Math 131 Home | Syllabus | Schedule | Practice Exams | Exam Scores

Math 131 - Fall 2003

Prerequisites

In order to take MAT 131, you must have either

• passed MAT 123 or MAT 130 with a C or better, or
• received a score of 5 or better on the mathematics placement examination.

See the document first year mathematics at Stony Brook for more information about the math placement exam and other calculus courses.

The textbook

The textbook for the course is Calculus: Concepts and Contexts, Single Variable, Second Edition by James Stewart (Brooks/Cole 2001, ISBN 0-534-37862-5).

Sections 1.1 thru 5.5 will be covered in this course. Assigned sections should be read before the lectures. See the schedule for a week by week list of the sections covered.

Homework

See the schedule for the list of assigned exercises. Homework will be collected and graded each week in the recitation sections.

Exams

There are four common exams in math 131: an early exam, two evening midterms, and a final exam. The dates for these exams are:

• Early exam: September 22 at 8:30 pm
• First midterm: October 9 at 8:30 pm
• Second midterm: November 10 at 8:30 pm
• Final Exam: December 16 at 11 am

The early exam is common for all first year calculus courses (not only 131) and covers the prerequisite material, reviewed in chapter one of the textbook.

The final exam will be comprehensive.

Grading policy

Final course grades will be determined by the following breakdown:

• Recitation: 15 percent
• Early exam: 15 percent
• First midterm: 20 percent
• Second midterm: 20 percent
• Final exam: 30 percent

or

• the grade on the comprehensive final exam,

whichever is higher.

A grade of C or better in math 131 is required to take math 132.

Extra help

Math Learning Center:

The Math Learning Center is located in Room A-127 in the Physics Building. It is staffed most days and some evenings by experienced mathematics tutors, including professors, graduate students, and advanced undergraduate students. Students may drop in, without an appointment. Your lecturer and recitation instructor will hold at least one office hour per week at the Math Learning Center. See the Math Learning Center website for more information.

Office hours

The lecturers and the recitation instructors will hold three office hours per week, two of which will be held in their office and one of which will be in the Math Learning Center (room A-127 in the physics building). The specific times of these office hours will be announced by the lecturers and the recitation instructors.

Students with disabilities:

If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact on your ability to carry out assigned course work, you are strongly urged to contact the staff in the Disabled Student Services (DSS) office: Room 133 in the Humanities Building; 632-6748v/TDD. The DSS office will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. A written DSS recommendation should be brought to your lecturer who will make a decision on what special arrangements will be made. All information and documentation of disability is confidential. Arrangements should be made early in the semester (before the first exam) so that your needs can be accommodated.