Math 1180
Web Page: http://www.math.utah.edu/~zajac/Math1180.html
Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in MATH 1170 or consent of instructor.
Text:
Title: Modeling the Dynamics of Life: Calculus and Probability for Life Scientists.
Author: Frederick R. Adler
Lectures:
Your Host: Mark Zajac
Place: ST 205
Time: MWF, 09:40 AM – 10:30 AM
Laboratory:
Your Host: James Moore
Place: LCB 115
Time:
Section 2: 9:40 AM – 10:30 AM
Section 3: 10:45 AM – 11:35 AM
Lectures
The goal of the lectures is to give students a mastery of autonomous differential equations including equilibria and
phase plane analysis as well as probability and statistics, using calculus. Hopefully, presenting this material in the
context of biology will make the course more interesting and relevant for the students. Time permitting, the course
will cover all sections of the last four chapters from the text book, at the rate of roughly one section each lecture.
Suggested Problems
Suggested problems will be announced in class, as the relevant material is covered, and then posted on the class web
page. These problems will not be collected for grading but will form the basis for test questions, including slightly
modified suggested problems or a direct combination of methods from two suggested problems.
At the midway point between tests, I will offer the class incentives to keep up with the suggested problems,
probably by awarding small amounts of extra credit. Watch and listen for those opportunities.
Danger! The tests might not be easy if you try the suggested problems but it will definitely be hard if you do
not. The test problems will be designed to reward students to learn the basic concepts rather than memorizing the
answers.
Tests
At the end of chapters five, six and seven, there will be a one hour, test, for each, in class, worth 50 points. Tentatively,
the first test will be on the 3rd, 5th or 8th of February, with voting on the 27th of January to choose the exact day.
Tentatively, the second test will be on the 3rd, 5th or 8th of March, with voting on the 24th of February to choose
the exact day. Tentatively, the third test will be on the 5th, 7th or 9th of April, with voting on the 29th of March to
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choose the exact day. Once determined by voting, the exact dates for each test will be announced in class and posted
on the class web page. Given at least two weeks notice, I will make every effort to avoid conflicts with weddings and
other momentous occasions.
Attention! Please alert me in advance of potential conflicts with tests in other classes and I will try to be
flexible.
Danger! There will be no make-up tests without a doctor’s note or an equivalent well-documented excuse.
Final Examination
The final examination will begin at 8:00 AM on Friday the 30th of April, in JFB 102 (the same room as for class).
The final will last for two hours. On the final, roughly 50 points will be awarded for questions taken from chapter
nine of the book and roughly 50 points will be awarded for questions on the three earlier chapters.
Danger! You must take the final. Do not make travel plans for leaving campus before the 30th of April or make
plans to return.
Laboratory
The goal of the laboratory sections will be to make students comfortable with computers as a useful tool, for the
application of calculus to biology, in particular. The pace and content of laboratory section will be determined by
the laboratory coordinator. Students who make an honest effort will not be penalized for issues resulting from the
obstinacy of computers.
The computer laboratory is worth a maximum of 50 points. Students who achieve an overall passing grade in the
laboratory will have the option of dropping the laboratory component from the total, if this will improve the overall
grade. Students who fail the laboratory (by not making an honest effort), will have the laboratory grade included in
their final total.
Danger! Unlike last semester, extra credit beyond 100% of the total laboratory grade will not carry over to the
tests and final exam.
Getting Help
The Mathematics Tutoring Center is located between JWB and LCB, under ground. The hours are 8:00 AM – 8:00
PM from Monday to Thursday and 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM on Friday. The center is closed on weekends and holidays.
Each day, before class, I will ask if anybody wants to meet for extra help. I will then take appointments to
meet people in the Mathematics Tutoring Center. Remind me, if I forget. For improved efficiency, small groups are
encouraged.
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