Math 1290 Calculus for the Natural Sciences
Syllabus
Spring 2009
Instructor: Angela Sharp
Office: 102 Solon Campus Center, 726-8255
Email: acates@d.umn.edu
Office Hours: MTh 9-10 Th 11-12 MW 1-2
Webpage: www.d.umn.edu/~acates
Graduate Teaching Assistant: Tom Sjoberg email: sjob0015@d.umn.edu
Office: 115 Solon Campus Center, 726-6239 Office Hours: MTThF 11-11:50
and TTh 1-1:50
Meeting times: (class) M W Th F 10-10:50 in Heller
Hall 216
(lab) T
10-10:50 in Engr 204
Text: Modeling the Dynamics of Life by Fredrick R.
Adler ISBN:0-534-40486-3
Syllabus
The
course will cover standard topics in differential calculus, integral calculus
and introductory differential equations.
Topics include limits, continuity, derivatives and applications of
derivatives, integration, the fundamental theorem of calculus, integration
techniques, and differential equations.
The material is mostly covered in Chapters 1-5 of the Alder text. Some supplemental material, not included in
the text, may occasionally be presented in lecture.
Course Prerequisites
Precalculus
(Math 1250) or placement via the Math portion of the ACT exam.
Comparison to Calculus I
(Math 1296)
Roughly 80% of the material in the two courses is
the same. Math 1290 will skip a few
topics covered in Math 1296 and cover others less in depth. Math 1290 will add an introduction to
differential equations. In addition, the
applications in Math 1290 will focus on biology and ecology, while in Math 1296
applications are chosen from a variety of areas of science and engineering. Students who take Math 1290 will be able to
register for Calculus II (Math 1297), if they wish to continue on in
Mathematics. In summary: Math 1290 covers the parts of Calculus most
necessary to allow the inclusion of an introduction to differential
equations. Additionally, there will be a
half-day class field trip on Thursday, September 15th (more
information to be provided in class).
Grading
(Dates are tentative)
Exam
1: Wed, Feb 18th Chapters 1-2.4 100 pts
Exam
2: Mon, Mar 30th Chapters 2.5-3 100 pts
Exam
3: Monday, May 4th Chapters 4-5.2 100 pts
Final
Exam: Mon, May 11, 4-5:55pm, Chem 200 Cumulative 200
pts
Homework
(~40 @ 5 points each) 200
pts
Quizzes
(5) 50 pts
Labs
(7 @ 15 points each) 105
pts
Total: 855 pts
Grade
Scale:
A =
94-100% A- = 90-93%
B-
= 80- 83% B = 84-86% B+ 87-89%
C-
= 70-73% C = 74-76% C+ 77-79%
D =
60-66% D+ = 67-69%
F =
59 or below
Class Policy
Lectures, labs, material in the text and homework
are all intended to compliment each other.
No one is a replacement for any of the others. You are responsible for all material covered
via any of these sources. A tentative
class schedule has been posted online.
You are expected to check the schedule and prepare yourself before
each lecture by reading the sections ahead of time. Homework will be assigned
daily in class and will be due on Mondays and Thursdays. Late work will not be
accepted. All work should be shown for homework. Adhere to the “Minimum Standard Requirements
For Mathematics and Statistics Homework/Lab Assignments”.
You
are encouraged to form study groups and collaboration is acceptable on homework
assignments, but not exams or quizzes.
Any cases of cheating will be dealt with severely. To view the UMD statement
on Student Academic Integrity Policy, see: www.d.umn.edu/assl/conduct/integrity. If you feel that an error has been made in grading
on your exam, please bring it to the attention of the instructor. You will have one week following the return
of each exam in which to contest such errors.
Keep all homework, quizzes and exams in your records.
Missed quizzes or exams will be assigned a zero
score unless you provide a valid written, signed (by a doctor, for example)
excuse for your absence; unless it is not possible to do so, you must provide
verbal notice ahead of time to your instructor for the absence. Arrangements for a makeup should be made as
soon as you know you will miss. Do not
wait for the next class. You can leave
the instructor a message 24 hours a day by phone or by email. Oversleeping, poor preparation, slight colds,
and cold weather are not valid excuses.
Computer Labs
There will be computer labs as part of the course. We will use several software packages: Excel, Mathematicia, and some software specifically for differential equations. This software is available from the Lab Server from and PC Lab on campus. No prior knowledge of PCs or the software used is required.
Calculators
Use of graphing calculators is encouraged but not
required. They will be allowed on exams
and quizzes, but exams and quizzes will be written to minimize the benefit of
having a calculator.
Liberal Education Statement
This
course satisfies the UMD Liberal Education requirement for Category Two: Math,
Logic, and Critical Thinking. The
Calculus is a universal mathematical tool that is used in many diverse areas
including business, economics, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Whenever measured quantities change with respect
to time, or other variables, calculus is probably involved. This course
develops the fundamentals of calculus suitable for applications in the life and
earth of sciences. By the end of the
term, the successful student should understand the importance that calculus
plays in modeling real-world phenomena by constructing and analyzing numerous
models selected from ecology, wildlife/fisheries management, epidemiology,
physiology, groundwater diffusion, and seismic phenomena.
Disabilities
Please
inform me of any disabilities of which I should be aware in order to provide
for equitable participation.
Tutoring
In
addition to the office hours of the instructor and the teaching assistant, help
is usually available M-F at the