The Math Question Center

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The Math Question Center (MQC) is a community where students in Math M, 1a, 1b, 21a, and 21b come together to work on their problem sets (or PSets). The center is staffed by undergraduate course assistants (CAs) who are there to help you productively approach your PSets. The goal of the MQC is for you to not only complete your homework correctly, but also synthesize the main ideas from the PSets so you can apply them more broadly.

The MQC is open Sundays – Thursdays from 7:30pm to 11pm. It is staffed by CAs on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 7:30pm to 10:30pm, and on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30pm to 10:30pm. (You can recognize the CAs from the name tags they wear around their necks.) You are more than welcome to work with other students in the MQC when it is open, even if there are no CAs present. As a general rule, if no class takes place the following day, then the MQC is CLOSED. (However, if you’re unsure, you should always check with your individual course to see if the MQC will be open on a particular night.) Please refer to your course website for more information about the MQC, including the location of your MQC room. If you have any questions about the MQC, please contact the course head for your course.

Getting the Most Out of the MQC

In past semesters, the MQC has been used by many students. We are delighted that it has been so popular! However, this means that MQC staffers are often able to spend only a few minutes helping any one student. Here are some tips to help you make use of this time effectively:

  • Before you visit the MQC, work on your homework, and try each problem carefully. Only ask for help on problems you’ve thought through on your own first.
  • At the MQC, discuss your questions with other students in addition to asking for help from a staffer. Use the MQC as a place to find other students with whom to work on your homework. Your classmates can be your best resource!
  • Keep in mind that the MQC staffers are not there to do your homework for you, nor are they there to check if your final answers are correct. Try to work in your group as autonomously as possible, but do ask for help when your group gets stuck.
  • Remember that the MQC is not the only available source for help! Each course has plenty of office hours held by the instructors (TFs), which may be more suitable for one-on-one or small group assistance in a quieter, less chaotic atmosphere.