MATH 121-03/04, Calculus I, Fall 2009

Abstract

Calculus is one of the great triumphs of human thought. It is the quantitative study of how things in our world change. You may have heard that Calculus is a hard mathematics course, but many people don’t even know what it really is. If you are good at your algebra skills and know some trigonometry, then Calculus is really not that difficult. Calculus is a powerful tool used by physicists, engineers, biologists, economists, and other professionals to model changing systems that impact our daily lives. The objectives of this course are to guide you in developing a firm conceptual understanding of calculus and to help you master the methodology of doing calculus. We will cover limits, continuity, differentiation rules, related rates, curve sketching, optimization problems, definite an indefinite integrals, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, areas, and a diverse array of applications of these ideas. We will cover most of Chapters 2-5 of your book. The main goals of this course are to challenge your curiosity about, to foster an appreciation for, and to aid you in your discovery of the significance of this beautiful subject.