Double accelerated math students experience changes
Multivariable calculus underwent a variety of fundamental changes. Dr. Keith Brackenridge decided to change the year-long course into one semester, creating a new second semester option called discreet mathematics. Students enrolled in the course will also be required to compete in math contests.
Dr. Keith Brackenridge, head of the math department, pilots three new elements of the multivariable calculus curriculum.
Although Brackenridge originally introduced and taught the course, it was taught by Mr. Gregory Ulland in recent years.
“I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to take the class no matter in what form because I haven’t met anyone else at Wellesley who even had multivariable calculus as a class in high school,” 2014 graduate Alexis Corcoran said.
Brackenridge chose to condense multivariable calculus into one semester, opening up second semester for a course in discreet mathematics.
“While the class was definitely not comparable to a college level math class, we went through the material and basic concepts really thoroughly. I liked the slower pace because it gave us an opportunity to really comprehend it, not just take a test on it and forget it,” Corcoran said.
Brackenridge also decided to add new math contests as a mandatory element of the course. In the first contest, senior Jacob Wang achieved the highest score between both classes, a 48 out of 100.
“It seems kind of silly that we are getting tested on stuff not in the curriculum, and those tests get a lot harder than normal tests or even AP tests,” senior William Hobart said.
