MATH V1101.007: Calculus I

Fall 2008

Monday, Wednesday at 18:10-19:25, 417 Mathematics Building

Course Details

Instructor: Alon Levy

Office Hours: Monday 14:00-15:00 and Tuesday 14:30-15:30 in 528 Math.

Text: we will follow my lecture notes; so far they cover about a third of the material, but the rest will be uploaded well ahead of time. James Stewart's Calculus: Early Transcendentals (6e, Thomas Brooks/Cole 2008) is an optional textbook.

Prerequisites: a strong precalculus mathematics background from high school.

Course Description: this course will be divided into three parts:

  1. Continuous Functions: the definition of a function, limits, continuity.
  2. Differential Calculus: derivatives of functions, rules of differentiation, min/max problems, graph sketching.
  3. Integral Calculus: definite integrals, indefinite integrals and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, areas and volumes.

General Policies:

  1. The lecture notes are condensed; read them slowly. We will only go through about 3-4 pages of notes per class.
  2. You should attend every class. If you miss a class, get notes from your peers. The lecture notes and the book will help you, but don't count on them to be a class substitute.
  3. Feel free to collaborate on homework. However, the work you hand in should be your own.
  4. Staple your homework.
  5. When answering homework or test questions, show your work clearly. If you are not sure whether something needs to be stated clearly or not, try to err on the side of writing more.
  6. Ask questions. If an explanation's not clear, or if you think there's another way of solving a problem, ask about it. If you don't understand something, you can either ask me in or outside class, or go to the help room at 333 Milbank.

Calculators: calculators could help speed up some computations or show you how some graph looks. However, all problems are doable without a calculator, and on tests you will not be allowed to use calculators.

Assessment

Grading: the grade is divided into 40% final exam, 30% midterm, and 30% homework.

Tests: there will be a final and a midterm. The projected dates are 12/15, 19:10-22:00 for the final, and 10/29 in class for the midterm. Do not miss either test, or you will get a 0, unless you have an excusing note from a doctor or the dean.

A cheat sheet for the midterm is available here; a mock midterm is available here. A cheat sheet for the final is available here; the cheat sheet only includes material not on the midterm cheat sheet, but the final itself will cover all the material learned in this course. A mock final is available here, and its solution is available here.

Homework: homework is assigned weekly, and is due every Wednesday at the beginning of class. The lowest three homework grades will be dropped. The graded homework will be available at a mailbox outside 408 Math labeled "Alon Levy Calculus I." Late homework will not be accepted, and will net you a 0 without a note from a doctor or the dean.

Homework 1, due 9/10, with solution
Homework 2, due 9/17, with solution
Homework 3, due 9/24, with solution
Homework 4, due 10/6, with solution
Homework 5, due 10/15, with solution
Homework 6, due 10/22, with solution
Homework 7, due 11/5, with solution
Homework 8, due 11/12, with solution
Homework 9, due 11/19, with solution
Homework 10, due 12/1, with solution

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