Lynchburg College

Fall 2008

Syllabus for

MATH 103 A Calculus I

Instructor: Dr. Kevin Peterson
Text (required): Ayers Jr., and Mendelson, "Calculus", 4th edition, MCGraw-Hill

Office: Hobbs 314 Office Phone: (434) 544-8374 Email: peterson@lynchburg.edu

Webpage: http://lasi.lynchburg.edu/peterson_km/public/old/

Office hours: Mon, Wed  2:00-3:00p, · or by appointment.

Course: 103 CALCULUS I (3)

 Prerequisite: Mathematics 102 or equivalent. Elementary differential and integral calculus with applications.

 

Goals and Objectives

Communication

1. Writing mathematical statements using the language of Calculus

2. Giving oral presentations presenting both mathematical content and background in a clear and concise manner

Critical Thinking

1. Use the definitions and examples concerning Calculus to solve problems

2. Read and explain mathematical arguments

3. Using the logical structure of the language of mathematics and deductive reasoning to understand and construct mathematical arguments

4. Demonstrate the ability to recognize and understand the validity of moderately complex theorems.

5. Understanding of the sequential nature of mathematics and the mathematical structures inherent in the content strands;

6. Understanding of the connections among mathematical concepts and procedures and their practical applications;

7. Understanding of and the ability to use the four processes -- becoming mathematical problem solvers, reasoning mathematically, and making mathematical connections -- at different levels of complexity;

8. Understanding of the history of  mathematics, including the contributions of different individuals and cultures toward the development of mathematics and the role of mathematics in culture and society;

9. Understanding of major current curriculum studies and trends in mathematics;

10. Understanding of the role of technology and the ability to use graphing utilities and computers in the teaching and learning of mathematics;

Knowledge of Technology

1. Using appropriate computational devices to solve problems and explain mathematical concepts

Purpose of Course

This course, required for mathematics majors, helps students meet mathematics program goals 1-5.

Attendance and Absences from Tests: Attendance at each scheduled class meeting is considered mandatory. If a student has missed six class meetings, the final course grade will be reduced by one letter grade. Students with seven or more absences will be assigned the grade of "F". Students arriving late for class or leaving early may be counted as absent from that class. If you miss a scheduled test you will receive a grade of zero. At the end of the semester your grade on the comprehensive final exam will be substituted for the zero. There are NO "make-up" tests.

Email Journal: Each week, you must submit a journal entry by email to peterson@lynchburg.edu with the subject

Math 103 A Journal ... the subject must appear exactly in this way (no quotation marks, same use of upper and lower case letters). The purpose of the journal entries is to help me determine how class is going, determine whether or not concepts have been clear, learn what material has been enjoyable for the students, and check the work load. Journal entries must be submitted no later than 1:00 p.m. each Friday, but may be turned in any time after class on Wednesday.

Each weekly journal entry should consist of one or two paragraphs summarizing your thoughts on the class since your previous submission. You must include (at least) the following information:

1. your name

2. an estimate of the amount of time you have spent working on Math 103 outside of

class time and since the previous email journal submission

You may also discuss any concepts you have not completely understood, topics you particularly enjoyed, or other concerns you may have relating to the class. Your journal entries will NOT be graded for length or content (other than the required content).

Respectful Conduct: Everyone in the class will be respectful and considerate of others. Please observe the following policies:

Arriving late for class. Late class arrivals are disruptive and inconsiderate;

moreover, they may be regarded as absences. Students who frequently arrive late

may be asked not to return to class.

 

Talking in class: I encourage all students to participate in class discussions. Please keep all

discussions to the topic at hand. Personal conversations are disruptive and inconsiderate. Students

who frequently disrupt the class may be asked not to return.

Cheating and Plagiarism: Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses and will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else's work as your own (this someone may be another student, a tutor, a member of the faculty, or an author). Any student caught cheating or committing plagiarism will be subject to disciplinary action. See handbook for details.

ADA Statement: The College will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities.  Students should immediately contact the Support Services Coordinator located in the Academic Advising Office (extension 8419) to make arrangements for their accommodations and faculty notification. 

Grades: Your course grade will be based on four main components.
1. Tests : 4 tests each worth 100 points

2. Quizzes, Projects, and Class participation: Worth a total of 90 points
3. Email Journal: 10 points
4. Comprehensive final exam: 100 points

There are 600 points possible. The grades will be given on the following scale.

A+: 595-600

A :  545-595

A-:  540-545

B+: 535-539
B :  485-534

B-: 480-484

C+: 475-479
C :  425-474

C-: 420-424

D+: 415-419
D :  365-414

D-: 360-364

 

Tentative Exam Schedule:
 

Tentative Exam Schedule:
Test 1   Sept 26

Test 2   Oct 24
Test 3   Nov 14
Test 4   Dec 10
Final     Thursday Dec 18  2:00 pm 

Withdrawal Policy: If you wish to withdraw from this course, it is your responsibility to do so.

Course web page: Any modifications to the course policies and/or course syllabus will be announced on the course web page (URL is given above).

Tutors: The Mathematics Learning Lab (MLL) offers many services to Lynchburg College students. One can obtain free tutoring from lab assistants trained to help students with mathematics. The MLL schedule can be found at http://www.lynchburg.edu/x2840.xml

Topics Covered:

Chapter 7:  Limits  

Chapter 8:  Continuity 

Chapter 9:  The Derivative 

Chapter 10: Rules for Differentiation

Chapter 11:  Implicit Differentiation

Chapter 12: Tangent and Normal Lines

Chapter 13: Increasing and Decreasing Functions

Chapter 14: Maximum and Minimum Values

Chapter 15: Curve Sketching

Chapter 17: Differentiation of Trigonometric Functions