Math 1 - Calculus 1
About Calculus:
Calculus is the mathematical study of change. Algebra studies patterns of solving equations that are static - unchanging. Calculus looks at motion!
Calculus concepts have appeared in many locations - ancient Greece, China, the Middle East, India. Many of the formal concepts were developed and catalogued independently in the 17th century by Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, and more formal definitions within the field of real analysis were polished and credited with other mathematicians, starting with Bernard Bolzano in 1817, Augustin-Louis Cauchy in 1821, and Karl Weierstrass.
Calculus has a reputation of being difficult because the concepts are very abstract. However, we will work together to solidify our collective conceptual understanding.
You will be challenged, but challenge and struggle are VITAL to learning. You must struggle with the concepts to learn and understand them. I will be facilitating this struggle through active learning and group activities. Your voice and perspective are vital to the entire class.
MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS:
We are surrounded by movement. Rates of change exist in many aspects of our lives - miles per hour, degrees per minute, etc.
This course is the first course in a series to prepare you for more advanced mathematics and science classes.
Formal proofs are the foundation of mathematics; we will see some in this class.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon Completion of Math 1, a student should be able to:
find the volume of a solid of revolution using washers or shells
evaluate and interpret a definite integral
integrate a function involving a u-substitution
construct an optimization model and use it to find the desired quantity
find the roots of a function using Newton's Method.
All the section numbers in the calendar are based on the OER textbook Calculus (OpenStax)
The Calendar is a TENTATIVE schedule of the lessons and exams for the course during Spring 2024 semester.
The calendar is always subject to change, including the dates for exams (though I try to avoid moving exam dates).
You can change the format of the calendar to weekly, monthly, or by agenda (list) with the upper right options.
You can also add this calendar to YOUR Google calendar! Click the blue plus at the bottom right if you want this course calendar showing up in your personal Google Calendar.
Why Take the Class?
Motivation
Is It Difficult?
Course Layout
What is Expected of Me?
Material, Content & Grades
Any Help?
Assistance Outside or Beyond Class
Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. ~ Barack Obama
Media Credits:
Course Banner: 3D Render of Newton's Cradles, Photo by Sunder Muthukumaran on Unsplash
Children in Various Poses: Ashley McHale (my two kids at various ages)
Bottom Quote Background: Person holding a handful of Coins with Note "Make a Change", Photo by Kat Yukawa on Unsplash