In my final year of engineering school, we had to build an op-amp integrated circuit and then characterize its performance in the lab once it came back from man

In my final year of engineering school, we had to build an op-amp integrated circuit and then characterize its performance in the lab once it came back from manufacturing. My project partner was an A-student, so I had no trouble handing him the first half of the project (design and layout) while I went to Hawaii for a week. Unfortunately, when I returned from my week in the sun, I discovered that he had submitted his design without my name on it. The professor was not sympathetic when he said, “I’m not sure how you’re going to finish this class now, considering that 60% of the mark is based on the project report and you have no chip to characterize…” Fast forward six weeks or so. On the fateful day when the chips were being handed back to us, my former partner was missing. I faithfully picked up the item and headed to the lab. Plugging the device into a breadboard and hooking up a scope, I determined that it did not, in fact, function as an op-amp. After many painful hours, I determined that the A student had flipped a transistor around. With luck, I was able to characterize what _that_ circuit should do and was then able to show this to the professor. On the day the project report was due, I brought in two copies: one with my name on it, and one with my name and that of the A student. As he turned pale upon realizing that he had missed picking up the part two weeks earlier, I offered him a chance at redemption: hand in the paper with both of our names on it. He did so, and I was able to graduate. You’re welcome.