Workshops & Review

Each semester, we offer review sessions on a number of topics to help reinforce core concepts. Professors can also request sessions and workshops on additional subjects. If you feel you’re struggling with a particular idea, we’re here to help!

Available Review Sessions

Trigonometry Review

A review of trigonometry (triangles, SOHCAHTOA, unit circle, functions) for students in MTH 102, MTH 111, PHY 117, and beyond.  
Please see the calculus and mathematics counselor for individual review.

Properties of Exponents and Logarithms

Review the properties of exponents (negative exponent rule, zero exponent rule, product rule, power rule, quotient rule, products raised to powers, quotients raised to powers) and properties of logarithms. Particularly helpful for math, physics and chemistry students.  
Thursday, September 18 from 5:30–7 p.m. in Seelye 101 (to be confirmed). Sign up for Properties of Exponents and Logarithms.

Differentiation Review

Define differentiation. Review differentiation formulas: the power rule, the product rule, the quotient rule and the chain rule. Brief introduction to partial and total differentiation of multivariable functions. Differentiate exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions.  
Thursday, September 25 from 5:30–7 p.m. in Seelye 101 (to be confirmed). Sign up for Differentiation Review.

Integration Review

A review of definite and indefinite integrals, as well as the construction of integrals.
Thursday, October 2 from 5:30–7 p.m. in Seelye 101 (to be confirmed). Sign up for Integration Review.

Topics in Vector Calculus

A review of vector calculus topics needed in Calculus III, physics, and engineering courses.
Thursday, October 9 from 5:30–7 p.m. in Seelye 101 (to be confirmed). Sign up for Topics in Vector Calculus.

Instructors may contact us to request sessions on the following topics:

  • Basics of lines and simultaneous equations: Graph a line from an equation in point-slope form, slope-intercept form, or standard form. Obtain the equation of a line from a graph. Solve a set of linear equations (intersecting lines).
  • Logarithms and exponents: Review the properties of exponents (negative exponent rule, zero exponent rule, product rule, power rule, quotient rule, products raised to powers, quotients raised to powers) and properties of logarithms. Particularly helpful for math, physics and chemistry students.
  • Trigonometric functions: A review of trigonometry (triangles, SOHCAHTOA, unit circle, functions) for students in MTH 102, MTH 111, PHY 117 and beyond.
  • Quadratics: Review of factoring, completing the square, and other algebraic techniques from quadratic functions. Essential for MTH 102, 111, and 112.
  • Differentiation: Define differentiation. Review differentiation formulas: the power rule, the product rule, the quotient rule, and the chain rule. Differentiate exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions.
  • Integration: Integration review, targeted at physics courses. Can prevent frustration during office hours during the Center of Mass unit.

There is no particular recommendation regarding books to purchase, we recommend that you purchase a book and work through the examples on a weekly basis with one of our daytime QM tutors.

To find more information about the GRE itself, look online at the GRE website. There are PDFs of practice tests available—ETS provides one on their website; see Quantitative Reasoning or GRE Math Review for more information. Make sure when you Google “GRE math practice materials” that you select results that are recent (2013 up through now).

Once you have purchased a book or printed out practice problems, you are welcome to come to the Spinelli Center on a regular basis and work with our QM tutors. Please let us know if you’d to be connected to a tutor: Email qlctutor@smith.edu with your name, test date, and a set of times during weekdays that you are available and we will connect you with a tutor.

Here are some topics that have been covered in past workshops. Students can contact us qlctutor@smith.edu to arrange an appointment to review topics listed below. Instructors can contact us at spinelli@smith.edu to customize these topics for a particular class or workshop.

  • Significant figures
  • Scientific notation
  • Conversion of units
  • Percentages
  • Excel
  • R for Stata users
  • Basics of data management
  • Descriptive statistics
  • Inferential statistics
  • Linear regression
  • Sequences and series

Contact Spinelli Center for Quantitative Learning

Seelye Hall 207
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063

Phone: 413-585-3091 Email: qlctutor@smith.edu

Director: Catherine McCune, Ph.D.

Note: Please include the course and section, the instructor’s name, and the topic with which you’d like help in your email.