Course description
Prerequisites
Two years of high school mathematics beyond plane geometry, including trigonometry.
Text
Calculus I with Precalculus, 2nd Edition, by Larson, Hostetler and Edwards.
Calculators
You should have a graphing calculator available for use in class and on exams. If you are buying a new one, we encourage the use of Texas Instruments calculators, in particular the TI83/84 Plus, TI83/84 Plus Silver Edition, or the TI89 (though the use of some of its features may be restricted, so that I will want you to use another calculator on quizzes and tests). If you have the standard version of any of these calculators there is no need to purchase a new calculator. If you have another brand of calculator please see me before purchasing a new one as you may be able to continue using it.
Course Webpage
The best source of information about this course is available at http://homepages.gac.edu/~karl/courses/mcs118/09f, where you will find this course description, the schedule of readings, quizzes, and tests, homework assignments, contact information, and so on.
Course Objectives
By taking this class you should:
- improve your problem solving skills
- be able to model "real world" problems with mathematics
- interpret a mathematical solution to a real world problem
- understand (rather than memorize) how to use algebra and calculus
- improve your algebra skills, and your understanding of fractions, functions and inverse functions
- understand the basics of calculus, using algebraic functions
Classes
Classes will be used for discussions, problem solving, lectures, and other fun
activities. You should prepare for classes by doing the reading beforehand,
thinking about the problems in the text, doing the prep problems, and formulating
questions of your own. You should also participate as much as possible in class.
Class meetings are not intended to be a complete encapsulation of the course
material. You will be responsible for learning some of the material on your own.
Attendance, both physical and mental, is required.
Absences from class
Should you need to miss a class for any reason, you are still responsible for
the material covered in that class. This means that you will need to make sure
that you understand the reading for that day, that you should ask another student
for the notes from that day, and make sure that you understand what was covered.
If there is an assignment due that day, you should be
sure to have someone hand it in. You do not need to explain why you missed a class
unless there is a compelling reason to do so.
If you have flu-like symptoms (temperature over 100 with headaches, sore throat,
or cough), please call Health Service. If they say that you stay home, then please
email me.
Homework
You will need to read a section or two of the
book and do problems for each day that we have class. The homework page
lists the assignments and their due dates. You only need to hand in
the required homework. My grader will grade some of the required ones.
Homework problems are designed to help you learn the material we cover
in class and in the reading. You should read the material and attempt
the problems before coming to class. You should finish the problems
after class. Approximately twice a week, you will hand in your
solutions to some of the problems you did. These should be neatly
written on standard sized paper, and with all of the pages stapled
together. The sections and problem numbers should be clearly
labeled. My grader will only grade a few sample problems.
Late homework is any assignment that is not in the purple homework
folder when I give it to my grader. I always put homework in the
folder during class, and I add any homework that I have received
before I give the folder to the grader. However, I can't guarantee
that I check my mailbox (either the PO box or the department box),
straighten my desk, or check any other place that students are likely
to put assignments. In other words, be sure to hand homework in in
class. (You may add homework to the purple folder; it will be in the
plastic box outside of Olin 312.) Late homework will be
accepted as long as I get it before my grader hands back the graded
assignments. (Alternatively, you can put it in the green folder for
late homework.) In that case, the homework will be graded but you will
lose 30% of the points on that assignment.
Problems of the day
On many days, I will put a simple problem on the board which assumes that you have read the reading assignment, and you will have a couple minutes to do it. I will then collect your problems and grade it very simply (0, 1, or 2). This will be used to determine your class participation grade.
Quizzes and Exams
We will have five to seven in-class quizzes during the semester, as well as a midterm and a final exam. These tests make up the majority of your semester grade. In particular, be sure not to underestimate the importance of quizzes. If you do poorly on quizzes, you will do poorly in the course. The midterm will be given in the evening on Thursday, October 19. The final is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 16, at 1:30 pm
Academic Integrity
In this course, you are expected to to
adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty, to uphold the
Gustavus Adolphus College Honor Code and to abide by the Academic
Honesty Policy. Copies of the honor code and academic honesty policy
can be found at the Academic
Information and Policies web page.
On homework, you should make a real effort to solve each problem by
yourself, although you can and should discuss problems and their
solutions with your classmates after you've made this effort. You
should give credit to any people or texts that helped you find
solutions. On tests, you are expected to work completely by
yourself
You will be expected to sign the honor pledge on every quiz and
exam.
A first violation of the honor code will result in a grade of 0 on
the assignment in question. Any further violations will result in a
grade of F for the course. In all cases, I notify the office of the
Provost.
Course grade
I will provide you with a grade on each assignment and quiz, in addition to the mid-term and final grades, so that you may keep track of your performance. As a guideline, the components will contribute in the following proportion to the final grade:
| Class participation |
4% |
| Homework | 20% |
| Quizzes |
30% |
| Midterm Exam |
23% |
| Final Exam |
23% |
Accessibility
If you have physical, psychiatric/emotional, medical, learning or attentional disabilities that may have an effect on your ability to complete assigned work, please speak with the Disability Services Coordinator, Laurie Bickett, in the Academic Advising Center. She will work with you to review any concerns and decide what accommodations are necessary. If you need accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible.