MATH 131 - COURSE SYLLABUS

Instructor:	Adrian Rice
Office:	Copley 233
Phone:	752-7230
e-mail:	arice4@rmc.edu
Web Site:	http://faculty.rmc.edu/adrice/public_html/math131.html
Office Hours:	Tu Th 1:00-2:00 and W 10:30-11:30 and by appointment

Textbook:

Calculus. Early Transcendentals. Single Variable, 9th edition.
By Howard Anton, Irl Bivens, and Stephen Davis. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2009.

Reading:

During each class session, you will receive a reading assignment to be completed by the beginning of the next class meeting. Since the lectures in this class will typically focus on highlighting the main points, it is critical that you do the reading to pick up important details. You are encouraged to read all chapters more thoroughly than we will cover them in class.

In-Class Activities:

Time during a typical class meeting will be spent on a lecture covering the main points in the assigned reading, and working on in-class problems and examples.

Homework:

Problem sets will be regularly assigned. Homework solutions will not be collected. However, at least 75% of the problems on each exam will be drawn directly from the assigned homework exercises.
You will find that problems vary significantly in difficulty, length, and intent. Students are welcome to discuss homework problems with each other, but you are warned to not be too complacent if you are able to just do "most" of the problems yourself: it is understanding the problems at that next level that will teach you the most.

Quizzes:

A quiz will be given during class once each week. Typically, the quiz will consist of one or two of the homework problems assigned during the week. The purpose of these quizzes is to ensure that you are keeping up with the homework assignments. NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES WILL BE GIVEN.

Attendance:

You are expected to attend class, as it will contribute to your final grade.
LATE ARRIVAL TO CLASS WILL BE COUNTED AS AN ABSENCE.

Topics to be covered in the course will include:

Real Numbers

Functions

Limits and Continuity

Derivatives

Rules of Differentiation

Derivatives of Exponential, Logarithmic, and Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Graphing Functions

Maxima and Minima

Rectilinear Motion

Introduction to Integration

The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

Exams:

There will be three in-class examinations and a comprehensive final examination. The dates of the exams can be found in the Examination Schedule. AN UNEXCUSED ABSENCE FROM AN EXAM WILL RESULT IN A SCORE OF ZERO.

Course Grade:

Your course grade will be based on scores received on the three exams, the final, and the quizzes. Attendance will also be taken into account. The course grade scale is given below:

Grade Scale
Exam 1		20%
Exam 2		20%
Exam 3		20%
Quizzes, attendance		15%
Final exam		25%

Technology Policy:

The only form of technology that is permitted in my classroom is a calculator. Cell phones, iPods, and ALL OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Anyone listening to music, sending texts, reading messages, making phone calls, or whose cell phone rings in class will have HALF A LETTER GRADE deducted from their final grade on every occasion this policy is violated.

Disabilities:

If you have a physical or psychological disability that requires an accommodation, you must first register with the Office for Disability Support Services. Please arrange a meeting with the course instructor to discuss your needs and how to register for support services.