COMMENTS ON HOMEWORK 2

This was much better than homework 1.  I think the drill sergeant 
approach is going to work.  The homeworks were much neater.  People
made very clear what they did and did not understand.  From this, I
got a clear picture of how well people understand the material.

That having been said, there is still a long way to go.  I want to
push hard because the response on the second homework indicates that
people in the class are willing to raise to a higher standard, if
it is clear what that standard is.  

The most important thing is that I really want you to figure out how
to do the homework problems.  I don't want you to try, say for an hour,
and then think: "I've put in my time."  The drill sergeant grades for
results, not for effort.  If you need to ask someone in the class how
to do a problem, do so (but write it up in your own words).  If you
don't remember something from class, get soneone's notes or but me
to post notes.  If you have questions, feel free to email me, or, better
still, post them on the class bboard.  The main educational experience
is doing the homework, which is why I make it challenging.  Rise to
the challenge!  (That was my high school's motto.)


Here are some specific comments:

1. Explain how you found your answer.  Don't just write down the answer.

2. On the other hand, if you had false starts in figuring out how to do
   the problems, don't put all of them down.  The homework is not stream
   of consciousness.  When you have figured out how to answer a question,
   write up that answer on the sheet you hand in.
   
3. Don't hand in what I do in class.  (This was my fault, so don't worry
   about it this time.)
   
4. Pay attention to do what the question says.  For example, on question
   1, many people gave fewer than three solutions.
   
5. When working with complex numbers, it often helps to draw a picture. 
   This was partucluarly true for question 1.
   
6. Try to find ways to check an answer if at all possible.  If you have
   the solution to an equation, plug it in to see that it satisfies the
   equation.  If the answer is positive, try to see whether the answer
   is supposed to be positive.
   
7. Please write on only one side of the paper.  Staple the pages together
   with a staple on the top left corner.