MATH 131: Calculus I

Spring 2010

Abducted by an alien circus company, Prof. Doyle is forced to teach calculus in center ring. (source: unknown)

Description and goals: This is the first part of a two-semester sequence intended to introduce the fundamental ideas and techniques of differential calculus to non-science students. Special emphasis is given to examples in business and economics. The course is not proof-oriented but students are expected to gain a good intuitive understanding of the basic concepts of differential calculus.

Syllabus

Homework

TI-83 frequently asked questions

Announcements:

• 6/1: Check out your COURSE GRADE.

• 5/7: Check out the final exam review sheet. Think about the sample problems in there; I'll go over them in classes on Tuesday 5/11 and Thursday 5/13.

• 4/19: Check out your grades as of today.

• 4/17: Check out the second midterm solutions.

• 4/10: Check out the second midterm review sheet. Think about the sample problems in there; I'll go over them in class on Tuesday 4/13.

• 3/15: Check out your grades as of today.

• 3/11: Check out the first midterm solutions.

• 3/4: Check out the first midterm review sheet. Think about the sample problems in there; I'll go over them in class on Tuesday 3/9.

• 3/2: The quiz on Thursday 3/4 will be on section 2.1. Check out the solutions to HW4, especially section 2.1 problems 6, 10, 18.

• 2/13: Here are the day and evening schedules of the Math Lab; feel free to go there for extra help:
  Day tutoring (in Kiely 331): Mon-Thu 9am to 4pm, Fri 9am to 2pm
  Evening tutoring (in Kiely 508, starting Feb. 22): Mon and Wed 6pm to 8pm, with additional evening hours to be announced

• 2/7: The Math Department has scheduled two TI-83 calculator lectures as follows:
  Lecture 1: Monday 2/22, 12:15-1:05 in Kiely 270
  Lecture 2: Monday 3/1, 12:15-1:05 in Kiely 270
  These sessions are sequential and elementary, and are aimed at students of calculus who have no prior experience with a graphing calculator. Take advantage of these useful sessions if you need help with essential features of your calculator.

• 1/28: Welcome!

General Information and Ground Rules:

• The class lecture meetings are Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:05-4:20 in Kiely 242.

• Homework is an absolutely essential part of this course. You cannot really understand the course material without solving many problems consistently throughout the semester, let alone being able to master them. To help you choose the right problems, every Tuesday I will post a number of core problems on this webpage. You are encouraged to work in groups and discuss these problems with each other. The assigned homework will not be collected (see however the next item).

• Quizzes will be given roughly every Thursday during the last 15 minutes of the lecture (see the course syllabus for the exact dates). The question(s) will be based on the most recently assigned homework. You are expected to take all the quizzes since it will directly affect your course grade. At the end of the semester, your lowest quiz grade will be dropped.

• Course grade will be based on the following scheme:
  
  

  Quizzes	Two Midterms	Final Exam
  20%	20% each	40%

• Exams are scheduled as follows:
  
  

  Midterm 1	Midterm 2	Final
  Thursday March 11 (in class)	Thursday April 15 (in class)	Friday May 21, 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM, New Science Bldg. C201

• The prerequisite of this course is MATH 122 or placement by departmental exam. If you do not have either of these, you should not be enrolled in this class. The course is not open to students who are taking or who have passed MATH 131 or MATH 151. For further information, please go to the Math Department office (Kiely 237) and seek advice.

• If a midterm exam is missed because of a documented illness or valid emergency, the course grade will be determined on the basis of the other work done during the semester. Exams missed for other reasons will count as failures.

• At the end of the semester, everyone who has not withdrawn from the class will receive a grade. Incompletes will not be given to avoid F's.

Saeed Zakeri