MATH-1760
Instructor:
Bill
Knott
Instructor Information
Instructor: Bill Knott
- E-Mail: knottb@macomb.edu
- Phone: 586.445.7177
- Office: South Campus, G-401-5
- Office Hours: 7am-8am, M-Th.
- Text: Calculus, 6th Ed., by Stewart
- Webpage: www.macomb.edu > For Current Students > Faculty Course Webpages > (Knott, Bill) Math 1760
- Semester: Fall 2007
Introduction
You have enrolled in this course to learn mathematics. There are many ways to do this. Your text, online text ancillaries (see page xv of your text), references from the Library or Learning Center, lectures, discussing problems with others, working with a tutor, and doing homework are but a few of the formal and informal avenues available to you at MCC. But all require one thing in common: your commitment to work. The classroom is the focus of formal instructions and will generally be devoted to lectures and working or discussing problems. Although the classroom is neither the only nor necessarily the best place to learn, research strongly suggests that the two best predictors of academic success are the amount of time spent working on the subject and class attendance. In any case, as a college student, you are expected to make decisions about the best use your time and the available educational resources in a way that best suits your needs and objectives. To assist you in making informed decisions, the following is a brief description of the policies regarding grades, conduct, and other aspects of this class.
Examinations
Exam Policy: Your grade for this course will be based solely on your mastery of the subject matter as indicated by your performance. Primarily this will be based on examinations. Four (4) will be regular examinations and the last will be a comprehensive final exam. Each exam will be assigned a letter grade from A+ to E–. All exams are shown in the Course Outline and specific examination dates will be announced in advance. All exams must be taken at the announced time unless there are compelling extenuating circumstances and arrangements are made with me prior to the time of the exam. Failure to take any exam will result in a zero (0) for that exam. Cheating on an exam will result in a zero (0) for that exam and probably an E for the course. Many exams will use Scantron evaluation form(s). You must provide these. Scantron Form No. X-101864-PAR-L is required. Additionally, you will be required to bring to the exam two number 2 pencils with eraser. These items are available for purchase in the Bookstore(s). Should you fail to bring the required approved pencil(s) and Scantron(s) to an exam, you will have to acquire them before you are allowed to take the exam. Examination time limits will not be extended for this purpose. You will be informed in advance when an exam requires Scantron forms.
Regular Exams: The four regular examinations will over a specified portion of the course as shown on the Course Outline. These will be in two parts: a take-home part and an in-class part. The take-home portion will be distributed one-week before the in-class exam and will be due at the start of the in-class exam. Although you are expected to do your own work on all exams, I encourage group work on the take-home exams as long as this collective effort is to insure that everyone can do the problems and not just to transmit the answers. All regular examinations will be graded and returned promptly, usually by the next class. If you are not in class when an exam is returned, pick it up in my office. I will dispose of all exams that are not claimed by the next exam.
Final Exam: The Final Examination is comprehensive and will be given on the last scheduled day of this class. A Scantron form is required. Failure to take the final exam will result in your final grade being lowered one (1) letter grade, e.g., C to D.
Grading
Final Average: To determine your final average, each letter grade will be converted to a numerical grade on a 15 point scale with A+ = 15, A = 14, A- = 13, and so on to E- = 1. Then, the average will be calculated by the larger of:
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Final Grade: The final average, as calculated above, will be from 0 to 15. Then, the final letter grade will be assigned according to the following table:
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Final Average
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Letter Grade
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13.5
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to
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15
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=
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A
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|
12.5
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to
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13.49
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=
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A-
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|
11.5
|
to
|
12.49
|
=
|
B+
|
|
10.5
|
to
|
11.49
|
=
|
B
|
|
9.5
|
to
|
10.49
|
=
|
B-
|
|
8.5
|
to
|
9.49
|
=
|
C+
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|
7.5
|
to
|
8.49
|
=
|
C
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|
6.5
|
to
|
7.49
|
=
|
C-
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|
5.5
|
to
|
6.49
|
=
|
D+
|
|
4.5
|
to
|
5.49
|
=
|
D
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3.5
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to
|
4.49
|
=
|
D-
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|
0
|
to
|
3.49
|
=
|
E
|
An "I" or "Incomplete" grade is issued only for a limited amount of unfinished work in a course, provided that the work was unfinished because of unavoidable circumstances. The unfinished work must be satisfactorily completed by the end of the next semester. A "W" grade is issued to a student who officially withdraws during the first three-quarters (3/4) of the term. Students may not officially withdraw during the last quarter (1/4) of the term. To officially withdraw you must complete the required form and return it to the Enrollment Office, G-301 (FAX: 586-445-7140). For additional information on the MCC grading system and withdrawal policy see your College Catalog or Schedule of Classes. See your registration receipt for the last date of withdrawal from this class.
Homework
Mathematics is not a spectator sport. To learn mathematics you must do mathematics. A homework assignment from each section is shown on your Course Outline. You are expected to do these problems to insure your mastery of the material. Class will usually start with a discussion of the previous assignment to resolve difficulties. However, homework is your responsibility.
Graphic Calculator Requirement
A graphing calculator is required for this class. It is an important tool to assist you in the study of mathematics. It can eliminate the tedium of lengthy calculations, the need to use certain mathematical tables, and the tedium of building graphs. Many mathematical concepts have graphical interpretations that aid understanding and analysis. Graphing calculators are also programmable. This can make otherwise prohibitive repetitive calculations very easy. It can also acquaint you with some of the basic concepts of computer programming.
There are a number of graphing calculators on the market. If you already own one it will probably be adequate for this class. The ones currently adopted and supported by the Macomb Mathematics Department are the TEXAS INSTRUMENT TI-83/4+. I will use the TI-84+ for classroom demonstrations. If you do not have a graphing calculator, I recommend this model.
Although other graphing calculators are adequate for the course, each will have its own nuances such as the order in which the operations to be performed must be entered or how to access various features. Your owner’s manual should explain your calculator. If you have a question that you cannot answer, I will try to help. If you use another model and want to ask me questions about it, make sure you bring your Owner’s Manual since I may not have used it and, even if I have, switching from one to another can be confusing.
Graphing calculators will be required on all examinations. Bring yours to each exam and be sure the batteries are charged or that you have replacements.
Attendance
Although attendance itself will not be used in calculating your grade, regular attendance is important and will be recorded. If you decide that some other activity has a higher priority than attendance of a particular class; that is your decision. However, you must bare the consequences. You will still be held accountable for all activities of the class including examination announcements, unannounced quizzes, and homework or project collection. Also, lectures will not be repeated during office hours.
Classroom Policies
The classroom is a place for learning and you are expected to conduct yourself accordingly. To provide an atmosphere conducive to learning, no smoking, no consuming food or beverages, no chatting or other distracting, disruptive or discourteous conduct will be allowed. Cell phones must be turned off or put in silent mode. Attendance is not required but when you do attend, you are expected to be on time, be attentive, and stay for the entire class. Violation of these polices may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion for the class.
Formulas
Provided below is a list of calculus formulas that you need to memorize, in Adobe PDF format. Click on the link to view the page of formulas, where you may print them out for review. (If you do not have the Adobe Reader plug-in installed on your computer, click here to go to Adobe's web site and download it for free.)
Course Outline
Provided below is the Course Outline detail in Adobe PDF format. Click on the link to view the outline, where you may print it out for review. (If you do not have the Adobe Reader plug-in installed on your computer, click here to go to Adobe's web site and download it for free.)
To supplement course materials, the following items are provided in Adobe PDF format. (If you are unable to view the files, click here to download the free Reader.)