MCS 121 Calculus I
Sections 1 & 2
Spring 2009
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 MATHL general
education requirement (QUANT, pre-2005).
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 1 & 2): John Holte
Class meetings
- Section 1: 11:30-12:20 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday in Olin 317
- Section 2: 1:30-2:20 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday in Olin 317
- 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.
Textbook
Calculus: Single Variable, fourth edition, by
Hughes-Hallett, Gleason, et al.
(John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2005).
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-83/84 or TI-89. You may use other calculators (especially
another TI, Casio, HP or Sharp) as long as
you are able to run a
previously entered program into your calculator and
you are comfortable with basic graphing features.
Calculator symbolic algebra capability,
e.g., on a TI-89 or TI-92, may not be used during exams.
Web site for MCS-121-001 and MCS-121-002
| Dates
| Chapter/
Sections
| Topic
|
| Feb. 9-23
| 1
| Functions
|
| Feb. 24-Mar. 6
| 2
| The derivative concept
|
| Mar. 9-20
| 3.1-3.6
| Derivative skills
|
| Mar. 30-Apr. 2
| 3.7, 3.9-3.10
| Derivative skills
|
| Apr. 3-23
| 4.1, 4.3-4.7
| Applications of derivatives
|
| Apr. 24-May 5
| 5
| The definite integral
|
| May 7-18
| 6
| Antiderivatives
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
|
| May 19
| 2-6
| Review
|
- Mastery tests:
Most weeks
one session of class time will
be used for administering mastery tests,
10-problem short-answer skills tests,
one for each "skills unit."
To pass (master) a unit, you must get at least 8.5
problems correct out of 10.
You may retake a test (with different problems)
up to five times.
| Number mastered
| 6
| 5
| 4
| 3
| 2
| 1
| 0
|
| Letter grade
| A+
| A
| B
| C
| D
| F
| F-
|
| Numerical score
| 100
| 95
| 85
| 70
| 60
| 50
| 0
|
- Mastery tests will be given only on the
scheduled days
and two other days to be scheduled.
- You may take at most two tests per session.
- If you do not pass a particular unit test,
you must wait until a later session to try another one.
- You may not take a unit test before we have
started the unit in class.
(If you're already prepared to take later units tests,
perhaps you're already prepared for Calculus II.)
- You may not take more than six versions of a
unit test.
(If no extra testing session is scheduled,
the maximum number of tries for unit 4 is 5;
for unit 5 it's 3; for unit 6 it's 2.)
- There are two
evening examinations,
scheduled for Tuesday, March 10
and Monday, April 27.
More details will be given later.
- The
final examination
is scheduled for
8:00-10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 23.
This exam will feature problems related to material
covered after the previous evening exam.
It will also have questions on earlier material.
Homework
Homework assignments will be collected
once or twice 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.
An extra credit assignment
may be worth as much as 1/2 of a regular homework homework assignment.
- 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 separately from regularly homework.
- Turn in homework on time.
As a courtesy to graders, late homework will not be accepted.
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.
If you miss a class for any reason, you are still responsible for
learning what was covered in class and for getting any homework that is
due turned in on time.
The standard way for making up an absence is to turn in a handwritten
report on the material and examples that were covered in class
and completing any worksheets from the missed class.
Late homework will not be graded.
Note, however, that your lowest homework scores will not be counted.
You are expected to contribute to a classroom atmosphere that encourages
learning and is marked by respect for your fellow learners.
This involves, in part, faithful attendance, preparation, and participation,
particularly including attendance in the classes
immediately before and after each break.
Excessive absences will lower your grade.
I may take into account exceptional effort and/or a trend of
improvement throughout the semester.
I appreciate students who are more interested in points of mathematics
than in points of grading.
Extra credit may be earned by:
-
Extra credit homework
-
A strong record of class participation
-
An approved project. See the text's end-of-chapter projects.
Academic honesty
-
The Gustavus Adolphus College Academic Bulletin
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."
The complete statement may be found at:
http://www.gac.edu/oncampus/academics/general_catalog/current/acainfo.cfm
.
-
The following code will be written in full and signed on every examination:
"On my honor, I pledge that I have not given, received, or tolerated
others' use of unauthorized aid in completing this work."
-
"By enrolling classes at Gustavus, you have taken up membership in a
worldwide community of scholars, and like any community, Academia has ethical
standards to which you are expected to adhere.
You are expected to learn and follow the principles of honesty
and integrity that apply in academic life.
Among those
standards are that you faithfully represent your own work,
acknowledge any borrowing from the work of others,
avoid falsifying data or sources, be respectful of other
scholars' efforts and not interfere with their access to
resources (e.g., by misappropriating or damaging library materials),
do a fair share of the work in group efforts, give others
the benefit of your informed opinions and observations in
discussion, and be respectful of others' values, knowledge,
and feelings while developing your own....
Regrettably, serious and deliberate violations of ethics may
incur serious penalties.... If you are in doubt about whether
your work conforms to ethical standards, please inquire--you are,
after all, a learner."
--John Rezmerski, Advising and Registration Manual 1995-96, pp. 60-61.
- A first violation of the academic honesty policy
will result in a zero grade on the paper in
question and a report to the office of the Dean of the Faculty.
A second case will result in a failing grade for the course.
You should plan on studying about two hours outside class for each
hour in class--about eight hours a week outside class.
You will learn calculus better, and your learning will last longer,
if you study on an almost-daily basis.
The following cycle is recommended.
- Before class, look over the section to be covered.
- During class make sure that your mind is actively engaged.
- After class, review the section and work the homework problems
for that section.
-
Review concepts and problems from the GNAW perspectives:
- Graphical/geometric
- Numerical
- Algebraic/analytic
- Words
- At the beginning of the next class, ask any questions you have
about the section you studied or its problems.
(I won't work out problems before they are due, but I will answer
questions to clarify how to do problems.)
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 329 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.
-
Disability services
The College Catalog states:
"Section 507 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans
with Disabilities Act (1990) work together to ensure 'reasonable
accommodation' and non-discrimination for students with disabilities
in higher education. A student who has a physical,
psychiatric/emotional, medical, learning, or attentional
disability that may have an effect of the student's ability to
complete assigned course work should contact the Disability
Services Coordinator in the Advising Center, who will review
the concerns and decide with the student what accommodations
are necessary."
The Disability Services Coordinator Laurie Bickett (x6286) can
provide further information.