MATH 1830 - VSCC
INTUITIVE CALCULUS
3 Credit Hours
Important information about the course is contained in this Syllabus. You should carefully read the entire
document, and make sure you understand all course Policies and Procedures. You may want to PRINT it for
future reference.
Course Information
Course Description:
Limits, continuity, differentiation, integration, and applications. This course will not
substitute for MATH 1910. Intended primarily for business majors.
Course Objectives:
The primary educational goal of this course is to provide the student with an intuitive
understanding of differential and integral calculus and its applications to business and
economics. As a result of successfully completing this course, students will have
demonstrated an acceptable level of mastery of the concepts and applications of an
introductory course in calculus.
Prerequisites and Corequisites:
MATH 1130 with a grade of C or better. This prerequisite is necessary to assure the student
has the algebra skills necessary for successful completion of the course.
Course Topics:
Functions, Graphs, and Limits
Limits
Differentiation
The Derivative
Techniques of Differentiation
Rate of Change and Marginal Analysis
The Chain Rule
Higher Order Derivatives
Applications of Differentiation
Increase and Decrease; Relative Extrema
Concavity; Curve Sketching
Absolute Maxima and Minima
Practical Optimization Problems
Applications to Business and Economics
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Exponential Functions
Exponential Models
The Natural Logarithm
Differentiation of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions
Compound Interest
Integration
Antiderivatives
Integration by Substitution
The Definite Integral
Applications of Integration
Area
Applications to Business and Economics
Specific Course Requirements:






Connection to the web through a dependable Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Required Textbook (see below)
Registration with MyMathLab (online homework)
Scientific or approved Graphing Calculator (see below)
Some proficiency in using the email, discussion board, and drop box components of
D2L
A valid Picture ID (e.g., driver's license)
Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements
Required Textbooks:
Calculus and Its Applications plus MyLabsPlus (MML+) Student Access Code
Bittinger, Ellenbogen, and Surgent, 10e, ISBN - 1256463167
Publisher: Pearson, Copyright: 2012
This textbook bundle is available at the VSCC Bookstore .
MyMathLab
Purchase the textbook bundle from the VSCC Bookstore, and a MML Student Access Code
will be included. If you purchase the book elsewhere, you must purchase a Student Access
Code online using a major credit card.
Supplementary Materials:
Hardware Requirements:
The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. Specific
hardware requirements for this course include a scientific calculator or a graphing calculator (nothing stronger
than the TI-86). Hand-held computers and programmable computer-like calculators (like the TI-89 or TI-92) are not
permitted. It is also recommended that you have a printer and speakers (internal or external).
Software Requirements:
The minimum requirements can be found at
http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm.
Instructor Information
Please see the separate page inside the course to find instructor contact information as well as a statement of
virtual office hours and other communication information. Click on [Course Content] in the menu bar at the top,
then click on [Instructor Information].
Assessment and Grading
Testing Procedures:
Quizzes: All scheduled Quizzes will be online (multiple choice and/or short answer). Quiz
problems must be worked on paper with answers submitted online to the instructor by the
stated deadline. The textbook, homework, and course notes may be used as a resource
when doing a Quiz (but not on a Test). Assistance from another person is not
permitted. A score of zero will be assigned for each Quiz not completed and submitted by
the stated deadline. Each student's lowest Quiz grade will be dropped. Make-up Quizzes
may be allowed (at the discretion of the instructor), provided the student contacts the
instructor, preferably in advance, to offer an explanation and request an extension.
Detailed solutions to all Quiz problems may be viewed after the quiz has been
submitted. Quizzes are graded automatically by D2L immediately upon submission.
Tests: There will be four major Tests (non-cumulative) and a comprehensive Final Exam.
All Tests will be done online on the scheduled test date. All Tests except Test 2 and the Final
Exam may be accessed via a computer at the student's home, school, workplace, etc. Test 2
(at mid-term) and the Final Exam must be proctored on the campus of the student's "home
school" or some other RODP test site. The only materials allowed during a Test are pencil or
pen, eraser, clean white paper, and an approved calculator. A student who must miss a
scheduled Test due to an emergency should make every attempt to notify the instructor
prior to the test deadline. A student who is allowed to do a Make-up Test may be required
to do it on paper under the supervision of a proctor. All Tests must be done entirely by the
enrolled student, with no assistance from another person. Anyone caught cheating
will receive a grade of zero, a grade of F in the course, and may face other punitive
measures. For additional (partial) credit on Tests 1, 3, and 4, after submitting the Test
online, you must send (scan/email, FAX, mail, or hand deliver) your worksheets to the
Instructor. Be sure to number each problem, and write your name on the worksheets. After
Test 2 and the Final Exam, give your worksheets to your PROCTOR to send to the
Instructor. Tests will be graded and grades posted within a week after the test date. There
will be no exemptions from taking the Final Exam. An appointment to take a proctored
Test should be made by the student about two weeks before the scheduled Test. The
appointed test time must be at least two hours before closing time at the testing center,
and the student must show a picture ID.
Grading Procedure:
The major Tests, Final Exam, Quizzes, Homework, and Discussions will count in the final
average as follows:
Assignment Number of
Name
Assignments
Points
Percentage of
Final Grade
Homework
260
10
100
5
80
10
Practice Tests 2
200
5
Test 1
1
100
10
Test 2
1
100
15
Test 3
1
100
10
Test 4
1
100
10
Final Exam
1
100
25
1140
100
Discussions
Quizzes
Total Points
25
4 sets @ 25 points each
8 @ 10 points each
(lowest dropped)
Grading Scale:
Letter grades will be assigned according to the following intervals:
90.00 - 100 + = A
80.00 - 89.99 = B
70.00 - 79.99 = C
60.00 - 69.99 = D
00.00 - 59.99 = F
Withdrawal (W-grade): The "Last Day to Withdraw" and receive a grade of "W" is posted around campus and on
the college web site. Each student should be conscious of this date. All students who, as of this date, are failing the
course should follow the established withdrawal procedures of the college by the withdrawal date.
Incomplete (I-grade): Generally, the Incomplete (I-grade) will NOT be given in this course. One exception might be
a student who misses the proctored Final Exam due to a serious, legitimate, and documented emergency.
Academic Honesty:
Cheating, in any form, is absolutely forbidden. Anyone caught cheating will receive a
grade of zero, a grade of F in the course, and may face other punitive measures.
WARNING: D2L provides the instructor with many tools for detecting cheating. Don't do it;
dishonest actions will be detected! Your moral character is more valuable than any
unearned grade in this course.
Assignments and Participation
Assignments and Projects:
Homework: Homework assignments in MyMathLab consist of algorithmically generated problems, tied to the
course textbook. Homework must be submitted by 11:59 pm (Central time) on the due date listed in the D2L
Course Calendar (NOT the due date in MyMathLab, which is actually the last date available). An individual
student who occasionally may need additional time to complete an assignment may obtain an automatic 1-day
extension by emailing the Instructor. You may submit each assignment multiple times. Your last submission will
be automatically graded and recorded. Homework grades will be transferred from MyMathLab to D2L Grades at
the end of the semester. NOTE: Additional project assignments designed to improve "problem solving" skills and
promote "critical thinking" may be added during the course, and will count significantly in the Homework grade.
Warning: Doing the assigned homework is absolutely essential for students to learn the skills necessary to
successfully complete the course. Any student who has not completed the relevant homework before a
scheduled Test may be denied access, will be graded more harshly, and is not eligible for any extra credit
and/or grading curve that might otherwise be available.
Class Participation:
Discussions: Online discussions among students are to be posted at the appropriate time in the appropriate folder of
the course message board. Students are required to regularly read and post course-related messages. D2L allows
the instructor to track discussion messages posted, as well as messages read. Both quantity (articles "read" and
"posted") and quality of participation in these threaded discussions will count in the student's Discussions grade,
which counts 5% of the overall grade.
TUTORIAL ASSISTANCE: A student may get additional tutorial assistance from the instructor during regular
office hours in W-100H or by calling (615)741-3215 or (615)452-8600 or 1-888-335-8722, extension 3386. For
online interaction with the instructor, use D2L Email.
Math Lab: Trained tutors are also available in the Math Lab (Mattox 113), phone 230-3387. Any time a student
needs additional tutorial assistance, e.g. homework help, the Vol State Math Lab is highly recommended. At times
when the Instructor and other resources are not available, the trained staff in the Math Lab stand ready and willing to
offer free tutoring six days a week. Lab hours are:
Saturday .......... 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday .......... 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday ......... 12:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Wednesday ..... 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday ........ 12:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Friday ............ 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
SmarThinking.com: All students enrolled in the course have free access to this online tutoring service paid for by
VSCC. Regular and significant utilization of this service is expected (and strongly recommended) of students who
need tutorial assistance, and may be considered in the case of a borderline grade.
Punctuality:
Homework assignments (online in MyMathLab) are to be completed before the deadlines
posted in the course Calendar. Quizzes and Tests must be completed on the scheduled
dates. Any student who is unable to meet a stated deadline should contact the instructor
before the deadline to request an extension. Points may be deducted, particularly on Tests that are
done after the posted deadline.
Course Ground Rules
Students are expected to participate in all interactive aspects of the course. You should
regularly communicate with other students and the instructor using the D2L online
communication tools, including email and discussions. View the video lecture and study the
textook material for each Lesson before attempting the homework. Practice until you can
navigate proficiently in D2L. Check the course message board every day or two for new
postings. For this course, use the email component of D2L, in lieu of your regular email
address, such as one supplied by your Internet Service Provider. When you have technical
problems with your computer or the online components of this course, get the necessary
assistance immediately. Observe course netiquette at all times.
Instructor Response Times
The primary means of communication in this course will be D2L Email. Messages should be sent to the Instructor
any time a student feels the need. Email messages will be read and responded to on a daily basis --- even two or
three times a day in the first week and at other critical times during the semester. Whenever a student has
something to share with classmates, the Discussion component of D2L should be used. Homework and Quizzes will
be graded immediately. Tests will be graded and opened for review within a week after the availability period has
ended.
Guidelines for Communications
Email:






Always include a subject line.
Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way.
Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
Use standard fonts.
Do not send large attachments without permission.
Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be
avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
Respect the privacy of other class members.
Discussion Groups:

Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker






then a discussant.
Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the
discussion group. Be respectful of other�s ideas.
Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before
entering your remarks.
Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.
Chat:





Introduce yourself to the other learners in the chat session.
Be polite. Choose your words carefully. Do not use derogatory statements.
Be concise in responding to others in the chat session.
Be prepared to open the chat session at the scheduled time.
Be constructive in your comments and suggestion.
Web Resources:

Click on [Contents], and scroll down near the bottom to [References], under
[Study Tools].
Library
The VSCC Library is available to all Vol State students. Links to library materials (such as
electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries,
encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) are available.
Students With Disabilities
It is the student's responsibility to self-identify with the Office of Disability Services to
receive accommodations and services in accordance with The Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). Only those students with appropriate documentation and who are registered with the
Office of Disability Services will receive accommodations. For further information, contact
the Office of Disability Services at (615) 230-3472, TDD (615)-230-3488, or visit the office
which is located in Room 108, Wood Campus Center.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Volunteer State Community College is an equal opportunity Affirmative Action Educational
Institution. No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefit of, or be
subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of the College because of race,
color, national origin, age, or handicap. The college also complies with the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended and with the Vietnam Era Veterans'
Readjustment Act of 1974. The commitment to equal opportunity applies to all aspects of
recruitment, employment and education of individuals at all levels throughout the College.
Syllabus Changes
The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes
are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify
students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both
notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.
Technical Support
Telephone Support:
If you are having problems logging into your course, timing out of your course, using your course web site tools, or
other technical problems, please use the MyVolState Online Support Website at
http://www.volstate.edu/DLSuccess/. If the necessary assistance is not found there, call the VSCC Help Desk at
extension 3302. If necessary, you may also contact the Instructor.
VSCC Phone Numbers: (615) 452-8600, (615) 741-3215, (888) 335-8722


Help Desk, ext 3302
Instructor, click on [Instructor Information] in the course Content
NOTE: Technical advice is free; however, neither the Help Desk nor the Instructor will attempt to make needed
repairs to your computer.