Math 131 Syllabus (Spring 2013)

Course chair

Prof. Jenia Tevelev, LGRT 1236, 545-2856, tevelev at math dot umass dot edu

Description

This course is part of a 3-semester sequence (131-132-233), covering standard material on differential and integral calculus at an intermediate level: more sophisticated (and much faster moving) than high school calculus, but with less emphasis on theoretical rigor than in advanced courses such as Math 523. Instead the emphasis is on basic concepts, methods, and applications suitable for students majoring in engineering, natural sciences, computer science, and mathematics.

Text

There are two options for the textbook (price info is from Fall 2011 and may be different).

Beware that if you wish to buy one of those textbook/eBook + homework-system packages on-line from the publisher, Cengage Learning, you might not receive your package for a week. Meanwhile, you won't have any access to the printed and/or eBook version of the text! So before ordering on-line from the publisher, consider whether the $5.00-$10.00 savings is worth the risk of not having the text available to you right away.

This is a new edition of the text, so it will be difficult to find used copies.

Homework

You are required to use the Webassign on-line system for homework. Purchase of the Hybrid version of the textbook includes access to WebAssign and, though WebAssign, to an eBook version of the textbook.

To login to WebAssign, give your

You do not roster yourself in WebAssign, and so there is no "course code" for you to enter. Rather, your lecture section instructor adds you to the WebAssign roster shortly after the semester begins.

If you add the course or change sections, it is essential to notify your instructor so that he or she can add you to the roster or transfer your record from another section.

Course Web page

www.math.umass.edu/~tevelev/calc/131.html

Sections

Instructors, TA's, meeting times, and classrooms will be listed here, along with links to their web pages when available.

Grading

The grading scheme is explained here.

Final Exam

The final will be cumulative, with some emphasis placed on topics covered after the second exam. You may use a calculator on this exam. No notes, etc. are allowed.

The date and time of the final exam will be scheduled by the university. The University has a byzantine Final Examination Policy. See also here. Please read these pages carefully and make sure that you have no final exam conflicts when the schedule becomes available. It is your responsibility to understand and follow this policy.

Exams

The dates of the exams during the semester are the following:

Exams will run from 7-8:30 PM. Rooms are TBA. Please be aware of these dates and write them down in your datebook. Exams will not be given at any other time. Sections covered on an exam will be announced before the exam date.

Please bring your UMass ID to the exam (this is required). You can bring a calculator for Exam I. Here "calculator" means an actual calculator, not a calculator app on a cell phone, tablet device, computer, or other electronic device. (If you have any concerns please ask your instructor.) Calculators are not allowed for Exam II. No notes, etc. are allowed on any exams.

Makeup exams will only be given for reasons described here. Please read this page carefully and make sure that you have no exam conflicts. It is your responsibility to understand and follow this policy.

Extra help and tutoring

The best way to get help is to visit your instructor's or TA's office hours. If you can't make those, try visiting the Calculus Tutoring Center, which has drop-in hours for help with Math 131, 132, and 233. Another option is to visit the Learning Resource Center, which usually has at least a few tutors who can help.