Math 251 Syllabus
Course title and number
Term
Class times and location
MATH 251 – Engineering Mathematics III
Section 501
Spring 2016
Lecture: TR 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Heldenfels (HELD) 109
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Name
My Webpage
Course Webpage
Phone number
Email address
Office
Office hours
Dr. Kevin Kordek
http://www.math.tamu.edu/~kordek/
www.math.tamu.edu/courses/math251
Department of Mathematics: 845-3261
kordek@math.tamu.edu
Blocker 625A
Tuesday and Wednesday 2:30pm-3:30pm, or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PREREQUISITES
Description: (Credit 3) Vector algebra, calculus of functions of several variables, partial derivatives, directional derivatives, gradient, multiple integration, line and surface integrals, Stoke's theorem.
Prerequisites: Math 152 or equivalent.
Calculator Policy: Electronic devices, including laptops, cellphones and calculators, are forbidden during
Exams. If you are unable to comply with this policy, you will be asked to leave class and will not be allowed
to make-up any assignments missed in class that day.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
We will cover the Chapters 11 to 14 of the book. We will generalize notions already seen in R 2 to the
3-dimensional space as vectors and we will cover different objects used in Physics, Electronics: partial
derivatives, multiple integrals and vector calculus. We will see many applications to engineering problems.
At the end of this course, students should be able to manipulate all these objects correctly in order to apply
techniques seen in this course to engineering applications. For example, they should be able to:
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Visualize quadric surfaces in space.
Differentiate functions of several variables at the second order and apply it to extremal problems.
Determine the tangent plane to a surface at a point.
Parametrize curves in space, compute line integrals and apply these notions to engineering
problems.
Apply multiple integration to geometric problems (area, volume,. . . ) and to engineering problems.
Apply Stokes’ Theorem.
TEXTBOOK AND/OR RESOURCE MATERIAL

Textbook: Stewart, Calculus: Early Vectors, Cengage Learning. You paid for an electronic version of
this textbook (eBook) through the online system WebAssign when you paid for your courses.
Information on how to access your eBook can be found under the “Student Information Page” at
http://www.math.tamu.edu/courses/eHomework. You are welcome to purchase a physical copy of
the textbook or a loose-leaf copy of the text if you prefer, but this is not required.
GRADING POLICIES
The course grading will be based on the tables below.

Grade Breakdown
Activity
Homework
Exam I
Exam II
Exam III
Date
Approximately bi-weekly
Thursday, February 18th
Thursday, March 24th
Thursday, April 21st
Tuesday, May 10th 8:00am-10:00am
Final Exam
TOTAL

Grading Scale
Range
90 ≤ Average ≤ 100
80 ≤ Average < 90
70 ≤ Average < 80
60 ≤ Average < 70
Average < 60
Percent
10%
60%
30%
100%
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
Attendance and Makeup policies
• Excused absences: Attendance is mandatory and may affect your grade. For excused absences
we refer the student to Student Rule 7 at http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule7. Excuses for absences
must be substantiated by appropriate documentation. Falsification of documentation is a violation of
the Honor Code. Notification before the absence is required when possible. Otherwise, you must
notify me within 1 working day of the missed exam to arrange a makeup. Further, an absence due
to a non-acute medical service or appointment (such as a regular checkup) is not an excused
absence.
• Makeup exams will be only allowed due to excused absences and the next possible make-up time
be chosen from http://www.math.tamu.edu/courses/makeupexams.html. If you foresee the need to
be absent during an exam, you must notify the instructor in advance.
ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION AND POLICIES
• Homework – Online homework assignments will be done in WebAssign. Access to WebAssign was
included when you paid for your courses. Other important information such as how to log in, how to
access and take assignments, and the Student Help Request Form can be found at
http://www.math.tamu.edu/courses/eHomework. I suggest you bookmark this page and visit it
before you log in to WebAssign each time.
COURSE TOPICS (Tentative weekly schedule)
WEEK
TOPIC
3D vectors, dot and cross product, lines and planes.
1
Quadric surfaces, vector functions and space curves,
2
3
4
5
6
arclength, motion in space.
Functions of several variables, limits and continuity (optional),
partial derivatives, tangent planes, differentials.
Chain rule, directional derivatives, gradients, max/min
problems.
Lagrange multipliers.
Double integrals, iterated integrals, double integrals over
general regions.
SECTIONS COVERED
Sections 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4.
Sections 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8.
Sections 12.1, (12.2), 12.3,
12.4.
Sections 12.5, 12.6, 12.7.
Section 12.8.
Sections 13.1, 13.2, 13.3.
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14/15
Polar coordinates (rapidly), integrals in polar coordinates,
applications of double integrals, triple integrals.
Cylindrical and spherical coordinates, integrals in cylindrical
and spherical coordinates, change of variables in multiple
integrals.
Vector fields, line integrals.
Fundamental theorem for line integrals, Green's Theorem.
Curl and divergence, parametric surfaces and their areas.
Surface integrals, Stokes' Theorem.
Divergence Theorem.
Review / Review for Final Exam. Last Day of class is
Tuesday of week 15.
Sections 13.4, 13.5, 13.6,
13.8.
Sections 13.9, 13.10, 13.11.
Section 14.1, 14.2.
Sections 14.3, 14.4.
Sections 14.5, 14.6.
Sections 14.7, Section 14.8.
Section 14.9.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides
comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation
requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable
accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please
contact Disability Services, in Cain Hall, Room B118, or call 845-1637. For additional information visit
http://disability.tamu.edu
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Aggie Honor Code: “An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.”
Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a commitment to
uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the
Honor System. Students will be required to state their commitment on examinations, research papers, and
other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the TAMU community from the
requirements or the processes of the Honor System.
For additional information please visit: http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu
ADDITIONAL HELPFUL LINKS
•
•
•
•
Help Sessions
Week in Reviews
Academic Calendar
Final Exam Schedule
http://www.math.tamu.edu/courses/helpsessions.html
http://www.math.tamu.edu/courses/weekinreview.html
http://registrar.tamu.edu/General/Calendar.aspx
http://registrar.tamu.edu/General/FinalSchedule.aspx
This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.