Prerequisites: 3-4 years HS math including trigonometry

Frequency: This course is offered Fall (I), Winter (II), Spring (IIIa), and Summer (IIIb)

Credit: 4 credits

Text: Deborah Hughes-Hallett, Andrew Gleason, et al.:
Calculus: Single Variable, Fourth Edition, Wiley, 2005

Calculator: TI-84 recommended. Other programmable graphing calculators may be substituted, but the student is responsible for knowing how to operate the calculator.

Recent Instructors: Many faculty and graduate student instructors

Student Body: Freshmen, Sophomores

Background and Goals: The sequence Math 115-116-215 is the standard complete introduction to the concepts and methods of calculus. It is taken by the majority of students intending to major in mathematics, science, or engineering as well as students heading for many other fields. The emphasis is on concepts and solving problems rather than theory and proof. All sections are given two uniform midterms and final exam.

Content: The course presents the concepts of calculus from four points of view: geometric (graphs), numeric (tables), symbolic (formulas), and verbal descriptions. Students will develop their reading, writing and questioning skills, as well as their ability to work cooperatively. Topics include functions and graphs, derivatives and their applications to real-life problems in various fields, and an introduction to integration.

Alternatives: Math 185 (Honors Anal. Geom. and Calc. I) is a somewhat more theoretical course which covers much of the same material. Math 175 (Combinatorics and Calculus) includes some of the material of Math 115 together with some combinatorial mathematics. A student whose preparation is insufficient for Math 115 should take Math105 (Data, Functions and Graphs).

Subsequent Courses: Math116 (Calculus II) is the natural successor. A student who has done well in this course could enter the honors sequence at this point by taking Math186 (Honors Anal. Geom. and Calc.II).