Course description

This four-credit course is the first part of a three-semester calculus sequence intended primarily for majors in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Topics include functions of one variable, limits, derivatives, applications of derivatives, the mean-value theorem, antiderivatives, the definition of the Riemann integral, the fundamental theorem of calculus, and an introduction to the calculus of vector-valued functions and parametric curves.

The prerequisite is Math 150 (or the equivalent) or an acceptable score on the TAMU Math Placement Exam.

Course objectives

By the end of the course, you should be able to

• compute limits, derivatives, and integrals;
• apply calculus to describe properties of functions and curves and to solve optimization problems and related-rates problems;
• explain the main concepts and theorems of calculus.

Textbook

The required textbook is Calculus: Early Transcendentals, TAMU Custom Edition, by James Stewart.

Meeting time and place

The course meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:10–12:25, in Blocker 164; and on Wednesday afternoons, 4:10–5:00, in Blocker 163.

Exams and grades

There will be exams in class on February 14 (Thursday) and March 28 (Thursday). The final exam is scheduled for 3:00–5:00 in the afternoon of May 2 (Thursday). Each of these three exams counts for 25% of the course grade. The remaining 25% of the course grade is based on quizzes, homework, and classwork.

Course letter grades are based on the standard scale (60% is passing, 70% or higher earns a C, 80% or higher earns a B, 90% or higher earns an A).

Course website

https://www.math.tamu.edu/~boas/courses/171-2019a/

Office hours

During the Spring 2019 semester, my office hour in Blocker 601L is 2:00–3:00 in the afternoon on Monday and Wednesday; I am available also by appointment. The best way to contact me is via email to boas@tamu.edu. Telephone messages can be left at the teaching-operations office of the Department of Mathematics, 979-845-3261.