Math 251A, Fall 2003

Syllabus & Homework


On this page you will find a short syllabus for Math 251A indicating the topics and sections of the text we will cover. You should check this page frequently to obtain your homework assignments.

Note on Homework: the information on this page is relevant only for the section of Math 251A taught by Prof. Guentner. If you are in the other section you may still find the page useful although precise dates and homework assignments will differ somewhat.


Course Syllabus

Math 251A is the first semester calculus course; the prerequisite is Math 140 or similar. We will discuss the fundamental notions of differential calculus of a single variable, including limits, derivatives and integrals (although techniques of integration will be studied much more thoroughly in Math 252A). This means that we will be covering most of Chapters 1 to 3, 5 and 6 of the textbook; we will cover these chapters in order, but will jump around somewhat within each chapter.

The material covered in Math 241 and Math 251A is the same, the primary difference being the level of sophistication. In Math 251A we will place more emphasis on mathematically precise definitions and proofs.


Detailed Syllabus & Homework Assignments

You should try to do all the problems. As a rule, the problems listed in red will be collected the following Wednesday and graded.

An example of how to read the table.

DateSections Homework AssignmentHomework Due
Tue, 26 Aug1.1 & 1.2 1.1:1,5,9,17,26 & 1.2:1,3,5,7 Wed, 3 Sep
Thu, 28 Aug1.2 & 1.3 1.2:13,19,21,23,25, 45 & 1.3:5,7,8, 15,25,29 Wed, 3 Sep
Tue, 2 Sep2.4 & 2.2 2.4:3,13,23 and 2.2:1adeh,9,13 Wed, 10 Sep
Thu, 4 Sep2.4 & 2.2 2.2:1bcfg,2,4,8 & 2.4:27,33,37 Wed, 10 Sep
Tue, 9 Sep2.3 2.3:5,7,15,19,29,33,49,53 Wed, 17 Sep
Thu, 11 Sep2.3 & 3.4 (p 179-182) 2.3:35,64,68 & 3.4:2,7,13 Wed, 17 Sep
Tue, 16 Sep3.4 & 2.5 2.5:14,18,30,42 & 3.4:8,10,16Wed, 24 Sep
Thu, 18 Sep2.5 2.5:26,27,28,49,59,60 Wed, 24 Sep
Tue, 23 Sep2.6 2.6:8,,9,16, 17,34,35 (slant asymptote) Wed, 1 Oct
Thu, 25 Sep3.1 & 2.7 2.7:5,12 & 3.1:1,5,11,59 Wed, 1 Oct
Tue, 30 Sep2.7, 3.1 & 3.2 2.7:23 & 3.1:21,23,34,36-38 & 3.2:2,69 Wed, 8 Oct
Thu, 2 Oct3.2 & 3.4 3.2:13,16,23,27,34,45,59 & 3.4:20,22,23,24,29 & 3.5:7 Wed, 8 Oct
Tue, 7 Oct3.5 3.5:7,18,25,30,37, 38,,43,50 & Worksheets Wed, 15 Oct
Thu, 9 OctFirst Exam (firm) Exam covers through 3.5 First Exam
Tue, 14 Oct3.6 & 3.8 3.6:11,12,24,25,34,36,38 & 3.8:9,13,25,28,35 Wed, 22 Oct
Thu, 16 Oct3.7,3.9 & 3.10 3.7:14,15 3.9:4,5,23 note & 3.10:10c,13 Wed, 22 Oct
Tue, 21 Oct3.10 3.10:9,16,21,29, 30 Wed, 29 Oct
Thu, 23 Oct3.10 & 3.11 3.10:7b,8 & 3.11:19,23,49,51a Wed, 29 Oct
Tue, 28 Oct3.11 & 5.2 5.2:11,13,22,37, 41,42 Wed, 5 Nov
Thu, 30 Oct5.2 & 5.3 5.2:44 & 5.3:44,46 Wed, 5 Nov
Tue, 4 Nov5.3 5.3:7,13,15,16,21,23 Wed, 12 Nov
Thu, 6 Nov5.3 nothing new Wed, 12 Nov
Thu, 13 Nov5.5 5.5:8,15,22, 28,31 Wed, 19 Nov
Tue, 18 NovSecond Exam Exam covers through 5.5 Second Exam
Thu, 20 Nov6.1 - 6.3 6.1:21,25,33 & 6.2:11 (read expl 3 on p374) Wed, 26 Nov
Tue, 25 Nov6.3 & 5.7 6.3:3,23,25,27,52,53 & 5.7:1,7,11 Wed, 3 Dec
Tue, 2 Dec5.7 & 6.4 5.7:36,61bc,63 & 6.4:17,36,42,44,57 Wed, 10 Dec
Thu, 4 Dec6.4 & 6.5 6.4:11,13,27,31,32,71,75 & 6.5:11,17,19,21,25,27, 57,61,66,78 Wed, 10 Dec
Tue, 9 Dec7.1 & 7.2 7.1:11,14,17,27,35,37 & 7.2:57,60 no due date
Thu, 11 Dec7.2 & 7.3 7.2:6,7,8,25,51,63 & 7.3:2,12,18 no due date


Lab and Recitation Schedule

Lab classes meet in PSB 208 (Physical Sciences Building). Recitation classes meet in Keller 402.

DateLab or Recitation Quiz covers ...Comments
Wed, 27 Auglab no quiz introduction and graphing
Wed, 3 Seprecitation 1.1 - 1.3 vectors
Wed, 10 Seprecitation 2.2 & 2.4 the definition of limit
Wed, 17 Seplab 2.3 calculating limits
Wed, 24 Seprecitation 2.5 continuity
Wed, 1 Octlab 2.6, 2.7 & 3.1 derivatives
Wed, 8 Octrecitation Differentiation Gateway Gateway
Wed, 15 Octrecitation no quiz exam review
Wed, 22 Octlab no quiz do 3.6:28ab,42a in advance
Wed, 29 Octrecitation 3.10 related rates
Wed, 5 Novlab 5.2 -- max/min graphing, 5.4
Wed, 12 Novrecitation graphing none
Wed, 19 Novrecitation no quiz go over exam
Wed, 26 Novlab Riemann sum, sigma notation (6.1 - 6.3) none
Wed, 3 Decrecitation antiderivatives and FTC (5.7 & 6.4) substition
Wed, 10 Decrecitation FTC and substitution (6.4 & 6.5) area & volume