Harvard University,FAS
Spring 2006

Mathematics Math21a
Spring 2006

Multivariable Calculus

Course Head: Oliver Knill
Office: SciCtr 434
Email: knill@math.harvard.edu
Harvard Mathematics

Syllabus Spring 2006

- Math21a: Multivariable Calculus.

      - extends single variable calculus to higher dimensions;
      - provides vocabulary for understanding fundamental
        equations of nature like weather, planetary motion,
        waves, heat, finance, epidemiology, or quantum mechanics.
      - teaches important background needed for statistics,
        computergraphics, bioinformatics, etc;
      - provides tools for describing curves, surfaces, solids
        and other geometrical objects in three dimensions;
      - develops methods for solving optimization problems with
        and without constraints;
      - prepares you for further study in other fields of
        mathematics and its applications;
      - improves thinking skills, problem solving skills,
        visualization skills as well as computing skills;

- Prerequisites: Math 1b or equivalent
    
- Course change fees: All course change fees are
     waved for students who change between 
     Math 21a, Math 23a, Math 25a and Math 55a until the 5'th
     Monday of the term. 

- How to Sign Up: Input your time preferences 
     from Monday, Jan. 30 to Wednesday, Feb 1 2006.

     on the sectioning information page. 

- Section Types: Regular, Physics, BioChem flavors.
      You will section online.

- Introductory Meeting:  Wednesday Feb 1 in Sci Center C at 8:30am.

- Lectures Start:  Mon Feb 6 for MWF sections, and on
                          Tue Feb 7 for TTh sections

- Course Head: Oliver Knill
               Science Center SC-434
               knill@math.harvard.edu
               Office hours: Mon/Wed 2:30-4:00 and by appointment

- Head CA: 

- Texts: "Multivariable Calculus: Concepts and Contexts" 
     by James Stewart. We will use the third edition. This book is used by 
      all sections. 
     The Biochem section will additionally use: Y.A. Rozanovs book 
     "Probability theory, a concise course" 10 dollars). 
All sections: Book by J. Stewart, ISBN 0-534-41004-9 Bio section additionally uses the Book by Y.A. Rozanov, ISBN 0-486-63544-9
- Weekly Recitations: the times will be arranged by Course Assistants (CAs)

- Question Center:  8-10 pm except Fridays and Saturdays in Loker Commons
      Question Center Website


- Homework: Weekly HW assigned in parts each lecture.
           No late homework is accepted.  You are encouraged to
           discuss solution strategies with classmates, but you
           must write up answers yourself in your own words.  As
           with any academic work, please cite sources consulted.


- Computers:  The use of computers and other electronic aids
           is not be permitted during exams. There is a Mathematica project,
           which introduces you to an advanced computer algebra system. 

- Exams: 

           First Hourly:   Tuesday March 14. 2006, Hall D, 7-8:30 PM
           Second Hourly:  Tuesday April 18, 2006, Hall B, 7-8:30 PM 
           Final Examination: 

- Grades:

            First and second hourly                   30 %
            Homework                                  25 %
            Mathematica project                        5 %
            Final exam                                40 %
            ----------------------------------------------
            Final grade                              100 %

- Calendar: 13 weeks

  Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa | week  special dates              month
  ---------------------+---------------------------------------
  Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa  Week
            1  2  3  4                                    Feb
   5  6  7  8  9 10 11    1    6/7 start of lectures
  12 13 14 15 16 17 18    2
  19 20 21 22 23 24 25    3    20.Feb Presidents day
  26 27 28  1  2  3  4    4                               Mar
   5  6  7  8  9 10 11    5
  12 13 14 15 16 17 18    6
  19 20 21 22 23 24 25    7
  26 27 28 29 30 31  1         Spring recess              Apr
   2  3  4  5  6  7  8    8
   9 10 11 12 13 14 15    9
  16 17 18 19 20 21 22   10
  23 24 25 26 27 28 29   11
  30  1  2  3  4  5  6   12                               Mai
   7  8  9 10 11 12 13         Reading period
  14 15 16 17 18 19 20         17. end reading period
  21 22 23 24 25 26 27         26. End exam period
  ---------------------+---------------------------------------

- Day to day syllabus: 

Hour      Topic                        Book section       Tue Thu

         1. Geometry of Space      2/6-2/11 

 1          - coordinates                       9.1   |    1
            - distance                                |
 2          - vectors                           9.2  -+
            - dot product                       9.3   |    2
 3          - cross product and planes          9.4   |

        2. Functions and Graphs    2/13-2/18  

 1          - lines and planes                  9.5   |
            - distance formulas                       |    1
 2          - functions                         9.6  -+
              graphs                                  |
 3          - level curves                            |    2
            - quadrics                                |

        3. Curves                  2/20-2/25

            - Presidents day, no class
 1          - curves in space                  10.1   |    1
            - velocity                                |
            - acceleration                     10.2   |
 2          - arc length                       10.3  -+    2
            - curvature                        10.4   |  

        4. Surfaces                2/27-3/3  

 1          - cylindrical coordinates           9.7   |    1
            - spherical coordinates                  -+    2
 2          - parametric surfaces              10.5   |    2
 3          - functions                        11.1   |    1
            - continuity                       11.2   |

        5. Functions               3/6-3/10

 1          - partial derivatives              11.3  -+
              Solutions to PDE's                      |    2
 2          - linear approximation             11.4   |
              tangent planes 
 3          - chain rule                       11.5   |    1
              implicit differentiation                |

        6. Gradient               3/13-3/17

 1          - review for first hourly                 |    1
 2          - gradient                         11.6  -+
              gradient and level curves               |    2
 3          - directional derivative           11.6   |
              direction of steepest decent            |

        7. Extrema                4/3-4/7

 1          - maxima, minima, saddle points    11.7   |    1
 2          - Lagrange multipliers             11.8  -+    2
 3          - double integrals                 12.1/2 |    2

        Spring recess

        8. Double Integrals        4/10-4/14

 1          - double integrals                 12.1/2 |    2
 2          - general regions                  12.3   +
 3          - polar coordinates                12.4   |    1

        9. More double Integrals   4/17-4/21

 1          - review for second hourly                |
 2          - surface area                     12.6   |     
 3          - triple integrals                 12.7   |    1


        10. Triple and line Integrals    4/24-4/28

 1          - cylinder, spherical coordinates  12.8  -+    1
 2          - vector fields                    13.1   +
 3          - line integrals                   13.2   |    2

This is the syllabus for the regular and physics sections.
        11. Integral Theorems I           5/1-5/5               

 1          - fundamental thm line integrals   13.3   |    1 
 2          - Greens theorem                   13.4  -+         
 3          - curl and divergence              13.5   |    2

        12. Integral Theorems II          5/8-5/12

 1          - flux integrals                   13.6   |    1
 2          - Stokes theorem                   13.7  -+
 3          - Gauss theorem                    13.8   |    2
            - Applications                     13.9   |
              Mathematica project due!
The Biochem section roughly covers the fist 5 chapters in Rozanov.
        11. Probability theory  I          (5/1-5/5) biochem 

1           - discrete random variables          1-4  |    1
2           - continuous random variables          7  |
              distributions                           +    2
3           - expectation, variance etc            8-9|

        12. Probability theory  II         (5/8-5/12) biochem
       
1           - independence, conditional probab.    5+6|    1 
2           - binomial and Poisson distributions  10  +
3           - normal distributions                11  |    2
              Mathematica project due!


Please send comments to math21a@fas.harvard.edu
Math21a, Multivariable Calculus, Spring 2006, Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Art and Sciences, Harvard University


Wed Dec 21 20:41:05 EST 2005