Welcome to my home webpage!
Welcome to my web page!!
I am honored to have you as my potential student and will be happy to help you learn and get through your class successfully!
I have been working at Solano Community College full time since 2005. I know first hand how mathematics is being used in the real world, because I spent at least fourteen years working as a mathematician and computer research scientist in the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics of the Russian Academy of sciences and working on a few space projects. I then immigrated to US. My passion is math. I love every aspect of it. It clears your mind and calms down all the negativity of the outside world. Doing math shields you from the outside world and may even save your life when you are down and hurt. I hope to teach you math and help you realize, that math may be beautiful. I hope to teach you that working on math changes how you see the world and the way you reason.
I love my students, and I leave a part of my soul with my classes each and every semester. I miss all of my students the next day after my classes end. I do my best to help each and every one of you, you become a part of my family.
I hope you will find all important information for your classes on this page. If not, feel free to contact me using our school email: svetlana.podkolzina@solano.edu
Please scroll down and read about your class. If you find any errors in the documents presented here, or in Canvas, including hanging links and/or unclear content, please contact me ASAP via email: Svetlana.Podkolzina@solano.edu , you will be awarded an extra credit in our class, I promise!
Classes I am teaching.
- Math20 Calculus 1 (80329)
This class will open the world of science and engineering for you and will serve as the basis for all of your future studies of Calculus. I hope, you will love it and remember it as your best ever math class in our college!
This class is in person.
Required Course Materials and Technology
I am NOT using any online homework systems for an in-person class. WebAssign access is NOT required.
Textbook: “Calculus - Early Transcendentals”, 8 th edition, which is where I assign the homework from. ISBN for Stewart, Calculus: Early Transcendentals, 8th edition is 9781285741550.
.
Yes, you can purchase a cheaper 6th edition (links are below), but the homework may differ a bit and you need to double check what is assigned.
I will provide the class with both options for the homework for the 8th edition and for the 6th edition.
- Hard Copiers of older cheaper editions of the book for Calculus (Math20)
the 6th ed is here (the words "Early Transcendentals" should be present in the title):
Please, purchase it before semester starts, you will pay $$6 or $9
- Technology
Calculator scientific without graphing abilities AND TI-83 or TI-84 calculator
You may and will be asked to upload some of your work on assignments in Canvas.
- Math2 College Algebra (80207)
This is one of the best and most interesting classes that prepare you for carrier in science, engineering and computer science.
- Required OpenStaX book College Algebra and Trigonometry by Jay Abramson is available online for free here
- We will skip (!) all the chapters related to trigonometry (7-8-9-10). But you can still use those chapters if you are taking a trig class coincurrently.
- Recommended Course Materials and Technology:
In Math 2 (80207), you can use for your references the 6th edition of " Precalculus : A Problem -Oriented Approach" by David Cohen (in paper bag it is $4.89, hard copy is $7). We are not using it in class, but it makes sense to always have a good book for your future studies.
I am not endorsing any seller, and you always have to check their ratings, but you can find it for $6.69 here
or here($16).
Some additional links with a book for $6-7 are here :
I am not endorsing any seller, please check their rating online before purchasing.
Please, do not procrastinate as the book becomes more expensive when semester starts.
A paperback student solutions manual is running for $4.61 now Edition Details ISBN:0534402143
ISBN13:9780534402143
- Technology
Calculator scientific without graphing abilities AND TI-83 or TI-84 calculator
Math 12 (80299 online)
Text book is free : Math in Society (Lippman)
https://math.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Applied_Mathematics/Math_in_Society_(Lippman)
This book is a survey of contemporary mathematical topics, most non-algebraic, appropriate for a college-level quantitative literacy topics course for liberal arts majors.
I will organize weekly Zoom meetings on Tuesday nights for those who need extra help and/or clarifications and can only join office hours at night.
Math 23 - Differential Equations.
A book we are using: Textbook: A First Course in Differential Equations with Modeling Applications, 11 th edition by Zill:
Zill - WebAssign Instant Access for Zill's A First Course in Differential Equations with Modeling Applications, Single-Term
ISBN: 9781337879774
The cost for the Zill WebAssign access it $100.00 (use "Digital Platform" option):
I do not require a hard copy of the book, but highly recommend having a paper copy, although it depends on your learning style.. You may find a cheaper edition of a hard copy online, for example, cheaper international editions. For example, the 10th edition is much cheaper. Here is one of the links to the 10-th edition of Zill that you could use as a hard copy of the book.
Your textbook for the class should include a Web Assign access code. If not, you must purchase one separately in Solano bookstore or on the Cengage website (see above)
Note that access to WebAssign in all of my classes gives you an immediate access to eBook(a .pdf file of the book) , which is .pdf file of the current edition of the book. A more expensive WebAssign option allows access to ALL of the books published by Cengage, including the Chemistry, Physics and the like. Registration to the class should not require a course ID, because you will be registering via our Canvas shell after enrolling in the class.
You may and will be asked to upload some of your work on assignments in Canvas.
Note: Your textbook should include a Web Assign access code.
If not, please, purchase an access code separately and ONLY use the publisher's website www.Cengage.com or Solano bookstore.
2. Access to WebAssign for doing the homework and some tests/quizzes. To register with WebAssign you need to press "Modules" in your Canvas Navigation panel and scroll down to Unit 00 "course materials. Click on URL "WebAssign for Math23 Analytical Geometry and Calculus". It will take you to a registration page. You will be prompted to enter your purchased access code once to begin your work. Good news: you should register only once and will be able to log in without registration next time. You can visit this link and watch the video "Cengage. How To Register For Your Materials":
Homework is dispersed via WebAssign online homework system, which allows you to get an instant feedback on your success.
Math23 will have regular Zoom meetings on TTh , which will be recorded so that if you miss a meeting, or your work prevents you from coming, you may watch the recordings. Any assignment and/or group work activity will have at least 24-48 hours window of opportunity to complete it. I may ask you to upload your work on some of the tests completed in WA or on some of the problems we worked in class. This will be done via Canvas. Such uploads, including participation in Discussions and even taking online quizzes, constitute no more than 20% of the total grade for the class, and 80% of the grade will come from you homework, quizzes and tests completed in WA.
When opting for a cheaper edition of a hard copy and picking your seller, please check his/her ratings before ordering. Unfortunately, I have no experience in this, and I am not endorsing anyone. However, in the previous semesters , when I sent out the links, all of my students were able to buy their books cheap. Stewart's Calculus book (if used) currently costs anywhere from 75 cents to $6.49 in at the beginning of the semester, the shipping is slightly higher =$3.99-4.99. Since we are using the 8th edition and WebAssign, I would recommend purchasing an older, 6th edition, as a cheaper alternative to a hard copy, but use .pdf file of the 8th edition that access to WebAssign provides.
When we meet for the first class, you all should have access to WA and at least a .pdf file of the book which comes with it!
Math 40 - Linear Algebra , Math 20 Calculus 1 classes typically have PowerPoint or .PDF slides for most of our lectures hosted in Canvas. Canvas allows us to communicate with each other via webcam in case you need help and support from me or your classmates.
Students of ALL my classes are expected to read the book BEFORE each class session.
To maximize your success in the class you will have to start doing your work ASAP when semester begins. If you are awaiting financial help, then use WebAssign grace period. They have 14 days when you can complete homework and/or quizzes without pay if you requested this grace period. It is basically impossible not to pass this class as long as you are doing assigned homework and paying attention to our announcements and assignments in Canvas.
You will NOT need a Course ID, because access is done via Canvas ("one entry" principle required by Administration).
Due to an uncertainly with COVID19, in the FA22 we will have synchronous and asynchronous lectures and the tests will be offered distantly. We will be using WebAssign for Math20 and the 8th edition of Calculus Stewart book.
I will be doing my best to make our classes exciting and interesting, even though I miss our face-to-face classes terribly. Try buying a cheap webcam or join using your smart cell phone, so we could SEE each other often! Remember, taking class via cellphone is not recommended, It is in your best interests to have an iPad or computer. I really miss seeing your faces and learning from you what you liked and what you did not like in your class.
Math40 book(preferably with the WebAssign ) is Elementary Linear Algebra, 8th Edition, by Ron Larson (ISBN-13: 978- 1-305-65800-4) .
CalcChat.com ==This website by the textbook publisher has an online version of the Student Solutions Manual, as well as free of charge trained tutors who can help you with odd numbered exercises. They can walk you through a solution in a live chat session. Please visit the CalcChat.com website for their hours.
You may check if .pdf file of this book ($29.99) would work for your purposes https://ebookbros.com/product/elementary-linear-algebra-8th-edition-by-ron-larson-pdf-ebook/
If you have not bought our books for Math23 or Math20 class yet, please check out a book on Amazon, I found these links:
9th edition of the Math23 book is slightly different and you will have to double check for the homework problems, but it is significantly cheaper(starts from $4.90 for the used copy , just order it early:
I believe, Solano bookstore may have a good bundle for Math20, Math23 that includes the WebAssign access kit. A link bellow is for informational purposes only.
11th edition for Math23 that is being coupled with WebAssign (notice, they have a small Cengage logo in the bottom right corner:
I am not teaching this copurse in FA23. MATH 4 10473 Precalculus (includes BOTH College Algebra and Trigonometry)
This is one of the best and most interesting classes that prepare you for carrier in science, engineering and computer science.
You do not have to drive on campus, because in this class you have an opportunity of participating in live virtual meetings, where you can meet your classmates and your instructor , who are willing to help you become a success story.
- Required OpenStaX book College Algebra and Trigonometry by Jay Abramson is available online for free here
- Recommended Course Materials and Technology:
In Math 4 (80862), we are using the 6th edition of " Precalculus : A Problem -Oriented Approach" by David Cohen (in paper bag it is $4.89, hard copy is $7). I am not endorsing any seller, and you always have to check their ratings, but you can find it for $6.69 here
or here($16).
Some additional links with a book for $6-7 are here :
I am not endorsing any seller, please check their rating online before purchasing.
Please, do not procrastinate as the book becomes more expensive when semester starts.
A paperback student solutions manual is running for $4.61 now Edition Details ISBN:0534402143
ISBN13:9780534402143
It is exciting to me and everybody else in the class if you could attended all of the virtual meetings, but if you have to miss some of the classes, or some portions of the virtual meetings, I promise that all video recordings will be uploaded after each class, so you did not fall behind and could study and watch at convenient for you time.
ALL of the midterm tests and/or quizzes will be conducted online. You will be given a file with the test in Canvas, and you will upload your solutions back in Canvas.
- Technology
Calculator scientific without graphing abilities AND TI-83 or TI-84 calculator
Desktop or laptop computer. This course requires a reliable internet connection and access to a desktop or laptop computer. Cell phones and tablets are not sufficient to run all the required features in Canvas.
Chrome web browser. You can download the chrome web browser for free at https://www.google.com/chrome/ (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)
In college we all have different circumstances , and we are mature enough to decide for ourselves what is best for us. However, you may be dropped from my roster for not doing the homework or any form of inactivity in the class . If you miss equivalent to about four-five consecutive book sections of the homework assignments, you are considered not attending and may be dropped for inactivity. Please, contact me immediately , so I understood your circumstances and could help you better.
Thank you for reading to the end! You are awesome!
