The course SF1690 serves as a preparation for the calculus, algebra and geometry courses.

Timetable

The timetable for classes and exercise sessions can be found at the following LINK. To find the classroom, type the classroom (e.g. w37) into kth.se/places

Literature

Calculus: "Calculus: A Complete Course", 9th or 10th Edition by Robert A. Adams & Christopher Essex, ISBN 978-0135732588

Algebra: "Contemporary Linear Algebra" by Howard Anton & Robert C. Busby, ISBN: 978-0471163626

Note that these books will also be used in later courses on Calculus and Algebra.

Course information and material

The following material will be covered through the course:

Sections P1-P7 in the calculus book.
Section 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5, and 3.6 in the calculus book, all without derivatives.
Appendix I (pages A-1 to A-10) in the calculus book.
Sections 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 4.3 in the algebra book.

The approximate schedule for topics to be covered in lectures as well as the list of recommended exercises for each exercise session is given in the 'Modules' tab under 'Timeline'. In each exercise session, some problems from the recommendation list will be worked out by the instructor. These problems will be specified below for each exercise session (this list will be updated).

Problems that will be worked out by the instructor in exercise sessions

Note: For the full list of recommended problems for each session, see the 'Timeline' in the 'Modules' tab.

Session 1 Calculus P1: Exercises 40, 42, 44 and P2: 12, 16, 30, 39

Session 2 Calculus P3: Exercises 6, 14, 42, 46, 50, 53

Session 3 Calculus P4: Exercises 4, 8, 14, 24, 38, 46

Session 4 Calculus P5: Exercises 2, 10, 26, 27, 29, 30

Session 5 Calculus P6: Exercises 12, 14, 18, 22

Session 6 Calculus P7: Exercises 11, 16, 22, 30, 52

Session 7 Calculus 3.1: Exercises 4, 10, 20, 25

Session 8 Calculus 3.5: Exercises 4, 8, 10, 14, 18, 39

Session 9 Calculus 3.2: Exercises 8, 16, 18, 29, 30 Calculus 3.3: Exercises 4, 6, 12, 15, 18 and Calculus 3.6: Exercise: 7

Session 10 Calculus Appendix I: Exercises 15, 16, 21, 25, 29, 30, 32, 33

Session 11 Calculus Appendix I: Exercises 42, 43, 46, 48, 49, 55

Session 12 Algebra 1.1: Exercises 11(c), 13, 20, P2

Session 13 Algebra 1.2: Exercises 5(c), 15, 20, 26(a), 28, D3, P4

Session 14 Algebra 1.3: Exercises 1, 13, 21, 22, 25, 32, 40

Session 15 Algebra 4.3: Exercises 27, 33, 34, 38, 49, D3, D4, P1

Exam and bonus points

The course has three facultative (not-mandatory) mini-exams, and a final written exam. The exam accounts for 6.0 ECTS, with grades given in the range A - F or Fx, where Fx gives the right to a complementary examination to potentially reach the grade E. The mini-exam allows you to get bonus points which will be added to your exam points. The bonus points from the mini-exams are valid only for the exam in October and the re-exam in December 2025. The points-to-letter grade correspondence is given in the 'Modules' tab under 'Grades and Exam details'.

Each mini-exam will be an in-class written test held during the first half of the exercise sessions on 11th Sept, 25th Sept, and 8th Oct.. Each mini-exam will consist of two problems, where each problem can give a maximum of two points. Each mini-exam can therefore generate a maximum of 4 points, which in turn means that all the mini-exams together can give a maximum of 12 points. The bonus points are obtained as the mini-exams score divided by two, rounded up. This means that you can get a maximum of 6 bonus points from the mini-exams.

The points for a problem in a mini-exam are set as follows: You get one point if you have managed to come up with a correct solution—that is, you are “thinking correctly”—but have not managed to produce the correct end result, and two points if the end result is also correct.

Mini-exams

Mini-exam 1: Week 37, Thursday 11/9 (covers Lectures 1-4). Solutions
Mini-exam 2: Week 39, Thursday 25/9 (covers Lectures 5-10). Solutions
Mini-exam 3: Week 41, Wednesday 8/10 (covers Lectures 11-14).

Checklist for the exam and previous exams (some with solutions) are found below. Please note that the solutions are only suggestions and some tasks could be solved in other ways.

Rules for mini-exams and the final exam

The mini-exams as well as the final exams will be written tests. You should not use red ink to write your answers. You should bring a valid form of photo ID (Swedish ID, passport, etc.). You will also be asked to write your personnummer on your exam sheet (if you have one).

Once a mini-exam is graded, your grades will be uploaded to Canvas. You can then pick up your graded mini-exam during the next exercise session (an announcement will be made on Canvas as to when and how you can collect your graded mini-exam).

For the mini-exams, no registration is required as they are non-mandatory. For the final exam, detailed information is available on the KTH website here.

Contact information

Examiner: Tommy Ekola

Lecturers: Ramlal Debnath, Krishna Menon Puzhankarai

Changes in the course from last year

No changes have been made to the course content, but previous years' homeworks have been replaced with mini-exams this year.

Use of AI tools

This is a basic course and it is intended that you will learn the material step by step, without having to use AI. AI tools are very powerful and are widely used today, but in order to use them correctly, you must have basic knowledge in the field. Using AI tools too early can lead to not getting the confidence in the subject that you need as an engineer.

Studentnämnd/Class representatives

Prajwal Yadappanavar and Viktor Stepanenko

Any course participant can express their views about the course during the course directly to the lecturers. But this can also be done via the class representatives to maintain anonymity.

The class representatives will have at least one meeting with the lecturers during the course where they discuss the (anonymous) views.

Support for students with disabilities

Students with documented disabilities may be entitled to certain support, for example, during exams. For more information, see here.

Student affairs

The student office will help you with administrative questions (registration, exam registration etc.).