MATH 141
Instructors
- Eric Hopper
- Email: eric.hopper@rochester.edu
- Office: Hylan Building 813
- Office hours: Monday 3:30-4:30, Tuesday 1:30-2:30
- Class info: MW 2:00-3:15, Gavett Hall Room 202
- Jorge Olivares Vinales
- Email: jolivar2@ur.rochester.edu
- Office: Hylan Building 718
- Office hours: Tuesday 4:00-5:00, Friday 11:00-12:00
- Class info: MW 9:00-10:15, Harkness Room 115
Course Description
Analysis of the elementary real functions: algebraic, trigonometric, exponentials and their inverses and composites, their graphs and derivatives. Topics include limits, continuity, asymptotes, the definition of the derivative, derivatives and derivative rules for algebraic, trigonometric, exponentials, and logarithms. Implicit differentiation, related rates, linear appoximation, differentials, mean value theorem, maxima and minima, curve sketchings, l’Hospital’s rule. MATH 141, 142, and 143 form a three-semester sequence that covers, at a slower pace, exactly the same material as the two-semester sequence, MATH 161 and 162.
Textbook
Calculus: Early Transcendentals, 8th or 9th edition by James Stewart
You can buy either the book or the digital purchase, but you don’t need both. Please read the fine print before you choose the digital purchase. This text is used in MATH 141, 142, 143, 161, 162, and 164. If you will need it for multiple semesters, it may be cheapest to buy it.
Reading the textbook is an important part of learning. You definitely need a book.
Schedule
A tentative schedule for the course can be found here. Each day lists textbook readings and exercises corresponding to the lecture topic. We recommend reading the corresponding section before class and attempting the exercises after class but before starting the associated WeBWorK. Solutions will not be collected or graded.
Exams
There will be two midterm exams and a final exam.
- Midterm 1
- Date & time: Tuesday, February 14 at 8:00 AM
- Location: TBD
- Midterm 2
- Date & time: Thursday, March 23 at 8:00 AM
- Location: TBD
- Final Exam
- Date & time: TBD
- Location: TBD
You will NOT be permitted to use calculators, other electronic devices (phones, smart watches, etc.), books, notes, or “cheat sheets” on any exams.
WeBWorK
Weekly WeBWorK assignments will typically be due Tuesday at 11:59 PM ET. Some deadlines may be adjusted to accommodate for exams. Please check WeBWorK for specific deadlines. To access WeBWorK, go to the MATH 141 Blackboard site and click on the “Course Home Page and WeBWorK Link.” WeBWorK assignment 1 is due January 17.
Online help
All WeBWorK problems have a button to Email WeBWorK TA. Clicking this button allows you to write a message that is emailed to the instructors and a WeBWorK TA. The WeBWorK TA will get back to you within a day or so. You do not have to copy out the problem as the system automatically does this. If WeBWorK won’t accept your answer, then say what that answer is and how you came up with it. It helps if you give some idea of your thought process. Be aware that emails sent after 8:00 PM will almost certainly not receive a reply until the next day. Note that this should be used for WeBWorK feedback only–if you want to contact your instructor, you should email them directly.
Math Dept policy on unauthorized online resources
Any usage whatsoever of online solution sets or paid online resources (chegg.com or similar) is considered an academic honesty violation and will be reported to the Board on Academic Honesty. In particular, any assignment found to contain content which originated from such sources is subject to a minimum penalty of zero on the assignment and a full letter grade reduction at the end of the semester (e.g. a B would be reduced to a C). Depending on the circumstances, this may apply even if the unauthorized content was obtained through indirect means (through a friend for instance) and/or the student is seemingly unaware that the content originated from such sources. If you have any questions about whether resources are acceptable, please check with your instructor.
Workshop
Workshop is a small-group meeting led by a teaching assistant. Students will work through a sheet of problems in small groups. Workshop problems are designed to be difficult and to stretch your understanding. Workshop will be worth 5% of your grade, but will be based on participation only (not on finishing the problem set). The lowest workshop grade will be dropped (i.e. you may have one absence without penalty).
Grading
| WeBWorK | Workshop | Midterm 1 | Midterm 2 | Final Part A | Final Part B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | 5% | 20% | 20% | 15% | 20% |
The final exam will be divided into two parts. Part A will include material from before Midterm 2. Part B will include material from after Midterm 2. If the score on Part A exceeds that of a midterm, it will replace the grade on the lower of the two midterms.
Weekly WeBWorK assignments will be worth 20% of your grade. No sets will be dropped–grades will be based on the total number of WebWork questions completed.
Study Hall
Study hall is held in TBD on TBD. The first meeting will take place on TBD
This MATH 141 study hall is exclusively for MATH 141 students and staffed by knowledgable MATH 141 TAs. You are strongly encouraged to attend. If you have any questions related to MATH 141 (including homework), this is a great resource for help. Feel free to come by anytime during the hours listed; no appointment necessary.
There is also a general Math Study Hall available to all undergraduates held Monday through Thursday evenings. This is managed by math graduate students, who assist students in all undergraduate math courses including MATH 141. The schedule is available here.
Disability Support
If you have an academic need related to a disability, arrangements can be made to accomodate most needs. For information, please contact the Office of Disability Resources. To be granted alternate testing accommodations, you (the student) must fill out forms with this office at least seven days before each and every exam. These forms are not sent automatically. Instructors are not responsible for requesting alternative testing accommodations for you, and they are not obligated to make any accommodations without prior approval from the office of disability services.
Academic Integrity Statement
All assignments and activities associated with this course must be performed in accordance with the University of Rochester’s Academic Honesty Policy. Any violation of academic integrity will be pursued according to the specified procedures.
In this course, on homework, you may collaborate with other students also taking the course. You may also use resources such as study group discussions, study halls, office hours, and any online learning materials aside from direct solution sets. You may also talk to students outside the class or tutors as long as they provide only general guidance and you write up the solution on your own at the end. In all cases, you must always internalize the work . This means that after finishing the homework, you should be able to reproduce the solution of problems without any help from anyone or the use of outside resources besides the textbook and a basic calculator. Remember, homework is only 25 percent of the grade and is meant to help you to learn the material so you can be prepared for the exams and your future work.