This is a one-semester course covering techniques, methods and applications of differential and integral calculus. As the name indicates, this course deals with calculus and its applications, especially those applications concerned with business and the biological and social sciences. Topics to be discussed will include: differentiation and antidifferentiation of algebraic, exponential, and logarithmic functions; applications of differentiation and integration; and functions of two variables.
The primary aim of the course is to help students learn, understand, use and be able to explain the ideas of calculus. In addition, it is desired that students will improve their mathematical skills, further their understanding of mathematics and its applications to business and economics as well as the biological and social sciences, and increase both their intellectual curiosity and their desire to learn more about the value of mathematics in general and calculus in particular. On successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
To be successful in this course, you should have mastery of college algebra. You should have received a satisfactory grade in the equivalent of MATH 006 (College Algebra I), and either MATH 007 (Precalculus) or MATH 010 (College Algebra II). You should make any necessary review of algebra skills including exponent manipulation, factoring and solution of equations. Please see me if you have any questions about your preparation for this course.
Back to TOCA part of this course is run using a cooperative learning approach. Classes can be highly interactive and vigorous class participation is expected. Early in the semester, each student will be assigned to a group of four to five students.
Working well in a group is an important skill. Some of you may enjoy the group work more than others, but all of you will benefit from further developing this skill. After graduation, most of you will be working in jobs which will require you to function as a member of a project team. One objective of group work in this course is to help you to develop skills in working effectively as part of a team. Another is to encourage discussion about the concepts.
One of the primary objectives of this course is to help you learn to think about problems mathematically and to solve the problems on your own. Working with your colleagues in this class and talking about problems with your group members are strategies to help you better understand a problem situation from several points of view. Experience has shown that those students that actually do work with their groups not only do better in the course, they also learn more. Those who for one reason or another refuse to fully participate in their cooperative group invariably do worse.
Regular attendance is expected. Some material will be presented in class from a different perspective than that given in the text. "Getting someone's notes" is a poor substitute for being present and involved in class discussion. However, if you must miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed.
Each student will be expected to do the following:Please note that only under the most unusual circumstances will class activities or homework assignments be accepted after the due date.
Exam #1 FEB 3 Exam #2 FEB 24
Exam #3 MAR 31 Exam #4 APR 28
Final Exam MAY 1
Ordinarily, there are no make-up tests; exceptions to this policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis. My advice is to determine BEFORE the exam date whether your excuse will be acceptable. Generally, incomplete grades will not be given. If there is an emergency which causes a student to be unable to finish course requirements, the emergency must be documented by the student's advisor or by the advisory center. If you have concerns about your progress or ability to keep up with course assignments, please discuss these with me as soon as possible. DO NOT WAIT until late in the semester.
Final Exam: 200 points The cumulative final exam is scheduled for May 1, 2012 at 4:00 pm
WeBWorK
In addition to homework problems that will be assigned from the text, there will be continuing assignments of problems on line using WeBWorK. WeBWorK is an online system that allows you to work homework problems on the web. You will have the opportunity to work the problems more than once and generally will be able to work them until you get the correct answer. You should read through the introduction to WeBWorK before the end of the first week of classes.GRADES Grades will be determined as follows:
hour exams 400 points final exam 200 points homework 100 points (combined paper work and webwork)Please note that in marginal situations the final exam may be given greater consideration in determination of grades.
A 85% - 100% of total points available B 75% - 84% of total points available C 62% - 74% of total points available D 50% - 61% of total points available F 0% - 49% of total points available
Students who cheat violate their own integrity and the integrity of the university by claiming credit for work they have not done and knowledge they do not possess. All students are expected to recognize and to abide by the policy on academic integrity found in the Student Handbook. Because you will be asked to do a lot of work in collaboration with your group members, I will ask you to sign all homework assignments attesting to the fact that you have actively participated in the work.
If you need to reach me between classes:
I regularly check email several times a day both from home and at school, but I check voice messages only when I am on campus.
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This page was updated on December 18, 2011.