I can't find any relation between the homework and his lecture. The lecture is super unclear, at least for me. Why can't he think about the reason that students stop asking questions even when the course content goes harder? This is a pure self-study course and the textbook is nearly the worst one I've ever seen.
I really don't know how this old man earned such a high score on RMP. Lecture is deduction heavy with few examples related to homework and exam. He seems to be teaching in an old school way. He has serious accent. His homework problems can't be found online, so be prepared to meditate for a long time for an answer
The guy looks down on student. He does not like teaching and think he smarter than everyone on earth.
i cried weekly because of this class. 80% of our grade was homework that was not related to lectures&only 1problem was graded each week&was graded v harshly. when students complained about grading he said just do everything perfectly. his lectures also sucked. still recovering from the final. i think i will see him in my nightmares for years.
avoid!!!! he is unorganized and offers advice for a complicated topic by saying "just do some math". the content is difficult regardless, but rather than translating the material so we as students are elucidated, he glosses over the information in the book without providing much insight and then gives unrelated and even more difficult assignments.
pros: 1. nice guy, approachable 2. passionate about math. cons: 1. unorganized class structure. 2. unorganized lecture notes, no logic signs or explanatory words included 3. almost unrecognizable handwriting 4. very strong accent 5. homework mostly unrelated to textbook or lecture, you basically have to study online or find your own material.
Putinar's lecture were really hard to follow sometimes. CLAS and section is crucial. The practice exams are almost identical to the real thing, so make sure you study those beforehand. He's a nice sweet man but he's not great at explaining the complicated subjects that are covered in this class.
Final was cancelled due to corona, grade inflation. (Do not trust the "easiness" of comments 3 months before this one). I had already taken calc, so I was able to get by w/o studying, but his lectures would have confused me greatly had I not. HW is a big part of your grade, and midterm was very similar to what he gives. Doesn't give out A+ though.
I didn't pass Math 3B last semester. But I got A- in his class. May be he was not a good teacher but he was so kind to give grade.
Really nice guy and obviously passionate about math. His class however is absolutely not easy. Lectures can be confusing and he tries to trick you on the exams. What saved me is that the small amount of homework he assigns is super easy and a huge part of your grade.
Yea he's tough but not as everyone says, like that one guy who didn't want to be a math major anymore. For exams, he gave practice questions that were around the same difficulty but people got mad because they thought it was the same content. If he'll test you on something like definitions, he'll tell you in advance. Textbook, CLAS, and office hrs.
Lectures make zero sense because he has a very thick accent and his handwriting atrocious. I have gone to every lecture but you would be better off not going because he just confuses you more. His lectures do not relate to the exams and you will have to live in math lab and math drop in during the quarter. Professor is not helpful. DO NOT TAKE
He assumes every student is a future engineer or mathematician, so he deviates from his topics to some very difficult content. Every time before you try to take notes, he will take his paper away. His exam is nothing related to his lecture. If you see him, just don't do 3B this quarter.
He is clearly very passionate about the subject of the class and conveyed that very well throughout the quarter. It is essential to independently study the textbook and to do many or all of the problems in it in order to do well on his tests. They are often very challenging, with averages around 50%.
Honestly, hes not great. Exam averages are really low, and the curve isnt decided until the end. Read (over and over), go to math lab, do all the problems you can, but it still might not be enough. I managed to pass, but I really felt for the kids who didnt. Nice guy, and I really liked his class, but dont expect an A. Grading is very harsh.
The course is so difficult that most people go to the non mandatory lectures and sections. If you get him, DROP IMMEDIATELY. I was a math major before taking this course, but he made me hate math so much that I switched out of it.
if you get him, drop. lecture is pointless, does not teach. tests often unrelated to material given to prepare. cant believe they pay this guy to fail a bunch of kids who are trying their best.
I don't know why so many people hate him. As for upper-division class, he is really great and respected. Even though his homework is a little hard sometimes, you will do really well on exams if you read the book. Highly recommend!!
Just Dont!!!
CLAS is your friend. I knew of a lot of people that complained to their TAs and CLAS tutors because he's so difficult to understand and goes off on tangents. He's one of those professors that seems so smart, they can't teach. Try to get another professor. If not, good luck.
His teaching style is horrible and you should avoid this class at all cost if you want to maintain a high GPA. His lectures are confusing and his manner of teaching is lacking in enthusiasm. By far the worse professor I have gotten thus far. His tests are going to come at you like a curveball, UNEXPECTED!
Putinar's lectures do not help for the most part and there is a disconnect with lecture and section material. Some small lecture items may appear on the tests. He did end up curving the class (ignore my earlier post saying he didnt lol), but it is a challenging course regardless. You have put lots of work for a higher grade.
Sure Professor Mihai knows what he's talking about when it comes to math. But does he know how to teach his students, engage with them, and make math majors like myself truly interested in what we're learning? Unfortunately no. His lectures are confusing due to the fact that he never encourages questions and doesn't care if we understand his work.
I regret taking the class with him this quarter. Even with a calculus background from high school and the resources offered (CLAS, section, review sessions, math lab, etc.) I was confused throughout the quarter. Be prepared, if you must take 3B with him, to learn most if not all of the material from everyone BUT him.