FAQ for UGBA 104 in Spring 2015

(Last Update: January 11, 2015)

This document supplements the courses Syllabus by providing answers to frequently asked
questions (FAQ). Please read the Syllabus BEFORE reading these FAQ, because most
information provided in the Syllabus is NOT repeated in these FAQ.

First Week of Classes

Q: During the first week of the semester (January 20-23), is there a Recitation on Wednesday,
January 21, and an optional GSI Discussion Session on Friday, January 23?
A: Yes! The course officially begins on Wednesday, January 21, when each of the 2
Recitation Sections (8:00 9:30 AM & 9:30 11:00 AM) introduces the course and
reviews mathematical concepts and skills that are prerequisites for the course. On
Friday, January 23, each of the 2 GSI Discussion Sessions includes hands on
exercises designed to review the Excel skills that are prerequisites for the course. If
you have little or no experience with Excel, then attendance at the firsts weeks optional
Friday GSI Discussion Session is strongly recommended. Material covered at the
Recitation on Wednesday, January 21, and at the GSI Discussion Session on Friday,
January 23 will NOT be repeated during the second week of classes. If you have
friends enrolled in this course, please inform them that UGBA 104 begins on
Wednesday, January 21.

Wednesday & Friday BEFORE Spring Break

Q: On the Wednesday before Spring Break (March 18), will I miss much if I do not attend
Recitation?
A: Yes! The topic covered at Recitation on this Wednesday (Integer Programming with
Binary Variables) is perhaps the courses most difficult topic. It is strongly
recommended that you attend Recitation on Wednesday, March 18.
Q: On the Friday before Spring Break (March 20), is there a GSI Discussion Session?
A: Yes! As usual, attendance is optional. However, see the previous question. If you find
this course difficult, you should postpone travel until the afternoon of Friday, March 20.

Registration
Q: I am currently on UGBA 104s waitlist. Can you get me in?
A: Faculty and GSIs cannot enroll students. Please contact the Undergraduate Academic
Student Services Officer: Barbara Felkins (felkins@haas.berkeley.edu).
See information at http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/Undergrad/enrollment.html
Q: I am currently in a Wednesday Recitation Section that I cannot regularly attend. What should I
do?
A: Go to Switch section on Tele-Bears. Find another student to switch sections if your
desired section is full. The Instructor and GSIs cannot update the registration system.
If you cannot register for or attend either of the 2 Recitation Sections, you must drop the
course and enroll in a different semester.
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Textbook
Q: Can I buy an older version of this courses custom-print textbook?
A: This courses official textbook either the custom-print textbook or the corresponding
hardcover textbook has the SAME content as the textbook used in Fall 2014 but has
significantly DIFFERENT content than the textbook used in Spring 2014, Fall 2013, and
all previous semesters. It is strongly recommended that you purchase only a new copy
of this courses official textbook or a used copy only from Fall 2014. If you purchase an
outdated textbook, you do so at your own risk. Outdated textbooks either an outdated
custom-print textbook or the corresponding outdated hardcover textbook have at least
some of the following problems: missing chapters or sections of chapters, different
chapter or section numbers, different page numbers, screenshots NOT from Excel 2013
or the most current version of Analytic Solver Platform, different numbers for end-ofchapter problems, different wording of or data for end-of-chapter problems, and missing
end-of-chapter problems.
Q: Do I need to bring the textbook to class?
A: No.
Q: Why does the custom-print textbook contain Chapter 5 (Network Modeling) when there are no
required readings from this chapter?
A: Chapter 5 is included for backward-compatibility with Fall 2014 and potential forwardcompatibility with future semesters. You are NOT responsible for the material in
Chapter 5

Computer Software: Excel & Analytic Solver Platform

Q: Do I have to use Excel 2013? Can I use an earlier version?
A: This course supports ONLY Excel 2013. If you choose to use any other version of
Excel, you assume sole responsibility for software compatibility issues and for
completing all assignments for the course.
Q: Do I have to buy Excel?
A: No. As a student at UC Berkeley, you are entitled to download free-of-charge 1 copy of
Microsoft Office. For download instructions, navigate to the following webpage:
https://software.berkeley.edu/microsoft.
If you want to install a free-of-charge copy of Analytic Solver Platform on your PC, then
you must first install Excel on your PC. Otherwise, you do not have to install Excel on
your PC. All computers in S300T (computer classroom) have Excel 2013 and Analytic
Solver Platform installed. Furthermore, from wherever you have access to the Internet,
you can run Excel and Analytic Solver Platform using the Haas Terminal Server. For
more details about using the Haas Terminal Server, see the question 5 questions
below.

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Q: Can I use a Mac?

A: Yes. However, please note that there is NOT a Mac version of Analytic Solver
Platform. To run Analytic Solver Platform on a Mac, you must install Microsoft
Windows, either in a dual-boot setup on your hard disk or running under VM
(virtual machine) software such as Boot Camp, VMWare Fusion, or Parallels.
After installing Windows, you can install either Microsoft Office or only Microsoft
Excel and then install Analytic Solver Platform. For more details, navigate to the
following website: http://www.solver.com/using-frontline-solvers-macintosh
Q: How do I dual-boot my Mac? How do I install Boot Camp, VMWare Fusion, or Parallels?
A: A complete answer is beyond the scope of this FAQ. Below is summary.
To use Boot Camp, VMWare Fusion, or Parallels, you must acquire your own copy
of the Windows operating system (the current version is Windows 8) and Excel
(ether separately or as part of Microsoft Office, which includes Excel). Remember
that this course guarantees support only for Excel 2013. To prepare your machine,
you must install software that allows your Mac to manage both OSX and Windows.
Boot Camp is provided as part of the most recent releases of Mac OSX and is
available directly from Apple. Configuration instructions are available at that
website. A significant advantage of Boot Camp is that it is free. A disadvantage is
that you must run either Windows OR Mac OSX, but you cannot simultaneously run
both operating systems.
VMWare Fusion (http://www.vmware.com) and Parallels (http://www.parallels.com)
are similar products that allow you to run Windows applications from inside Mac
OSX so that Windows simply looks like another application on your Macintosh.
Installation instructions are available on the respective websites. A disadvantage is
that these products are NOT free.
Q: What is the difference between Analytic Solver Platform and Risk Solver Platform?
A: Nothing! Regard them as synonyms. Frontline Systems (the software vendor) added
capabilities to Risk Solver Platform and re-named it Analytic Solver Platform. So, the
Haas Schools computer center still refers to the software as Risk Solver Platform, and
the textbook refers to the software as Analytic Solver Platform.
Q: How do I install Analytic Solver Platform on my PC?
A: After you install Excel on your personal computer, it is strongly recommended that you
install (FREE-OF-CHARGE) Analytic Solver Platform on your PC. Whether you use a
PC or a Mac, see the section of the Syllabus entitled Software: Excel & Analytic Solver
Platform.
Q: How do I access the Haas Terminal Server to run Analytic Solver Platform outside S300T
(computer classroom)?
A: Whether you use a PC or a Mac, see the section of the Syllabus entitled Computer
Software: Excel & Analytic Solver Platform.
Q: How do I login to a PC in S300T (computer classroom)?
A: Use your Haas credentials. If you are not a Haas student, but are enrolled in the class
you should go to the front desk of S300 and ask for a form to fill out to get you a Haas
domain account for this semester.

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Recitation (Wednesdays) & Optional GSI Discussion Sessions (Fridays)

Q: Where do Recitation and GSI Discussion Sessions meet?
A: All Recitation Sections and GSI Discussion Session meet in S300T (computer
classroom).
Q: Do all Recitation Sections and GSI Discussion Sessions cover the same material?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I attend a different Wednesday Recitation Section than the one for which I am registered?
A: No. You must attend your assigned Wednesday Recitation Section. You may not
attend a different Wednesday Recitation Section even if it seems like there is available
capacity.
Q: Am I assigned to a specific Friday GSI Discussion Session?
A: No. Attendance at the Friday GSI Discussion Sessions is optional. You can attend
either of the GSI Discussion Sessions.
Q: Will new material be covered on Friday at a GSI Discussion Session
A: No. The intent of a Friday Discussion Session is to review the material covered during
that weeks Lecture and Recitation and to review the previous weeks Homework
Problems.
Q: Why should I attend a Friday GSI Discussion Session?
A: Friday GSI Discussion Sessions are targeted for students having difficulty with the
materials. Friday GSI Discussion and GSI office hours are your primary sources of
answers if you have questions about the course content. If you consistently do not
attend Friday GSI Discussion Sessions, the GSIs reserve the right to refuse to respond
to your e-mails about the content of the GSI Discussion Sessions.

PowerPoint Slides for Lecture, Recitation, & GSI Discussion Session

Q: How can I obtain copies of the PowerPoint slides for the weeks Lecture, Recitation, & GSI
Discussion Session?
A: Hard-copies of PowerPoint slides are distributed at the beginning of each Lecture, and
soft-copies are posted as PDF files to the bCourses Files Tool in the folder named
Week-by-Week.
Q: Can you post the PowerPoint slides as PPTX files?
A: Due to copyright issues, only PDFs are posted.

Excel Files for Lecture, Recitation, & GSI Discussion Session

Q: How can I obtain copies of the Excel files for the weeks Lecture, Recitation, & GSI Discussion
Session?
A: Soft-copies of the weeks Excel files are posted to the bCourses Files Tool in the folder
named Week-by-Week.

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Preparing for the Weeks Lecture, Recitation, & GSI Discussion Session
Q: What is the MINIMUM preparation for the weeks Lecture, Recitation, & GSI Discussion
Session?
A: The MINIMUM preparation is as follows.
Before the Lecture, read the required textbook sections listed in the Course Outline
at the end of the Syllabus.
Download the Excel file posted to the bCourses Files Tool in the folder named
"Week-by-Week".
Q: If I want to perform well in this class, what is the MAXIMUM preparation for a Weeks Lecture,
Recitation, & GSI Discussion Session?
A: Below are some guidelines for performing well in this class.
Prepare early. The material in UGBA 104 cannot be learned over the weekend
before an exam. Starting early also gives you the option to clarify concepts in office
hours with any GSI or the Instructor. Just before an exam, time is scarce among all
GSIs and the Instructor, because many students are trying to catch up at the last
minute.
Do not fall behind, but, if you do, catch up as quickly as possible.
Do not skip a Lecture or a Recitation (even if you are tempted to roll over and go
back to sleep!).
Regularly attend the optional Friday GSI Discussion Sessions.
Read the required textbook Sections TWICE: once BEFORE Lecture (to better
understand the each weeks Lecture), and again AFTER each Lecture (to clarify
your understanding of each weeks Lecture). Do not be satisfied until you
understand every paragraph.
Get the most out of a Recitation by coming ready to go. BEFORE the Recitation,
download from bCourses any relevant Excel file. Arrive on time to the Recitation.
While working the Recitation Assignment, strike a balance between asking for help
too soon (you wont learn as much) and asking too late (you wont finish the
Recitation Assignment during Recitation). AFTER class, if you did not yet submit the
Recitation Assignment, allocate time during the remainder of the day to finish the
Recitation Assignment and submit by 8:00 PM of the same day.
Work as many Homework Problems and Practice Exam Questions as possible, and,
when doing so, postpone looking at the answer as long as possible. (The problems
seem much easier with the solution in front of you!)
Form a study group with 2-3 other students and meet once per week. One of the
best ways to learn a concept or a skill is explain it to someone else.

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Missing a Lecture, Recitation, or GSI Discussion Session

Q: I will miss or have missed a Lecture, Recitation, or GSI Discussion Session. Should I send an
e-mail to the Instructor or a GSI?
A: No.
Q: I will miss or have missed a Lecture, Recitation, or GSI Discussion Session. How can I obtain
copies of the associated handouts and Excel files?
A: Use the bCourses Files Tool (folder Week-by-Week) to download copies of the weeks
PowerPoint slides, Excel files, etc. Alternatively, ask a friend.
Q: I missed a class. How can I best understand the material covered during the missed class?
A: Proceed in the following order.
1. If you have not already done so, read the required textbook readings listed in the
Couse Outline at the end if the Syllabus.
2. Obtain copies of the handouts and Excel files? (See above question.)
3. Read the PowerPoint slides, and where necessary, ask a friend to provide any
missing content that was filled in during class.
4. Attend that weeks Friday GSI Discussion Session.
5. If you still have a question, visit the office hours of ANY GSI or the Instructor.
NOTE: In general, the Instructor and the GSIs do NOT answer questions if it is
clear that the student has voluntarily missed the class. In other words, the
Instructor and the GSIS do NOT provide a 10- to 15-minute summary of a 90minute missed class.

Primary GSI versus other GSIs

Q: Who is my PRIMARY GSI, and how is he/she different from the other 3 GSIs?
A: All 4 GSIs share the workload equally, with each GSI having a 3-week period during
which he/she attends Recitation and conducts the GSI Discussion Session. To further
balance the workload among the 4 GSIs, you are assigned to a Primary GSI based on
your Recitation section (8:00 AM or 9:30 AM) and the first letter of your last name. Find
your Primary GSIs name & e-mail address either on the first page of the Syllabus or on
bCourses (on the left-margin Navigation Menu, click Home and scroll down). If you
want to send an e-mail to a GSI, send it to your Primary GSI, who, if necessary will
forward your e-mail to another GSI or the Instructor. For office hours, you can visit ANY
of the 4 GSIs.

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Asking a Question via e-Mail

Q: I have a question that I want to ask via e-mail. To whom should I send the e-mail?
A: Before sending the e-mail, check the Syllabus and the FAQ to see your question is
answered there. If not, send the e-mail to your PRIMARY GSI. Find your Primary GSIs
name & e-mail address either on the first page of the Syllabus or on bCourses (on the
left-margin Navigation Menu, click Home and scroll down). If necessary, your GSI will
forward your e-mail to another GSI or the Instructor. After receiving a response from a
GSI, if you feel that you must e-mail the instructor, your e-mail to the Instructor should
cc the GSI with whom you exchanged e-mails AND include either the original e-mail
thread of your exchange with your GSI or a brief summary of it.
NOTE: The Instructor and the GSIs do NOT answer e-mails on the business day
before an exam.

Asking a Question in Person

Q: I have questions that I want to ask in person. What should I do?
A: Please consider the following sequence.
1. Check the Syllabus and the FAQ to see your question is answered there.
2. If your question is about Excel, first try Excels on-line Help or google your
question. For example, in the Search Bar, enter How do I change a cells format to
display 2 decimal places instead of 4?
3. If your question is about material covered during Lecture or Recitation, ask your
question in the Friday GSI Discussion Session. If you have a question, chances are
that somebody else has a similar question. The Friday GSI Discussion Sessions are
meant to be interactive.
4. If your question is easy to ask or answer via e-mail, then e-mail your Primary GSI.
(See above question.)
5. If your question is too long to ask or answer via e-mail, attend the office hours of
ANY GSI or the Instructor.
NOTE: In general, the Instructor and the GSIs do NOT answer questions if it is
clear that the student has voluntarily missed the class. In other words, the
Instructor and the GSIS do NOT provide a 10- to 15-minute summary of a 90minute missed class.

(continued on the next page)

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Recitation Assignment
Q: On a particular, Wednesday, I cannot attend the Recitation. Can I still submit that days
Recitation Assignment?
A: From the bCourses Files Tool in the folder named Week-by-Week in the sub-folder
named Week n, download the Excel file named Wkn-RA. Following the instructions
contained within the Recitation Assignment, submit the Recitation Assignment by 8:00
PM of the same day.
Q: I did not submit a Recitation Assignment. How will this affect my final course grade?
A: You can skip 2 Recitation Assignments without penalty. For more details, see the
sections of the Syllabus entitled Course Format and Components of Final Course
Grades.
Q: When taking a Recitation Assignment, may I consult with another person?
A: Yes. To maximize learning, help from the Instructor, GSIs, and/or other students is
permitted and encouraged.

Exams
Q: I cannot take the exam at the scheduled date and time, and I am NOT an official DSP student
and NOT an official athlete. Is there anything I can do?
A: No! Without exception, you must take the exam at its scheduled date & time. Failure to
do so results in 0 points for the exam.
Q: Textbook Chapter X covers topic/example Y. However, we have not explicitly covered
topic/example Y in a Lecture, Recitation, GSI Discussion Session, or Homework Problem. Will
this topic/example be tested on an exam?
A: Yes. You are responsible for ALL material covered in the REQUIRED readings listed in
the Course Outline on the last 3 pages of this Syllabus. If you do not understand a
topic/example in a required section of the textbook, visit the office hours of a GSI or the
Instructor.
Q: Which type of calculator can I use for exam purposes?
A: Any calculator which does not have wireless communication capabilities; that is, you
cannot use a calculator that allows you to surf the web or communicate to another
person. You may use a graphing calculator, financial calculator, etc. If there is any
question about whether a specific device is acceptable for use in an exam, ask several
days before the exam. If we confiscate your device on the day of the exam, you will
have to do without it. You may not share someone elses calculator during the exam.

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Exam Accommodation for a Disabled Students Program (DSP) Student

Q: I have a letter from DSP (Disabled Students Program) indicating that I require an
accommodation for exams. What should I do?
A: To maximize the likelihood of accommodation, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you read
the section of the Syllabus entitled Disabled Students Program (DSP) Students.

Exam Accommodation for University-Required Travel (for example, an athlete)

Q: I am a member of an official University-sponsored organization (for example, an athletic team)
that REQUIRES travel on the day of a scheduled exam. What should I do?
A: See the section of the syllabus entitled Disabled Students Program (DSP) Students.
You are subject to the same policies, including a REQUIRED in-person visit to the
Instructor at least 3 weeks before the exam.

Grading (including Final Course Grades of D or F)

For detailed information about Grading, see the section of the Syllabus entitled Components of
the Final Course Grade.
Q: Will some students fail this course, and what happens if I fail this course?
A: Although it is NOT the Instructors intent to assign to anyone a final course grade of D
or F, minimum standards must be met to receive a final course grade of at least a
C. In past semesters, a very few number of students have received a final course
grade of D or F usually no more than 3%. Because this is a core course, you must
receive a final course grade of at least C. If not, you must re-enroll in the course in a
subsequent semester (Fall or Spring, NOT Summer, and NOT as an independent
study). If a student who intends to graduate in May 2015 receives a final course
grade of D or F, he/she cannot graduate.

bCourses (instead of bSpace)

Q: Why is this course using bCourses instead of bSpace?
A: After this semester, the Haas School will discontinue bSpace. Therefore, many courses
have already switched from bSpace to bCourses.
Q: I have never used bCourses. How can I get help?
A: If you are already familiar with bSpace, you should find it easy to transition to bCourses.
However, if you need help, see the section of the Syllabus entitled bCourses.
Q: What can I find on bCourses, and where can I find it?
A: bCourses contains all course-related materials. For a summary, see the section of the
Syllabus entitled bCourses.

Tutors
Q: Can you provide me with a Tutor?
A: For questions about a Tutor, please contact the Undergraduate Program Office.
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