Students,

I was asked to clarify what the second midterm would be like.

I am trying to keep the exam as similar as possible to what we would
have had, had the pandemic lockdown not been in effect, while making
extra allowances for all the encumbrances you are facing.

So this exam will have a few free-response questions and a bunch
of Quest questions on the material we have done since the last exam,
but you will have extra time to work on it.

The exam will cover the following 14 sections of the text:
  4.3 - 4.4
  5.1 - 5.5
  6.1 - 6.2
  7.1 - 7.5

This will be an open-book, open-notes, open-YouTube exam. However,
I insist that you not consult any living person for assistance,
neither in-person nor through any forum such as piazza or reddit.

There will be two parts to the exam. The multiple choice questions
will be available through Quest. That portion of the exam will run
exactly like a homework problem set, but with the following
differences from the Quest HW:
  1. There will NOT be "one free try": you will submit just one answer
     per question (just like an in-person exam!)
  2. You may start the Quest exam as soon as it is published, or wait
     until you are ready, but there will be a TWO-HOUR time limit.
     Your countdown timer starts whenever you start the Quest exam.
  3. Of course, you are to work alone.

The second part of the exam will be the free-response questions.
I will put them on the math department's web server; I will put links
on the course syllabus page, and on the Canvas page, and I will send
you a link by email (just as I am doing now). You may begin work on
them whenever you want; you will have about 24 hours to finish them.

I encourage you to do your work on the free-response questions on
scrap paper; I don't need to see all your scribbles. When you are
ready to write up your solutions to the problems, please begin each
one on a separate piece of paper, and include your name and EID
with each problem.

Unless you want to type up your answers, you will have to scan your
answer sheets. If you don't have a scanner, find an app on your phone
that can scan the pages for you. In a pinch I guess you can just
take a picture, but I would prefer a PDF of your sheets. Please
retain your copy of your answers, in case the files get lost in
the electronic transfers.

I would like you to submit your answer via Canvas; if you experience
technical difficulties that way, you may email me your work.
I have already created a place-holder on the Assignments page of
Canvas, called "Dry Run for Midterm 2". Try submitting a simple
page or two to me through that link -- do it now so you feel ready
on test day.

Your answers should be submitted by this FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2:00 pm Austin time.
The Quest portion must be completed at that same time.

Give yourself enough time to think about the questions, time to figure
out your answer, time to write it up, AND time to submit it. (Always
plan on electronic glitches...)

There's always a chance that we will discover typos or whatever;
lease check your email once or twice during the exam in case I
have to send you a correction.

There will be no class on Friday because I expect you will be finishing
up your exam papers!


Let me know if you have any other questions, and if not, wait for the
email from me mid-day Thursday to tell you that the test is ready. 
Good luck!

dave