Features

Honors Calculus - Special Features

The courses MA 163H - 164H Catch the Wave to Calculus form an Honors calculus sequence. It is an unusual mathematics class. It does not follow the traditional approach - calculus topics are introduced as needed to solve a major problem.This course teaches wave analysis, Fourier series, Fourier Transforms, and even the Fast Fourier Transform method. The course also focuses on application of these methods in sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, geology; also in engineering, medicine, broadcasting, speech and communication, linguistics, photography, and the arts. Because these methods are used heavily in the everyday work of industrial engineers and researchers, this is a course that prepares you for your career, regardless of whether it is in science, industry, or business.

This course is not intended to be easier or more difficult than the regular MA 163 - 164 course. In some ways it is more challenging, but it gives more insight into the concepts and that should make them more understandable for students. It brings calculus closer to students' interests and that helps a lot too. The course does not focus on the traditional drill skills, but does not eliminate them completely. The three traditional tests will be tests similar to the tests in the regular course. They measure only those skills that are important in understanding the different mathematical methods.

During lab classes, in group projects, and in the computer lab classroom KT 218, students will learn how to use a powerful mathematics software, Maple. The misuse of this software could eliminate most of the traditional skill of calculus; there must be good balance to avoid this trap. On the other hand, after learning the basis of these skills, and after they are tested, students not only will be allowed to use Maple, but they will be encouraged to do so.

This class will be an unusual calculus course not only because of the topics of the course, but because it will include laboratory work and exclude recitations. Students will also be expected to work in groups and individually with the instructor in classes, in lab hours, and in office hours. Experiments will be conducted using different electrical and mechanical devices. Hypotheses and conjectures will be made and studied. Active participation is expected from students. Both the book WIF and the notes LN will constantly be used in class. Students will read part of WIF as a play (when it is written as dialogue), and the instructor will explain the topics of LN. In KT 218 personal computers will be used by students. Students are expected to give an informal presentation about their projects. Those who will participate, take the risk to be wrong, and not be afraid of making hypotheses and/or conjectures will benefit the most from this study.