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MATH 138Calculus 2 for Honours Mathematics

Units
0.50
Faculty
Mathematics
Subject
Mathematics

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 11 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Introduction to the Riemann integral and approximations. Antiderivatives and the fundamental theorem of calculus. Change of variables, methods of integration. Applications of the integral. Improper integrals. Linear and separable differential equations and applications. Tests for convergence for series. Taylor polynomials and Taylor's Theorem, Big-O notation. Binomial series, functions defined as power series and Taylor series. Suitable topics are illustrated using computer software.

Prerequisites

  • Complete 1 of the following
    • Must have completed the following:
      • MATH147 - Calculus 1 (Advanced Level) (0.50)
    • Earned a minimum grade of 70% in at least 1 of the following:
      • MATH116 - Calculus 1 for Engineering (0.50)
      • MATH117 - Calculus 1 for Engineering (0.50)
      • MATH127 - Calculus 1 for the Sciences (0.50)
    • Earned a minimum grade of 60% in each of the following:
      • MATH137 - Calculus 1 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • MATH118 - Calculus 2 for Engineering (0.50)
    • MATH119 - Calculus 2 for Engineering (0.50)
    • MATH128 - Calculus 2 for the Sciences (0.50)
    • MATH148 - Calculus 2 (Advanced Level) (0.50)

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001648298 / 104MWF 12:30–13:20
LEC 081637759 / 120Online or by arrangement
TUT 101648398 / 104M 17:30–18:50
TST 201648498 / 104Oct 26 19:00–19:50

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00156550 / 142MWF 09:30–10:20
LEC 00256560 / 150MWF 09:30–10:20
LEC 00356570 / 150MWF 10:30–11:20
LEC 00456580 / 150MWF 10:30–11:20
LEC 00556590 / 150MWF 11:30–12:20
LEC 00656860 / 150MWF 11:30–12:20
LEC 00757110 / 150MWF 13:30–14:20
LEC 00857500 / 150MWF 12:30–13:20
LEC 00960970 / 143MWF 12:30–13:20
LEC 01061980 / 120MWF 13:30–14:20
LEC 70122521167 / 9999Online or by arrangement
TUT 10157510 / 446W 16:00–17:20
TUT 10259700 / 387W 16:00–17:20
TUT 10359710 / 158W 16:00–17:20
TUT 10459720 / 344W 16:00–17:20
TUT 10561790 / 120W 16:00–17:20
TST 20157770 / 1335Mar 3 19:00–20:50
TST 20261800 / 120Mar 3 19:00–20:50

Resources

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Reviewed on UW Flow

68% liked it47% easy83% useful

From 1,000 ratings and 183 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • If calculus 138 has 1 million haters I am one of them. If calclus 138 has one hater it is me. If calculus 138 has no haters I am dead no longer on this earth. I hate this course I hate everything about it . I hate the textbook. I hate the textbook answers. I hate the weirdly short quizzes.

    Mar 2026 · didn’t like it · 5 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Assignments are insanely hard because you have to get every option on multi-select questions correct. Furthermore, each option on any given multi-select question is like trick question. Overall, felt very frustrating getting low marks because of the trick questions while the average was still high due to rampant cheating.

    May 2021 · didn’t like it · 5 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I have heard rumours of this course being bad before, but I could not imagine just how bad it was. The content is alright and seems to be relatively straight forward, if not tedious. But, that is not my gripe with the course.
    This course is SO poorly organized it baffles me. The practice is not at all reflective of the actual marked worked (quizzes and exams) to the point where it is often leagues easier than what we are tested on. On our midterm exam, Q7 was on the 148 midterm as well whilst Q8 had a median of 0 and a mean of 8.7%. Not to mention that nearly 1/3 of the entire 2028/2029 year failed Quiz 6 (if we take into account those who did not write, it probably would have been higher…

    Mar 2025 · didn’t like it · 4 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I was humbled

    Mar 2025 · liked it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Fuck calc

    May 2021 · didn’t like it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

1,405 posts and comments in 1,031 threads mention MATH 138, June 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2024

Taking Math 128 as Math Major? 4 points, 5 comments

u/fasdfsads: “… I did fairly well in math 137( \ 80%, so the difficulty of math 138 isn't a concern) but wanted to take math 128 so I could get more free-time to work on projects and stuff that would actually land me a co-op. Any help is appreciated. …”

u/Laeriana: “It depends WHICH major you're considering in Math, and whether or not you feel you can get the 70 required in MATH 128 to move forward to MATH 237 which is required for MOST non-CS programs (one …”

u/Laeriana: “… Only you know yourself best with how you feel you're able to manage your time, but it sounds like you may fair well in either MATH 138 OR 128 if you received around an 80 in MATH 137, and you may choose to not go for the AMATH options in your program. It is entirely up to you. …”

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Math 128 as a CS major 5 points, 5 comments

“Worth it to boost GPA? First years’ cum. GPA wasn’t too bad but a lot of upper-year CS friends have taken 128 and said it was worth it. Thoughts?”

u/babbumaan420: “It was worth it and wayyy easier than MATH 138. Take it, just be sure to get higher than a 70 or 80 (I forgot what you need to get). I got an easy 90+ and I'm an average CS student.”

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Math 128 or math 138? 9 points, 16 comments

u/s100699: “Just finished 1A honours math and got a 75 in math 137 which I'm pretty happy abt considering the fact that i struggled a lot with it 😭😭😭 i noticed that I struggled the most with writing calc proofs so I'm thinking maybe taking 128 would be better for me but would doing so …”

u/Accomplished-Ask3282: “Sure math 138 is fairly easy, but math 128 is the most bird course you can take in uni. Minimum to no effort and you get a straight 90.”

u/cldellow: “If you look in the course calendar, often when MATH 138 is a prereq, it can be replaced with MATH 128 so long as you scored at least 70%. That said, if you're looking to get, like, a pure math degree, MATH 128 is inappropriate.”

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Math 138 or Math 128 6 points, 5 comments

u/Deep-Apartment9323: “… I passed math 137 but didn’t get the 60+ requirement to progress to math 138. I can either redo math 137 next term and take math 138 over the summer or take math 128 and not have to redo math 137. …”

u/amsyed10385: “… So, if you are unconfident in your math abilities, 137 retaking is fine, although MATH 128/138 doesn’t really depend on 137 much from a content standpoint. I would personally try 128. I think it is a lot easier than 138, and a pretty computational course overall with no proofs. …”

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Advice on 1B CS course schedule 5 points, 5 comments

“Here's what my 1B schedule looks like right now Hello! 1st year CS here. I passed all of my courses in 1A, but my average wasn't the best (73%) compared to alot of my friends who consistently got …”

u/CSplays: “… If you struggled a lot with math 137, I would recommend taking math 128 instead of math 138 as well. …”

u/EnamiYa7: “I am in 3A rn, I took math128 and it was the best decision. It won’t affect anything and no one cares if u took that or math138”

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Am I cooked? 11 points, 16 comments

“Im in BBA/BMath Laurier side. Got a 57 in math135 and 50 in math137, absolutely do not want to retake this shit, but its still not technically a fail because its in between 50 and 60. …”

u/pothoslover04: “… You can take math 128 in the winter semester instead of math 138, you just have to get over a 70. I ended of retaking math 135. …”

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Probably failed MATH 137, what do I do now? 12 points, 7 comments

“I'm in 1A Math and have coop in Spring. I think I failed 137, and obviously I need 137 to take 138, so I'm not sure what to do during my 1B term. …”

u/Primary-Albatross993: “Did you get above 50 but less than 60? If that’s the case, take math128 next term. You need to get over 70 to meet the same prerequisite requirements as math138 with a 60. Math12x calc courses are much easier than math13x calc courses so 70 shouldn’t be hard.”

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Section for MATH138P 5 points, 1 comment

u/Flippyy4: “Does anyone know what section the physics based version of math 138 is for next term?”

u/kiddykow: “10 (that's i got automatically enrolled in, and it seems to be the section excluded from the Winter 2025 MATH 138 outline)”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

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