MATH 142
Mathematical Modeling
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisites: courses 32B, 33B. Introduction to fundamental principles and spirit of applied mathematics. Emphasis on manner in which mathematical models are constructed for physical problems. Illustrations from many fields of endeavor, such as physical sciences, biology, economics, and traffic dynamics.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2024 - Professor Johnson is probably one of the worst professors I have had at UCLA. The homework’s easily took around 10-12 hrs and ended up having nothing to do with the exams. The midterm averages were drastically low and was extremely unhelpful when it came to revision. Honestly, don’t take this class with her or Biswal. Save your time and sanity instead.
Winter 2024 - Professor Johnson is probably one of the worst professors I have had at UCLA. The homework’s easily took around 10-12 hrs and ended up having nothing to do with the exams. The midterm averages were drastically low and was extremely unhelpful when it came to revision. Honestly, don’t take this class with her or Biswal. Save your time and sanity instead.
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2016 - Professor Kunze is probably one of the worst professors i've had in my life but that doesn't mean you will have a bad experience with her. I made a big mistake participating in class which I think lead to her being really unhelpful when I asked her questions during office hours. After initial enthusiasm for the subject matter I lost complete interest after a bad experience I had with her during office hours. Perhaps she was having a long day and was tired but that really isn't my problem. If she likes you she will have patience dealing with you and perhaps even help you attain an internship. In all honesty, I think most students had a positive experience with her but I didn't.
Spring 2016 - Professor Kunze is probably one of the worst professors i've had in my life but that doesn't mean you will have a bad experience with her. I made a big mistake participating in class which I think lead to her being really unhelpful when I asked her questions during office hours. After initial enthusiasm for the subject matter I lost complete interest after a bad experience I had with her during office hours. Perhaps she was having a long day and was tired but that really isn't my problem. If she likes you she will have patience dealing with you and perhaps even help you attain an internship. In all honesty, I think most students had a positive experience with her but I didn't.
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Most Helpful Review
Summer 2017 - If you want to get easy As, please do not choose Math142!!!! Mikel assumes that a score of 55% of the final exam to be excellent, so you will find how hard for you to outshine in this course. However, you will learn a lot from this course if you are not a Math major, because this course involves considerable knowledge of calculus, ODE, PDE and linear algebra, and you will thrive to master them. Besides, make sure that you know quite a lot about physics, because this course will base many of its models on physics world, which COULD be harsh if you have never taken a similar course before. All in all, Mikel is dedicated to this course though it seems that he is still lack in experience, and the TA Xu Chen is sooooooooooooo cute :)
Summer 2017 - If you want to get easy As, please do not choose Math142!!!! Mikel assumes that a score of 55% of the final exam to be excellent, so you will find how hard for you to outshine in this course. However, you will learn a lot from this course if you are not a Math major, because this course involves considerable knowledge of calculus, ODE, PDE and linear algebra, and you will thrive to master them. Besides, make sure that you know quite a lot about physics, because this course will base many of its models on physics world, which COULD be harsh if you have never taken a similar course before. All in all, Mikel is dedicated to this course though it seems that he is still lack in experience, and the TA Xu Chen is sooooooooooooo cute :)
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2016 - This review is for Math 32B, and not for Math 142. Professor Lombardo, in all honesty, is not a very good professor. She is new teaching here, and has a really heavy Italian accent. In addition, she writes really small on the blackboard, and didn't even know how to use the blackboards (i.e. moving one board up to the top, and sliding the next clean board to write on). Her teaching style is severely lacking, and her lectures provide no clarity in helping students understand the topics. I have heard similar reviews from other students, and it is a shame that I have to take this class with her, as her lecture is the only one that fits my schedule.
Fall 2016 - This review is for Math 32B, and not for Math 142. Professor Lombardo, in all honesty, is not a very good professor. She is new teaching here, and has a really heavy Italian accent. In addition, she writes really small on the blackboard, and didn't even know how to use the blackboards (i.e. moving one board up to the top, and sliding the next clean board to write on). Her teaching style is severely lacking, and her lectures provide no clarity in helping students understand the topics. I have heard similar reviews from other students, and it is a shame that I have to take this class with her, as her lecture is the only one that fits my schedule.