Professor: Dr. Curtis Bennett
Phone: 338-5112
Office : UH-2765
Email: cbennett@lmu.edu
Web Page: http://myweb.lmu.edu/cbennett
Office Hours: MW: 1:00-2:30, R: 11:00-12:00, and by appointment (subject to change).
Textbook: Pearson Custom MATHEMATICS MATH 131 LMU by Briggs, Cochran, and Gillett
Prerequisites: MATH 120 or Mathematics Placement Exam
Course Meeting Times:
MWF: 9:15-10:05 UNH 3304,
R: 8:00-9:15 UNH 2330.
Catalogue Description: Limits, continuity, derivatives of algebraic and transcendental functions, applications of the derivative, antiderivatives, introduction to the definite integral, Fundamental
Theorem of Calculus.
General Description: In this class, we will be studying topics from differential and integral calculus, with a particular emphasis. The focus of this class will be on learning the concepts of the derivative and applying them to understand curves, elementary functions, and applications in science and engineering.
Learning Outcomes:
Content:
 Students will be able to use the concepts and techniques of calculus to construct and solve functional models of real world phenomena for linear approximation, optimization, and related rates problems.
 Students will be able to state a heuristic definition of the limit of a function at a point, calculate limits, and use limit concepts.
 Students will be able to state a precise definition of the derivative, take derivatives of elementary functions by using the definition, and students will be able to find derivatives of functions by using rules and methods (product, sum, quotient, implicit differentiation, and logarithmic differentiation).
 Students will be able to describe curves using the language of calculus. They will be able to break curves and graphs into important pieces, helping them understand processes that these curves and graphs help model.
 Students will be able to state and explain the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus and show a basic familiarity with the notions of the antiderivative and indefinite integrals.
Process:
 Students will improve their mathematical problem solving skills.
 Students will improve their mathematical modeling skills. In particular, students will be able to create standard functional models for optimization and related rates problems.
 Students will be able to write down mathematics in a careful and correct way.
 Students will improve their ability to read a mathematics textbook.
WebWork:
I am doing a trial run of using the on-line homework system WebWork this semester. WebWork problem sets will be assigned 1-4 times per week. Easy mechanical problem sets may be due as early as the next class meeting, while you may have up to 1 week for harder problem sets. You

should start working on the homework problems the night they are assigned. One of the advantages of WebWork is that you have multiple opportunities to complete the assignment (until its due date), and only your best grade will be entered in my grade book. Thus you are encouraged to persevere on all WebWork homework sets until you attain a perfect score. The class WebWork portal is: https://courses1.webwork.maa.org/webwork2/lmu-math131b/ , your
LMU user account (eg: cbennett for me), and your initial password is the same as your user id.
You should change your password in your first login.
Other Homework and Writing Assignments:
Other homework and writing assignments will be given from time to time. The timely completion of these assignments is very important, and credit will be taken off for late assignments.
Students will also have reading assignments. For some Monday classes, students will be asked to read a portion of the textbook, to work one problem related to the reading, to respond to one question on the reading, and to state one question on the reading that they would like answered.
These will be due via MYLMU Connect at 3pm on the Sunday afternoon before class on
Monday. I will read through the responses Sunday afternoon or evening before class so that I can concentrate on areas of difficulty for students. These assignments serve two purposes (1) they allow me to concentrate on areas of difficulty, and (2) they help you learn to read the textbook
(and other technical writing) so that you can be in a position to teach yourself material after you graduate. Each reading assignment will be assessed on a 0/1 scale of whether or not effort was put into the assignment. (Occasional assignments may get a score of 1.1 for extra effort.)
Quizzes:
On many Thursdays, we will have a short quiz on the material.
Rationale behind Webwork, Homework, Quizzes, and Writing Assignments:
Evidence shows that mathematics is learned via “spaced practice,” which means doing shorter practices frequently rather than trying to cram in a lot of work at once. All of these assignments are designed to help you practice your mathematics frequently. Ideally, you will discover that test preparation is much easier if you have kept up with the homework and quizzes.
Grading : Grades will be determined in the following manner:
Midterms (Sept. 24, Nov. 12, Dec. 3):
WebWork/Homework/Quizzes/Reading:
Participation:
Final Exam (Thursday Dec. 12 th 11-1):
15% each
20%
5%
30%
The following is a general guide on grades, however, the scale may be lowered slightly.
A, A- : 90-100
B-, B, B+: 80-90
C, C+: 70-80
D: 60-70
F: <60
Make-up Work/Late assignments: Students that miss a homework or exam for a universityexcused reason (athletics, illness with signed doctor’s note, or similar) should let me know as soon as possible. Note that leaving early for Thanksgiving break is not an acceptable reason.
Homework for an excused absence is due on the first class day following the absence.

Homework that is late for any other reason will be docked 30% per day late (not class day). I do not give make-up exams. If you miss an exam for an excused absence, then your final exam will count for the missing exam. That is, if you miss one midterm (for an excused absence), then your final exam will be worth 45% of your grade.
Special Accommodations : Students with special needs who require reasonable modifications, special assistance, or accommodations in this course should promptly direct their request to the
Disability Support Services (DSS) Office. Any student who currently has a documented disability needing academic accommodations should contact the Disability Services Office
(Daum Hall Room 224, 310-338-4216) as early in the semester as possible. All discussions will remain confidential. Please visit http://www.lmu.edu/dss for additional information.
Academic Honesty: Academic dishonesty will be treated as an extremely serious matter, with serious consequences that can range from receiving no credit for assignments/tests to expulsion. It is never permissible to turn in any work that has been copied from another student or copied from a source (including Internet) without properly acknowledging the source. It is your responsibility to make sure that your work meets the standard of academic honesty set forth in the LMU Bulletin
(see http://bulletin.lmu.edu
).
Tentative Nature of the Syllabus: If necessary, this syllabus and its contents are subject to revision; students are responsible for any changes or modifications distributed in class or posted on LMU's course management system MYLMU Connect (if you are using that technology).
Respect for Self and Others: As an LMU Lion, by the Lion’s Code, you are pledged to join the discourse of the academy with honesty of voice and integrity of scholarship and to show respect for staff, professors, and other students. (See the LMU Student Classroom and Course-Related
Behavior Guidelines at: http://www.lmu.edu/libraries_research/cte/Resources/LMU_Student_Classroom_and_Course-
Related_Behavior_Guidelines.htm
)
Important Dates
September 4:
September 7:
September 24:
October 16:
November 6:
November 12:
November 13:
Nov. 25-27:
Last day to add or drop a class without a grade of W
No Classes – Labor Day
Midterm 1
No Classes – Autumn Day
Last day to withdraw from classes or apply for Credit/No Credit grading
Midterm 2
Spring registration begins
No Classes – Thanksgiving
December 4:
December 11:
Midterm 3
Last day of classes
Wed December 16: Final Exam 8-10