Homework Solutions



  1. Problem write-ups are your permanent record of your understanding of the material covered. This is especially true in a course like this which has no exams.

  2. Solutions should be clearly and logically presented. This means that:
    1. Your method should always be clear. It should be easy to figure out what you're doing and why.
    2. Use a lot of space. I recommend skipping some lines if you use lined paper.
    3. Equations should usually be accompanied by prose. Before plunging into algebra, state what it is you're solving for. If there are any non-obvious steps in a calculation, explain them.
    4. Write equations in a logical order.
  3. Solutions should stand on their own; they should be understandable to someone who hasn't read the problem. This means that you should paraphrase the question before writing your response.

  4. For a few problems you will find yourself using sage. For all but the simplest sage calculations you should include a printout of your worksheet.

  5. I will not give numerical grades on HW assignments. Instead, I will give a letter grade and try to include as many comments as I can. I'm mainly interested in seeing that you thoughtfully attacked the problem and wrote it up in a clear and coherent way. If you only want comments and don't want a letter grade on your HW, just let me know.

  6. Finally, a few minor requests:
    1. On the top of the homework, please write the assignment number.
    2. If you don't have a stapler, that's ok. But please don't mangle and fold over the corner in an attempt to get the pages to stick together. Just write your name or initials on all pages and I'll gladly staple them together.
    3. Please don't hand in problems on paper that has been torn out of a spiral notebook.
    4. Please do the problems in order. If you do them out of order, please indicate this on your assignment and make it so that it's not hard to find them. Grading your homework should not be a scavenger hunt.