MATH 31B
Integration and Infinite Series
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisite: course 31A with grade of C- or better. Not open for credit to students with credit for course 3B. Transcendental functions; methods and applications of integration; sequences and series. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Winter 2016 - Denomme is a new professor and very young. I took this class after not even looking at calculus since junior year of high school and not taking 31a since I passed out of it, so the class was personally annoying for me because I had to simultaneously teach myself 31a. As a professor I think he is very helpful. The class grading is as follows Homework: 15% Midterm 1: 25% Midterm 2: 25% Final: 35% It is a bit annoying that his homework is worth so much. My TA was actually very helpful during discussion, but I can't speak about other TA's. Before each exam Denomme posts a very helpful study guide that sums up the notes needed. The study guide is only a supplement though, so I would still go to lectures because he gives hints about exams. He also posts a practice exam that is somewhat helpful, but kind of easier than the tests so not really helpful. I'm pretty sure it was his first time teaching this class, so no previous exams were available, but I'm sure exams should be posted in the test bank after this class, so go and check. All his exams were free response with not multiple choice. The midterms were around 5-6 questions, and the final was 8 questions. The first midterm was pretty easy, and it was the Wednesday of week 4. The second midterm was a lot harder (he had to give at 23% curve), and it was the Friday of week 8. Don't go into the second exam thinking it's okay if you do bad because he will curve it. Again it was his first time teaching this class, so he very well might change it. The grades to the final exam have not been released, so I can't tell you how it was. It was definitely easier than the second midterm. I think he is fair. Not easy, but not too hard. I ended the class with a B, but it is the only B I ever received, and as I stated previously I had not taken calculus since my Junior year in high school. The low grade was my fault, and I'm not mad at the professor. I'm sure my grade would have been lower with some of the other professors offered.
Winter 2016 - Denomme is a new professor and very young. I took this class after not even looking at calculus since junior year of high school and not taking 31a since I passed out of it, so the class was personally annoying for me because I had to simultaneously teach myself 31a. As a professor I think he is very helpful. The class grading is as follows Homework: 15% Midterm 1: 25% Midterm 2: 25% Final: 35% It is a bit annoying that his homework is worth so much. My TA was actually very helpful during discussion, but I can't speak about other TA's. Before each exam Denomme posts a very helpful study guide that sums up the notes needed. The study guide is only a supplement though, so I would still go to lectures because he gives hints about exams. He also posts a practice exam that is somewhat helpful, but kind of easier than the tests so not really helpful. I'm pretty sure it was his first time teaching this class, so no previous exams were available, but I'm sure exams should be posted in the test bank after this class, so go and check. All his exams were free response with not multiple choice. The midterms were around 5-6 questions, and the final was 8 questions. The first midterm was pretty easy, and it was the Wednesday of week 4. The second midterm was a lot harder (he had to give at 23% curve), and it was the Friday of week 8. Don't go into the second exam thinking it's okay if you do bad because he will curve it. Again it was his first time teaching this class, so he very well might change it. The grades to the final exam have not been released, so I can't tell you how it was. It was definitely easier than the second midterm. I think he is fair. Not easy, but not too hard. I ended the class with a B, but it is the only B I ever received, and as I stated previously I had not taken calculus since my Junior year in high school. The low grade was my fault, and I'm not mad at the professor. I'm sure my grade would have been lower with some of the other professors offered.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2025 - I want to preface that I took Professor Ding for 31A, not 31B, but he wasn’t listed for 31A, so I’m leaving my review here. Also, this was an MWF 8 a.m. class, which might bias my review. Professor Ding was pretty difficult to understand in lecture. He somehow made simple problems feel confusing, and overall the lectures weren’t great. That said, he was very organized, and he posted clean, organized lecture notes after every class, which helped a lot. We had around 30 homework problems per week, which was honestly annoying. On top of that, we had weekly quizzes in discussion during the first 10 minutes, usually two problems. The midterms were straightforward and almost identical to the practice exams he gave out (which were super helpful). They only had four questions, but because there were so few, grading could be harsh over small notation mistakes. On Midterm 2 there was a confusing related rates question worth 25 points, and the average dropped so much that they ended up giving everyone 15 points just for attempting it. The final was cumulative with 10 questions. Overall, the exams are short, and you have plenty of time to check your work. Pretty much everyone I know didn’t really go to lecture, partly because it was 8 a.m., but also because he just isn’t a strong lecturer. If you’re taking 31A, I’d recommend another professor if you have the option, even though the exams are straightforward. If you already took Calc 1 in high school and you’re fine learning mostly from notes and practice exams, then this class is manageable and you might as well take it.
Fall 2025 - I want to preface that I took Professor Ding for 31A, not 31B, but he wasn’t listed for 31A, so I’m leaving my review here. Also, this was an MWF 8 a.m. class, which might bias my review. Professor Ding was pretty difficult to understand in lecture. He somehow made simple problems feel confusing, and overall the lectures weren’t great. That said, he was very organized, and he posted clean, organized lecture notes after every class, which helped a lot. We had around 30 homework problems per week, which was honestly annoying. On top of that, we had weekly quizzes in discussion during the first 10 minutes, usually two problems. The midterms were straightforward and almost identical to the practice exams he gave out (which were super helpful). They only had four questions, but because there were so few, grading could be harsh over small notation mistakes. On Midterm 2 there was a confusing related rates question worth 25 points, and the average dropped so much that they ended up giving everyone 15 points just for attempting it. The final was cumulative with 10 questions. Overall, the exams are short, and you have plenty of time to check your work. Pretty much everyone I know didn’t really go to lecture, partly because it was 8 a.m., but also because he just isn’t a strong lecturer. If you’re taking 31A, I’d recommend another professor if you have the option, even though the exams are straightforward. If you already took Calc 1 in high school and you’re fine learning mostly from notes and practice exams, then this class is manageable and you might as well take it.
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Most Helpful Review
Alright so professor Fernandez is probably the nicest, sweetest and the most caring professor. He really will help you out with whatever question or concern you may have. Even if he needs to stay a few extra hours in his office. Plus he is very goofy too =). His tests are pretty fair, not super hard. And he gives you options when calculating your final grade (either count one midterm out of the two and have the final be a bigger percentage of your grade, or if you did good on both of the midterms, you could just count both and have the final be only 40%, otherwise it wouldve been 60%) The problem is i don't like the way he explains the material, he can't explain it very clearly, most of the time i would not even go to lecture because i just had to teach myself eventually, so i didn't waste my time. He cares though, during lectures if you ask him a question he will explain he won't ignore you at all. hes also very encouraging!! if i had to give his class a rating on a scale of 1-10 i would give it a 9, his teaching skills probably a 7. He isn't bad at all, he's not a nightmare like some professors really could be. Basically don't run away from the guy.
Alright so professor Fernandez is probably the nicest, sweetest and the most caring professor. He really will help you out with whatever question or concern you may have. Even if he needs to stay a few extra hours in his office. Plus he is very goofy too =). His tests are pretty fair, not super hard. And he gives you options when calculating your final grade (either count one midterm out of the two and have the final be a bigger percentage of your grade, or if you did good on both of the midterms, you could just count both and have the final be only 40%, otherwise it wouldve been 60%) The problem is i don't like the way he explains the material, he can't explain it very clearly, most of the time i would not even go to lecture because i just had to teach myself eventually, so i didn't waste my time. He cares though, during lectures if you ask him a question he will explain he won't ignore you at all. hes also very encouraging!! if i had to give his class a rating on a scale of 1-10 i would give it a 9, his teaching skills probably a 7. He isn't bad at all, he's not a nightmare like some professors really could be. Basically don't run away from the guy.
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