Math 31L (Calculus I with Environmental Emphasis)
Section 13
Fall 1997
Plan for Weeks 1 and 2
In our short Week 1 and full-sized Week 2 we go very quickly through
most of Chapter 1, which does not involve any calculus. We will review
the concepts associated with linear, power, exponential,
and logarithmic functions, and we will study functions represented
by graphs and tables. There are several key messages in this
week's work:
- Our primary object of study is this course is function -- which
is not the same thing as formula. A function is a special kind of
relationship between varying quantities. This relationship might
be expressed as a formula, but it also might be expressed as a graph or
a table of data, or a rule of association, or perhaps in other ways.
- The "real world" has lots of functional relationships, but
no formulas. Mathematical formulas arise as models of the real world.
The relationship of formula to reality is much like that of a model airplane
to a real airplane.
- Many functions can be inverted. A thread that will run through
the whole course is the concept of creating an inverse function
by undoing the effect of a given function.
Here is the syllabus for Weeks 1 and 2:
| Week 1 |
Date |
Topic |
Reading |
Activity |
|
|
|
|
|
| W |
9/3 |
Organization |
pp. xiii-xiv |
Setting goals |
| Th |
9/4 |
Learning Maple |
|
Lab: Maple Tutorial |
| F |
9/5 |
Linear Functions |
1.1, 1.2 |
Reading a math book |
|
|
|
|
|
| Week 2 |
Date |
Topic |
Reading |
Activity |
|
|
|
|
|
| M |
9/8 |
Exponential functions |
1.3 |
|
| W |
9/10 |
Power, inverse functions |
1.4, 1.5 |
|
| Th |
9/11 |
Linear models |
Guide
to
Writing |
Lab: Marine Pollution |
| F |
9/12 |
Logarithmic functions |
1.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
- Your first homework papers will be turned in on Monday, September 15.
Those papers should include solutions to the problems whose numbers are
boldfaced italics in the assignment below. The assignment
dates are start dates.
- The Week 1 lab is a tutorial on using a Web browser and Maple.
It will not be turned in or graded. The lab on Marine Pollution will be
your first graded lab activity.
- Remember to submit your first journal entry by e-mail on Friday, September
12.
Assignments
- Friday, Sep. 5, Sec. 1.1 / #1, 2, 4, 6,
8, 9, 13, 14; Sec. 1.2 / #6, 7, 10, 12, 14,
18, 21
- Monday, Sep. 8, Sec. 1.3 / #2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15,
17, 19
- Wednesday, Sep. 10, Sec. 1.4 / #11, 13, 15, 19, 20;
Sec. 1.5 / #1, 3, 5, 8, 12, 14, 16
- Friday, Sep. 12, Sec. 1.6 / #2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15,
20, 23, 24, 26, 27
David A. Smith <das@math.duke.edu>
Last modified: September 1, 1997