Math 151 at ISU, anybody taken it?

[CysRage]

Has anybody here taken Math 151: Business Calc? What I would like to know is how hard would it be for somebody who took Pre Calc and Trig in high school. Also some tips that will help to succeed in the class would be great. Any help is appreciated!

 

[isuno1fan]

I took Calc 165 my first semester at ISU and had ZERO calc in HS. Got a B. You will be fine.

 

[flycy]

It's business calc, it will be cake.

 

[jsb]

I was in your situation many years ago. It used to be set up where you would have 2 lectures a week and 1 recitation. On the first day of my recitation (at 8:00am) the TA came in and said that he would be there if we had questions. Otherwise, you didn't have to show up. I showed up the next week and the TA didn't come. So I never went back and my grade suffered. So show up to class

 

[CysRage]

It's business calc, it will be cake.

That was what I thought too but the instructor's ratings are awful and there are no other instructors teaching it. Richard Kramer - Iowa State University - RateMyProfessors.com

 

[geburgess]

That was what I thought too but the instructor's ratings are awful and there are no other instructors teaching it. Richard*Kramer - Iowa State University - RateMyProfessors.com

I was a math major, graduated in May, and I'll straight tell you that Kramer is not a good professor. RMP has him dead pegged.

However, Business Calc is basically pre-calc from H.S., so if you did fine there, you'll do just fine in the class. Just read the book as well as going to class because that's what Kramer assumes you'll be doing without ever saying it publicly.

Also, use the Math help room, 396 Carver Hall. There's always a junior or senior math major that's in there with the sole purpose of helping someone who has questions out. Believe me, you'll get help because there was maybe one or two people that came in asking for help when I worked in there.

 

[wxman1]

I just took it this past spring and hated it. Kramer is the worst professor I have ever had, my TA had no idea what was going on in the class. Zero communication either way. I gave up on going to lecture because I couldn't learn from him and just had my tutor teach me. Math help room is good but it seemed like whenever I went in there it was busy and I had to wait awhile to get help and it's hard to tell who is staff in there and who isn't.

I would suggest going to lecture though as especially later in the semester he gives extra credit quizzes that are worth like 40 points, however it's all or nothing no partial credit. Oh and don't expect tests back within two weeks.

 

[geburgess]

I just took it this past spring and hated it. Kramer is the worst professor I have ever had, my TA had no idea what was going on in the class. Zero communication either way. I gave up on going to lecture because I couldn't learn from him and just had my tutor teach me. Math help room is good but it seemed like whenever I went in there it was busy and I had to wait awhile to get help and it's hard to tell who is staff in there and who isn't.

I would suggest going to lecture though as especially later in the semester he gives extra credit quizzes that are worth like 40 points, however it's all or nothing no partial credit. Oh and don't expect tests back within two weeks.

Seriously!??! I wish it would have been busy when I worked...

 

[wxman1]

Seriously!??! I wish it would have been busy when I worked...

Maybe it was when I went but whenever I went in there I usually had to wait a bit to get help.

 

[chadm]

I took this class almost 20 years ago and on the first day of class sat by Fred Hoiberg.

Can't help on the current situation of the class.

 

[CysRage]

I was a math major, graduated in May, and I'll straight tell you that Kramer is not a good professor. RMP has him dead pegged.

However, Business Calc is basically pre-calc from H.S., so if you did fine there, you'll do just fine in the class. Just read the book as well as going to class because that's what Kramer assumes you'll be doing without ever saying it publicly.

Also, use the Math help room, 396 Carver Hall. There's always a junior or senior math major that's in there with the sole purpose of helping someone who has questions out. Believe me, you'll get help because there was maybe one or two people that came in asking for help when I worked in there.

Thats good to know! Thanks!

 

[WhatchaGonnaDo]

I wouldn't know how hard it is, but I feel there is no such thing as an easy math class. If you want to do well, you have to put in the work. Simple as that.

If you are having any trouble, go to office hours with your TA and/or lecturer if you can. SI sessions are also really helpful if they are offered.

The math help room is worth checking out as well. I used it quite a bit for my diff eq class last year.

 

[CysRage]

I just took it this past spring and hated it. Kramer is the worst professor I have ever had, my TA had no idea what was going on in the class. Zero communication either way. I gave up on going to lecture because I couldn't learn from him and just had my tutor teach me. Math help room is good but it seemed like whenever I went in there it was busy and I had to wait awhile to get help and it's hard to tell who is staff in there and who isn't.

I would suggest going to lecture though as especially later in the semester he gives extra credit quizzes that are worth like 40 points, however it's all or nothing no partial credit. Oh and don't expect tests back within two weeks.

Very good to know! So are there like 4 exams and then homework or what is the workload?

 

[CyDude16]

It's decent. Didn't really put much effort in the class, definitely missed my fair share of classes. Got a B and I stopped at algebra 2 in high school.

 

[cyguytillidie]

Did they change this class up? I took it spring '10 and fall '10 and thought it was online only. I failed it the first time because I would procrastinate until the last hour or so and get about half of the assignments done. I also couldn't figure out how to do those freaking excel project so I got 0's on all those. To top it all off I didn't realize you could take the tests three times in one trip to Carver. (this is why you should read the syllabus)

I took it a second time the next fall and got a B-. My advice, start the assignments early in the week so you don't have to scramble on Sunday. The excel help is really hard to find but if you search 'Math 151 Week #' it sould come up.

Good luck with the class. As long as you don't get behind you'll be fine.

 

[CyDude16]

Did they change this class up? I took it spring '10 and fall '10 and thought it was online only. I failed it the first time because I would procrastinate until the last hour or so and get about half of the assignments done. I also couldn't figure out how to do those freaking excel project so I got 0's on all those. To top it all off I didn't realize you could take the tests three times in one trip to Carver. (this is why you should read the syllabus)

I took it a second time the next fall and got a B-. My advice, start the assignments early in the week so you don't have to scramble on Sunday. The excel help is really hard to find but if you search 'Math 151 Week #' it sould come up.

Good luck with the class. As long as you don't get behind you'll be fine.

Pretty sure your thinking of Math 150. That one was online.

 

[cycoticfan]

That was what I thought too but the instructor's ratings are awful and there are no other instructors teaching it. Richard*Kramer - Iowa State University - RateMyProfessors.com

ask him about the old Dodge he had with the 8 ball shifter :biglaugh:

 

[bigcyfan82]

It is basically the exact thing as Calc 1. My roommate freshman year was taking Calc 1 and I was taking Math 151...we were learning and doing the exact same thing except for like the last 3 or 4 weeks...we went onto something else or stayed on something a little longer and the calc 1 class did something different too.

Overall easy class...don't go to the large lecture...Kramer just goes over the practice problems in book...(which are step by step in the book anyway) Go to ressitation...hopefully you get a TA fluent in english

 

[cyclonefreak5]

It is basically the exact thing as Calc 1. My roommate freshman year was taking Calc 1 and I was taking Math 151...we were learning and doing the exact same thing except for like the last 3 or 4 weeks...we went onto something else or stayed on something a little longer and the calc 1 class did something different too.

Overall easy class...don't go to the large lecture...Kramer just goes over the practice problems in book...(which are step by step in the book anyway) Go to ressitation...hopefully you get a TA fluent in english

THIS

 

[CysRage]

It is basically the exact thing as Calc 1. My roommate freshman year was taking Calc 1 and I was taking Math 151...we were learning and doing the exact same thing except for like the last 3 or 4 weeks...we went onto something else or stayed on something a little longer and the calc 1 class did something different too.

Overall easy class...don't go to the large lecture...Kramer just goes over the practice problems in book...(which are step by step in the book anyway) Go to ressitation...hopefully you get a TA fluent in english

From what I am hearing, the lecture is near useless because he is very confusing and goes straight from the book. Is there a reason for me to go to class if I am doing fine on my own? Does he take attendance or give quizzes in class? Also, is the recitation required to attend? Thanks for all of your help!