Mr. Johnson was great. I would highly recommend him as well.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2023 - Professor Varvarezos gives me hope for the future of mathematics educators. He is very thorough in lectures and gives many examples, so taking notes go great. He also videos his lectures on Canvas, although the camera work is often so bad and annoying that I'll just go in person. His grading schemes are very forgiving, with an option where you can even drop your lowest midterm completely with more weight on the final. Test questions are very accurate to the practice sheets he sends out, with some variations in types of problem but with similar concepts. You get to make a cheat sheet for exams; both midterms were very straightforward, and the final was easy but utilized more critical thinking. Varvarezos is also very helpful in office hours, both on Zoom and in-person, he is great at explaining!!
Fall 2023 - Professor Varvarezos gives me hope for the future of mathematics educators. He is very thorough in lectures and gives many examples, so taking notes go great. He also videos his lectures on Canvas, although the camera work is often so bad and annoying that I'll just go in person. His grading schemes are very forgiving, with an option where you can even drop your lowest midterm completely with more weight on the final. Test questions are very accurate to the practice sheets he sends out, with some variations in types of problem but with similar concepts. You get to make a cheat sheet for exams; both midterms were very straightforward, and the final was easy but utilized more critical thinking. Varvarezos is also very helpful in office hours, both on Zoom and in-person, he is great at explaining!!
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