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Calculus
I
MATH 200 Sections 11 & 22
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Fall
2025
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4
lecture hours, 4 credits
Section 22:
TR 9:30-10:45, F 10:00-10:50
Section 11:
TR 11:00-12:15, F 11:00-11:50
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SYLLABUS
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Virginia Commonwealth University
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Locations:
Section 22: TR Oliver Hall Physical Sciences room 3059; Friday Harris Hall room 2118
Section 11: TRF Oliver Hall Physical Sciences room 1033
| 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
are used for informal discussions of material, review or
practice sessions, and quizzes & tests. A typical
week is structured as follows:
- TUESDAY: Discussion, Q&A and practice of course
content; Quiz.
- THURSDAY: Discussion, Q&A and practice of course
content; Quiz.
- FRIDAY: Either an (optional) review or a (required) test, as noted on the Course
Calendar.
Occasionally this will be a free day (no class) to allow you more time to catch up in the video lectures.
You are expected to work enough exercises that you are
prepared for quizzes and exams.
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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)
- Text (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 text 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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| TEXTBOOK: |
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We will use my (free) online textbook. This PDF document contains explanations,
examples, and exercises (with solutions to odd-numbered
exercises). It is organized in chapters
that parallel the video lectures. (For example,
Lecture 3 corresponds to Chapter 3, etc.) To find it go to
the course page https://richardhammack.github.io/Math200/
and click on Text |
| CALCULATOR & SOFTWARE: |
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You are NOT required to have a calculator. You are free to use a calculator in doing the
practice exercises, but calculators are NOT allowed
on quizzes and tests. 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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- Tests: There are three tests.
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% |
| Test average: |
32% |
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Engagement:
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4%
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| Final Exam: |
32% |
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DROPPED SCORES
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Your five lowest quiz grades
will be dropped. Your lowest test grade will be dropped. |
EXTRA CREDIT
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For every typo or mistake you
find in the text, I will give you one extra quiz
point. Please email me any corrections on
Fridays. I will then update the text 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 text, please make sure you've refreshed
your screen so that you'll know you're looking at the latest
version.
For every typo or mistake you
find in video lectures, I will give you one extra quiz
point. Please email me any corrections on
Fridays. I will then update the lecture based on
your feedback and re-post it. To get
credit, the mistake must still exist when you report it to me
(i.e. no extra credit for a mistake that I've already fixed).
In reporting a mistake, please explain the exact nature of the mistake, and its location (e.g. Lecture 15 at 21:07 minutes).
Note that, because I had to move my web page, the course URL on the opening slide of every lecture is incorrect. I already know about this mistake and will fix it. So no extra points for reporting this issue! Also, the closed captions are created automatically, so I can't fix any problem there.
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| 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. Watch the
lectures actively. Consider pausing the video to
work examples before the solution is shown.
- Read the text actively with pencil
& paper, checking details.
- Consult the Exercise List and work the indicated
exercises in the text 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 tests 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 four
consecutive weeks without explanation.
- 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 tests 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 tests. 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).
- Tests: Under normal circumstances I do
not give make-up tests. I will drop
your lowest test grade. If you miss one test, it
will count as the dropped grade.
- Final Exam: The final exam must be taken at the time scheduled by the University. 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 31 |
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