Times: MWF 11:00-11:50 and Tuesday 11:30-12:20 Thompson 320
Instructor: Martin Jackson
Office: Thompson 602
Phone: 879-3567
E-mail: martinj Course Overview and Text
This course is the third in the three semester calculus sequence.
Our goals for this course are
to understand the relevant concepts of calculus
to develop facility with the computational techniques of
calculus
to explore applications of calculus
to gain proficiency in reading and writing mathematical
exposition; and
to sharpen critical thinking and logical reasoning skills.
The central theme of this course is extending the basic concepts of
calculus to higher dimensions. In the first two semesters of the
calculus sequence, the primary objects of interest are functions for
which each input is a single real number and each output is also a
single real number. Multivariate calculus concerns functions for
which each input or output can be an ordered pair or triple of real
numbers.
The text for this course is Calculus, 3rd ed., Monty J. Strauss,
Gerald L. Bradley and Karl J. Smith, (Prentice-Hall, 2002). We will
cover the material in Chapters 10 through 13 of the text.
Course Web Page
A web site for this course is located
at www.math.ups.edu/~martinj/courses/spring2004/m221/m221.html
or go to www.math.ups.edu/~martinj and follow the obvious
links. Assignments will be listed and class handouts will be
available to download as PDF files. Scores for assignments and exams
will be posted by codeword for those who wish. If you want your
scores to be posted, send me an e-mail to tell me the codeword you
want to use.
Grading, Coursework, and Policies
In class, we will discuss new material, respond to questions from
reading the text, and work through assigned problems on which there
are difficulties. When we discuss new material, the focus will be on
"the big picture." That is, we will look at new ideas in their
simplest form and how these ideas fit together. Often, we will not
consider details and variations in depth during a first pass through
new material. Your mastery of the details will begin outside of class
with a careful reading of the text and work on the assigned problems.
We will address the details by responding to questions on the
reading and problems that you bring to class. You are expected to
participate in class by being present (and alert), by responding to
questions I pose, and by asking the questions that you have.
Outside of class, you should read the relevant sections of the text
carefully. This will generally include working through the reasoning
of arguments and filling in steps that are omitted in calculations.
You should keep a list of specific questions from the reading and find
answers to those questions either in class, with me outside of class,
with study partners, or with a tutor.
The text is also a source of problems that are essential in
building understanding and skill. I will assign homework problems
from the textbook on which I expect you to spend considerable time
and effort. For most sections we cover, I will also designate
several problems to be collected and evaluated. You should not
get in the habit of focusing only on the problems designated to
be turned in. You will need to do many more problems in order to
become facile with the concepts, techniques, and applications.
On occasion, you will work in small groups on activities in class.
After each activity, you will write a report that will be due
on the third class meeting following. Your report will include
details of the results your group obtained and discussion of the
ideas or lessons of the activity.
Each problem set and activity report will have a due date. If you wish to
turn an assignment in after the due date, you must talk with me before
the due date. Under reasonable circumstances, I will grant individual
extensions for deadlines. If you submit an assignment after a
deadline (or an agreed upon extension), I will assess a penalty
equal to 10% of the assignment's maximum point value for each working
day that the assignment is late.
In order to assess your learning, we will have five exams and a final
exam. The date for each of the five exams during the semester will be
announced at least one week in advance. In order that time not be a
factor on exams, I will arrange to give each exam during a two-hour
time period, generally in the evening. I write exams so that
approximately three-fourths of each exam is "straightforward" and
the remainder involves more challenging problems. By this, I intend
that a well-prepared student can do the "straightforward" problems
without hesitation but will often or always have to struggle with the
challenging problems.
The final exam will be comprehensive. It is scheduled for 4:00-6:00
pm on Tuesday, May 11. It is University policy that no
exceptions can be made for taking a final exam at the scheduled time.
Please do not make travel arrangements that conflict with the
scheduled final exam time.
To determine course grades, I calculate a total course score according
to the following weights:
I assign a
preliminary course grade based on an objective
standard (93.3-100% for an A, 90.0-93.2% for an A-, 86.7-89.9% for
a B+, 83.3-86.7% for a B, etc.). I then look at each student's
performance subjectively. Occasionally I will assign a course grade
that is higher than the objective standard. For example, if a student
has a grade of B according to the objective standard but has shown
steady improvement, I might assign a course grade of B+.
Office Hours
I am available in my office for help several hours each day. I am
often in my office during the day in hours at which I do not have a
scheduled class, meeting, or other activity. My schedule is
available here.
Feel free to come look for me. To be (almost)
guaranteed that I will be in, come during one of the hours labeled as
an "office hour." You can also call, send e-mail, or stop me after
class to schedule an appointment for a specific time.
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