Single-Variable Differential Calculus (220-A-DL-20)
Instructors
Amy Beth Alznauer
Amy Alznauer has a M.S. in mathematics from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and an M.F.A. in writing from the University of Pittsburgh. She has taught mathematics full-time at Penn State University, where she helped start the Women in Engineering calculus program, and at DePaul University, where she taught both undergraduate and graduate math courses. She is currently working on a book about the Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.
Meeting Info
Online: TBA
Overview of class
Single-Variable Differential Calculus covers the following: limits; differentiation; linear approximation and related rates; extreme value theorem, mean value theorem, and curve-sketching; optimization. Through this course you will explore, tangle with, and ultimately master the fundamental techniques of differential calculus, all of which stem from the limit and all of which revolve around wielding the derivative as a powerful tool for understanding the mathematical and physical world.
The course is conducted completely online. A technology fee will be added to tuition.
This course was formerly MATH 220-CN.
Registration Requirements
This course relies on a solid foundation in algebra, trigonometry, and geometry. I will provide review materials and opportunities, but please know that success in this course often rests on this prior knowledge.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
Grasp the fundamental and beautiful themes of differential calculus, while simultaneously exploring the wider world of mathematical creativity.
Evaluate limits of functions using a variety of methods.
Compute derivatives both formally and using differentiation rules.
Apply the techniques of differentiation to implicit contexts and then use this method in related rates problems.
Analyze the behavior of a function in order to sketch the graph of a function.
Use the derivative as a powerful tool in various applied and theoretical contexts.
Class Materials (Required)
The primary textbook for this course is: Calculus, 14th edition. By George B. Thomas. Pearson. ISBN: 978-0-13-443898-6
Calculator (To Have or Have Not): There are wonderful online calculators and graphing calculators so this is an optional purchase. But I for one love having a calculator by my side when I am doing long, calculus problems. Here are two good ones: TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator (Links to an external site.) and TI-36X Scientific Calculator (Links to an external site.).
Everything Else: In addition to old-school paper and pencils, you will also be using Canvas and Desmos and Geogebra (explained in the INTRODUCTION module--see course Canvas site).
Additional required readings and media are posted on Canvas, including timely news articles, academic research, and videos that you will review in order to complete some assignments and participate in discussion forums.
Class Attributes
Asynchronous:Remote class-no scheduled mtg time