Melvin Lax - California State University Long Beach

Professor: Melvin Lax

Department: Mathematics

College: California State University Long Beach

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dr Lax is a great math professor with a clear teaching method. He has a clear grading system which is based off of 4 test, 1 final. He'll even outline the test for you. Attendance is not mandatory. Homework is optional but for each of his test, he'll include 2 problems that are straight out of the homework. No quizzes. Do HW you pass.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

had a pretty good time in class. his tests aren't hard if you do his homework and watch professor leonard on youtube. his curves are very generous and he's a pretty nice professor. i was really successful in his class asking questions about homework and redoing the assigned hw before exams.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH364B
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Extremely difficult class. Curved grading scale that is pretty lenient, but the material is just hard. Super difficult exams that are more than just problem solving- they'll make you think and use theorems. Cares about his students and want them to succeed. Take detailed notes- much of the later material isn't in the textbook.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH364A
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He's a brilliant man. Super nice and very helpful. Make sure you do all the homework he assigned, 80% of test are like the hw. Ask him questions and go to office hour. His curves are amazing (88 was an A+). Purchase the book since hw are from the book. Attend all his lectures, ask questions if you need help. One of the best professors at csulb.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH123
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof. Lax doesn't give WebAssign HW, but does give HW from the book. Not mandatory but highly recommend because some of the HW is in the tests. My only complaints are that he lectures fast and only grades on 4 exams and the final. However, a good choice to have as he's knowledgeable about Calculus.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

4 midterms,1 final. Hw is not mandatory(no webassign),20% of the exam are hw problems but he assigns so many that you can never recognize them on the test. 70% of the lecture are def. you can find in the book,30% are ex. Heavy curve on all exams, lectures are messy & he makes many mistakes. But he wants everyone to pass, very doable class , study!!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 361A361B364A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

What I really liked about Dr. Lax is that he believed in me. He seems to believe in all of his students, but when I did poorly on the first exam in 361A, he wrote "I believe you can do better on the next exam." I took that to heart and worked my heart and mind out and improved greatly thereafter in that course and other courses. Thank you, Dr. Lax.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Lax is definitely one of the toughest professors at this school. He is very knowledgeable and wants you to learn the material well not just pass the course for credit. If you want to learn and have a strong math foundation then definitely take him. Has 4 exams, homework isn't mandatory but if you can do them then you at least can get a B.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH123
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Lax was a great professor for Calc 2. I often heard from my peers that Calc 2 was quite difficult but Professor Lax made it easy to understand. All tests are curved and there are 4 exams all semester. Also, no WebAssign. He does assign homework problems from the book however, and you should do them. The problems from the homework are on tests.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH364A
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Do. Not. Be. Too. Proud. To. Ask. Questions. Please ask questions if you are confused about the slightest thing. I did very well and still asked questions, and I noticed all too often(being nosy) that people who did average or below average were the ones who did not ask questions. He is there to help! Practice and persevere! Be engaged in class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 361B
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Very difficult course. Lax curves like crazy, but I feel like sometimes, he writes the exams anticipating failure from his students. Don't ask simple questions otherwise he might make you look like an idiot with his smirks that he makes.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH361B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

One of the best professors! Lectures fast but well and clearly. Tough but caring. Grades fairly based on efforts. Curves each exam. Lots of homework. 4 exams and a cumulative final. One definition quiz before each exam. You'll learn a lot from him. Do homework. Study and understand definitions, theorems, homework, and proofs and you'll do just well

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH123
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Class has 2 quizzes, 4 exams, 1 cumulative final. Curves for each are massive often 2 letter grades. HW is not mandatory but 20 % of the exam problems come from it. Open to questions though he lectures really fast so write everything. Recommend you take him if this is your 2nd time taking calc 2. If you make an effort you'll pass. Great class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH361
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

My advice:Rehearse definitions regularly, and re-do homework/proofs in their entirety no matter how small of a mistake you make. Make a list of homework problems and highlight the ones with proofs. During review sessions, make sure to ask a breadth of questions instead of all parts(e.g a-g) of one problem to make the most of the time he provides.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH361B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

His tests are fairly difficult, but he curves them, and if you understand the homework problems, you'll be fine. 4 midterms, 4 definition quizzes, and a cumulative final. He holds review sessions on the Friday before every exam. Fantastic Professor! Really Caring! I learned so much from him. Wouldn't take Math 361 with anyone else.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH361A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

One of the best Math professors I've ever had. Lots of homework. Hard tests. Lectures really well but really fast. Study hard, go to his office hours, do homework, pay close attention to what he writes AND says during lecture, and you'll do well in 361A.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH361A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He cares more about his students than any professor I know. 4 midterms, and he held review sessions the Friday before each exam to answer any questions we had on the material. Holds about 4 office hours a week and has office hours throughout finals week.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH123
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

If you study well on your own, take this class. He doesn't grade homework, but do it to do well on the tests. Lecture is crazy fast. Write down everything on the board. He is very open to questions. The first month will probably scare you, but it gets easier. Curve is massive, often adding 20% to your grade.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH364B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Long, mostly boring lectures. Not great handwriting. Fair amount of hw that is not collected. Tests mostly similar to hw, and had at least a 10% curve on all test. Goes over some of hw at beginning of class and in office hours. Wants you to learn. Overall, would recommend him and take him again.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH123
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

One of the best profs I've had! Homework isn't mandatory, but essential if you want to pass the exams bc the questions are similar to the hw questions. No webassign! Class is based off of four exams and one final, all of them curved. He's very generous with partial points on the exams so always write something! and he answers any questions in class