Schedule – Math 15

Schedule – Math 150A

Dr. Dana Clahane
Summer 2010

IMPORTANT NOTES REGARDING THIS SCHEDULE: 

By remaining enrolled in this course and the definition of a Carnegie unit, you are making a serious
commitment to study and to a substantial homework load averaging between from 3.5-11 hours, four
times per week and outside of class for students who are new to this material.  Any student missing or
not participating in more than four hours of class during the class WILL BE DROPPED without notice –
only serious students who are interested in learning calculus should take this course.  DO NOT MISS
CLASS, and DO EVERY ASSIGNMENT WITH DEVOTION AND 100% CARE.  I recommend limiting
your time spent on the non-bonus course outside of class to 44 hours per week to give yourself time to
have a life; however, realize that this time commitment is real and is the #1 factor in your success in
any math course.  This course will be a challenge and will require nearly all of your time – it is a full-
time load equivalent to 14.4 semester units timewise per week.

THE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT IS THE SAME FOR EACH SECTION – every odd-numbered
exercise.  If an assigned problem requires you to do a problem that isn’t assigned, you may skip both
problems.  If you have trouble completing the assignments, do every other odd first, perfect those, and
then try the rest of the odds if time permits.  However, your grade will be based on what percentage of
ALL odds you do.
I hate grade inflation, but I’m willing to brain-inflate your homework grade in several ways if you are
willing to engage in a reciprocally suitable amount of brain inflation as follows:
·          PRE-NOTES BONUS: I multiply any homework score by 1.2 if you completely supply all details, in
your own words, of the sections of the book that are to be covered on a given day.  WARNING: My
standards here are tough: I want it in your own words, neat, with different colors, complete, with
questions that you have included, etc., and most students get several 0’s on these before they
begin getting them correct.  I don’t reverse 0 extra credit scores and this applies to all other
bonuses in this section.  2nd WARNING: 0 if not 100% complete, with every detail shown (subject
to my approval only!).
·          PROOF-STYLE BONUS: I multiply any homework score by 1.5 if it is written completely in proof
style, with no detail skipped and every reason provided.  The drawback is that it takes a student
several tries to do this correctly and I don’t accept anything less than exactly what I said in the
above line.  If it is not perfect, I don’t give you the 1.5, and I alone make that decision.  Don’t get
discouraged – keep trying and I can help you gain a very important problem-solving and scientific
communication skill here.  Learn to reach my standard, grasshopper, and in it you will find great
intellectual treasures, that apply to any bonus in this section!
·          LATEX POST-NOTES BONUS: I multiply any homework score (compounded in addition to any
other bonuses given here!) by another factor of 1.5 if I am emailed a LaTeX file that exactly
produces an output file that is my lecture notes exactly as they are done in class.  Again, this is
something that takes patience to do and most students get 0’s the first few times they try this. 
However, if you are patient and up for the challenge of meeting my standard on this, you will be
rewarded with a great skill here.  I encourage you to try.
·          UNSOLVED PROBLEM RESEARCH PROJECT BONUS: I will multiply the final homework
percentage (including any bonuses obtained above) by 1.5 for any student who writes (either
individually, with me, others in the class, or several of us) an original research paper in which
you/we
o       Clearly state an unsolved problems in mathematics, either pure or applied, or any scientific
problem that broadly involves or may involve these fields
o       Do so with a LaTeX file

http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/dclahane/courses/Su10/sch150ASu10.htm[6/21/2010 3:31:09 PM]

Schedule – Math 15

o       Develop a flier or experiment that illustrates possible solutions to the problem, or make a list
of partial results, or find faster ways to prove known results
o       Make some kind of progress on an unsolved problem
o       If the paper isn’t completed by the end of the term, subject to my approval, I will instead
multiply the homework percentage by 1.1; however, the student must give a talk at the
summer Math Association meeting (Thursdays 3pm) in which the student clearly defines
and states an unsolved problem that we have not covered yet in the meetings, and that is
related to the one originally chosen but for which no paper has been generated.  Most of you
will not have time to do this, but you are welcome and encouraged to try.  WARNING: This
takes patience and willingness to take on a risk and a challenge!
o       The paper must be in publishable form 48 hours before the final exam!

Each section of homework, along with any accompanying classwork, is due at the NEXT class meeting
after it is covered in class.  For example, if a section is to be covered on Tuesday according to the
schedule below, you should turn that section in, along with any other classwork done that day, at the
NEXT class meeting, Thursday.  Those of you who have had this course or its equivalent before should
try the homework for any given section BEFORE we discuss it in class so that you can use that class to
ask questions, which I will be happy to help you with.
 

VERY IMPORTANT: Because of the size of this class, homework will not be accepted unless it is
turned in stapled, on time to the minute, and a completely and correctly filled out Homework Cover
Sheet is attached.  No exceptions will be made except for documented, extenuating circumstances.
 

Before you to come to class, please read the sections that I will be covering, so that by the time you
come to class, you will be seeing the material a second time.  This study technique will dramatically
improve your performance in the course.
 

I expect you to put in between one and three hours of reading and homework time per hour of class
time, depending on whether you want to perform at a C, B, or A level.  You really have to do the
homework immediately after class or as soon as possible thereafter.  Never procrastinate in this course,
and I think you can perform at whatever level you want.
 

NEVER MISS CLASS, AND ALWAYS WORK DILIGENTLY DURING CLASS – your probability of
succeeding with a C or better in the course HEAVILY depends on you not missing class or goofing off.
 

Not completing homework assignments daily is the most significant factor in failure for students.  I DO
NOT want you to fail this course, but YOU must to do the work and attend every class fully.  You and
you alone determine whether or not you will succeed.
 
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
  6/21 6/22 6/23 6/24    
       
Introduction and Sections Sections Sections covered:
Math Lab covered: covered: 3.2, 3.3
Orientation 2.1-2.4 2.5, 3.1  
      HW Due: 2.5, 3.1
Sections covered: HW Due: HW Due : every other odd

http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/dclahane/courses/Su10/sch150ASu10.htm[6/21/2010 3:31:09 PM]

Schedule – Math 15

1.1-1.6 1.1-1.6 2.1-2.4 every

C.1-C.3 every other odd
(THIS IS other odd;
REVIEW) Chapter 1
  Review
Carefully read all every
of this course’s other odd;
web pages and C.1-C.3
read the above every
sections, and other odd
always read one  
day ahead.  
 
 
  6/28 6/29 6/30 7/1    
       
Sections covered: EXAM I Sections Sections covered:
3.4, 3.5 every Sections covered: 3.8, 4.1, 4.2
other odd 2.1-3.3 3.6, 3.7  
      HW Due:
HW Due : 3.2, 3.3 No   3.6, 3.7 every other
homework HW Due : odd
due (extra 3.4, 3.5 every  
credit may other odd
be due
however)
  7/5 7/6 7/7 7/8    
         
INDEPENDENCE Sections Sections EXAM II
DAY covered: covered: Sections 3.4-4.4
  4.3, 4.4 4.5, 4.6  
NO CLASS     NO homework due
HW Due: HW Due : but extra credit may
3.8, 4.1, 4.3, 4.4 every be due
4.2 every other odd
other odd
  7/12 7/13 7/14 7/15    
         
Sections covered: Sections Sections Sections covered:
4.7, 4.8 covered: covered: 5.5, 5.6
  5.1, 5.2 5.3, 5.4  
HW Due:     HW Due:
4.5, 4.6 every HW Due : HW Due : 5.3, 5.4 every other
other odd 4.7, 4.8 5.1, 5.2 every odd
  every other odd
other odd
 
  7/19 7/20 7/21 7/22    
       
Exam III Sections Review for Final Exam
Sections 4.5-5.4 covered: Final Exam Chapters 2-4,

http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/dclahane/courses/Su10/sch150ASu10.htm[6/21/2010 3:31:09 PM]

Schedule – Math 15

  5.7 (time Sections 5.1-5.7

    permitting)  
HW Due: None, HW Due:   HW Due : None, but
but extra credit 5.5, 5.6 HW Due: 5.7 extra credit work
may be due every every other may be due this day
  other odd odd and all bonus work
  as described above
must be
submitted/completed
by this date at 7am
 

http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/dclahane/courses/Su10/sch150ASu10.htm[6/21/2010 3:31:09 PM]