MATH 221: Calculus I

Instructor: James Alexander

Email: [email protected]
Oce: Ewing Hall 328
Website: math.udel.edu/alex
Lecture: TuTh 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, location TBA
Textbook: Calculus & its Applications (13th Ed.) by Goldstein, Lay, Asmar, and Schneider
Oce Hours: TuTh 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM, or by appointment
Schedule
06/10/14: Basics of Functions
06/12/14: Limits
06/17/14: Dening the Derivative
06/19/14: Basic Dierentiation Rules and Quiz 1
06/24/14: Extreme, intermediate, and mean values
06/26/14: Applications of Dierentiation, Part I and Quiz 2
07/01/14: Applications of Dierentiation, Part II
07/03/14: Midterm Exam
07/08/14: The Chain Rule and Implicit Dierentiation
07/10/14: The Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
07/15/14: Dening the Integral
07/17/14: The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus and Quiz 3
07/22/14: Basic Integration Techniques, Part I
07/24/14: Basic Integration Techniques, Part II and Quiz 4
07/29/14: Applications of Integration
07/31/14: FINAL EXAM
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Prerequisites
Two years of high school algebra, one year of geometry, and one year of precalculus (or MATH115,
or an acceptable score on the Math Placment Exam in accordance with current standards determined
by the Department of Mathematical Sciences) are prerequisites for this course. I will assume that
you are comfortable with major concepts from these classes.
Homework
Many homework problems will be assigned throughout the course, but none will be collected.
This is because dierent people will struggle with dierent concepts, and I want people to be able to
manage their homework time based on their individual needs. For example, on a particular day we
might cover four topics, two of which you nd very natural and easy to work with, and two of which
you nd quite strange and challenging. On a day like that, I want you to have the option of going
home and only doing one or two problems related to the topics you nd easy, so that you can spend
almost all of your homework time on the concepts that you nd dicult.
Quizzes
There are four Fridays on which a two-question quiz will be given, and these are specied on the
schedule. It will be on the material that was covered the previous week so that you have a week
to review the material at your own pace, and it will contain one question based on each of the two
classes that (previous) week.
Exams
There will be one in-class exam, the date of which is on the schedule. You will be given at least
the entire class period for this exam, but those of you who are comfortable with the material will
probably be able to nish in much less time than this. There will also be a comprehensive nal exam,
the date of which is on the schedule as well. The exams are not meant to test how quickly you can
regurgitate memorized material, or how quickly you can do messy calculations. Instead, they are
designed to test your understanding of major concepts. Thus, when you are studying for exams, you
should not be trying to memorize homework problems, or in class problems like they are recipes in
some mathematical cookbook. Instead, you should be trying to learn main ideas.
Calculators are strictly prohibited on exams. Of course, the exams are designed with this in mind
(and so, in particular, all calculations will be fairly nice). All exam-related grade complaints must
be made within two days after the date I pass the graded exams back. Therefore, you should look
over your graded exams thoroughly as soon as you receive them, and be sure of whether or not you
want to try to debate something about the grading.
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Grade Distribution
Final Exam - 35%
Midterm Exam - 25% (25% each)
Quizzes 1 - 4 - 40% (10% each)
Based on this, grades will be assigned as follows, with standard decimal rounding:
92+ : A
89 92 : A- or higher
86 88 : B+ or higher
82 85 : B or higher
78 81 : B- or higher
74 77 : C+ or higher
71 73 : C or higher
68 70 : C- or higher
64 67 : D+ or higher
60 63 : D or higher
55 59 : D- or higher
0 55 : F or higher
The reason for or higher, is that I may decide to curve the entire grade scale up at the end of
the semester if it seems appropriate (and grade the entire class on a new curve). As is implicit here,
I will absolutely never curve in the other direction.
Cheating
If I catch you cheating in my class, I will report you to the Oce of Academic Conduct, and it
will result in a failing (F) in the class, in addition to other sanctions. Because the entire course grade
is based on quizzes and exams, it would be incredibly unfair to those who study hard for me to be
lenient with someone who cheats. For more information on what constitutes as cheating, and on the
universitys code of conduct in general, please see http://www.udel.edu/stuguide/13-14/code.html.
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Absences
As with every class that I teach, attendance will not be taken. That being said, statistically,
those who attend my classes score much higher on my quizzes and exams, and thus wind up with
higher grades. I make a strong eort to present the material of the course in a clear and organized
way, and to thoroughly answer every question brought up by students during lecture. I really think
that it is in your best interest to attend every class (especially considering that there are only about
fteen of them).
Absences from exams or quizzes due to excused absences, according to University rules, must
be given to me in writing during the rst week of class or before (for example, by email) whenever
possible (of course illness may not be predicted). Proper documentation regarding an excused absence
will be required.
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