Syllabus

Course Description and objectives

MATH 250 is the first of a three-course sequence (250-251-252) in college Calculus. Topics included: analytic geometry, functions, limits, derivatives of algebraic and trigonometric functions, applications of the derivative, integration, applications of the definite integral, and transcendental functions. By completing this course, students are expected to be able to...

• ...evaluate limits using numerical, graphical, and algebraic approaches, and demonstrate the concepts of continuity and differentiability.

• ...compute the derivative as a limit and apply differentiation formulas.

• ...apply derivatives to determine and interpret slopes and rates of change, write equations of tangent lines, and solve problems involving rectilinear motion.

• ...compute and apply linear approximations and differentials.

• ...compute and interpret higher order derivatives.

• ...apply the method of implicit differentiation to solve problems, including those involving related rates and differentiation of inverse functions.

• ...apply the derivative (first and second) to finding maximum and minimum values, curve sketching and optimization.

• ...interpret and apply Rolle’s Theorem and the Mean Value Theorem.

• ...evaluate definite and indefinite integrals using definitions, rules, theorems (including the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus) and approximation techniques (including Riemann Sums).

• ...apply the definite integral to determine areas, volumes, and average values.

• ...demonstrate techniques for differentiating and integrating polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions.

MATH 87 serves as co-requisite support for Math 250. It is intended for students enrolled in a Calculus course whose assessment results indicate a need for additional instruction on topics from Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, and Trigonometry, and for those students who would like additional support. Reviews and reinforces the skills necessary to succeed in Calculus. Focuses on linear equations and functions, quadratic equations and functions, manipulation of algebraic expressions, polynomial operations, trigonometric functions, support for the core content, and study skills. Provides frequent and intensive instructor feedback and practice.

Prerequisites:  MATH 244;  MATH 101 and MATH 104; or equivalent or through the Southwestern College multiple measures placement processes

Required materials

Textbook:  Calculus.  3rd ed.  by Briggs, Cochran, Gillett and Schulz. Published by Pearson, 2018.  

• • • A pdf version of the text should come with the access to Pearson MyLab

    • We shall cover chapters 1 to 7 of this text

    • There are also my blank course notes posted on Canvas. Please print out or download them to your laptop/tablet to assist with note-taking during lecture

Calculator: A Scientific Calculator and/or Graphing Calculator are required. TI-83/84 is the recommended calculator.  Students may also use the TI 85/86 calculators.  The TI-89 and TI-92 calculators are NOT allowed on exams.

Gradescope: For this class, I will also use this website to manage your exam.

• Please go to https://www.gradescope.com/ and sign up for an account using your SWC student account. Please also include your SWC student ID in the registration.

• After that, use the add code 2BDVNE to enroll to this Gradescope page. The course title is "Math 250 SWC."

• A caveat: when prompt for the school's name, please use "UC San Diego" instead.

homework (40% of your course grade)

The homework assignments are available on Pearson MyLab website (accessible through Canvas/Access Pearson). MyLab is used for the series (250, 251, 252).  It is recommended that you purchase the 24 month access code to get access to the e-text and homework problems for the subsequent courses as well. 

 In total, there will be fourteen (14) homework assignments. Please refer to the calendar on this website for the exact detail of the due dates. During the active period, students may attempt the homework problems as many time as they would like. However, only the most recent scores recorded by the system by the due date will be considered official. Homework assignments are due at 11:59pm on Sunday every week, starting from Week 2. Students are encouraged to discuss the homework exercises on with the instructor, tutors, and their fellow classmates. 

Each assignment is out of 20 points. In total, students can earn a maximum of 280 points from the homework assignments (14x20). You only need 240 points total from the homework to earn the full 40%. Any point beyond 240 will not be carried over to other categories.

It is important that students are able to keep up with the course progression. The homework problems should serve as a good test for your understanding of concepts discussed in the lecture. As a result, students are advised to try their best to complete the homework problems within 1-2 days after the corresponding lecture and/or before the subsequent lecture. Do not wait until the day before the deadline to start working on your homework! "Start early, start often!"

Exams (60% of your course grade)

There will be five in-class midterms (total 40% of your grade) and one in-class Final Exam (20% of your grade). Students are allowed a calculator - TI-83/84/85/86 are ok but TI-89 and TI-92 calculators are NOT allowed on exams. Beyond these, no textbook, notes, or any other electronic devices will be allowed during the exam. The exams will take place on campus, in the regular classroom, during of regular lecture times. 

• The first midterm will be held on Monday, September 16 (Week 4), covering topics from Chapter 1 and 2 on functions and limits

• The second midterm will be held on Monday, October 07 (Week 7), covering topics from Chapter 3 on derivatives

• The third midterm will be held on Monday, October 21 (Week 9), covering topics from Chapter 4 on applications of the derivative

• The fourth midterm will be held on Tuesday, November 12 (Week 12), covering topics from Chapter 5 on basic integral techniques

• The fifth midterm will be held on Monday, November 25 (Week 14), covering topics from Chapter 6 on applications of integral

• The final exam will be held on Tuesday, December 10 (Final Exam week), covering ALL materials from the course.

There is no make-up exam. If you are unable to attend the exams during their scheduled time, then please reach out to your instructor at least two days before the exam. We may be able to reschedule your exam to a day before or after the actual exam date. 

Each midterm is out of 40 points, so in total, students can earn a maximum of 200 from the five midterms. However, you only need 160 points total from the midterms to earn the full 40% from the midterms. Any point beyond 160 will not be carried over to other categories.

Attendance and participation

I expect everyone to attend in-person class regularly. In fact, please make an effort to come to the in-person class for the first week of lectures so that I can have a good count of how many students are enrolled. If you do not come to class on the first day (Monday 08/26) and do not contact me afterward, then you may be dropped from the class to give that seat to another student in the Wait List. 

Regular attendance and class participation are vital to your understanding of the course materials. Your presence will be counted not only by taking attendance in class but also by your regular contributions to in-class discussions and activities. Students who are absent (i.e. not actively participating) for more than 3 class meetings on this 16-week course may be dropped. However, if you choose to drop the course you will need to do so officially through Admissions and then notify your instructor.

Grade Policy

Your grade will be based on the scores of the quizzes, midterm, and the final exam.  It will be calculated as:

40% HW Assignments + 40% Midterms + 20% Final Exam

The letter grade you receive at the end of the course will be based on the following scale, which is the standard rubric at Southwestern College:

A = 90 - 100%; B = 80 - 89.99%; C = 70 - 79.99%; D = 60 - 69.99%; F = below 60%

According to the school's standard policy, to pass the course, students are also required to

• Earn an overall grade of "C" or better AND

• A grade of "D" or better on the Final Exam OR an average of a "C" or better on all exams which includes the final assessment(s) without dropping any exam score 

Regrade Policy

We shall grade your exams using Gradescope. All graded materials will be posted on Gradescope. If you find an error/inconsistency on any graded material, you must immediately request a regrade through Gradescope. All regrade issues should be resolved within 24-30 HOURS after the score is published. Once the regrade period is over, the score will become final and any late requests may not be considered.

Academic Honesty and Attendance Policy 

• As a student of Southwestern College, you have agreed to abide by the institute’s academic honesty policy. Academic integrity violations will be taken seriously and reported immediately. Violation of such policy may result in failing the class, suspension, and even expulsion from the university. Further information regarding Academic Integrity policy are available under the "Links" button above. You should make yourself aware of what is and is not acceptable by reading this document. Ignorance of the rules will not excuse you from any violations. 

Key facts about academic integrity related to our course:

• You must work alone on the exams. You may not post the exam questions online where they can be answered by someone other than the instructor or tutor. 

• You may consult other students, the instructor, or tutors while formulating your ideas on homework problems. However, you must complete your final homework solutions by yourself, based on your own understanding. 

• You may not copy or paraphrase solutions from another student or from any other source. If you consult any sources other than your textbook or discuss the problems with anyone other than the instructor or tutors, you must acknowledge this on your homework/exam.

• You may not post your homework answers online where they could be found by future students of this course. If your instructor posts homework solutions, you may not show those solutions to future students of this course, or post them online.

• You are the person accessing and completing the assignments for this course and will not share your username and password information with others.