MTH 141 Calculus I (Fall 2005)

For information on important dates and course assignments click Calendar/Syllabus. 

Exams and Grading.   There will be 3 exams given in the evening (6 PM), outside of class, and common to all sections. These will be on Oct 6, Nov 3, and Dec 1. Locations will be posted here and announced in class. There will also be a common final exam given during the regular final exam period. The time of the final will not be determined until late in the semester. Your grade will be composed as follows.

General Information (Please read!) 

GOALS OF THIS COURSE:  This is the first calculus course for students of engineering, mathematics, science and other areas of study that require a strong mathematical background. In MTH 141 we shall explore the basic ideas of  calculus: functions, limits, derivatives and integrals, and their applications to problems in physics, geometry, chemistry and biology. We will approach ideas and problems from algebraic, graphical, and numerical points of view.

EXPECTATIONS: We expect that you will give this course 6-7 hours, per meeting, in addition to class time. This is an approximate figure of course, but don't assume that you can spend less time than this and still get a grade you'll like.  We also expect that you have a good grasp of precalulus.  There will be a rapid review of precalculus at the start of the semester but it is expected that this material is already very familiar to you.  

ADVICE: The key to success in this course is the problems. It is very important that you try all those assigned.  

USE OF MAPLE:  This course will introduce you to the use of the computer algebra system Maple.   You can think of Maple as an extremely powerful programmable calculator that can do algebra and calculus computations as well as a wide range of 2d and 3d graphing.  At first you will learn to use Maple to do things you could, in principle, do by hand, but later in the course, and in subsequent semesters, you will use it and your understanding of calculus to solve problems that would be very tedious or difficult to do with just pencil and paper.  Your textbook  includes a Maple manual specifically designed to supplement the standard text material, and you will be assigned exercises which will require use of Maple.  Your instructor will give you more information on how and when these assignments will be submitted.  There will be some special introductory sessions on Maple use, and more information posted on this site. Maple is available on most campus computers.  You can also buy a student version for use on your own computer, but this is definitely not required.  

OTHER TECHNOLOGY IN CALCULUS:   We expect that you have a graphing calculator and are familiar with its use.  A TI-83 or equivalent is fine.  Calculator use may be restricted on some exams since more advanced calculators, like the TI-89 can do some of the calculus computations that we expect you to learn to do with just pencil and paper. 

Your text comes with a CD-ROM that has a variety of items you might find helpful.  The most important of these is connected to the problems in the text which are numbered with red numerals on a beige background.  For these problems, you will find a sequence of hints on the CD-ROM which you can use to assist you.  

You will find  some  very useful interactive programs to illustrate key calculus concepts at this site: Flash movies for calculus