UC Berkeley Math Upper Division Cores, Fall 2008
Math 104, Introduction to Analysis
Jan Riemann (3.9 out of 5)
TuTh 2-330, 71 Evans
“His explanation is good can clear. you can learn a lot and know how to think about math if you pay attention in his class…However, he is not very clear and does not explain in depth about how to formulate proofs. Part of the problem is the large amount of material, and scarce class time and his english is not very good….Sure, the homeworks aren’t always a walk in the park, but seriously now, do you want to learn analysis or not? If you do, take this class.”
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Real Mathematical Analysis by Charles Chapman Pugh
Ole Hald (4.1 out of 5)
MWF 11-12, 71 Evans
“Hald is a *really* good lecturer, which is hard to find in the math department. He hates “repetition” learning, so you have to study in a new way…He may go a little fast at times. tests measure how well you know concepts and how you can apply them to complex problems, so it’s pretty hard… Interesting and funny guy; very helpful in OH; can be intimidating; tests are very difficult and TRICKY so hard to prepare for exams”
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Elementary Analysis: The Theory of Calculus by Kenneth A. Ross
Michael Klass (2.5 out of 5)
MWF 1-2, 71 Evans
“The first Mathematical Analysis is never easy. Prof. Klass spends much time on Chapter 2 (Topology and Metric Spaces). You get headache on that, but it will help you survive advanced analysis courses…His class often consists of informal conversation about topics ranging from the art of problem solving to hypercubes. However, his tests (especially his extra credit) are really well-crafted and the inherent difficulty with analysis make this class fairly challenging… Professor Klass is a very kind and generous man, who clearly enjoys teaching students. However his notes are incomprehensible, and he often uses the lecture time to tell stories rather than to teach math – take the class if you want a good grade and some good stories.”
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Principles of Mathematical Analysis, Third Edition by Walter Rudin & Closer and Closer: Introducing Real Analysis by Carol Schumacher
J Sussan
MWF 3-4, 75 Evans
&
B Parker
TuTh 330-5, 87 Evans
No ratings. You are doomed. But you both have the same text!
Principles of Mathematical Analysis, Third Edition by Walter Rudin
Robert Coleman (2.2 out of 5)
MWF 2-3, 4 Evans
“His speech impairment makes him hard to understand at first, but eventually you can understand pretty much everything…It’s not his fault, but Professor Coleman is impossible to understand in lecture – he mumbles, and his handwriting is very difficult to read…A nice thing is his midterm and final exam problems were taken from a large list of relatively harder (some very hard) problems he hands out freely. Some problems truly build your character, you’ll learn tons! Just be mature…”
Principles of Mathematical Analysis, Third Edition by Walter Rudin
Math H104
Alexandre Givental (1.8 out of 5)
TuTh 330-5, 81 Evans
“If you want a professor who is imposible to understand, who goes straight out of the book so you have no other sources of information, at the end you will spend hours in your GSI’s office hours trying together trying to disifer what he was talking about…Avoid at all costs! The book is ridiculously Spartan and has nothing to do with his lectures at all…He mumbles a lot, and does not give enough explanations. He only hits you with theory, and there is nothing you can do with it, until you read the book. He does NOT grade the class on a curve, so good luck.”
Principles of Mathematical Analysis, Third Edition by Walter Rudin
Math 110
Shamgar Gurevitch (only 1 rating)
MWF 3-4, 4 Evans
“The most confusing math teacher in the department. The guy is just a bad teacher but makes up for it by handing out A’s on the midterm and final. Midterm was out of 111, but just randomly decided to make it out of 100. Also, all midterm and final questions are given 1 week before the actual exam.”
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Linear Algebra (4th Edition) by Stephen H. Friedberg, Arnold J. Insel, and Lawrence E. Spence
Marco Aldi (3.8 out of 5)
TuTh 8-930, 71 Evans
“I’m trying to deduce on what days he ties his hair up…Simply the best. He gave very good examples along with his explanations, and taught at a very manageable pace that did not feel draggy…Many students were unable to keep up with the pace of the class. He was unwilling to adjust his syllabus when informed of this fact. His office hours were not helpful as he did little to explain and expected students to reach conclusions with little assistance…Take him you won’t regret it.”
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Linear Algebra (4th Edition) by Stephen H. Friedberg, Arnold J. Insel, and Lawrence E. Spence
Arthur Ogus (3.3 out of 5)
MWF 11-12, 75 Evans
“But this is one professor you can’t afford to fall behind! Lots of homework, and intensive, but not unreasonable tests. Go to any office hours you can…Extremely clear and valuable lectures. However, there is tons of homework, and the exams are extremely hard…If you love Math, he is a real treasure: Very precise, gives you every detail, and very interesting. He is also very hard, and gives lot of homework. Also chooses horrible GSIs. An awesome choice!”
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Linear Algebra Done Right by Sheldon Axler
Sebastian Herr
TuTh 1230-2, 70 Evans
No one knows who he is.
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Linear Algebra (4th Edition) by Stephen H. Friedberg, Arnold J. Insel, and Lawrence E. Spence & Linear Algebra Done Right by Sheldon Axler
Ken Ribet (3.9 out of 5)
TuTh 330-5, 6 Evans
“He is a good professor and he is approachable, but I felt very lost in his class. He really enjoyed making it as difficult as possible it seemed…Excellent lecturing style — clear, precise, interesting, and well organized. He obviously cares a lot about his teaching and is very accessible and helpful…Always willing to help and encourages students to come to office hours all the time. And, besides, he proved Fermat’s Last Theorem is equivalent to Taniyama-Shimura!! What more could you want?!”
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Linear Algebra Done Right by Sheldon Axler
C Zickert
TuTh 2-330, 3113 Etcheverry
Who? No one knows. Textbook here!
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Linear Algebra (4th Edition) by Stephen H. Friedberg, Arnold J. Insel, and Lawrence E. Spence
Math H110
George Bergman (1.9 out of 5)
MWF 1-2, 4 Evans
“Bergman is very nice and his enthusiasm for math is contagious. But I don’t think his policy not lecturing and only having students read the book and ask him questions afterwards really works. I hope he’s still not doing this. There is value in having a human explain things that a book just can’t…Bergman’s tests are extremely easy, which is good if you’re going for a good grade. But he really isn’t a good teacher. I personally like him a lot, very cheerful and friendly, but I just don’t understand him. And when you ask him a question, he answers with an even less understandable answer.”
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Linear Algebra (4th Edition) by Stephen H. Friedberg, Arnold J. Insel, and Lawrence E. Spence
Math 113
David Hill
MWF 10-11, 70 Evans
No ratings! Sooo…check out the book to figure out if this is the class for you?
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Abstract Algebra by John A. Beachy and William D. Blair
Alvaro Pelayo (two sections)
TuTh 8-930 (2 Evans) & 330-5 (71 Evans)
No ratings here either, but buy mah book!
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First Course in Abstract Algebra, A (7th Edition) by John B. Fraleigh
Chung Pang Mok (4.8 out of 5)
MWF 8-9, 71 Evans
“If I were a jerk I would rate him low just so I could hog him for myself. Jeez his classes fill up soo quickly. He is extremely helpful and and easy to approach…He is really helpful and easy to approach. His test is really easy too.”
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First Course in Abstract Algebra, A (7th Edition) by John B. Fraleigh
Irwin Kra (visiting prof from SUNY Stonebrook)
TuTh 2-330, 4 Evans
His ratings have been censured. Figures. You 113 people are doomed.
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First Course in Abstract Algebra, A (7th Edition) by John B. Fraleigh
Math 185
Lex-Heng Lim (4.7 out of 5)
MWF 2-3, 70 Evans
“He is very compassionate. He did as much as he could, it seemed, to ameliorate stress of doing well in the class and motivate us to learn instead. Homeworks were often time-consuming, but exams were very predictable and the midterm was easy…Prof.Lim made students work hard because homework was extremley hard but test was easier than homework. Hence, most students were good in their exams…I attempted this course last semester with a different professor and could not understand the course! This is my second attempt at Math 110 and this new Professor Lim is EXCELLENT!”
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Complex Analysis by Joseph Bak and Donald J. Newman (
Marco Aldi (see his ratings for 110 to get an idea)
TuTh 11-1230, 75 Evans
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Complex Analysis (Princeton Lectures in Analysis) by Elias M. Stein and Rami Shakarchi
Another person who I don’t know is teaching Math 185, but there will be no reviews either.
(All ratings from Ratemyprofessors.com)
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