MATH 140-01
Applied Calculus
Syllabus for Fall 2013
Mon, Wed, & Fri, 1:00 – 1:50pm
156 Gildemeister Hall
Instructor: Dr. Eric Errthum Winona Email Username: eerrthum Office: 124A Gildemeister Hall Office Hours: See homepage. Or by appointment on any day.
Prerequisite: MATH 112 or MATH 120 or a qualifying score on the mathematics placement exam.
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Text: Applied
Calculus by Hughes-Hallett (4th Ed.).
Calculator: |
Text Purchasing Options:
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Course Website: http://course1.winona.edu/eerrthum/math140
About This Course: This course is intended to provide the student with a clear understanding of the ideas of calculus. Unlike “traditional” calculus classes that concentrate on the symbolic computations, this course specifically strives towards applying the mathematics to real-life situations (often in business/finance) and emphasizes the understanding and communication of the concepts and ideas (although it’ll also have its fair share of symbolic and numerical calculations). In other words, compared to other calculus courses you may have taken or heard about, in this course you will do less formulaic operations and much more explanation, application, and communication.
Expectations: Students who complete this course with a passing grade are expected to be able to demonstrate the following skills: (i) Mastery of prerequisite material, (ii) Perform the basic calculations of calculus, (iii) Apply the correct calculus techniques and/or technology in the appropriate situations, (iv) Understand the connections between visual, tabular, and algebraic data and how calculus applies to each, (v) Communicate clearly what aspect of calculus (or mathematics in general) is required of a given situation and why.
Grading: Homework
(scaled as needed) 130 points------ 14.4%
Quizzes (7 @ 20
points, drop lowest) 120 points------ 13.3%
Projects (4 @ 50
points) 200 points------ 22.2%
Midterms (3 @ 100
points) 300 points------ 33.3%
Final 150
points------ 16.7%
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900
points total
Grades: A = 90% (810 pts), B = 80% (720 pts), C = 70% (630 pts), D = 60% (540 pts)
Homework: Homework will be assigned daily even if it is not specifically announced in class. Questions on the quizzes and exams will be based on assigned homework. All homework problems will be done through the WileyPLUS webpage for this course: http://edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/class/cls351971/. Homework for a section is due either on the following Monday or the day of the quiz (whichever comes first, see schedule below). All assignments are due in the morning at 4am so as to encourage you to work on the problems long before the due date. Some tips on doing online homework effectively can be found below.
WileyPLUS Info: There should have been an access code bundled with unbounded versions of the text from the bookstore. If you bought a bounded version of the text or have a used-version from a previous semester, you will need to buy the access code separately online. (You can do so by going to the class url above and clicking “Register”.) The cost is approximately $75 since WileyPLUS access includes an electronic (HTML and PDF) copy of the text. If you have any problems logging onto WileyPLUS or doing any of the homework assignments, please contact the instructor.
Quizzes: We will have 7 short (approx. 15-minute) quizzes, one after each chapter. Each quiz will count for 20 points and the lowest quiz will be dropped from your grade.
Projects: There will be four written projects:
· Project 1: Bluffland Development (Due 9/23)
· Project 2: Production Analysis (Due 10/16)
· Project 3: Profit Analysis (Due 11/4)
· Project 4: Production Analysis II (Due 12/2)
Your response to the projects must be type-written in business letter format and consist of complete sentences that not only present a solution but also communicate effectively how you obtained the solution. You may include equations, graphs, charts, etc. in your response. These projects are meant to be an exercise in communicating your results to a supervisor so that they can replicate your work, but not feel as if they’re being talked down to. Click here for more info on business letter format, here for an example project and here for a correct response. You must work with a partner whom you can sign up with on the outside of my office door. Anyone handing in a project alone will be docked 50%. If you have trouble finding a partner, contact the instructor. Please only hand in one copy of the finished project with both of your signatures. Projects are designed to be difficult and take considerable thought (as will projects you complete in your occupation after graduation), so make sure you start projects early enough to give full consideration. Projects Rubric for projects: Correct Solution (15 points), Communication/Explanation of Solution (25 points), Grammar and Professionalism (10 points). If you need help formatting or typing the mathematical content or have any other questions or problems, please see the instructor. The instructor is willing to glance at a rough draft to give you feedback (but this should probably be done at least 3 days before the project is due).
Exams: There will be three in-class exams and one comprehensive final exam. Exam dates are tentative until officially announced in class. The final exam is tentatively scheduled for Monday, December 9, 1:00 – 3:00pm.
Resources: The Mathematics Achievement Center (MAC) is located in 313 Tau Center on West Campus and offers free tutoring. The MAC will be open from 1pm-10pm on M-Th, 1pm-5pm on Fri., and 4pm-8pm on Sun. More information available at: The MAC Website. Also, you’re welcome to stop by my office during office hours to ask questions.
Desire2Learn: Many course materials can be found on D2L including projects, solutions to quizzes and exams, sample exams, and approximate grades. If at any point during the semester you would like to know your exact grade, please email the instructor.
Technology: Graphing calculators are required, preferably a Texas Instrument (TI-83, TI-86, or TI-87). During exams you will be allowed to use calculators. You MAY NOT use your cell phone, laptop, PDA, or other device capable of electronic communication in place of a calculator. The Math department will loan calculators for a semester. Contact the secretary in Gildemeister 322 to do so. In addition, some of the in-class demonstrations require Mathematica, which is available on WSU laptops. If you would like to view the demos on your laptop and need help installing Mathematica, see either the instructor or tech support.
Late/Missed Work: Late homework or missed quizzes will result in a score of zero. Make-up quizzes and make-up exams before the time of the normal quiz or exam will be given at the discretion of the instructor. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to obtain notes and assignments from fellow students. If you have an unavoidable absence, please inform the instructor beforehand.
Academic Dishonesty: Any type of academic dishonesty (cheating, copying, using a solutions manual to do homework, etc.) will result in failure and will be reported to school authorities. If you are having trouble with an assignment, please see the instructor first.
Note: This syllabus is subject to change if deemed necessary by the instructor.
Tentative Schedule of Events – Math 140
(subject to change)
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Week Beginning |
Monday |
Wednesday |
Friday |
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8/26 |
Introductions |
1.1 Functions |
1.2 cont. |
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9/2 |
No Class |
1.4 Economics
Applications: Cost and Revenue |
1.5 Exponential
Functions |
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9/9 |
1.7 Exponential
Growth and Decay 1.8 New Functions
from Old Partners for Project 1 Due |
1.9 Proportionality, Power Functions, and Polynomials 1.10 Periodic
Functions |
Quiz: Chapter 1 |
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9/16 |
Project 1 Q & A 2.1 cont |
2.2 The Derivative 2.3 Interpretations of the Derivative |
2.3, cont. |
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9/23 HW 2.4 - 2.5 Due Friday at 4am |
Project 1 Due |
2.5 Marginal Cost and Revenue |
Quiz: Chapter 2 Review of Chapters 1 & 2
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9/30 |
EXAM I |
3.1 Derivatives of Polynomial Functions 3.2 Derivatives of Exponential, Logarithmic Functions |
3.2, cont. 3.5 Derivatives of Periodic Functions |
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10/7 HW 3.3 – 3.5 Due Friday at 4am |
3.3 Chain Rule |
3.4 Product and Quotient Rules |
Quiz: Chapter 3
(No Calculators) |
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10/14 |
4.2 Inflection
Points |
Project 2 Due 4.3 Global Maxima & Minima |
4.4 Profit, Cost, Revenue |
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10/21 HW 4.4 – 4.5 Due Wednesday at 4am |
4.4, cont. |
Quiz: Chapter 4 Review of Chapters 3 & 4 |
EXAM II |
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10/28 |
5.1 Distance and
Accumulated Change |
5.3 The Definite Integral as Area |
5.4 Interpretations of the Definite Integral |
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11/4 |
5.5 |
Quiz: Chapter 5 |
Project 3 Due 6.2 |
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11/11 HW 6.3 Due Friday at 4am |
No Class |
6.3 |
Quiz: Chapter 6 |
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11/18 |
EXAM III |
7.1 |
7.2 |
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11/25 |
7.3 |
No Class |
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12/2 |
Project 4 Due 7.5 |
Quiz: Chapter 7 Sample Final first pages |
Rest of Sample Final |
Final Exam
Monday, December 9
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Welcome to
college math!
If this is your first math class taken in college, there are some important things you need to know. College math classes are run very differently from high school math classes. On the surface it may seem they are similar as you listen to the lecture and take notes, but there are significant underlying differences. Knowing these ahead of time can help you make the most of this coming semester.
#1: College math classes generally stay on the schedule in the syllabus. If there is one day allotted to the topic that is probably all of the class time that will be spent on it, even if “most” of the students “don’t get it.”
#2: It is expected that you will read the text and do the problems in order to learn the material, even if no one checks up on you. The instructor might never collect the homework, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect your grade.
#3: You will sometimes be responsible for material in the textbook that is not covered in class. If there is a text reading and/or homework problems covering a concept that was not discussed in class, you are still expected to learn it. If you don’t understand it, make an appointment with your instructor for help.
#4: Some material is covered only in class, is not in the textbook, and may not have any homework problems on it. If you miss class, you may miss content that you are responsible to know. If you have an unavoidable absence, be sure to get the notes and any announcements from a classmate.
#5: There will be test questions that don’t look “just like the homework.” In college, you are expected to focus on learning the concepts, not just memorizing how to do certain types of problems. These concepts can – and will – appear in very different forms on tests and quizzes.
#6: At times you will be expected to be able to explain why a problem is done a certain way in addition to being expected to do the problem. As you work on problems in class and on homework, don’t be satisfied with getting the correct answer; ask yourself why that method is logical, and how you could explain that logic to someone else.
#7: Most importantly, you are responsible for your own learning. If you attend class faithfully, get the notes and announcements if you have an unavoidable absence, read the text, do the homework and question yourself (as in #6), and still don’t understand something, it is up to you to get the extra help you need. Visit the instructor during office hours or make a special appointment to ask questions, form a study group, etc. There are many resources and people willing and happy to help, but you need to take the initiative and seek out the help you need.
Good luck on a happy and successful semester!
#1: Do not try to sit down at a computer and just do your homework on WileyPLUS. Print off the problems and work through them in a notebook first. When you have completed the assignment on paper, then go back and enter your answers into WileyPLUS. This way you will have a good paper record to study from, to examine for errors if WileyPLUS marks something incorrect, and to show to a tutor or the instructor when getting help.
#2: Do not wait until the night before the assignment (or collection of assignments) is due to do it. If you lose your internet connection or experience technical problems, you will not be able to hand in the assignment on time. Most assignments are 8 – 10 problems. Make sure you leave yourself enough time to take full advantage of the multiple attempts.
#3: WileyPLUS will only accept the 100% correct answer. So you will not likely be able to guess the answer. At the same time, if you have almost the right answer, but you’re missing something small like a minus sign, WileyPLUS will still mark it incorrect without any hint of how close you are to the correct answer. Also, WileyPLUS can be very particular about how you enter an answer. For all these reasons it is important that you are careful about how you work out the problem and report the solution. This is, in general, an important lesson to learn. If after double-checking your work, you still think you are correct, show your work to a tutor or the instructor.
#4: Don’t use any method on WileyPLUS that won’t work on an exam. For example, many questions on WileyPLUS will be presented as multiple-choice and you can “solve” it by checking each option. However, on a quiz or exam the same question will probably not be multiple-choice, so you need to know how to find the correct answer from scratch. If you don’t know how to do an assignment without “shortcuts”, ask a fellow student, a tutor, or the instructor.
#5: After the due date has passed, go back and look at the solutions for the problems you missed. Often there will be a link to a detailed solution to the problem. If you still can’t understand the solution, ask a fellow student, a tutor, or the instructor to help you.
#6: If you experience frequent technical problems while on WileyPLUS (i.e. computer or browser locking up, internet acting really slow, etc.) try using a different browser. Some flash applications cause Microsoft Internet Explorer to lock up, thus losing all of your work from that session. The best browser to use is Mozilla Firefox.
WSU recognizes that our individual differences can deepen our understanding of one another and the world around us, rather than divide us. In this class, people of all ethnicities, genders and gender identities, religions, ages, sexual orientations, disabilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, regions, and nationalities are strongly encouraged to share their rich array of perspectives and experiences. If you feel your differences may in some way isolate you from WSU’s community or if you have a need of any specific accommodations, please speak with the instructor early in the semester about your concerns and what we can do together to help you become an active and engaged member of our class and community.
The Standard Disclaimer
applies.
© Eric Errthum, August 2013, all
rights reserved.
