Math 120 - Calculus I

Fall Semester, 2007

Dr. Donald L. Muench

The "calculus" is a study of functions of a single variable, and the derivative function (which measures and describes rates of change), and the relationships between the two. The subject has an honored history and the origins go back to antiquity, although tradition says that the subject really began with Newton and Leibniz, and advanced by the Bernoulli brothers and Euler, and refined by Weierstrass and Cauchy. The ideas that motivated this development are in physics, specifically in the study of motion. For that reason, you are encouraged to take a calculus-based physics course.

The key ideas of derivatives and integrals are studied in this course, not only in their symbolic form, but also in their marvelous usefulness in solving interesting practical problems from physics and biology and economics.

Upon completion of the course, you will have engaged your mind in one of humanity's great mathematical triumphs which has given power to the human intellect to solve classes of problems that otherwise would have been unsolvable.

This course, in the "reformed" tradition, will emphasize functions as represented by graphs, tables, and formulas (or expressions). Practical examples will motivate the material. Differentiation and integration will be introduced and used right from the *first* day. The interaction of these ideas will take place throughout the course to reinforce the connections. Algebraic skill, critical and logical thinking are expected. Consequently, the equivalent of a C grade or better in MATH-119 is a prerequisite.

Diligent study is also expected. That means that you are expected to do all of the assigned problems each day and be prepared for class.

To help us visualize graphs and do calculations, a graphing calculator will be REQUIRED. We recommend the TI-83+ or better. In addition, we will also use the mathematical software DERIVE in the computer lab to obtain better graphs and to perform some symbolic manipulation and the spreadsheet software Excel.

CLASS INFORMATION:

• Meeting times: M 10:10-11:05 and 13:25-14:20; WF, 10:10 - 11:05
• Room:

OFFICE AND OFFICE HOURS

• Pioch 137 (after 26 Aug 2007)

TELEPHONE AND E-MAIL

• Telephone: 385-8155
• E-mail: muench@sjfc.edu
• WWW : http://home.sjfc.edu/~muench

PRE-REQUISITE

• Math 119 (or equivalent) with a grade of C or better

POST-REQUISITE

• You may not enroll in Math 122, unless you earn a grade of C or better.

TEXTBOOK

• Single variable Calculus Early Transcendentals by Stewart (Thomson, Brooks-Cole ISBN 978-0-495-01169-9)

COURSE CONTENT

• Functions as tables, graphs and formulas
• Rates of change and integration and relation to area and accumulation
• Differentiation and Integration of functions in the three forms
• Centerpiece is the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus (on Day One, in a "discrete" form!)
• Many applications and thought-provoking problems
• Many problem set assignments - usually each day

GRADING POLICY

This is "hard" to determine. I suppose it's easy to just dictate a policy and say, "Conform or else." So, admitting to the arbitrariness of the policy, here it is:

• Four tests (covering roughly a quarter-semester's content and problems), including one at midterm (2/3)
• Final exam (1/3)
• Daily homework is for your practice, although certain problems carry bonus credit to be added to test grades!!