MATH261 - Differential and Integral Calculus I

Spring 2012


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Course Description:   Differential and Integral Calculus I is the first course of the calculus sequence.  Material covered will include rates of change, limits and derivatives, differentiation rules, and basic integration (possibly through substitution).  Emphasis will be on  understanding and applying these concepts.  In order to increase the likelihood of success in this course it is recommended that the student attend class without fail, religiously work the homework, read the textbook, focus on understanding the concepts (not just the rote computations), and seek help from the professor and other sources (tutoring, and resources on WebAssign including the eBook, etc.) when needed. 

Course Objectives:  This course will give students a working knowledge of the concepts and applications of single variable differential and integral calculus.  Students will:

  • understand and apply the concept of limit.
  • understand and apply the concepts of rates of change and the derivative.
  • understand and apply the concepts of accumulated change and the integral.

Prerequisites: 

  • You should have a thorough knowledge of high school algebra and functions including trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions.  This knowledge should have been obtained either in high school or by passing a college level pre-calculus course, such as MATH 164 at Longwood, preferably  with a C or better. 
  • You should have a score of 80% or higher on the Longwood University Algebra Readiness Test.  You should have received an email this summer explaining how to take the test and how to work through remediation to improve your score if it was not at least 80%.  Students with a score lower than 80% overall on the first day of class will be removed from the course.  If your score is at least an 80% on the initial assessment, you don’t need to complete further remediation (although you may do so if you choose).

Please see me as soon as possible if you think you may not meet the prerequisites for this course!

Professor:  Dr. M. Leigh Lunsford.  For Dr. Lunsford's office location, phone number, email address, schedule (including office hours), and other general information, go to her homepage:  http://www.mathspace.com/Lunsford/

Meeting Times and Locations:   Please note that this course includes a required laboratory component which is in a different meeting place and at a different meeting time.

  • MATH 261-01 - Differential and Integral Calculus I, MWF 9:00-9:50, Ruffner G54

  • MATH 261-01-LAB - Calculus Lab, T 8:00-9:15, Ruffner G56

Required WebAssign On-Line Homework System:  You will be required to use WebAssign to complete on-line homework assignments.  It should come bundled with the textbook you purchase at the bookstore.  Please see the class homepage for directions on how to access WebAssign.  After each class period I will put up a homework assignment in WebAssign.  This homework assignment will by due by the next class period.

Required Course Textbook:   Calculus, Early Transcendentals, Second Edition by Jon Rogawski.  The bookstore should have a few options for you:  paperback, hardback, new and used (if it is not a new edition).  The textbook you purchase should be bundled with an access code to WebAssign.  You also have the option of not purchasing a textbook and using the eBook on WebAssign.  You should carefully weigh the decision to not purchase a hard copy of the textbook, especially if you will be taking the entire calculus sequence or additional courses that will use calculus.  In those cases you will probably want to keep your calculus textbook for a reference.

Required Technology/Computer Configurations: 

  • A calculator is not required for the course.  However, for routine computations, I highly recommend that you use the TI83 or TI83-Plus or TI84 or TI84-Plus.  Note that you will not be allowed to use any calculator that performs symbolic computations on homework, quizzes, or tests!

  • Make sure your computer is configured to run WebAssign and the videos and applets I will make available to you under the Resources tab in WebAssign.

Supplements to the Text:  See pages xi through xiii in the Preface of your textbook for a complete list of ancillaries available. 

Determination of Course Grade:

45% - Two In-Class Exams (22.5% each)

10% - On-Line Homework

15% - In-Class Quizzes

  5% - Mathematics Cultural Points (cults)
25% - Comprehensive Final Exam

Grades will be assigned on a ten point scale (90's A's; 80's B's; 70's C's; 60's D's; 50's and below F).  Below is a table showing the minimum score (in percent) necessary for plus and minus grades:

Plus or Minus Grade Minimum % Score Needed to Achieve Grade
A+ 98
A 92
A- 90
B+ 88
B 82
B- 80
C+ 78
C 72
C- 70
D+ 68
D 62
D- 60
F 0

On-line Homework:   Just like with anything else worthwhile in life, one must practice to become proficient at mathematics.   Your on-line homework problems will be graded and given through WebAssign.   Each day after class I will assign problems from the text to work via the WebAssign system.  These will generally be due by 10:00 p.m. the night before the next class period.  You will get three attempts to submit each WebAssign homework assignment.   After the 10:00 p.m. the night before the next class period the solutions will be shown.  You should carefully look at the solutions to any problems you miss.  I will explain any solutions (or show an alternate way to solve the problem) that the class does not understand the next day in class.  If you miss a homework assignment you will get a zero for that assignment.  There will be no make-up homework grades however I will be dropping a certain number of your lowest homework scores.

Homework Strategy:   In order to increase your scores on the on-line homework it is highly recommended that you work some practice problems from the same section first.  The odd numbered problems generally have answers at the back of the book.  If you cannot work all but 1 or 2 of your on-line homework problems then you need to see me for help before the next class period!   While I encourage you to work together to understand calculus, just copying another person's on-line homework answers, or letting someone else copy your on-line homework answers will be considered an honor violation.  

A Note About Your Homework Grade:   Because you have three attempts at each homework problem, you can use your book, and I will be dropping some of your lowest homework scores, your homework average should be a number that will help your final grade.  However, it is important to note that just because you have a high homework average it does not mean that you have mastered the material.  Your quiz average will give you a better indication of how well you are doing in the class.

Quizzes:   Approximately each week a short (15 to 20 minute) quiz will be given in class.  These quizzes will be based on your homework assignments and our class discussions but they will generally be harder than your on-line homework as you will only get one attempt, they will be closed book, you will have a set amount of time to work the quiz (typically 20 minutes) and you will need to show all of your work.  To help you prepare for the in-class quizzes, I have provided sample quizzes (some with answers) on my website.  Generally, quizzes will be given at the beginning of the lab period.  I will try to give at least one class period notice for an in-class quiz (please see the Calendar on WebAssign for the latest information on quiz dates).  Once a quiz has been graded and returned to the students, there will be no make-ups for that quiz, period.  Except in the case of an emergency, a make-up quiz must be scheduled before the scheduled quiz date.  Thus, contact me ASAP if you have an excused absence and need to make up a quiz.  Please see the make-up policy below for additional information.  All quizzes must be pledged.  

In-Class Exams:  A minimum of a one week notice will be given for exam dates.  Please see the class schedule below for the tentative exam dates (for more detailed information about test dates see the Calendar in WebAssign).  Except in the case of an emergency, a make-up exam must be scheduled before the scheduled exam date.  If the exam has already been given and you have not previously scheduled a make-up, then you will receive a zero on that exam.  Please see the make-up policy below for additional information.

Mathematics Cultural Points (cults):  In order to receive the full 5% credit for mathematics cultural points you must earn at least 8 cults.  To determine how to earn cults please click here.  Please note the deadline requirements for submitting cults.

Final Exam:  The final exam for this course will be comprehensive.  You cannot miss the final - failure to take the final exam will automatically result in an F grade for the course.   Please see me as soon as possible if you may have a conflict with the final exam date.

Final Exam Date:   Wednesday, May 2, 2012 from 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Honor System:  I expect you to conform to the Longwood University Honor System as contained in the Student Handbook.  All material handed in to me (quizzes, tests, etc.) must be pledged.

Extra Credit:  Extra Credit will NOT be given - period.

Attendance & Excused Absences:   You are expected to attend every class.  If you miss classes it will most likely be reflected in your grades (i.e. you will perform poorly).  The following college attendance policy will be followed per the Class Attendance section of the Academic Regulations chapter of the Longwood University Undergraduate Catalog:  Missing 10% of class meetings may result in a lowering of one letter grade.   Missing 25% of class meetings for any reason will result in an automatic “F” for the course.  Absences are excused only for college sponsored activities and recognizable emergencies.  You must have the proper documentation for an excused absence.  Student Health Services can provide documentation only for students hospitalized locally or absent at the direction of Student Health Services personnel You must also assume full responsibility for all material covered during your absence, including scheduling any make-up quizzes or exams.  A grade of "0" will be assigned for all work missed due to unexcused absences.

Make-up Policy:    Make-up assignments will be given only when the reason for missing the assignment meets the criteria for an excused absence (see above).  Except in the case of emergencies, make-up assignments must be scheduled and/or turned-in before the due date of the assignment being made-up (i.e. you should plan ahead if you know you are going to miss class).  As a general rule, you can expect that make-up tests will more difficult than regularly scheduled tests.  If you have a recognizable emergency, please contact me as soon as you can to discuss your make-up options.

Resources for Students Learning Calculus:  

  • Me!  I want you to consider me to be your number one resource!  In addition to seeing me during my office hours, you are welcome to call me or send me email if you have questions about your homework.  If you are unable to see me during my office hours please make an appointment with me! 
  • WebAssign contains many resources to go with the eBook.  I will also post resources for you such as applets, technology manuals, power point slides, etc., under the Resources tab in WebAssign.
  • There is a link above to a page that contains Sample Quizzes and Tests given in previous calculus classes that I have taught.  Some of these also have solutions!  These are in pdf format. 
  • Longwood's Learning Center:  The Learning Center offers free tutoring for MATH 261 - please see their website for more details. 

Office of Disability Services:  Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability should contact me privately. If you have not already done so, please contact Longwood's Office of Disability Support Services to register for services.  You must work through the Office of Disability Support Services to receive any accommodations.

Class Schedule:  Below is a tentative class schedule.  This schedule may change due to class pace, instructor discretion, etc.  However, it is provided here for your information.  For a more detailed schedule depending on our actual classroom interaction please see the Calendar in WebAssign.

Week of Class Topics Covered Corresponding Chapters in Textbook
1

Average and Instantaneous Rates of Change

Tangent Lines to Curves

The Limit of a Function from Graphical and Numerical Points of View

Calculating Limits Using the Limit Laws

Chapter 2, Sections 2.1-2.3
2

More on Calculating Limits Using the Limit Laws and Algebra

Continuity

Chapter 2, Sections 2.3-2.5
3

More on Calculating Limits Using the Limit Laws and Algebra

Trigonometric Limits

Chapter 2, Sections 2.5-2.6
4

Limits at Infinity

The Intermediate Value Theorem

Chapter 2, Sections  2.7-2.8

5

Back to Rates of Change Via Limits

Definition of the Derivative

Derivative as a Function

Chapter 3, Sections 3.1-3.2
6

Test 1

The Product and Quotient Rules

Rates of Change

Chapter 3, Sections 3.5-3.6
7

Higher Derivatives

Trigonometric Functions

The Chain Rule

Chapter 3, Sections 3.5 -3.7

8

Derivatives of Inverse Functions

Derivatives of General Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Practicing Differentiation Rules

Chapter 3, Sections 3.8-3.9
9

Implicit Differentiation

Application: Related Rates

Chapter 3, Sections 3.10-3.11

10

Application: Linear Approximations and Applications

Extreme Values

The Mean Value Theorem and Monotonicity

Chapter 4, Sections 4.1-4.3

11

The Shape of a Graph

Indeterminant Forms and l'Hospital's Rule

Graph Sketching and Asymptotes

Chapter 4, Sections 4.4-4.6

 

12

Applied Optimization

Newton's Method

Antidifferentiation

Test 2

Chapter 4, Sections 4.7-4.9

13

Areas and Distances

The Definite Integral

The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

Chapter 5, Sections 5.1-5.4

14

Net Change as the Integral of a Rate

Substitution Method

Chapter 5, Sections 5.5-5.6
15 Final Exam  
 

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