MA 167: Calculus with Analytical Geometry I

Fall 2009

Instructor information

Instructor: Dr. John Perry
Office: Southern Hall, 310
Office Hours: M—F 4—5p or by appointment
Office Phone: 601·266·4293
Email: john.perry@usm.edu
Instructor's web page:  http://www.math.usm.edu/perry/
Class web page: http://www.math.usm.edu/perry/mat167fa09/
Class meeting times and locations: MWF 8—8·50a, SH 303

Course information

Course Description: Limits, continuity, derivatives and their applications including curve sketching and optimization.

Texts and media:

• Essential Calculus: Early Transcendentals, by Stewart, Thomson Brooks-Cole, 2007.
• This class uses the online WebAssign system. You will need to purchase either
• a new text that contains a WebAssign access card, or
• a text that does not contain a card, and a WebAssign access code directly from WebAssign.
• The use of a graphing calculator is, unfortunately, strongly recommended. You may use any calculator that ETS allows for the AP Calculus Exam. See http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap-calculus-course-description.pdf for details.

Final Exam: Wednesday, 9 December, 8—10·30a

Grading policies

Grading: Your grade depends on a weighted average of attendance and assignments. A list of weights appears below. At any point during the semester, you may determine your standing by multiplying the average for each category by the category's weight, then adding the products. If you do not know how to do this, visit me and I will show you.

Grades are awarded according to the following tableaux:

There is no curve.

WebAssign bonus: In order to encourage and reward students who do the assigned WebAssign Homework, I add a bonus score to your test grades according to the following formula:

Other policies

• Use a pencil. I do not accept work that is written in pen.
• You will have to purchase a blue book and bring it to class on test days. I allow you to use one blue book for the entire semester. If you prefer, I will keep your blue book in my office and bring it to class for you on test days.

Makeup work:

• There is no makeup for the daily attendance grade.
• I do not give makeup tests without an excused absence. If you must miss class, then you must also produce documentation of the reason for your absence. If you were sick, you can show me the receipt from the hospital or doctor; if you had a sports event, you can show me the schedule; if someone died, you can show me an obituary notice; if the tire on your car blew out, you can show me the receipt from the mechanic.
• I am more flexible with the WebAssign homework. You should complete the assignment by the designated date, but if you cannot, let me know and I will generally grant an extension. I will cease granting extensions to students who abuse this privilege.

• If I find you reading or writing text messages on the cell phone during class, you will have to leave class immediately, and receive an attendance grade of 0.
• You may not use your cell phone as a calculator.
• If you look at your cell phone during a test, you will have to surrender the cell phone for the remainder of the test. If this happens on a second test, you will fail that test.

Language and behavior: I do not tolerate profanity or rude behavior. You are free to express any opinion you choose, but you must do so in a manner that conforms to the formal, respectful setting of a classroom lecture. Mathematicians value the ability to reason and to solve problems, not the ability to inflame passions or to express oneself colorfully.

• If a student violates this policy during lecture, I will ask that student to leave the room immediately. The student's attendance grade will not be affected.
• If a student violates this policy in email, I will neither acknowledge nor answer the email.
• I am not concerned with what you say or write in other forums. Feel free to express your opinions of me and the course in whatever manner you choose.