Calculus Fall 2013
4 credits
Tues, Thurs 8:30 am - 9:50 am in Sci 216
Office hours in Sci 205: Mondays 10:30-11:30 and Thursdays 12:30-1:30
Blurb
Calculus is the study of change. It allows us to understand (among other phenomena) growing populations, rockets speeding toward the atmosphere, chemical substances decaying, and weather prediction. In this course, we will study differential and integral calculus, with an emphasis on applications to real- (and not-so-real-) world problems.
Text
The course will approximately follow the first six chapters of Strang's
Calculus with a few omissions to be announced as we go and bits from Chapters 7 and 8 and other sources added. This book is part of an MIT "OpenCourseWare" module and we shall use further resources from that and other online sources.
Grading
This course will use the standard grading scale, with grades decided as follows:
Homework: 20%
Quizzes: 20%
Midterm: 25%
Final: 35%
I will assign regular practice problems for you to try, which will not be graded. There will be weekly quizzes based on these problems. I will not give make-up quizzes. Instead, I will drop the lowest 20% of your quiz grades.
Homework assignments will consist of more difficult problems. I will post them
here as the semester progresses. It is difficult to grade homework assignments fairly if students turn them in late. That said, sometimes circumstances beyond your control will make it difficult for you to turn in an assignment on time. To allow for this, I will give up to two homework extensions over the course of the semester. Let me know (preferably by email) if you'd like to use one. There is no need to give an excuse.
Course etiquette
Technology is distracting. Please do not use it in class. If you believe you need to, talk to me in person first.
Late arrivals are also distracting. I expect you to show up on time.
On a more positive note, participate in class. It'll be way more fun that way. :)
Academic Honesty
You are expected to be aware of the college's
policy on academic integrity and to abide by it. Please come and talk to me if anything is unclear.
