Syllabus for MATH 151B, SECTIONS 531, 532, 533, Fall 2008

Calculus I for the Biological Sciences

Office hours: MW 3:00-4:00; R 1:30-2:30. Also, by appointment.

Class times and places: All sections: MWF 1:50-2:40, Blocker 120. TR Schedules: Section 531: 5:30-6:20, T: Blocker 156, R: Blocker 126. Section 532: 2:20-3:10, T: COLS 267A (G. Rollie White Coliseum, just northeast of Kyle Field), R: Blocker 126. Section 533: 11:10-12:00 T: HELD 119, R Blocker 130. 

Section web page: /~phoward/M151.html

Textbook: Calculus for Biology and Medicine, 2nd Edition, by C. Neuhauser, Pearson (2004).  Also, MATLAB for M151B, available on the course web site.

Prerequisites: Math 150 (precalculus) or equivalent.

Course Goal: The goal of this course is to introduce students to differential and integral calculus in a context that emphasizes applications in the biological sciences.

Relation to Other Sections: Students should note that this course will differ somewhat from the other sections of M151. In particular, we will take most of our examples from the biological sciences, and we will replace the section on vectors in the plane with a section on recursion relations. In this way, we will postpone our study of vectors until spring semester and the continuation M152B.

Homework Assignments: A homework assignment will be posted on the course web site each Tuesday, due the following Tuesday in recitation. Homework assignments will not be accepted late unless the student has a university approved excuse. 

Quizzes:  A short quiz will be given each Tuesday, with the following exceptions: exam weeks, the first Tuesday of classes, the final Tuesday of classes (which is a redefined Thursday).

Exams: There will be three evening exams during the semester as well as a comprehensive final.  The evening exams will be 7:00-9:00 p.m. on the following dates: Tuesday, Sept. 30, Tuesday, Oct. 28, and Tuesday Nov. 25.  The final exam for this class will be on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Please make a note of these dates.

Grades: Final grades will be determined in the following manner: Homework assignments: 15%; MATLAB assignments: 10%; Quizzes: 15%; In-class exams: 15% each; Final exam: 15%.  Grade ranges will be standard: 89.50-100, A; 79.50-89.49, B; 69.50-79.49, C, 59.50-69.49, D; below 59.50, F.

Make-up policy: Make-ups for exams will only be given if the student can provide a documented University-approved excuse (see University Regulations). According to University Student Rules students are required to notify an instructor by the end of the next working day after missing an exam. Otherwise the student forfeits his or her right to a make-up.

Scholastic Dishonesty: Copying work done by others, either in-class or out of class, is an act of scholastic dishonesty and will be prosecuted to the full extent allowed by University policy. "An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do." Please refer to the Honor Council Rules and Procedures, available at the Office of the Aggie Honor System.

Copyright policy: All printed materials disseminated in class or on the web are protected by copyright laws. One xerox copy (or download from the web) is allowed for personal use. Multiple copies or sale of any of these materials is strictly prohibited.

Students with Disabilities: The following statement was provided by the Department of Student Life: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accomodation of their disabilities.  If you believe you have a disability requiring an accomodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), in Cain Hall, Room B118 or call 845-1637.

Class Schedule: Roughly speaking, we should cover the following material on the following schedule:

Week of Monday	Material Covered
August  25	Sections 3.1 and 3.2. (Fri. Aug. 29 is last day for drop/add.)
September 1	Sections 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5.
September 8	Sections 3.6 and 4.1.
September 15	Sections 4.2 and 4.3.
September 22	Sections 4.4 and 4.5.
September 29	Sections 4.6, and 4.7. (Exam 1 is Tuesday, Sept. 30.)
October 6	Sections 4.8 and 5.1.
October 13	Sections 5.2 and 5.3.
October 20	Sections 5.4 and 5.5.
October 27	Sections 2.1, and 2.2. (Exam 2 is Tuesday, Oct. 28. Fri. Oct. 31 is last day for Q-drop)
November 3	Sections 2.3 and 5.6.
November 10	Section 6.1.
November 17	Sections 6.2 and 7.1. (Tuesday, Nov. 18 is Bonfire 1999 Remembrance Day.)
November 24	Section 6.3. (Exam 3 is Tuesday, Nov. 25. Thanksgiving holiday, Nov. 27-28.)
December 1	Review (Tuesday, Dec. 2 is the last day of class, redefined as Thursday)