MCS 121 Calculus I
Fall 2002
Catalog description:
Introduction to the basic ideas of differential and integral calculus and
formal development of differentiation and integration.
(1 course)
Prerequisite: Two years of high school mathematics beyond plane geometry,
including trigonometry, or MCS-120 (Pre-calculus Mathematics).
MCS-121 meets the Curriculum I QUANT (quantitative reasoning)
area D requirement.
Calculus I is a general education course in quantitative reasoning that
introduces calculus, the branch of mathematics dealing with "limits."
The fundamental concepts treated in this course are: function, limit,
continuity, derivative, definite integral, and differential equation.
The goals of the course are to give the student (1) knowledge of the
topics in the syllabus, (2) skill in carrying out the operations and
algorithms of calculus, (3) practice in mathematical modeling and
problem solving, (4) understanding and appreciation of the axiomatic
and logical structure of calculus, and (5) appreciation of the role of
calculus in the history of ideas and its impact on the natural and
social sciences.
Instructor (Sections 2 & 6): John Holte
Class meetings
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday in Olin 320
- Section 2: 9:00-9:50
- Section 6: 10:30-11:20
- Regular attendance is expected. Class time will be used for a variety
of activities--lectures, discussions, problem solving, and presentation
of solutions.
You should come to each class prepared for the day's work;
read the text before (as well as after) the class, and do the "prep"
problems in advance.
Textbook
Calculus: Single Variable, third edition, by
Hughes-Hallett, Gleason, et al.
(John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2002),
either loose-leaf or softcover.
This text is written specifically to aid you in
understanding the concepts of calculus, and our questions and problems
will require you to invoke your understanding rather than to mimic
template problems worked in the text, so you should read this
text, both before and after each class.
Calculator
You should have a graphing calculator to use
in class and on exams.
If you are buying a new one, the department recommends
the TI-83 or TI-86. You may use other calculators (especially
another TI, Casio, HP or Sharp) as long as you are able to enter a
simple program into your calculator and you are comfortable with basic
graphing features. A couple of calculators are on reserve in the
library.
Web sites for Calculus I
| Dates
| Chapter/Sections
| Topic
| Test/Exam
|
| Sept. 5-19
| 1
| Functions
| Thur., Sept. 19
|
| Sept. 20-Oct. 8
| 2
| The derivative concept
| Tue., Oct. 8
|
| Oct. 10-31
| 3.1-3.7, 3.9
| Derivative skills
| Thur., Oct. 31
|
| Nov. 1-18
| 3.10
4.1, 4.3-4.7
| Applications of derivatives
| Mon., Nov. 18
|
Nov. 19-26
Dec. 2
| 5
| The definite integral
|
|
| Dec. 3-12
| 6
| Antiderivatives
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
|
|
| Dec. 13
| 2-6
| Review
| Thur., Dec. 19
10:30-12:30
OHS 103
|
Tests/Exams
We will have two in-class skills tests and two evening
examinations during the semester and a two-hour final examination at
the end. They are scheduled as follows:
| Skills test 1
| Thursday, September 19
| 9:00-9:50 or 10:30-11:20
|
| Exam 1
| Tuesday, October 8
| 5:30-7:25 or 7:30-9:25
|
| Skills test 2
| Thursday, October 31
| 9:00-9:50 or 10:30-11:20
|
| Exam 2
| Monday, November 18
| 5:30-7:25 or 7:30-9:25
|
| Final exam
| Thursday, December 19
| 10:30-12:30 OHS 103
|
Homework
Homework assignments will be collected about once a
week, but you are advised to do the problems from each section right
after the class meeting on that section.
A selection of the problems turned in will be graded.
You are allowed and encouraged to discuss homework and prep problems with
others, but (see the College Academic Honesty policy) ultimately
you must work the problems and write up the assignment entirely by
yourself.
As a general rule, you must justify your answers: Explain, or show
your work.
Occasional extra credit problems will be
assigned. These will be especially challenging and should be done
without consulting anyone else. Typically one extra credit problem
will be worth as much as 1/2 of a week's regular homework.
- Acknowledge your sources (people and texts).
- In nontrivial problems, show how you get your answers.
- Turn in neat, well-written solutions, not messy first drafts.
Trim "fringes." Staple.
- Do not copy collaborative solutions; write up solutions in your own
words.
- Do extra credit problems entirely on your own.
- Turn in homework on time. Each class day late reduces the
possible points by 25%.
Prep Problems/WeBWorK
-
Prep problems, when assigned, must be done before
the beginning of class, by the time deadline given.
You should read the text before doing the prep problems.
-
The prep problems must be done on
WeBWorK, a web-based system that provides different,
but equivalent, problems to each student, and allows correction of
errors before final submission and recording.
Your email name is your login name.
Your student ID# is your password.
Quizzes, Projects
Occasional quizzes will be given. These may announced or
unannounced.
Also one or two team projects may be assigned.
Academic honesty
Page 68 of the Gustavus Guide states in part:
"The faculty of Gustavus Adolphus College expects all students to adhere to the
highest standards of academic honesty... In all academic exercises,
examinations, papers, and reports, students shall submit their own work.
Footnotes or some other acceptable form of citation must accompany any use of
another's words or ideas."
For a first cheating offense, a student will be given a zero on the
paper in question.
For a second offense, the cheater will fail the course.
Make-up policy
Make-up exams will not be given except for medical or family emergency
reasons.
Students who will be absent from an exam for a school-sponsored event
should arrange with me in advance to have an exam sent along with the coach.
Late homework will be penalized as stated under
Homework rules.
| Percent
| Work
| Notes
|
| 5%
| Prep problems
| WeBWorK
|
| 20%
| Homework
| Lowest score will be discarded.
|
| 5%
| Quizzes, projects
|
|
| 20%
| Skills tests
| 10% each
|
| 30%
| Unit exams
| 15% each
|
| 20%
| Final exam
|
|
Participation and performance factors may modify your grade.
You are expected to contribute to a classroom atmosphere that encourages
learning and is marked by respect
for your fellow learners.
The following factors will be taken into account.
| Positives
| Negatives
|
Faithful attendance
This counts a lot!
| Missing classes,
tardiness
|
| Being prepared
| Being unprepared
|
| Paying attention in class
| Not paying attention
|
| Contributing to class discussions
| Disruptive behavior
|
Asking relevant questions--
I am impressed when I am asked more
often about points of mathematics
than points of grading.
|
|
| Curiosity, appreciation, cheerfulness
| Apathy, resentment, sullenness
|
| Turning work in on time
| Turning work in late
|
| Neat, well-written work
| Messy work
|
| Working hard
| Hardly working
|
Improvement during the term,
overcoming setbacks
| Going downhill
|
Attendance the day before
and the day after a break
| Skipping class the day before
or the day after a break
|
Extra help
-
Please feel free to see me during office hours and at other times
when my door is open.
-
Student tutors will be available 6:30-9:30 p.m.
in Olin 319 Sunday through Thursday
evening to help you to learn calculus.
They will not work your homework problems for you, but they will
answer your relevant questions.
-
If you have a disability that requires accommodation, please see me
privately as soon as possible.