Math S-1ab - Calculus I and II
Harvard University
Summer School
|
Math S-1ab - Calculus I and II |
Harvard University |
Syllabus |
| Topics: | Differential and integral Calculus in one real variable including sequences, series and differential equations. Major ideas include limits, derivatives, functions and graphing, linear approximation, optimization, definite and indefinite integrals, sequences, series, differential equations, and applications of all of these to the physical, biological, and social sciences. |
| Instructors: | John Mackey, SC 331, 496-5211, jfm@math.harvard.edu Robin Gottlieb, SC 429, 495-7882, gottlieb@math.harvard.edu |
| Course Meetings: | The course meets M-F from 10am-noon in Science Center 309. There will also
be discussion sections M-F from 1-2pm with Course Assistant Teri Kleinberg,
terik@post.harvard.edu in
the Science Center. The course meets from Tuesday, June 24, through Friday, August 8, with a final exam on Tuesday, August 12 at 9am. There is no class meeting on July 4. |
| Grades: | Your course grade will be determined as follows: first midterm (Monday, July 7) 15% second midterm (Friday, July 18) 15% third midterm (Friday, August 1) 15% final exam (Tuesday, August 12 at 9am) 30% homework 25% |
| Text: | For most of the course we will closely follow the
textbook "Calculus, Concepts and Contexts" by James Stewart,
available at the Harvard COOP. We will also supplement the book's exposition of series and differential equations with material from Robin's textbook. This material will be made available to students free of charge.
This is a very fast-paced course which covers a lot of material. We will typically cover two sections of the text per lecture, and hence it will be impossible to cover some topics in class as thoroughly as they deserve to be covered. Therefore, reading the text is an integral part of the course. While it would be ideal to read through the material before it is covered in class and then again after it has been covered, this is impractical. You should think of your text as a super-resource, with more examples, different explanations, and greater depth than can be presented in two-hour lectures. |
| Homework: | Doing problems is essential to learning and understanding mathematics.
Many ideas which seem clear when presented in class can only be completely understood once
you have studied them yourself with pencil and paper at the ready, and consequently,
homework problems are an important part of this course. Working collaboratively is also an important component to learning mathematics. The best way to learn something is to try to explain it to someone else, and you are encouraged to discuss problems with other students, the instructors, and the course assistants. However, you should always write out your homework solutions yourself in your own words. Perhaps more than any other, mathematics is a subject in which the ideas build quickly one upon the other. Therefore, homework will be assigned daily and will be due at the beginning of the next class. Falling behind will present serious difficulties, and we urge you to keep up with your homework sets. This is especially important given the fast pace of this course. Additionally, there will occasionally be "challenge" problems posed that go beyond the requirements of the course. Some will be accessible using techniques you will have learned, and some will give you a glimpse of yet higher level mathematics. They are intended to spark your interest, and we hope that you consider them. |
| Attendance: | While attendance is not a required part of the course as far as your grade is concerned, it is sure to be a determining factor in your success in this course. Missing even one class and falling a day behind will present a significant challenge. |
Technology: |
Technology can be a wonderful aid to learning mathematics, but too often, students use it as a crutch. We aim to give you a complete theoretical and computational understanding of Calculus, and the use of calculators and computers can provide a part of that understanding, but only after the ideas are in place. You are encouraged to use technology to solve computational problems and to check your work, but there is no substitute for thinking. No calculators will be allowed in the exams. |
Greater detail may be derived from the homework assignments as the course proceeds.
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Page maintained by John Mackey.
Last updated: April 22, 2003.