Teena Gerhardt
MTH 124 – Syllabus
Fall 2015
COURSE GOALS:
The two primary goals of this course are to:
1. Analyze functions using limits, derivatives, and integrals in a variety of different ways
(graphically, numerically, and analytically).
2. Apply mathematical tools from calculus to applications in the life sciences.
CLASS MEETING SCHEDULE:
Mondays and Wednesdays 1:50-2:40pm: 108 Ernst Bessey Hall
Fridays 1:50-2:40pm: Location determined by section number:
Section 41
Section 42
Section 43
Section 44
Section 45
Section 46
Section 47
Section 48
A116 WH
A128 WH
A132 WH
A134 WH
A226 WH
A232 WH
A324 WH
A328 WH
INSTRUCTOR:
Teena Gerhardt
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (517) 353-4693
Office: D322 Wells Hall
Office hours: Monday 9:30-10:30am, Friday 11am-12, and by appointment
SUPPLIES:
TEXTBOOK: Applied Calculus for MSU
Author: Waner and Constenoble
ISBN-10: 1-305-75060-8
ISBN-13: 978-1-305-75060-9
Available at http://www.cengagebrain.com/course/1-1OVPOEB
CALCULATOR: A graphing calculator is required for this course. You are expected to bring
your calculator to every recitation and exam. The recommended calculators are TI83+, TI 84, or
TI 84+. You are responsible for developing proficiency with your calculator.
NOTE: Some calculating devices are inappropriate for this course. Tests completed using a
prohibited device will receive an automatic score of zero. Prohibited devices include: cell phones,
tablets, laptops, TI89, TI-Nspire, Voyage 200, TI92, TI92+, HP49G, HP49G+, HP50G, and
Casios algefx2.0 and algefx2.0pls. If you are uncertain about whether your calculator is allowed,
it is your responsibility to ask.
WEBWORK: This course requires WeBWork, an online homework service. Subscribing to
WeBWork costs $40. More information about paying the $40 WeBWork fee is below.
CLASS PAGES:
Each section of MTH 124 has its own webpage where class materials will be posted. Access your
class page by going to https://www.math.msu.edu/classpages/, choosing “100-Level Courses”,
and then choosing your section number.
COURSE GRADING: Your course grade will be based on:
WeBWork
Application Labs
Exam 1
Exam 2
Final Exam
15%
15%
20%
20%
30%
The following scale determines your final grade; it may be curved at the end of the semester to be
more lenient.
GRADE
% GRADE
0.0
[0, 55)
1.0
[55, 60)
1.5
[60, 65)
2.0
[65, 73)
2.5
[73, 80)
3.0
[80,85)
3.5
[85, 90)
4.0
[90, 100]
WEBWORK HOMEWORK:
WeBWork homework will be done online at http://math.msu.edu/webwork. Homework deadlines
are available on the WeBWork site. Assignments submitted up to 48 hours after the 100% credit
deadline will receive 75% of the score received. Make-ups will not be permitted and no
assignments will be dropped.
Instructions for signing up for WeBWork can be found on your section’s class page (see above).
The WeBWork fee is $40. WeBWork is free software, however, the problems in every course
have been created by the Mathematics Department. The WeBWork fee helps create, maintain,
and develop the homework problems for the mathematics courses. The Webwork fee is
due on Tuesday 09/29/15 at 10:00am. Webwork can be used for free up to the due date. If you
pay the WeBWork fee and later drop the class, the fee will not be refunded. Thus if you are not
sure whether you want to stay in the class, we recommend you use WeBWork without paying the
fee until close to the due date.
APPLICATION LABS:
Most Friday recitations will consist of team (3 to 4 students) “application lab” projects focused on
applications of calculus to the life sciences. Assigned teams will submit one project report at the
end of each such recitation; each team member will be given the same grade based on the group’s
report. Absent team members will receive a score of zero.
Individual student’s lowest two application lab grades will be dropped. For this reason, no
excuses are accepted or required for your first two missed labs. Students should bring their
textbook and calculator to every recitation.
IN-CLASS EXAMS:
Exams are scheduled for Friday, October 9th, and Friday, November 13th, during recitation. An
absence that has not been approved by the instructor prior to the exam will result in a score of 0.
Make-up exams may be provided in exceptional cases, subject to instructor approval.
FINAL EXAM:
The cumulative final exam is scheduled for Monday, December 14th, 10am – 12pm. Exam
locations will be announced at a later date. Students are required to take the final exam at the
scheduled time -- the university has strict rules for exceptions. In particular, travel plans do not
constitute a sufficient excuse for rescheduling the final.
MATH LEARNING CENTER:
The Mathematics Learning Center offers free help for Mathematics 124 students. Its main
location is C126A Wells Hall; there are five additional satellite locations around campus. For
more details and hours, visit https://www.math.msu.edu/mlc.
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
The math department adheres to the university policies on academic honesty. Students caught
cheating may receive a 0.0 on the assignment/exam or fail the course. Cheating includes using
unapproved devices or materials, and copying another person’s work.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR FALL 2015:
09/02/2015 – Classes Begin. Students should go to scheduled Monday classes on the first day.
09/07/2015 – Labor Day – University closed.
09/09/2015 – Online open add period for fall semester ends at 8pm.
09/10/2015 to 09/16/2015 – Students go to Undergraduate office, C212 Wells Hall, for
Mathematics enrollment changes.
09/16/2015 – Last day to late add a course or change sections within a course. Last day to drop to
a lower level course.
09/28/2015 – End of 100% Tuition Refund.
10/21/2015 – Middle of Semester. Last day to drop a course without a grade being reported.
11/26/2015 to 11/27/2015 – Thanksgiving Break.
12/11/2015 – Last day of classes.
SCHEDULE OF LECTURES:
Date
Topic
Sep 2
Functions and models
Sep 4
Application Lab 1
Sep 7
NO CLASS – LABOR DAY
Sep 9
Linear and quadratic functions
Sep 11
Application Lab 2
Sep 14
Exponential functions and models
Sep 16
Logarithmic functions and models
Sep 18
Application Lab 3
Sep 21
Limits: numerical and graphical viewpoints
Sep 23
Limits and continuity
Sep 25
Application Lab 4
Sep 28
Limits and continuity
Sep 30
Limits and continuity
Oct 2
Application Lab 5
Oct 5
Average rate of change
Oct 7
Derivatives: numerical and graphical viewpoint
Oct 9
EXAM 1
Oct 12
Derivatives
Oct 14
Derivatives
Oct 16
Application Lab 6
Oct 19
Derivatives of powers, sums, and constant
multiples
Oct 21
The product and quotient rules
Oct 23
Application Lab 7
Oct 26
Chain rule
Oct 28
Chain rule and derivatives of exponential functions
Oct 30
Application Lab 8
Nov 2
Derivatives of logarithmic and exponential
functions
Nov 4
Maxima and minima
Nov 6
Application Lab 9
Nov 9
Applications of maxima and minima
Nov 11
Applications of maxima and minima
Nov 13
EXAM 2
Nov 16
Higher order derivatives
Nov 18
Higher order derivatives
Nov 20
Application Lab 10
Nov 23
The definite integral
Nov 25
The definite integral
Nov 27
NO CLASS – THANKSGIVING
Nov 30
Fundamental theorem of calculus
Dec 2
Fundamental theorem of calculus
Dec 4
Application Lab 11
Dec 7
Area between two curves
Dec 9
Review
Dec 11
Review
Readings
Sections 1.1 and 1.2
Sections 1.3 and 2.1
Section 2.2
Section 2.3
Section 3.1
Section 3.2
Section 3.3
Section 3.3
Section 3.4
Section 3.5
Sections 3.5 and 3.6
Section 3.6
Section 4.1
Section 4.3
Section 4.4
Sections 4.4 and 4.5
Section 4.5
Section 5.1
Sections 5.1 and 5.2
Section 5.2
Section 5.3
Section 5.3
Section 6.3
Section 6.3
Sections 6.1 and 6.4
Sections 6.1 and 6.4
Section 7.2