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Calculus
I
MATH 200 Section 12
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Fall
2024
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4
lecture hours, 4 credits
TR
11:00-12:15, Hibbs 0262
F
11:00-11:50, Harris
2137 |
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SYLLABUS
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Virginia Commonwealth University
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| PREREQUISITES: |
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MATH 151 (Pre-calculus) with a minimum grade of C, or
satisfactory score on the VCU Mathematics Placement Test
within the one-year period immediately preceding the
beginning of the course. (For testing, see https://math.vcu.edu/undergraduate/resources/placement/)
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MATH 200 is the first course in a
two-semester sequence covering the calculus of one-variable
functions. This course covers the fundamental ideas of
differential and integral calculus: Limits, continuity,
derivatives, differentials, antiderivatives and definite
integrals. We also examine some ways that these ideas apply
to real-world problems. Learning Outcomes: The
course is designed to give you the mathematical background
necessary for many courses in the natural and social
sciences, as well as to provide a foundation for further
study in mathematics.
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| COURSE STRUCTURE & MODALITY: |
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This course is taught in a "flipped"
modality. You will watch video lectures, read and study
outside of class on your own time. Classroom meetings will
be used for informal discussions of material, review or
practice sessions, and quizzes & exams. A typical
week will be structured as follows:
- TUESDAY: Discussion, Q&A and practice of course
content; Quiz.
- THURSDAY: Discussion, Q&A and practice of course
content; Quiz or Exam.
- FRIDAY: Sometimes this is a free day (no class).
Sometimes I will hold optional review sessions or hold
extra office hours on Fridays. This will be noted on the
calendar several days prior to each Friday's
class.
You are expected to work enough exercises that you are
prepared for quizzes and exams.
Important: All quizzes and exams will be on campus,
in class.
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| TEXTBOOK: |
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We will use my (free) online Course
Notes, as described below. These notes include
examples, exercises and solutions. I will assign
practice problems from the notes.
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| COURSE WEBPAGE: |
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Course materials are on my Calculus I page (NOT
on Canvas). Go to https://richardhammack.github.io/Math200/
Here you will find links to:
- Course Calendar (Schedule
of coverage, assignments, and dates of quizzes &
exams)
- Course Notes (Organized
in Chapters that parallel the video lectures. These
include examples, exercises and solutions.)
- Video Lectures (Watch
these according to schedule on the course calendar.)
- Exercise List (A list
of odd-numbered exercises from the Course
Notes that you should do for practice. Solutions
are at the end of each chapter.)
- Test Archive (An archive of
all old tests and quizzes that I have given in MATH 200,
with solutions.)
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| COURSE NOTES: |
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These PDF documents contain explanations,
examples, and exercises (with solutions to odd-numbered
exercises). They are organized in chapters
that parallel the video lectures. (For example,
Lecture 3 corresponds to Chapter 3, etc.) To find them go to
the course page https://richardhammack.github.io/Math200/
and click on Course
Notes |
| CALCULATOR & SOFTWARE: |
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You are NOT required to have a calculator in this
course. You are free to use a calculator in doing the
practice exercises, but calculators are NOT allowed
on quizzes and exams. The same goes for software. We will NOT
use any software in class or for assignments. Expect pencil
and paper. |
| GRADED WORK: |
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- Midterm: There is one midterm exam.
See the course calendar.
- Quizzes: There are frequent quizzes (usually
two per week). See the course calendar.
- Final Exam: The final exam is cumulative,
potentially including any topic discussed in lectures.
- Engagement: You are expected to be
intellectually and positively engaged in the course.
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| GRADING CRITERIA: |
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The 10-point grading scale is
used:
| A: |
90-100 |
(Clear mastery of
material) |
| B: |
80-89 |
(Ready for MATH 201) |
| C: |
70-79 |
(Pass, but not
prepared for MATH 201) |
| D: |
60-69 |
(Marginal pass) |
| F: |
0-59 |
(Insufficient
progress) |
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Your final average will be
computed as follows:
| Quiz average: |
32% |
| Midterm: |
32% |
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Engagement:
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4%
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| Final Exam grade |
32% |
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DROPPED SCORES
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Your five lowest quiz grades
will be dropped. Your final exam grade, if higher than your
midterm grade, will replace your midterm grade. |
EXTRA CREDIT
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For every typo or mistake you
find in the Course Notes, I will give you one extra quiz
point. Please email me any corrections on
Fridays. I will then update the notes based on
your feedback and re-post it. To get
credit, the typo must still exist when you report it to me
(i.e. no extra credit for a typo that I've already fixed).
When reading the notes, please make sure you've refreshed
your screen so that you'll know you're looking at the latest
version. |
| HOW TO STUDY FOR THIS COURSE: |
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You can do well in calculus
if you study and practice daily. Many ideas in calculus can
take some time to sink in; you will not learn them
instantaneously. The key is to take a few small steps
each day. (Attempting big steps only once per week---or
worse, only before a test---is a recipe for failure.)
Here are some tips for this course:
- Consult the Course Calendar often. See what chapters
are referenced and watch the corresponding video
lecture(s) prior to that date. (The video lectures have
the same numbering as the course notes chapters. For
example, Lecture 4 is for Chapter 4, etc.) Watch the
lectures actively. Consider pausing the video to
work examples before the solution is shown.
- Read the course notes or text actively with pencil
& paper, checking details.
- Consult the Exercise List and work the indicated
exercises in the course notes until you obtain fluency.
Answers to odd-numbered exercises are at the end of each
chapter.
- Though class attendance is not always required, it is
strongly encouraged. In missing a class you may also
miss valuable insights, practice and experience. Miss
class at your own risk.
- Depending on your learning style, working in study
groups can be helpful. However, be ready to do the
quizzes and exams on your own!
- Let me know if you have any questions.
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| COURSE POLICIES: |
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- Attendance: Attendance is not normally taken.
You are responsible for all material covered in
lectures.
- The instructor may administratively drop or withdraw
from the course any student who has not attended class
and/or who has not submitted any assignments for five
consecutive weeks.
- If the instructor has questions about the work on any
quiz or exam, he may request a meeting to discuss the
issues before returning the graded work.
- Important: All exams and quizzes are on campus
& in-person.
- Devices: While attending on-campus
class meetings, you are expected to be connected with
the course and course material. All devices not related
to coursework (phones, etc.) should be put away for the
entire duration of any class. Smart Watches or
Wearables that are voice or data connected (i.e. iOS
and/or Android enabled devices such as an Apple Watch)
are not permitted during quizzes and exams. Violation
will be considered an honor offense.
- Make-up work:
- Quizzes: Under normal circumstances I do
not give make-up quizzes. I will drop at least five
of your lowest quiz grades. If you miss a quiz, it
will count as a dropped grade (up to the number of
dropped quiz grades).
- Midterm Exam: I will consider a makeup
midterm exam if you have a documented reason for
missing it. The request must be made on or before
the day of the midterm. The makeup midterm will be
taken on campus (not remotely).
- Final Exam: The final exam cannot be given
early. If you miss the final exam because of a
documented illness or emergency, then I can give you
a grade of incomplete (I) for the course and you
will have to make up the final exam by the date set
by the University.
- Honor System: Any instance of
cheating is considered an honor offense and is dealt
with according to University policy.
- You are expected to work lots of
extra problems for practice.
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| LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW OR REQUEST
PASS/FAIL: Friday October 25 |
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