Math 132, Section 21: Calculus I


Fall 2009
Department of Mathematics
Michigan State University

Instructor: Dr. Corbett Redden. A318 Wells Hall. redden [att] math.msu.edu. Phone 517-353-4659.

Course webpage: http://www.math.msu.edu/~redden/132f09

Class Times: MWF 12:40 - 13:30. C111 Wells Hall.

Office Hours: Monday 1:40 - 2:40, Tuesday 3 - 4, Friday 1:40 - 2:40

Textbook: Thomas' Calculus, Eleventh edition.

Other links: General Information, General Gateway Exam Info, About Gateway I exam

Practice Exam for Midterm 1. Sample review problems: 2 Review: 9, 11, 13, 21, 23, 25, 31

Practice Exam for Midterm 2. Also review your homework. Midterm 2 Solutions.

Practice Exam for Midterm 3. Answers. Midterm 3 Solutions.

Practice Exam for Midterm 4. Answers. Midterm 4 Solutions.

Final Exam: Monday, Dec. 14, 10a-12p in EBH 106. Final Exam Review Sheet. Sample Final.

Grading Scheme:
Test 1, 9/23 15%
Test 2, 10/19 15%
Test 3, 11/16 15%
Test 4, 12/9 15%
Homework, Weekly 10%
Final Exam, 12/14 30%

Tests: The tests will take place during regularly scheduled class time and will concern material covered since the previous exam. They are taken without the aid of books, notes, or calculators. The test dates are 9/23, 10/19, 11/16, 12/9.

Final Exam: The final exam will take place on Monday, December 14, from 10:00am to 12:00pm in a location to be announced. It is cumulative and designed to test the students' understanding of the entire course. It is also taken without the aid of books, notes, or calculators.

Homework: Working homework problems is the most important thing a student can do to do well in this course. Math is a skill which must be practiced repeatedly.
Homework will be due every Wednesday in class and will be returned promptly. The problems will be listed on the course website. All required problems are to be turned in, but only a select few will be graded. This means that on a particular assignment, it is possible to do all of the problems correctly except for those graded, resulting in a lower than deserved score. However, such situations are rare and will be balanced out by the other assignments, and the other possible extreme, over the course of the semester. The lowest homework grade will be dropped.

Gateway Exams: There are two gateway exams which students must take on their own time.
Exam I - Tuesday 9/8/2009 - Sunday 9/27/2009
Exam II - Sunday 10/25/2009 - Friday 11/13/2009
Failure to pass either of these will result in a penalty of 5% points each, or 10% for both exams combined. Passing with a high grade will result in bonus points up to 5% (specifics to be determined). For more details on taking the Gateway exams, see http://www.mth.msu.edu/CurrentStudents/Gateway/masterschedule.aspx

Makeup Policy: Makeups will only be given in the case of a severe medical or family emergency. A written note from an appropriate person is required (e.g. doctor, father, etc.). In such a situation, you or someone else should contact Dr. Redden as soon as possible, preferably prior to the test or exam. A test missed for a non-valid reason will result in a score of 0.

Calculators: The use of calculators is not permitted on the midterm tests or final examination. Calculators may be used on homework, and they can be very useful for checking answers and further exploring concepts. However, students should be careful of becoming overly reliant on the calculator.

Help: Help is available from a number of places and people. You are welcome to see Dr. Redden in office hours, by appointment, or ask short questions via email. Also available is the Math Learning Center (MLC), located in the A-wing lobby of Wells Hall. For more information on the MLC, see http://www.math.msu.edu/~mlc/. Finally, you are encouraged to work with others on homework. Explaining concepts and techniques to fellow classmates is an excellent way for you to better understand them yourself.

Grades, part 2: The final grades will be no worse than what is listed below. The implementation of a curve will be determined after the tests are administered.
90 - 100%4.0 65-722.0
85 - 89%3.5 60 - 64%1.5
79 - 84%3.0 55 - 59%1.0
73 - 78%2.5 0 - 54%0.0

Honor Policy: All students are expected to adhere to the University's policy concerning academic integrity. This is covered in the Spartan Life booklet. According to the handbook "...no student shall claim or submit the work of another as one's own."