Math 75, Fall 2005 Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. Katherine Kelm
Office: PB 343
E-mail: Click here
Phone: 278-4996
Course: Math 75 (calculus)
Class meets: MWF in S 139
  • 1:00-2:05pm (class number 78654) or
  • 2:15-3:20pm (class number 78657)
Texts:
  • Stewart, Calculus: Early Transcendentals, 5th Ed. (ISBN 0534-39321-7)
  • (Recommended): Cleary and Cusick, A Mathematica Mystery Tour
Welcome to Math 75! Math 75 is a 4-unit course, covering inequalities, functions, graphs, limits, continuity, differential calculus, introductory integral calculus, and applications. We will use the computer algebra system Mathematica as an exploratory tool. The prerequisite for this course is Math 6 or equivalent. You are expected to be proficient in high school algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. The course covers chapters 1 through 5 of the text, although chapter 1 is considered to be review. If it does not seem like review, you should review it very soon! The recommended text is a short packet available at low cost at the Bookstore. It will be very helpful if you have never used Mathematica before.
Calculus is a very interesting and very useful subject. This course, however, will be demanding. I will do my very best to teach it to you, but you must ultimately take the responsibility to stay caught up, seek extra help when you need it, and monitor your progress in the class. I am always here to help you do this.
I love this course. I hope my enthusiasm rubs off on you!
Please see the following links for complete information:
-A-
Academic Honesty
Attendance
-B-
Basis for course grade - see How grades are determined, Grade Breakdown
Behavior - see Classroom Behavior
Bonus Points
-C-
Calculator Policy
Cheating - see Academic Honesty
Classroom Behavior
Course Outline
-D-
Dates of Exams - see Midterms, Final Exam
Disabilities - see Students with Disabilities
Dropping Lowest Scores - see How grades are determined, Homework Policy, or Quizzes
-E-
Exams - see Final Exam, Midterms, or Quizzes
Extra Credit - see Bonus Points
Extra Help
-F-
Face the Query - see Attendance
Final Exam
Format Rules - see Homework Format Requirements and Guidelines
-G-
Goals - see Learning Objectives and Learning Outcomes
Grade Breakdown - see also How grades are determined
-H-
Help outside of class - see Extra Help
Homework
How grades are determined
-I-J-K-
-L-
Learning Objectives and Learning Outcomes
-M-
Midterms
-N-
-O-
Office Hours
Outline - see Course Outline
-P-
Plagiarism - see Academic Honesty
Policy
-Q-
Query, Face the - see Attendance
Quizzes
-R-S-
-T-
Tutoring - see Extra Help
-U-V-W-X-Y-Z-
 
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students should understand:
  • The benefits and limitations of mathematical models.
  • The concept of a limit.
  • Continuous functions.
  • The definition of a derivative as a limit of difference quotients.
  • How to interpret the derivative in the context of real-world examples.
  • The definition of antiderivatives.
  • The integral as an area or the distance traveled by a moving object.
  • The idea of an "area function" under the graph of a function f, and how it relates to the function f  itself.
  • The two parts of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
  • The relationship between integrals and antiderivatives.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
  • Use functions to represent changing quantities.
  • Compute limits of algebraic expressions.
  • Compute the derivative of any polynomial, rational function, trigonometric function, root function, logarithmic function, exponential function, or any combination of such functions.
  • Identify the ways in which a function can fail to have a derivative.
  • Compute certain simple antiderivatives.
  • Find maximum or minimum values of functions.
  • Solve "real-world" optimization problems by converting them into the language of calculus.
  • Approximate zeros of a function using Newton's Method.
  • Compute the definite integral of any polynomial or root function.
  • Define the definite integral as a limit of Riemann sum approximations.
  • Graph, differentiate, and integrate functions using the Mathematica computer algebra system.
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Course Outline
Chapter (Stewart) Description
1 Functions and Models:
1.1, 1.2 (review of graphs and models of important functions)
1.3 (review of transformations of graphs and combining functions)
1.5, 1.6 (review of exponential, logarithmic, and inverse functions)
(We will skip section 1.4)
2 Limits and Derivatives:
2.1, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9 (tangent lines and velocities)
2.2, 2.3, 2.6 (the limit of a function)
2.5 (continuity of a function)
2.6 (limits at infinity, horizontal asymptotes)
(We will skip section 2.4)
3 Differentiation Rules:
3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.8 (methods of computing derivatives)
3.3, 3.7, 3.10 (basic applications)
(We will skip section 3.9; section 3.11 belongs in the next chapter)
4
(and section 3.11)
Applications of Differentiation:
4.1, 4.7 (optimization)
4.3, 4.5 (graphing)
4.4 (l'Hôpital's Rule)
3.11, 4.2, 4.9 (approximation)
(We will skip sections 4.6 and 4.8; section 4.10 belongs in the next chapter)
5
(and section 4.10)
Integrals:
5.1, 5.2, 5.3 (definite integrals)
4.10, 5.4 (indefinite integrals)
5.5 (u-substitution)

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Homework Policy*

There will be three kinds of homework for this course: WeBWorK (online), paper (traditional), and Mathematica (computer algebra system, turned in electronically). In a given week you may have homework in any combination of the above formats. There is no homework due on midterm exam days.

WeBWorK problems are due on Wednesday nights at 11:30pm.

What is WeBWorK? WeBWorK is a web-based homework system. A key educational benefit of this system is that if you get a wrong answer, you get immediate feedback while the problem is still fresh in your mind. You can then correct your mistakes, review the relevant material before attacking the problem again, or seek help. This means that if you begin the assignment promptly it is possible to get 100% on every homework!

If you get a wrong answer, you can (and should) redo the problem, and resubmit your answer. You can access each set as many times as you like (until the due date), and the number of attempts for each problem is usually unlimited, unless otherwise specified.

How to access the system. The login page is at http://webwork.csufresno.edu/webwork2/Math75-KKelm/. Your login name is your Fresno State e-mail username (e.g. if your e-mail address is abc@csufresno.edu, then your WeBWorK login name is abc), and your initial password is your Fresno State student ID number.

More about the system.

  • You should log in as soon as possible, just to check that your login name and password work. You can (and probably should) change your password after you log in. You can also change your e-mail address if you like.
  • The set HW0_8-26 is Introduction to WeBWorK. It does not count toward your grade for the course, but you are strongly urged to "play" with it in order to see how the system works.
  • You are very strongly recommended to start working on your assignments early. If you wait until the last night you will not only be stuck if you need help with the material, but the system gets slow if too many people are accessing the same course at the same time which often happens on the last night before the set is due.
  • You can print out open sets (go to "homework sets"; choose a set, and click on "download hardcopy"), work on them wherever you like, and then log back in and submit your answers.
  • As with any computer or calculator, you have to be careful with parentheses. E.g. if you want to enter fraction, then you have to type (sin (2x) + 5)/(cos x - 3).
    If you forget parentheses and enter sin 2x + 5/cos x - 3 it will be interpreted as wrong expression.
    This is annoying at first, but it teaches you to use parentheses correctly! It will also be important when you do Mathematica assignments.
  • You can view your scores by clicking on "grades".
  • Almost every page in WeBWorK has an "email instructor" button. You can use this feature to e-mail me questions, explain how you did the problem, and ask what you did wrong.

Please note that the WeBWorK system strictly enforces the deadlines. Solutions are available on the system 5 minutes after the above time, so no exceptions can be made for late assignments. I will drop your lowest two WeBWorK scores.

Paper problems are due on Fridays at 4:00pm. You may give Friday homework to me directly or place it in the box outside my office labeled "Math 75." Please write your full name, the due date, and Math 75 at the top of the first page. Paper homework will be accepted through Monday at 4:00pm for half credit. After that it will not be accepted. I will drop your lowest paper homework score. Be sure to read and understand the Homework Format Requirements and Guidelines. They will be enforced! Homework of more than one page must be stapled. This is not optional. Do not write teeny-tiny to get out of this, please!

Mathematica problems will be due periodically. It is the policy of the Department of Mathematics at CSU Fresno to include basic familiarity with the computer algebra system Mathematica as part of the Math 75, Math 76, and Math 77 curricula. You are urged to purchase the recommended packet by Cleary and Cusick, A Mathematica Mystery Tour. It is cheap and will be very helpful throughout your calculus courses, especially if you have never used Mathematica before.

Questions concerning Mathematica will not appear on quizzes or exams.

There may be bonus problems (for extra credit) assigned in class from time to time which do not appear on the syllabus.
Warning: If this seems like a lot of homework, it is. You are expected to budget at least 8-12 hours per week for homework and study outside of class. Do not attempt to concentrate all this work on Wednesday and Thursday nights! You will never finish assignments, let alone learn anything, if you do not start a few days early, while you have the chance to get help. You may check your answers to problems from Stewart's book (paper problems) in the Solutions Manual in my office any time I am there, as long as you have completed the problem yourself first.

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Quizzes*
Quizzes will be held in class on Fridays, except during midterm weeks, starting September 2 (week 2) and ending November 18 (week 13). They will be given during the first 10 minutes of class. Please be on time because the quizzes start exactly at the top of the hour! If you miss a quiz, you get a 0. I will drop your lowest two quiz scores. The quizzes will usually be based on the material covered in the previous week's homework. For example, the first quiz on Friday, September 2 will cover the material from the homeworks due on Friday, August 26 and Wednesday, August 31. The second quiz on Friday, September 9 will cover the material from the homework due on Friday, September 2 and Wednesday, September 7. Make sure to review the homework and come to office hours with any questions well before the quiz!

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IMPORTANT. Reading comprehension is as important in mathematics as in any other subject. On any quiz or exam you should expect to see problems which are not exactly like the homework.
 
Midterms*
The midterm exams will be Fridays, September 23, October 28 and December 2 (weeks 5, 10, and 15). I will announce in class which sections will be covered on each midterm. Makeups will be solely at my discretion. You are not eligible for makeup consideration for any reason unless you contact me PRIOR to the start time of the exam. There will be no exceptions to this policy. If you have missed an exam, or feel that you are likely to miss an exam, contact me immediately to discuss your plans for passing the course.

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Final Exam*

The final exam is a comprehensive, multiple-choice test taken by every Math 75 student at Fresno State at the same time. It will be held on Saturday, December 10, time and location to be announced. If you feel you might have a conflict with this date (for instance, if you are taking another course with a common final), contact me immediately. Please note that it is strictly against University policy for me to give final exams early for any reason.

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Attendance
Math 75 is the most-failed course on campus. Missing class is the single most preventable cause! Please make the commitment to attend class every single day. This is a sequence course with a tight syllabus. I will not be able to slow down for you, because that material is going to be on the common final exam (not to mention Math 76 and throughout your life) whether we cover it or not. So you simply must show up every day, on time, to avoid missing something critical.
To help motivate you further, and to encourage you to arrive prepared for class, your attendance will be monitored by Face the Query. Every day I will ask a very basic question, either from the notes of the previous lecture or from the material to be covered that day. I will then select a member of the class at random by drawing a card from a box or hat. If you are selected and answer the question correctly, you will receive 2 points toward your Effort/Attendance/Participation grade. Additionally, you will be exempt from Face the Query for 1 week (though you should still come to class!). If you are present but do not answer the question correctly, you will receive 1 point. If you are not present when your name is called you will receive 0 points, even if you walk in later, so please be on time.
There are no excuses accepted for non-attendance. If you feel you will be missing a significant number of classes, please come see me to discuss your plans for passing the course.
If you must miss class, get the notes from someone as soon as possible, go over them (preferably with the student who took the notes -- it will be valuable for him or her as well to talk through the material), and then come to office hours with any questions. I cannot repeat my lecture for students who skip class.
This class tends to be heavily impacted (crowded!). Consequently, I will have little patience for students who are not ready, academically or psychologically, for the demands of the course. If you are not sure your algebra, geometry, and trigonometry skills are extremely reliable, I strongly recommend that you enroll instead in Math 75A/75B, a two-semester version of Math 75 that includes substantial help in these essential pre-calculus skills. Please see me or the course catalogue for more details.
If you are enrolled and decide not to take the class, you have until Friday, September 2 to drop the class without a Serious and Compelling Reason (please see p. 59 of the current course catalogue for details). Please drop as soon as you have made your decision in order to allow others to join the class.

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Basis for course grade (What does this mean?)
     
Homework 18% I drop the lowest of these five grades,
for a total of 18 x 4 = 72% of your grade
Quizzes (8) 18%
Midterm 1 18%
Midterm 2 18%
Midterm 3 18%
Final exam 22%
Effort/Attendance/Participation 6%
 
Grade breakdown**
90-100% A
80-89.9% B
70-79.9% C
60-69.9% D
0-59.9% F
** Due to possible curving, your grade may end up higher, but not lower, than this chart indicates.

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Other Stuff

  1. Calculator Policy

    Calculators are generally not allowed on quizzes or exams. I do not anticipate making any exceptions, except for one quiz on the approximation methods we will learn in sections 3.11, 4.2, and 4.9 of Stewart. I will have more information on that when the time comes. The reasons for this policy are as follows:

    Calculators these days are very powerful machines which can actually facilitate learning in many instances. Many complicated computational procedures which had to be taught in previous generations are now obsolete, and classes can now concentrate on more refined and theoretical concepts. However,

    1. Calculators can easily tempt a student not to learn necessary mental math skills. In other words, calculators can rot your brain! Though I encourage you to experiment with a calculator outside of class and see what you can learn from it, I wish to test what is in your brain, not in your calculator. For this reason, you should do as much of the homework as possible without one, to train yourself for exams.
    2. Good calculators can be expensive. I believe that it is unfair to allow students to use whatever calculator they can afford on exams. A student who has--or whose family has--more money should not have an advantage (or disadvantage, depending on how you look at it!) over a student with less money.

    Therefore, to keep the exams equitable, and to avoid brain rot, I choose to disallow calculators of any kind.

  2. Classroom Behavior

    I wish to maintain a positive, comfortable learning environment in our class. Please show respect for others by:

    • Making sure that all cell phones and pagers are turned off for the duration of the class
    • Not using tobacco products of any kind in class (this is California law and includes smokeless tobacco)
    • Not speaking, whispering, or engaging in any other distracting behavior while someone is addressing the class.

    Failure to adhere to these ground rules may result in your dismissal from the class.

  3. Academic Honesty

    Cheating is quite prevalent at Fresno State, and thus the penalties for getting caught are severe. Don't do it. Notes of any kind are not permitted during quizzes or exams. I may ask for hats to be removed or for you to switch seats for extra security. Collaboration on homework assignments is allowed and encouraged; however, everyone must turn in his or her own homework, in his or her own words. The University policy on academic dishonesty will be followed in cases of cheating and plagiarism. This means, at minimum, a score of 0 on any assignment or exam in which cheating or plagiarism is suspected. Please don't do anything that looks even remotely like cheating. It's not worth it.

  4. Students with Disabilities

    The University policy on students with disabilities will be followed. If you have a disability documented with Services for Students with Disabilities which requires accommodation, please see me as soon as possible to make arrangements.

  5. Extra Help

    Do not allow yourself to remain lost in the class. The night before the midterm is not the time to discover that you are in over your head! Whenever you need help, you must get it right away. Sources of help include the following:

    1. First and foremost, I am always here to help. If you cannot come to my office hours, make an appointment, or call or send email. I want you to succeed! Bringing your concerns to me can only raise your grade.
    2. Other students. Please try to get a phone number and/or email address from at least two other students in the class. Studying with your peers is one of the most effective learning tools and can be a great stress-buster, too. Even if you believe you work best alone, make sure you have someone to contact in case I am not available.
    3. Supplemental reading materials. These include the CD's that come with Stewart's text, the Student Solutions Manual (worked-out solutions to odd-numbered problems in the Stewart text) and various online sources. Please see me for more ideas, or consult a search engine such as Google.
    4. Tutoring. The Calculus Walk-In Lab is a free, drop-in lab run by the Mathematics Department in S2 323 with one person available to tutor anyone from any calculus class. Schedule is available here (click on Math Tutorial/Computer Labs and then on Mathematics (Calculus) Tutorial Lab), or posted outside my office. This is a great place to sit and do homework with other students and get help. Please make it a part of your week!

  6. Bonus Points

    In an effort to get to know each of you personally, and to encourage you to find my office, I will give 5 points bonus homework credit to everyone who comes to one or more of my office hours the first week of classes (August 22-26). You do not need to have questions or stay the full hour. Just come and introduce yourself!

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* Disclaimer: Although I have no plans to do so, all dates and policies are subject to change or exception according to announcements made in class.
 
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Last updated 9/9/2005