University of Toronto Scarborough

Department of Computer and Mathematical Science

MAT A29: Calculus I for the Life Sciences

Lecture Schedule
LEC 01 Wednesday 15:00–17:00 HL B101
Friday 14:00–15:00 HL B101
LEC 02 Monday 14:00–16:00 AA 112
Wednesday 10:00–11:00 AA 112

Important Dates
ˆ Reading Week: Saturday October 8th – Sunday October 16th

ˆ Drop deadline: Monday November 21st

Professor’s Contact Information

Parker Glynn-Adey (he/him)
Preferred Names: “Parker” or “Professor Parker”
E-Mail : [email protected]
Website: https://pgadey.ca/
Office: IC 344

Office Hours
Parker holds office hours 11:15-12:15 on Wednesdays and Fridays in IC 404. Office hours are
a dedicated time that Parker is available to answer your questions, discuss course content, and
generally be of support. If you would like help in the course but have a scheduling conflict that
prevents you from attending office hours, please email Parker to schedule an appointment.

Textbook
OpenStax Calculus Volumes 1 and 2.
These books are open educational resources, and they’re freely available online.
ˆ OpenStax Calculus Volume 1 for Weeks 1-9.
ˆ OpenStax Calculus Volume 2 for Week 10-12.

Prerequisite / Exclusions
Prerequisite: Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors. This course will be difficult without the pre-requisite.
If you want to attempt the course without these courses, please contact Parker immediately.

Note that this course excludes most other calculus courses: MATA20H3, MATA27H3, MATA30H3,
MATA31H3, MATA32H3, MAT123H, MAT124H, MAT125H, MAT126H, MAT133Y, MAT135Y,
MAT137Y, MAT157Y, JMB170Y
Your Professor’s Message
Hi! I’m Parker Glynn-Adey, the professor for MAT A29. This is one of my favourite courses at the
University of Toronto. It was the first course that I ever taught, and I’m glad to be teaching it back
teaching it again.
I like it so much because the students in this course are awesome. You want to be doctors,
pharmacists, nurses, mental health workers, and all sorts of people in the life sciences. And that’s
awesome! I want to help you succeed in that. If I can get you started doing a bit of math, and you
can use it on your mission in the life sciences, then I’ll be tremendously happy.
I’ve tried to design this course so that you can succeed. I’m hoping that there are no surprises
in the course, and that it does not stress you out too much. If you’re feeling unsure about your
ability to succeed, or you need someone to talk to about the course, then please come to me. I’d
be glad to help. My goal is to help you succeed, to go on to finish your program in life science, and
to support you on your journey.

Course Outline
ˆ Limits and continuity.
ˆ Differentiation: product, quotient, and chain rules.
ˆ Applications of differentiation: plotting graphs, optimization, and related rates.
ˆ Integration: substitution, integration by parts, partial fractions, and improper integrals.

Course Objectives
“A course in differential calculus for the life sciences. Algebraic and transcendental functions; semi-
log and log-log plots; limits of sequences and functions, continuity; extreme value and intermediate
value theorems; approximation of discontinuous functions by continuous ones; derivatives; differen-
tials; approximation and local linearity; applications of derivatives; antiderivatives and indefinite
integrals.”

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

ˆ Calculate limits involving functions and sequences.

ˆ Apply differentiation techniques to a variety of problems such as graphing and optimization.
ˆ Differentiate functions involving logarithmic, exponential, and trigonometric functions.
ˆ Integrate functions by finding anti-derivatives using substitution, integration by parts, and
partial fractions.
Grading Scheme
Tests 2 × 20% = 40%
Exam 1 × 40% = 40%
Practice Tests and Exam 3 × 1% = 3%
Assignments (6 − 1) × 3% = 15%
Class Surveys 2 × 1% = 2%

FAQ: What does (6 − 1) × 3% mean?

It means that there are six assignments, but we drop one of them. Thus, we will only count your
best five assignments towards your final grade. You can skip or miss an assignment without it
impacting your final grade. The lowest assignment is dropped automatically when calculating final
grades. Each assignment is worth 3% of your final grade.

Grading Policy
The grading scale for this course is based on a points system. Therefore, grades will NOT be
rounded up or down. In general, grades are only changed due to a miscalculation. If you have
concerns about your grade on an assignment, or term test, you have five days after the grade is
posted on Crowdmark to contact the TA who graded the question. Therefore, do NOT wait until
the end of the academic term if you have questions about your grade. For a list of who graded
which questions, please see the Quercus page.
All grades will be distributed via Crowdmark. You will not see your grades on Quercus.

Assignments
Goal: these assignments give you the opportunity to deepen your understanding of topics covered
in this course, and to practice. We use these assignments to determine if you can solve
problems slowly, without time constraints.

Procedure: we will be using Crowdmark to grade assignment submissions. You will get a per-
sonalized submission link sent to your UToronto email address. Do NOT share this link with
other students.

Due Date and the Zero Date: Every assignment has a due date and a zero date. Crowdmark
and Quercus will list a due date on Friday. The following Monday will be the zero date. The
due date is the recommended date for submitting the assignment. If you submit after the
zero date, your assignment will receive a grade of zero. The due date and zero date are both
in the early afternoon at 13:59 (EST).

Evaluation Criteria: The TAs will only grade two questions. This policy is called subset grading.
Present your solutions in a logical and clear manner. Detailed solutions will be made available
shortly after the zero date. Please pay attention to the following when writing assignments:

Format: solutions are neatly and correctly assembled and have a professional style. The
graders should not struggle to read your work.
Completeness: all steps are clearly and accurately explained.
 Content: the written solutions demonstrate mastery and fluency with the content of the
course.
tl;dr: Do good work and submit it via Crowdmark as early as possible.

The Term Tests

The term tests will be written outside of regular lecture hours. The dates will be determined by the
Registrar. We have requested that they will happen in Week 5, 6, or 7 and Weeks 8, 9, or 10. The
term test may happen on a Friday or Saturday. If you cannot attend reasons of creed or religion,
then you must contact Parker as early as possible to arrange for an alternative sitting.

If you miss a test then you must complete the Self-Declaration of Absence form on ACORN. If you
miss the test for medical reasons, then you will need to send a UTSC Verification of Student Illness
or Injury form to Parker:
http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/∼Eregistrar/resources/pdf general/UTSCmedicalcertificate.pdf
Students who miss the midterm test will be asked to provide the Verification Form and a timetable
for the next five days. You will be given only one opportunity to write the make-up test.

The Exam
The exam will be written during the fall exam period (December 8th to 20th) and will be conducted
according to official UTSC Exam Regulations.

Electronic Aids
All calculators, laptops, phones, smart watches, and any device capable of sending and receiving
messages or performing calculations will not be permitted during the term test or final exam.
Possession of any electronic device during the term test or final exam is an academic offense. You
may use these aids only for homework and study.

AccessAbility
If you have any reason to believe that you may require accommodations, contact Parker and/or the
AccessAbility Services as soon as possible. We can discuss the particulars of your situation and, if
needed, get you registered with AccessAbility Services. AccessAbility Services staff (located in AA
142) are available by appointment to: assess specific needs, interact with professors, provide referrals
to medical professionals, and arrange appropriate accommodations. You can reach AccessAbility
at: [email protected].

Academic Integrity
The Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters states:
 “It shall be an offence for a student knowingly:

1. to forge or in any other way alter or falsify any document or evidence required by the Uni-
versity, or to utter, circulate or make use of any such forged, altered or falsified document,
whether the record be in print or electronic form;

2. to use or possess an unauthorized aid or aids or obtain unauthorized assistance in any academic
examination or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work;

3. to personate another person, or to have another person personate, at any academic examina-
tion or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work;

4. to represent as one’s own any idea or expression of an idea or work of another in any academic
examination or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work, i.e. to
commit plagiarism (for a more detailed account of plagiarism, see Appendix A);

5. to submit, without the knowledge and approval of the instructor to whom it is submitted, any
academic work for which credit has previously been obtained or is being sought in another
course or program of study in the University or elsewhere;

6. to submit any academic work containing a purported statement of fact or reference to a source
which has been concocted”

Summary
Do not manipulate document, use unauthorized aids, impersonate1 someone else, copy solutions, or
submit your own work from other courses. Simply put, do not cheat in this course.

Be careful!
1. Don’t let people photograph your work. Make them write their own summary.

2. Don’t hire a tutor to complete your assignments. Ask them to check your work.

3. Don’t reproduce solutions found online. Discuss potential solutions with your TA or Parker.

4. Don’t let a TA do your assignment. Try the questions before tutorial or office hours.

5. Don’t bring unauthorized items to evaluations. Leave your phone and watch at home.

Helpful Resources
ˆ The Math Help Room (IC404) is always helpful. The TAs and Parker hold office hours there.

ˆ The Centre for Teaching and Learning has numeracy workshops.

1
Believe it or not, people do this. Don’t hire an imposter off Craig’s List to write your test.
Communication Policy
All e-mail must be from an official University of Toronto account. You must include [MAT A29] in
the subject line, or your e-mail might get lost. Please include your name and student number in
every e-mail that you send. Be sure to include the precise question, and the problem or difficulty.

To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: [MAT A29] What is a derivative?

Hi! I am Leonhard Euler (12932188) from MAT A29.

I need help with this question: Find the derivative of f(x)=x^2.
My problem is this: I don’t know what the word ‘‘derivative’’ means.

Thanks!

Parker checks his e-mail between 09:00 and 16:00 during the work week. Parker will respond to
all email inquiries within two business days. He will respond to emails sent after Friday at 16:00 by
16:00 on the following Monday morning. If you do not get a quick response, please follow up with
another e-mail. Don’t worry about contacting Parker. He is happy to help!

Feedback
All feedback is welcome in this course. You can submit anonymous feedback here:

https://pgadey.ca/feedback/

You may use the form to comment on lecture, ask questions about the course, or give me tips.
You do not need to enter your name or email address unless you want a private response from
Parker. Note that your anonymous feedback may be discussed (and answered) in lecture, or on
Quercus.

Modifications to Course Delivery

Parker reserves the right to modify the course requirements, mode of delivery, and other related
policies as circumstances may dictate with sufficient notification to all students. Given the COVID-
19 Pandemic, he recognizes that unanticipated emergencies may arise that require modifications
to our class schedule and/or requirements. Parker does not expect to invoke this clause, but if he
needs to, you will be notified as soon as possible. Any change will be posted on our Quercus site
and sent to your university email address.

Advice on Submitting Assignments

ˆ Photograph all your pages early.

ˆ Set aside at least a half an hour to upload your assignment.

 ˆ Check and re-check your submission.

ˆ Submit your assignment as early as possible.

FAQ: The Due Date and the Zero Date

Why are the due date and zero date at 13:59 (EST)?
We do not want you to work late in the evening. If you submit your homework in the early
afternoon, then you can use the evening to relax.

What happens if I miss the due date?

You will not be penalized for submitting your assignment any time before the zero date.

What happens if I submit my assignment after the due date but before zero date?
Nothing will happen, and your work will be accepted as usual.

What happens if I submit my assignment after the zero date?

You receive a mark of zero.

Why is there a gap between the due date and the zero date?
To give people time to figure out Crowdmark without being penalized. It is complicated
software, and it is easy to make mistakes. We want you to have lots of time to upload your
work and get a great mark.

FAQ: Errors While Submitting Assignments

What happens if my internet stops working on Friday?
You have extra time to submit your work. If your internet stops working on Friday, you will
have all weekend to upload your assignment.

What happens if my internet stops working on Monday?

Due to cosmic rays, coming from deep in outer space, many people have problems with their
internet at the very last minute. If your internet fails on Monday, and you are not able to
upload your work, then you will receive a zero.

What happens if I upload all my work and forget to hit submit?

Your work will not be graded. You will receive a zero for the assignment.

Can I send you a screenshot to show that I completed the work on time?
Screenshots sent to us to prove that it was completed before the zero date will not be accepted.

What happens if I e-mail my assignment instead of submitting it to Crowdmark?

The instructional team of professors and TAs will not accept work sent by e-mail. All work
must be submitted through Crowdmark.

What happens if I slip my paper under the professor’s door?

Your work will not be accepted. All work must be submitted through Crowdmark.

What happens if I upload the files in the wrong order?

The instructional team will not correct your file order. You must check that you uploaded
everything in the correct order.
What happens if I upload all the questions to one question’s slot?
Your work will not be graded. The TAs will not search Crowdmark for your work.

What happens if the TAs cannot read my work?

The grader will flag your work as illegible, it will not be graded, and you can request a regrade.

What happens if I don’t submit some of my work by accident?

The instructional team will not accept additional work, unless it is entered via Crowdmark
before zero date.

FAQ: Term Tests

When will the tests occur?
At this time, we do not know when the tests will occur. It will be announced on Quercus as
soon as we know the date. You can expect at least two weeks notice.

What happens if I miss a test?

You will need to use the Self-Declaration of Absence Form on ACORN within 24 hour of the
test. For instructions, see this document.

What happens if I am unable to attend a make-up test due to a conflicting class or assessment?
You will need to choose which event to attend. If you have a conflicting class or assessment,
then you might ask the other professor for an accomodation.

What happens if I am unable to write a term test or the make-up test?

You will receive a zero for that test grade.

Can I transfer the weight of a term test to my final exam?

No. We will not transfer the weight of a term test to the final exam.

If I score better on the final exam, can it replace my term test grades?
No. We will not replace a low term test grade with a higher final exam grade.