MAT 131 CALCULUS I

FALL 2012

It is the student's responsability to check this page frequently for changes and updates. Changes will be announced in class and, if appropriate, on the web page. Students are responsible for announcements made in class and/or on the web-page. Academic Calendar.



FINAL LETTER GRADE.

We will add up all your numerical scores (they add up to a maximum of 1000); we will curve these (A to F) and this is the letter grade for the course. In order to give a fair possibility to people who will perform sufficiently well on the final, your actual final letter grade may be improved (but not diminished) as follows. We will first convert the numerical score in the final test into a letter (A to F). If you score A in the final test, then, if your overall performance in the course is consistent with this, your letter grade in the course will be A. If you score C or higher in the final test (but not A), then if we your overall performance in the course is consistent with this, your letter grade in the course will be at least a C (if your overall score corresponds to, say, an F you may get C; if your overal score corresponds to a B, you will get B). We are not saying that if you score B in the final test, you will get B or higher in the course: in this case you will get the letter grade corresponding to your overall numerical score. Note: all of the above is to your advantage.



If you are dropping down to MAT 131 from another course, do as follows: ask the instructor of the course from which you are dropping down to email you your grades (homework and midterm) with a copy (cc) to your MAT 131 new recitation leader.



MAT 131.

MAT 131 is the first course in the 2-semester single variable calculus sequence. It covers limits, continuous functions, derivatives and their applications, antiderivatives and the fundamental theorem of calculus.

The course moves rather quickly. Students who would like to learn the same material at a somewhat slower pace should take MAT 125. The three-semester sequence MAT 125-126-127 covers the same material as the two-semester sequence MAT 131-132.


TEXTBOOK.

Single Variable Calculus (Stony Brook Edition 4), by James Stewart. This edition is essentially the same as Single Variable Calculus: Concepts and Contexts, 4th ed. There are many purchasing options. Since we do not use webassign for homework, you can simply buy a hardcopy of the book.

This paragraph is relevant only if you want webassign for self-study and practice on problems different from the assigned homework (there is no credit assigned for this work), in which case, here is one purchasing option. You should have access to your e-book by the end of the first week. If not, please email Professor Jason Starr (associate director of undegraduate studies) jstarr@math.sunysb.edu. The best way to access WebAssign is through Blackboard. From within Blackboard, click on the link for your MAT 131 recitation. Then go to the left panel, go almost all the way to the bottom, and click on "Tools". Finally, scroll all the way to the bottom of tools and click on "WebAssign". That should automatically log you into your WebAssign account. This links you to the Fall 2011 MAT 131 homework page, where you can find some useful info.


MEETING TIMES: See math department schedule of all classes.


ETIQUETTE.

Punctuality: no late arrivals, no early departures: they are disruptive.

Silence: show respect to other fellow students by not disturbing the class.

NO: cells, texting, food.


PREREQUISITES: go here and scroll down.


GRADE.

Midterm I = 25%, Midterm II =25%, Final = 30%, Homework = 20%.

Maximum scores: Midterms I and II: 250pts each; each homework: 20pts (the best ten are used to grade); Final 300pts. Total maximum: 1000pts.

The numerical grade will be converted to a final letter grade only AFTER the final test has been graded. However, after each midterm an approximate letter grade will be given to you.

To do well in this class we strongly encourage you to: read the section to be covered before class, do the homework, plan to work on reading and homework for 6-8 hours a week, start preparing for tests well in advance.


SCHEDULE OF EXAMS.

There will be two midterm exams and the final exam. The time of these exams is as follows:

Midterm 1: Wednesday October 3, 8:45-10:15pm (EVENING EXAM!)
Midterm 2: Wednesday October 24, 8:45-10:15pm (EVENING EXAM!)
Final exam: Wednesday December 12, 11:15AM-1:45PM.

Note that the all exams times are assigned by Registrar's. If you have a conflict with another class it probably means that the other class has placed the final in conflict with this class (please resolve this issue with the instructor in charge of the other class). As per university's regulations, we cannot change the dates of the exams.

Important: Students who perform poorly on Midterm I should seriously consider moving to a lower level class.

The sections to be covered by each exam will be announced well in advance.

Bring your Stony Brook ID to all exams.

No: books, notes, calculators, cells etc.

You can practice for each exam with the exams posted on the webpage for MAT 131 Fall 2011. . This will give you an approximate idea of the exam content, length and difficulty. However, 1) the sections covered by the 2011 exams may differ a bit from the sections covered by our exams and 2) the actual problems may be quite different.



Midterm I: Wednesday October 3, 8:45-10:15pm (EVENING EXAM!). Midterm I with solutions.

LOCATION: LEC 01 (MWF) ESS 001; ---; LEC 02 (MW) and LEC 03 (TuTh) JAVITS 100.

Covers sections: 1.1, 1.2, Appendix C, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1.

To be well-prepared for the mid-term, learn all definitions and theorems, work out all the examples in the sections covered by the test, as well as the exercises at the end of each section (skip computer-assisted material in the sections and problems that require a calculator). You can take this practice test (posted!; it will be discussed during the recitation before the exam).

Appoximate curve (remember that we curve only after ALL tests are taken; this is just an indication of how you are doing right now):

AA- range: 190 and up; B+BB- range: 150 and up; C+CC- range: 110 and up; D+D range 90 and up. Average 180.



Midterm II: Wednesday October 24, 8:45-10:15pm (EVENING EXAM!). Midterm II with solutions.

LOCATION: LEC 01 (MWF) ESS 001; ---; LEC 02 (MW) and LEC 03 (TuTh) JAVITS 100. Alternate seating: two people cannot sit next to each other.

Covers sections: 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8.

To be well-prepared for the mid-term, learn all definitions and theorems, work out all the examples in the sections covered by the test, as well as the exercises at the end of each section (skip computer-assisted material in the sections and problems that require a calculator). You can take this practice test (posted!; it will be discussed during the recitation before the exam).

Appoximate curve (remember that we curve only after ALL tests are taken; this is just an indication of how you are doing right now):

AA- range: 190 and up; B+BB- range: 150 and up; C+CC- range: 110 and up; D+D range 90 and up. Average 130.



Final: Wednesday December 12, 11:15AM-1:45PM.

Covers all sections in the syllabus.

LOCATIONS: You MUST take the test in the correct location: seating is very tight).

LECTURE 1 (SECTIONS 01, 04, 05): BENEDICT 200 (behind Student Union (H Quad); there is no room number and signs will be posted).

LECTURE 2 (SECTIONS 06, 07): Old Engineering 143.

LECTURE 2 (SECTIONS 08, 09): Old Engineering 145.

LECTURE 3 (SECTIONS 10, 11): Humanities 1003.

LECTURE 3 (SECTIONS 12, 13): Light Engineering 102.

Alternate seating: two people cannot sit next to each other; due to lack o f space, this may not be always possible; in that case, people sitting next to each other MUST sit in the FRONT ROW.

To be well-prepared for the final, learn all definitions and theorems, work out all the examples in the sections covered by the test, as well as the exercises at the end of each section (skip computer-assisted material in the sections and problems that require a calculator). You can take this practice test (posted!; it will be discussed during the review session before the exam). You do NOT need to know the PROOF of any theorem.



Important:

There will be no make-ups for missed exams and homework. However, if you miss a midterm exam for an acceptable and documented reason, then the relevant mid-term will be `dropped' (ignored) in computing your course grade. A letter stating that you were seen by a doctor or other medical personnel is NOT an acceptable document, unless it states that it was reasonable/proper for you to seek medical attention and medically necessary for you to miss the exam (for privacy reasons this note/letter should not state anything beyond this). The letter should have a phone number that allows us to reach the person who wrote the letter. If you miss more than one midterm etc., we shall evaluate the circumstances. If you have missed a midterm and have not given your instructor proper documentation, then your grade on the missed midterm is 0. Incompletes will be granted only if documented circumstances beyond your control prevent you from taking the final exam.



Curve for grade in final exam: A>=270, C>=180 .

Curve for final grade in the course: A>= 860 ; A->= 810; B+>= 760; B>= 710; B->= 650; C+ >= 600 ; C>= 550 ; C- >= 520; D+ >= 450 ; D>= 390; F < 390.

After the course is over, if you have any questions about your final grade, send a letter (not an e-mail) to your instructor, c/o Dept. Math,+ SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook N.Y. 11794-3651. If appropriate, you will receive a written reply. These matters will be dealt with in writing only; that way, we have a written record of what the student says, and what we reply. See about grades.


Tentative WEEK-BY-WEEK SYLLABUS. (Subject to Change)



Week of Aug 27: 1.1, 1.2, APPENDIX C.

Week of Sep 3: 1.5.

Week of Sep 10: 1.6, 2.1.

Week of Sep 17: 2.2, 2.3.

Week of Sep 24: 2.4, 2.5.

Week of Oct 1: 2.6, 2.7, 2.8.

Week of Oct 8: 3.1, 3.2.

Week of Oct 15: 3.3, 3.4.

Week of Oct 22: 3.5, 3.6. 3.7.

Week of Oct 29: CLASSES CANCELED DUE TO SANDY (sections 3.9, 4.1, originally to be covered in this week, to be covered later as indicated).

Week of Nov 5: 3.9, 4.1, 4.2 (originally 4.2, 4.3).

Week of Nov 12: 4.3, 4.5, 4.6 (originally 4.5, 4.6).

Week of Nov 19: 4.8, 5.1

Week of Nov 26: 5.2, 5.3.

Week of Dec 3: 5.4, 5.5.


HOMEWORK.

Each assignement consists of 8 problems. Only 4 of the 8 problems in each assignment will be graded for a maximum of 20 (=5+5+5+5) points for each assignment. The homework is posted here every TU and it is due the following week during your recitation. If your recitation does not meet on a given week, your recitation leader will let you know when to hand-in the homework. Graded homework will be returned the following week during recitation. If you miss the recitation, you may collect it during the grader's office hours. Questions about the grading of the homework should be directed to the recitation leader.

There are no exceptions to the following:

late homework will not be accepted and the homework must be stapled WITH A METALLIC STAPLE;

Doing 8 problems a week is not enough to master the material, you are therefore strongly encouraged to work on more problems from the book on your own. You can discuss them during recitation, office hours and in the Math Learning Center.



Posted HMK is subject to change; however, it will not be changed the week before is due (example: HMK due on the week of Sept 24 will not be changed after Sept 16).

Hmk 1, due week of Sep 3: 1.1: 41,52,59; 1.2: 4,8,14; Appendix C: 14,31.

Hmk 2, due week of Sep 10: 1.5: 4, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 29.

Hmk 3, due week of Sep 17: 1.6: 16,19,24,56,60; 2.1: 1,2,5.

Hmk 4, due week of Sep 24: 2.2: 1,6,8,16; 2.3: 7,8,24,38.

Hmk 5, due week of Oct 1: 2.4: 6, 28, 36 (typo in book: second line, the less than two should be less than or equal to two), 44; 2.5: 4, 18, 26, 42.

Hmk 6, due week of Oct 8: 2.6: 18,29,54; 2.7: 24,41,53; 2.8:12,30.

Hmk 7, due week of Oct 15: 3.1: 14,17,28,51; 3.2: 6,10,30,60.

Hmk 8, due week of Oct 22: 3.3: 4,17,29,35; 3.4: 17,32,65, 91.

Hmk 9, (originally, due week of Oct 29) now due week of NOV 5: 3.5: 24,36,42; 3.6: 26,32,40; 3.7: 22,27,42.

Hmk 10, (originally, due week of NOV 5) now due week of Nov 12: 3.9: 4,8,30,33; 4.1: 4,23,25,28.

Hmk 11, (originally, due week of Nov 12) now due week of Nov 19: 4.2: 38, 48, 54, 66; 4.3: 38, 42, 49, 56.

Hmk 12, due week of Nov 26 (because of TKSgiving): 4.5: 16, 38, 42, 70; 4.6: 20, 32, 27, 58.

HMK 13, due week of Nov 26: 4.8: 16, 36, 39, 50; 5.1: 2, 20, 22, 28.

Hmk 14, due week of Dec 3: 5.2: 32, 34, 42; 5.3: 19, 48, 50, 60, 76.

There will be no hmk assigned for 5.4 and 5.5, but these sections may be on the final, so do problems form those sections on your own.


Office hours and contacting instructors and recitation leaders.

The best way is to approach us after the lectures/recitations or to see us during office hours: this saves everybody's time and makes us understand better your questions. Use e-mail for true ``emergencies" (like ``I am sick, cannot take the midterm, will give you documentation"). E-mail is not a good way to ask math questions, as our typing abilities are very limited. After the course is over, if you have any questions about your final grade send a letter (not an e-mail) to your instructor, c/o Dept. Math, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook N.Y. 11794-3651. If appropriate, you will receive a written reply. These matters will be dealt with in writing only; that way, we have a written record of what the student says, and what we reply. See about grades.

See math department schedule of all classes and look for MAT 131 list of instructors and recitation leaders.

For instructors office hours click here.

For recitation leaders office hours contact them.


Support resources.

The MATH LEARNING CENTER (MLC), located in MATHEMATICS BUILDING, FLOOR S, ROOM S-240A, (631) 632-9845, is a place where students can go for help and/or to form study groups. Check the link for more info. Their hours are: MTuW 10-7, Th 10-6, F 10-2.

The instructors and recitation leaders have regular office hours.


Information for students with disabilities.

If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services at (631) 632-6748 or http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/dss/. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.

Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with their professors and Disability Support Services. For procedures and information go to the following website: http://www.sunysb.edu/ehs/fire/disabilities.shtml


  • Mark Andrea de Cataldo's homepage.
  • Quod non est in web non est in mundo