OverviewThis course is a continuation of the topics covered in Calculus I. One of the most fundamental, and most slippery, topics in mathematics is the relationship between the finite and the infinite. A recurring theme throughout the semester will be the relationship between an approximation and the exact value. We will spend quite a bit of time this semester trying to determine just how good any approximation is. One of the most beautiful aspects of calculus is that by taking better and better approximations and extending from the finite to the infinite, we will often be able to find a precise solution.Many of the topics we will cover this semester allow us to solve problems that do not seem to be immediately related to calculus. Here are just a few:
Course Goals and ExpectationsTwo of the goals of this course are that you learn to read a math text and that you learn to communicate mathematics with other students. Mathematics is a very personal discipline that is best learned by doing rather than by observing.Therefore, the class will be structured with some lectures to emphasize particular topics, but much of the time will be spent on in-class work. The class meetings are not intended to be a complete encapsulation of the course material - There will be material in the text for which you are responsible that we will not cover in class. You will have a reading assignment for nearly every class meeting, and it is extremely important that you complete the reading before the next class meeting! You should expect to put in approximately 2 hours outside of class for each hour in class. In other words, expect to spend at least 8 hours per week on Calculus II outside of class. There will be some weeks where you spend more time (e.g. working on projects or preparing for exams), and there may be some weeks where you do not spend the full 8 hours. Working with Other StudentsMany of the assignments this term will be group assignments where you will work in groups of two or three (of your choosing). Each assignment will receive a grade, and the group will determine how the points are allocated to each member. For example, if a group of three receives an 85 on an assignment, then the group will have 3 x 85=255 points to distribute among them. I will be available to mediate this process, if necessary.EvaluationYour final grade will be determined by
Reading AssignmentsI will put a copy of each reading assignment on the Math 104 homepage. Each assignment will indicate which parts of the section are especially important and which can be skipped. Each assignment will also have two or three questions that you should be able to answer after you have read the section.See the Guidelines for Submitting Reading Assignments for more information. Group ProjectsThere will be three group projects assigned during the semester. You will have two class periods to work together on the project, and your written report will be due a week or so later (see the syllabus for specific dates).One of the main goals of the projects is that you learn to communicate mathematics precisely, both verbally with your group and in writing. The reports should be written in complete sentences explaining the results and major ideas involved. You may divide the writing of the report in whatever way is agreeable to the group, but everyone should completely understand the whole of the paper. Further, each member should proofread the entire paper for consistency and typos. I will give you a handout that explains my expectations for the written reports in more detail. ExamsThe dates for the exams are given on the syllabus. I will give you a set of sample problems before each exam, and we will have a question and answer session before each exam to discuss the sample problems. For each exam, you will be allowed to bring an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper, handwritten on one side, which you will turn in with the exam.The final will be a takehome exam and is due Saturday, December 18. Antidifferentiation ExamOne of the fundamental skills you will learn this semester is antidifferentiation, or finding an antiderivative of a function. The Antidifferentiation Exam will consist of four or five problems and is graded with no partial credit. You either get every problem correct, or you get no credit for the exam. However, you may retake a similar exam as many times as you need until you pass.The Antidifferentiation Exam will be given in class on October 19. If you pass the Exam (or any version of it) on or before November 3, you will receive the full 10% credit. After that date (until the end of classes on December 14), you will receive 5%. You are not allowed to take the exam after the end of classes. HomeworkHomework will be collected most Wednesdays. Three or four problems will be graded from each assignment, with each problem graded fairly leniently and assigned a score of 0, 1, or 2. The most important aspect of the homework is that you make an effort on every problem.The homework assignments will alternate between Individual assignments and Group assignments. For the Group assignments, each student should attempt all of the homework problems, and the group should meet to complete the assignment. Each group will turn in one paper with one student designated as the primary author who writes-up the solutions for that assignment. The role of primary author must rotate among the members of the group. You may discuss the Individual assignments with other students, but each person must turn in a separate paper that represents his/her own work. Here are a few guidelines for the presentation of your homework. If you do not follow these, I reserve the right to return your homework ungraded!
Class AttendanceAlthough class attendance is not a specified percentage of your grade, I will keep a class roll to help me determine borderline grades at the end of the semester. If you do miss class, you are responsible for the material that was covered.Getting HelpPlease come see me during my office hours! If you have a conflict and cannot make my office hours, please call or email me and we can set up an appointment for another time.
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