CALCULUS I

Mathematics 123 F1

Glenn Stevens

General Remarks:

This is a semester course in introductory calculus aimed at students majoring in the sciences, but appropriate for anyone with a sound background in high school mathematics. The goal of the course is to help students achieve a robust mastery of the practice of Calculus as well as a sound understanding of the mathematical issues underlying the techniques. In that spirit we will concentrate on mastering the techniques and methods of the Calculus, but we will also take time to reflect on some of the fascinating ideas that underlie our subject.

The course will explore two of the most significant concepts in the history of mathematics: differentiation and integration. Differentiation is an elegant technique for calculating infinitesimal rates of change, while integration is a powerful tool for adding together infinitely many infinitely small quantities like lengths, areas, and volumes, or forces, and moments of inertia. Both techniques are fundamental in the sciences. One of the great surprises in the subject is the deep realization (unrecognized by the scientific world until the seventeenth century) that differentiation and integration are intimately connected to one another -- in much the same way that subtraction and addition are connected. The relationship between differentiation and integration is known as the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus and is introduced in chapter five of our textbook. In one semester, we can only begin to explore a few of the unlimited number of applications of the calculus. These applications will appear interwoven into each part of our course, but we will devote ourselves exclusively to them in chapters four and six.

Homework:

Problem solving is an essential part of the course. Homework problems will be assigned at each class meeting. These problems should be done before the next class so that we can discuss them. Your work on the problems from the week will be collected in your discussion section the following week. If you can not attend the discussion section then you may put your homework in an envelope on the Teaching Fellow's office door. Under no circumstances will homework be accepted late. Homework will be graded and returned to you in class on the following Monday morning.

Sections:

Discussion sections are an essential part of this course. They provide you with an opportunity to meet with the Teaching Fellow to go over problems and discuss more examples and techniques that you might not have understood from class or on the homework. Be sure to prepare for sections so that you can ask lots of questions.

Exams:

There will be two in-class exams during the semester and a final exam at the end of the semester. The dates of the in-class exams will be discussed together as a class and will be scheduled by general agreement. Thus the in-class exam dates given below are only tentative. The correct dates will be announced in class.

In-class Exam I	Tuesday, October 4	In Class
In-class Exam II	Thursday, November 17	In Class
Final Exam	Saturday, December 17	9:00 - 11:00 AM

Make-up Exams:

You are expected to take all exams at the scheduled times. No make-up exams will be given except in extreme cases of illness. A note from a physician stating that you could not take the regularly scheduled exam due to medical reasons is required before any make-up exam can be given.

Grading Policy:

Your final grade for the course will be determined according to the following scale:

Homework	20%
In-class Exam I:	20%
In-class Exam II:	20%
Final:	40%

Academic Conduct Policy:

It is your responsibility to read and understand the provisions of the CAS Academic Conduct Code. Copies of the code are available in CAS 105. Given the sterling qualities of character to be found in each and every student at Boston University, it is certainly unnecessary to mention that plagiarism and cheating are not only dishonest and immoral, but are also against the policies of Boston University. Please keep in mind that in the highly unlikely event that you do choose to plagiarize or cheat, you will be referred immediately to the University Academic Standards Committee for disciplinary action.