Mount Saint Mary College
Newburgh, NY 12550
Division of Mathematics and Computer Science

MTH 251 - Calculus I
Spring 2005
Dr. J. Bready
Aquinas 12G
e-mail: bready@msmc.edu

Course Description: This course is designed to introduce the student to three concepts of Calculus: limit, continuity, and derivative. Students will explore the applications of these and how they relate to real life problems. In addition, students are expected to develop elementary modeling and problem solving skills, and the ability to write and speak about mathematics.

Pre-requisites: Completion of MTH 112 with a C or better or a passing grade on Functions and Graphs test.

Required text: Stewart, Calculus Concepts and Contexts 2nd Edition, 2001.

Additional requirements: TI-82, 83, or 89 graphing calculator

Course requirements, penalties for late submissions, and absences:
Group work: 20%
Tests: 40%
Quizzes: 20%
Final Exam: 20%

Homework will be assigned for each class. Completion of homework is essential for mastery of the material and success of the course. Students are expected to attend all classes, and attendance will be taken daily. In accordance with the registrar's rules, four consecutive absences will be reported to the Registrar. Excessive absences can be detrimental to the final grade. Make-ups will only be given for excused absences; please plan accordingly.

Group work/labs: Cooperative learning is the underlying motivation for group assignments. Cooperative learning assumes that students learn from each other as well as from the instructor. Students are responsible for not only their own learning, but also for the learning of the other members of the group. Groups must have no fewer than 3 members, and no more than 5. While some class time will be given for group work, groups are expected to meet outside of class time. All work is expected to be done in the group. Students are expected to come to the group prepared by having read the problems and thought about their solutions. All solutions from members of a group must be the same for the group to get credit. An exception to this is when a member of the group does not agree with the group solution and the group having seen his/her solution does not support it. That member may then turn in his/her solution with the initials of the members of the group on it to show that they have seen it but do not support it as the group solution.

Grading Scale:

A 92-100 A- 88-92  
B+ 85-87 B 82-84 B- 78-81
C+ 75-77 C 72-74 C- 68-71
D+ 65-67 D 60-64  
F Below 60    

 

Course Outline (Note: this hasn't been updated yet!)


Class Date Chapter Topic
8-Sep 1.1 Four ways to represent a function
10-Sep 1.2 New functions from old
13-Sep 1.4 Parametric curves
15-Sep 1.5 Exponential functions
17-Sep 1.6 Inverse functions and logarithms
22-Sep 1.7 Modeling and fitting curves
24-Sep Review
27-Sep Test
29-Sep 2.1 The tangent and velocity problems
1-Oct 2.2 The limit of a function
4-Oct 2.3 Limits using limit theorems
6-Oct 2.4-2.5 Continuity, limits at infinity
8-Oct 2.6 Tangents, velocity, rates of change
13-Oct 2.7 Derivatives
15-Oct, 18-Oct 2.8 The derivative as a function
20-Oct 2.9 Linear approximation
22-Oct 2.1 What does f say about f'
24-Oct Review
27-Oct Test
29-Oct 3.1 Derivatives of polynomials, exponentials
1-Nov 3.2 Product and quotient rule
3-Nov 3.3 Rates of change in Natural, Soc Sci
5-Nov 3.4 Derivatives of trig functions
8-Nov, 10-Nov 3.5 Chain rule
12-Nov 3.6 Implicit differentiation
15-Nov 3.7 Derivative of log functions
17-Nov 3.8 Linear approximation and differentials
19-Nov Review
22-Nov Test
29-Nov 4.1 Related rates
1-Dec 4.2 Maximum and minimum
3-Dec, 6-Dec 4.3 Derivatives and shapes of curves
8-Dec 4.5 Indeterminate forms and L'Hopital's rule
10-Dec 4.6 Optimization problems
13-Dec 4.7 - 4.8 Applications to economics
15-Dec Review
17-Dec Test
20-Dec Cumulative review