Problem 8 on PS7

There is a typo in that some of the distributions read P(x) when it should be P(z).
Cheers,
MSS

No more Monday make-up lectures

Dear class,

We will not need to hold any more make-up lectures, so Monday we will only meet at the regular time (2-3pm) from hereon out.

Cheers,
MSS

Thought problems for phase equilibrium

Class,

There is a typo in problem 2 for these thought problems. It should read f/P instead of f.

Cheers,
Scott

PS4

Hi class,

For PS4, question number 6, you can also assume that in analogy with the usual fundamental equation, the quantities Cv = (dE/dT)_L and Cp = (dH/dT)_tau are both positive. Similarly, the equivalent of the compressibility (dL/dtau)_T is always positive.

Cheers,
MSS

Final grades

Dear class,

We have finished grading the final and your course grades have been computed. I will endeavor to return these to you at the start of ChE110B. Alternatively, you may stop by my office if you do not get yours back in class next week.

The statistics for the final are:

• average - 61% (62% with bonus from problem session)
• standard deviation - 13% (13% with bonus)
• maximum score - 84% (87% with bonus)

The statistics for the course grade are (with bonus):

• average - 70%
• standard deviation - 10%
• maximum score - 90.7%

The letter grade distributions are as follows:

• A - 27%
• B - 37%
• C - 23%
• D - 8%
• F - 5%

A detailed plot of these distributions can be found on the course webpage.

I enjoyed teaching you all this quarter and wish you the best of success in your future endeavors!

Cheers,
MSS

Study break

Here's an interesting little mathematics / statistical analysis of the NCAA tournament that you may find to be a nice reprieve from your finals studying:

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/when-15th-is-better-than-8th-the-math-shows-the-bracket-is-backward/?hp

These authors show that lower-ranked seeds actually have a higher probability of making it to the sweet sixteen, elite eight, and final four than mid-ranked teams. It's a problem ripe for population balances and rate equations, in truth not really all that different from mass balances and chemical kinetics.

Go Gauchos!

MSS

Office hours tomorrow

Hi class,

Just a small update to my office hours tomorrow. In the afternoon I will be available 4-5:30pm, not 3:30-5:30 as originally indicated.

Cheers,
MSS