Brief Summary: First semester calculus, including differential calculus, some differential equations, and the beginnings of integration, with emphases on applications found in health sciences, ecology.
Text, overview This course uses the text: ÓApplied CalculusÓ by Hughes-Hallett (ISBN 0471-20792-6) that includes many applications to health sciences, ecology. There is also supplementary material in a Class Pac, including max-min problems, motion, and problems involving flow and amount, as well as past quizzes and exams with solutions. Students are expected to use a graphing calculator.
A feature of the course and text is the attempt to integrate graphical, numerical and symbolic approaches. Also, students are asked to interpret calculus in applied problems.
Math U141 covers differential calculus (the study of rates and change), and the beginnings of integral calculus (from flow to amount, areas, fundamental theorem of calculus relating derivatives and integrals), and some differential equations.
Who takes this course?
This course is taken by many Health Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences majors, however math, physics, chemistry and biology majors, as well as engineering majors normally take a different first course in calculus (see "Comparison to other Courses" below and the program for your major).
What do I need to be prepared?
You should have a good precalculus background, as is provided by Math U121. You should be comfortable with algebra, including powers, products of expressions, and the use of fractional powers, as well as the algebra of exponentials and logarithms.
A short placement quiz is given in the first class, whose score can help you gauge your readiness for the course. The first page is about prerequisites for the course, the second to indicate if you already know a substantial portion of the course.
What if I have had calculus before, in high school, or AP
Calculus?
About half the Math U141 students recently have had a previous introduction to calculus, or an advanced placement calculus. Most find that taking Math U141 supplements what they already know, and helps them to see calculus from a deeper standpoint.
If you feel that your knowledge of calculus is already strong enough, you may wish to look over a final exam in the course, and if you feel ready, take a placement test (a previous final exam, say), to attempt to place out of the course. Whether your program will exempt you, or you merely get to take a sequel course is a subtle question (see your adviser in your major, and the Math Dept faculty member handling placement issues, or/and the course coordinator.)
Assuming that your precalculus, especially algebra skills are strong enough, and that you major in applied areas (not engineering or computer science nor math-physics, this is likely the calculus course for you.
Comparison
to other Courses:
Math U241 is Calculus I for Science, Engineering. In U241 there is a stronger emphasis on techniques of differentiation, integration. Also, there is a two year program beginning with Math U241, followed by integral calculus (Math U242), multivariable calculus (Math U341), and differential equations/linear algebra (Math U343).
Math U151/152, Calculus and Differential Equations for Biology, is a specialized sequence for Biology majors, using a rather different syllabus
Math U142 is the sequel course to Math U141. Math U142 assumes the student is familiar with antiderivatives and the the beginning of integration, and proceeds, after a review, through further work in integrals, multiple integrals, and differential equations. Recently Math U142 has used the text "Calculus for the Life Sciences" (2003) by Greenwell, Ritchey and Lial, ISBN #0-201-74582-8.
If you have further questions about the right calculus course for you to take, or the preparation for this course, see either an Undergraduate Advisor in the Mathematics Department, or the Math U141 Course Coordinator, as well as an advisor in your major.
Professor Levine's
Math U141 information, Fall 2004
Prof.
Iarrobino's class notes for Math U141, Fall 2004.
Return to Mathematics Dept
Undergraduate Course Syllabi and Home Pages.