Calculus I
PREREQUISITE: Math 155 or Satisfactory performance on the Placement Exam
- To understand the fundamental concepts of the calculus and connect them with real world problems from other disciplines.
- To value mathematics and develop an ability to communicate mathematics, both in writing and orally.
- To develop mathematical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
- To attain computational facility in differential and integral calculus.
TEXT: Calculus (eighth edition) by James Stewart, published by Cengage Learning.
To those of you who will be going on to Math 230 next semester: Do not sell your Math 229 textbook! You will need it in Math 230. Also, you will do well to refresh your differentiation and integration skills in the weeks before you begin Math 230. That course begins where Math 229 leaves off, and good differentiation and basic integration skills are essential to success in it.
Some additional references:
- Thomas and Finney, Calculus and Analytic Geometry.
- Edwards and Penney, Calculus and Analytic Geometry.
- Swokowski, Calculus with Analytic Geometry.
- Leithold, The Calculus with Analytic Geometry.
SYLLABUS: Click here for the suggested lecture pace and a more detailed syllabus with dates.
The course will cover Chapters 1-4 and Section 14.3 of the text.
- Limits and Continuity. The Intermediate Value Theorem.
- Tangent and Velocity Problems
- Derivatives: Limit Definition. Differentiation formulas. Trig formulas. Chain Rule and implicit differentiation. Rates of Change.
- Applications of Derivatives: Related Rates. Linear Approximations. Local and Absolute Extrema. Mean Value Theorem. Curve Sketching. Optimization. Newton's Method.
- Integrals: Antiderivatives. The Substitution Rule. Areas and the Definite Integral. The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
- Computation of Partial Derivatives.
HOMEWORK: Click here for the list of suggested homework exercises.
GRADING: Grades will be assigned on the basis of 650 points, as follows:
- 3 hour exams worth 100 points each
- Quizzes and/or homework, 150 points total
- Final exam, 200 points
GRADING SCALE: The grading scale for this class will at least guarantee the following:
- 85% for an A
- 75% for a B
- 60% for a C
- 50% for a D
EXAMS: The first and third hour exams will be done on a section-by-section basis. See your instructor for details.
MIDTERM and FINAL EXAMS: The second exam (midterm) is scheduled for 6:00-6:50 PM, Thursday, October 14, 2021.
This will be a departmental exam and all sections of the course will take the same second exam at the same time.
The Final Exam is scheduled for 12:00-1:50PM, Thursday, December 9, 2021
The final exam will be a comprehensive, departmental examination. All sections of this course will take the same final exam at the same time. The final exam will be comprehensive. Please note that these exams will likely NOT be in your regular classroom.
Room assignments from the university are usually made one to two weeks before the exams.
PREVIOUS MIDTERM EXAMS: Note that the course changes and so do the exams. Our goal is to help you learn the material in Calculus 2, not specifically to prepare you for the midterm exam.
Midterm Exam (Spring 2021)
Midterm Exam (Spring 2020)
Midterm Exam (Fall 2020)
Midterm Exam (Spring 2019)
PREVIOUS FINAL EXAMS: Note that the course changes and so do the exams. Our goal is to help you learn the material in Calculus 2, not specifically to prepare you for the final exam.
Final Exam (Spring 2021)
Final Exam (Spring 2020)
Final Exam (Fall 2020)
Final Exam (Spring 2019)
CALCULATORS: Students may consider having a graphing calculator with roughly the capabilities of the TI-83. You will find this useful for investigating the concepts of the class, so you can experiment with additional examples. You may also want to verify parts of your homework calculations.
On exams and quizzes, however, no calculator with graphing capability will be allowed. A scientific calcultor can be used, however.
RESOURCES ON THE WEB:
Understanding Mathematics: a study guide, from the University of Utah.
Calculus resource list from the Math Archives, from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Symbolic calculators which will compute derivatives and integrals.
ACADEMIC CONDUCT: Good academic work must be based on honesty. The attempt of students to present as their own work that which they have not produced is regarded by the faculty and administration as a serious offense. Students are considered to have cheated if they copy the work of another during an examination or turn in a paper or an assignment written, in whole or in part, by someone else. Students are guilty of plagiarism, intentional or not, if they copy material from books, magazines, or other sources without identifying and acknowledging those sources or if they paraphrase ideas from such sources without acknowledging them. Students guilty of, or assisting others in, either cheating or plagiarism on an assignment, quiz, or examination may receive a grade of F for the course involved and may be suspended or dismissed from the university.
DRC STATEMENT: If you need an accommodation for this class, please contact the Disability Resource Center as soon as possible. The DRC coordinates accommodations for students with disabilities. It is located in Suite 180 of the Campus Life Building, and can be reached at 815-753-1303 or drc@niu.edu.
Also, please contact me privately as soon as possible so we can discuss your accommodations. Please note that you will not be required to disclose your disability, only your accommodations. The sooner you let me know your needs, the sooner I can assist you in achieving your learning goals in this course.
COVID: If you have symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and contact NIU’s COVID helpline (815-753- 0444) to report your symptoms and get advice. Inform your instructor promptly to discuss accommodation options.
Read more about Protecting the Pack at Protecting the Pack.
EXTRA PRACTICE:
Differentiation Problems
Solutions to Differentiation Problems
Anti Differentiation Problems
Solutions to Anti Differentiation Problems
Practice Substitution Problems
Solutions to Substitution Practice
ADVICE: Perhaps the single most important factor in your success in this course is your study habits. This is a fast paced course, with little room for catching up if you fall behind. Successful students have good time management skills. Set aside at least three nights a week to study the topics and work the homework problems. Do not wait until exam time to try to learn new material.
Learn mathematics like you would learn a language. Work on the concepts until they make sense. Don't just memorize facts and then forget them a few weeks later. You will need to know this stuff for Calculus II and other courses.
Calculus is based on deep concepts that will be entirely new to you if this is your first calculus course. Even for those of you seeing it for a second time, calculus taught at the university level is presented at a level beyond the mechanical course often taught in high school. A deeper understanding of these new concepts will allow you to solve many difficult problems you have never seen before. The homework problems are intended to be an aid in reaching this level of understanding, not an exhaustive list of the sorts of tricks you will be required to perform on exams.
Master each homework problem---beyond just getting a correct answer. Be aware of your mistakes in algebra and trigonometry.
In summary, to succeed in this course:
- read the book and the lecture notes;
- work the homework;
- always come to class, and while you're there, think, listen, and ask questions.