CSE 541: Exams and Homeworks

Exams will be open book and open notes
You will need a calculator for each exam.
In general, the questions will require some type of short discussion answer.
The most important feature of your answer should be the reasoning behind your actual answer. I have been known to accept both 'YES' and 'NO' answers for the same questions, if the reasons given demonstrate an understanding of the material. I'm not looking for you to regurgitate equations or phrases; I'm looking for you to demonstrate that you have a grasp of the material by being able to use it to explain things. Be forewarned: If you just answer 'YES or 'NO' to a question without giving any reasons, I am apt to give you little or no credit for your answer. Your answer needs to convince me that you understand the material, not that you can guess what the correct answer is.
A Question on the exam will usually fall into one of the following categories:

Algorithmic: Explain how a certain algorithm computes something. For example: How does the Secant method operate and determine a root?
Hypothetical: Given a hypothetical problem to solve or computation to perform, suggest an algorithm that might work. This may require citing an algorithm covered in class, or it might involve modifying an algorithm covered in class to handle the hypothetical case presented. For example: Describe how you might determine the local maximum of a function.
Programming: Write a piece of code or pseudo-code to compute a certain thing. Typically, the computation will be something covered in class and/or something that was used in one of the labs.
Definitional: Define a term from the book.

Sample midterm #1 without solutions for you to work on.

Sample midterm #2 without solutions for you to work on.

Last Modified: Sunday, May 05, 2002