MA225 B1 - Multivariate Calculus - Spring 2011
Syllabus and Detailed Course Information
For a .pdf version, click here.
Back to course webpage.

Contact Information

Instructor: Margaret Beck
Office: MCS 233
Phone: 617-358-3314
Email: mabeck -at- math.bu.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 2-3:30pm, Tuesdays 8:30-10am, or by appointment.

  Teaching Fellow: Man-Ho Ho
Office: MCS 167
Phone: 617-353-6535
Email: homanho -at- math.bu.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 11am-1pm.

Class details
Grading
Textbook and topics covered

Our book is "Calculus: concepts and contexts," 4th Ed., by James Stewart, 2010, ISBN 0-495-55742-0. If you have a slightly different edition, it is probably fine. Please check with me to be sure. There will also be copies on reserve in the Science and Engineering Library (38 Cummington St.). We will cover chapters 9-13.
Lecture

Attend it.
Discussion

You must be enrolled in one of the four discussion sections. Due to restrictions in room size, you may only attend the section in which you are enrolled. The quizzes will take place during your discussion, and you will have an opportunity to ask your TF questions about the material covered in lecture and the homework. It is generally a bad idea to skip discussion, even if there is no quiz that day.
Homework

Homework assignments will be given during each lecture and posted on the website, and it will be collected each week and graded. 80% of each homework grade will be based upon effort (ie did you attempt each problem) and 20% will be based on how well you solved two randomly selected problems. Example: if one week you attempt every problem and, of the two that are graded, you get one right and one wrong, you will get 9/10 for that assignment. The average of all assignments will be worth 10% of your course grade.
Quizzes

During discussion there will be three 50-minute quizzes that are closed book and closed notes with no calculators. Their dates are listed above. Your lowest grade will be dropped, and the average of the remaining two will be worth 20% of your grade. The quiz will begin at the beginning of discussion - if you are late you will not get extra time. No make-up quizzes will be given. If you miss a quiz, that one will be dropped.
Tests and Final Exam

The midterms will be held during lecture on Feb 15 and March 31. These tests will not be cumulative. I will tell you exactly what material they will cover one week in advance and post this information on the website. The final exam will be May 12, 9-11am. It will be cumulative, covering all material from the course. You will not be allowed to use your book, notes, or a calculator on either the midterms or the final exam.
Make-up tests and exams

I do not give make-up tests unless you have a legitimate excuse, such as a serious illness or family emergency. In such a circumstance you must provide a written (not email) excuse. If possible, please discuss this with me in advance. Please note the date and time of the final exam and make your travel plans accordingly. University policy states that you must take the final exam at that time, so no make-up will be given.
Extra help

Please get help from me, your TF, or any other appropriate source if you do not understand something. Please don't be afraid/embarrassed/etc to ask for help. It is most effective if you do so as soon as you feel you need it. Waiting until just before the final exam is generally not a good idea.

I also encourage you to go to the tutoring room, MCS 144, where there are graduate students to help you most days from 10am-4pm. Prof. Diane Meuser also offers math help on West Campus, on Tuesday evenings. Check her webpage for more details. In addition, you can get peer tutoring from the Educational Research Center. See their webpage for more information. All of these services are free.
Academic conduct

Plagiarism and cheating are not tolerated under any circumstances. Please refer to the BU academic conduct code if you are unclear about what constitutes appropriate behavior.