skoolblues

MAT - Mathematics Courses

MAT223H1 - Linear Algebra I (36L,12T)

Uppal
Marking Scheme: Midterm 30%, 2 Quizzes 10% each, Final 50%.

Uppal is a solid instructor, explains the concepts clearly and proves them. Provides ample amount of examples so you can see what techniques to use and whatnot. First weeks or so cover matrix algebra and solving systems of linear equations which is easy pish-posh. Gets a little bit more interesting/difficult(?) with the introduction of vector spaces to the rest of the term. I'd say it's harder than MAT135, easier than MAT137. There will be some proofs performed in this course but not as much as you would in MAT137. A good and laid-back course. Midterm 30%, 2 Quizzes 10% each, Final 50%.

MAT235 - Multivariable Calculus (72L)
Marking Scheme: 15% Problem Sets (best 5/6), 15% Midterm x3, 40% Exam

UGH is all I have to say about this course. It's basically MAT135 but in 3 dimensions. You learn stuff like parametric equations, polar, cylindrical, and spherical coordinates and their interconversions. Partial derivatives, double and triple integration. Vector calculus (line and surface integrals, Green's, Stoke's, Divergence Theorems) and the course ends with a bit of second order differential equations.
If you thought integration was hard wait till you see stuff like triple integrals and vector calculus. Problem sets are designed to waste your time and have absolutely no relevance to midterms. They take a solid 25+ hours to do and are a complete pain in the ass. Midterms are actually not too bad if you do your homework (I didn't), Recio is not a monster and knows what we're capable of and what we're not. That said if you don't need this course stay away from it, it's nothing like MAT135. The only useful thing I learned from this class was how a planimeter works lol.
Rating: 2/5

MAT257Y - Analysis II (72L, 48T)
There's probably only 1 other person on biome who is crazy enough to take this course. It's really hard to evaluate it because it's been the bane of my existence for the last year. The material is really interesting but exceptionally difficult. It's known as the hardest math course at U of T for a reason. The prof was ok, but I didn't like his teaching style, and I found him very unapproachable, especially as a non-Eastern European non-male. He did genuinely care about the students, but he seemed constantly disappointed in us. Probably just his strict Russian mathematical background. Anyway, this course is a lot of work, with weekly problem sets that took me often between 7-10 hours each. I did learn a lot, and the course has changed how I think, as math courses do.
Rating: 3.75/5