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Math 121 - Calculus for Biology I |
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San Diego State University -- This page last updated 09-Dec-04 |
Assignment Information
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Math 121 - Calculus for Biology I |
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San Diego State University -- This page last updated 09-Dec-04 |
Assignment Information
This page will give a complete listing of the reading and homework assignments that you are required to do. There is also a listing of the Exam schedule for the semester. The homework will be done with WebWork (alternate entrance is http://webwork.sdsu.edu/html/current_courses.html). This is an electronic homework system that is graded automatically on the due date. (This is the first semester for Math 121, so there may be some glitches. If you are certain there is an error, then please email Joseph Mahaffy.)
Week 15: Your Final occurs on either (Mahaffy) Tues. Dec. 14, 8:00-10:00 or (Elwin) Thurs. Dec. 16, 10:30-12:30. This exam will take place in the lecture room BA 347. Solutions to Exam 3 (Version a and Version b) and Lab Exam 3 (Version a and Version b) are available. More information about the exam is listed below, including information about a review sheet. This week finishes with the lecture notes for the Quotient Rule section.WebWork problems are available for the Quotient Rule and are called set ABiocquotient (due by Tues. Dec. 14 at 4 AM). The text also has homework problems for the Quotient Rule section. Solutions for the Quotient Rule (with complete solutions) are available.
Note: The computer lab in GMCS 422 is open for most of the hours 9-10 M-Th, 9-4 F, and 9-4 Sat. Please let me know if you have any problems accessing this lab.
Grading and Exam Information
Your Final occurs on either (Mahaffy) Tues. Dec. 14, 8:00-10:00 or (Elwin) Thurs. Dec. 16, 10:30-12:30. This exam will take place in the lecture room BA 347. There are likely to be 7-8 problems on the final. Questions will be very similar to the ones from previous exams and the problems you have been working in WebWork. (There will almost certainly be one like one of the quotient rule WebWork questions.) There is a review sheet that has been created from the previous review sheets and the Quotient Rule homework. This should give you a study guide to help you decide which areas are most important to study. The solutions to this review sheet can be found from the review sheets for the previous exams. (Problem 1 is from Review 3 and Quotient Rule, Problems 2 & 4-6 are from Review 1, Problems 7-11 are from Review 2, Problems 3 & 12-16 are from Review 3, and 17-18 are from the Quotient Rule.) There is no computer lab exam for the final. The final is restricted to the use of a scientific calculator, and you can have six 3x5 notecards (both sides).
Solutions to Exam 3 (Version a and Version b) are available.
This section will give you information about exams throughout the semester. The grading for this course is based on 2/3 from the lecture material and 1/3 from the lab. You can find details about grading from the Grading hyperlink. The lecture grade is 20% from the WebWork homework assignments and 80% from the three Exams and Final. The lab grade is from an equal weighting of the approximately 10 computer labs and the 3 Lab Exams. (You will be able to drop one lab score.) The labs are due by Wednesday at 5 PM, after which there is a 20% deduction until Friday at 5 PM and no credit after that time.
Class Ranking: Class rankings and scores on your labs and homework are available through this class ranking link.
The Solutions to the first Exam are available in the Library Reserve room or at the Library's ECR. To access the electronic course reserve you will need to enter the password converse.
The Department of Math has free tutoring available in BA-247. See the Tutoring page for the hours and people staffing the room. The tutors can help with your questions about Calculus, but will not be able to help with Computer questions and some of the modeling related problems. A list of private tutors is available at the Math office (and soon on their website).
Below is a complete listing of the exam schedule for this semester (with possible minor modifications).
Course Drop Deadlines: The University has a very strict on the drop deadline. You must drop this course in the first 3 weeks of classes.
Week 1: You need to familiarize yourself with this website so that you will know where to get the appropriate information for doing well in this course. There is a page that should help you navigate this website if you are not comfortable with the web. Students are entitled to a free account on rohan for receiving email and accessing many of the University computer facilities. (I highly recommend that you obtain this account as rohan has certain abilities that you may want for this course and future courses, which are unavailable by private providers.) More information on this is provided at the SDSU computer facilities website.
Preparation: The experience of the Biology and Mathematics Departments with this course in the past has shown that many of you who are taking this course are not properly prepared. Many of you have had a large time gap between your last math course and this one or you simply had poor preparation (often severe disinterest) in basic algebra. On average 25-40% of the students who enroll in this class will either drop this course (usually from inadequate preparation or unwillingness to work) or fail it. To help you understand the expectations of students entering this course, there is a Algebra Review using WebWorks. It is your responsibility to work through this Algebra worksheet and try to honestly access your abilities. (When you discuss problems later in the course, we are likely to ask you how you did on this examination.) If you score over 70%, then you are probably prepared for this course. If you score 50-70% on this algebra review, then you may be able to succeed with very hard work. If you score below 50%, then you are not prepared for this course and should enroll in GMS 99 or a Community College course to refresh your Algebra skills. This Algebra Review will count toward your homework grade, so it is not an optional assignment. This problem set in WebWork is given by Set ABiocAlg and consists of 48 problems that will be due by Mon. Sept 13 at 4 AM.
Please note that you may want to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. The software is free for download. Simply click on the icon below and follow the instructions.
Reading assignment: Read all sections in the introduction to be familiar with the course policies and what is expected of you. (You may want to read the CSU and SDSU College of Sciences policy statement also.) Then read the first two sections of the lecture notes, Introduction and Linear. Problems will soon be available for the Linear Modeling homework on WebWork. The problems in the text, which closely parallel the WebWork problems, are available over the web at homework problems for Linear Modeling. Solutions for these problems are available on the web at Linear Modeling homework solutions with complete solutions to selected problems.
Before your Computer Lab on Thursday or Friday, you should review the Sample Lab that explains many of the steps to creating a good lab for this course.
Week 2: Continue reading the notes in the Linear section, then work the problems in WebWork called set ABioclinear. These problems are due by Wed. Sep. 15 at 4 AM. The WebWork problems parallel the ones in the text or on this website. Similar problems to the WebWork are available at Linear Modeling hw problems in the Linear section. From the web, there are solutions to these problems in the text, linear homework solutions and complete solutions to selected problems are available. Formulate questions about both the lab and homework to ask in class. The Lab 1 continues this week and will be due Wednesday (Sep. 15) by 5 PM. This lab develops important basic computer skills, so if you are having trouble, be sure to arrange a time to meet with your lab instructor or your class lecturer. Lectures will cover the material in the Least Squares and Function Review and Quadratics sections. The WebWork problems for these sections are being developed and will be posted soon. You may want to begin the homework problems from the text (or website) for Least Squares and Function Review and Quadratics. Solutions for the Least Squares (with selected complete solutions) and Function Review and Quadratic sections (with selected complete solutions) are available.
Week 3: Read the notes in the Function Review and Quadratics section and begin reading the material in the Other Functions and Asymptotes section. The problems in WebWork called set ABioclinear are due by Wed. Sep. 15 at 4 AM, while the WebWork set for Least Squares called set ABioclstsq are due by Mon. Sep. 20 at 4 AM. The WebWork problems parallel the ones in the text or on this website. Similar problems to the WebWork for the chapter on Function Review and Quadratics are available at homework problems there. Solutions for the Function Review and Quadratic sections (with selected complete solutions) are available. Also, homework problems for the section on Other Functions and Asymptotes are available with Solutions for the Other Functions and Asymptotes (with selected complete solutions). The Lab 1 is Wednesday (Sep. 15) by 5 PM. You will begin Lab 2 this week. The WebWork problems for the Function Review and Quadratics and the Other Functions and Asymptotes sections are being developed and will be posted soon.
Week 4: Your first Exam of the semester occurs on Sept. 30 or October 1. A review sheet (with solutions) is available to help you prepare for the exam. More details about the exam will be posted below. Read the notes in the Other Functions and Asymptotes section and the Allometric Modeling section. The problems in WebWork called set ABiocquad are due by Wed. Sep. 23 at 4 AM, while the WebWork set for Least Squares called set ABiocotherfcn are due by Mon. Sep. 27 at 4 AM. The WebWork problems for the Allometric section are being developed and will be posted soon. The WebWork problems parallel the ones in the text or on this website. Similar problems to the WebWork for the chapter on Other Functions and Asymptotes are available at homework problems with Solutions for the Other Functions and Asymptotes (with selected complete solutions). Similar problems for the Allometric section are available at homework problems with Solutions for Allometric Modeling ( with selected complete solutions). The Lab 2 is due Wednesday (Sep. 22) by 5 PM.
Week 5: Your first Exam of the semester occurs this week on Sept. 30 or October 1. A review sheet (with solutions) is available to help you prepare for the exam. In addition, there is a practice lab and a data sheet for the first problem (with solutions). More details about the exam will be posted below. Lecture material covers the Allometric Modeling section and review for the exam. The problems in WebWork called set ABiocallometric are due by Wed. Oct. 6 at 4 AM. The WebWork problems parallel the ones in the text or on this website. Similar problems for the Allometric section are available at homework problems with Solutions for Allometric Modeling ( with selected complete solutions). The Lab 3 is due Wednesday (Sep. 29) by 5 PM.
Week 6: Lecture material covers the Discrete Dynamical Systems section. The problems in WebWork called set ABiocallometric are due by Wed. Oct. 6 at 4 AM. The WebWork problems parallel the ones in the text or on this website. Similar problems for the Allometric section are available at homework problems with Solutions for Allometric Modeling ( with selected complete solutions). WebWork problems for Discrete Dynamical Systems are being developed and will be available soon. The text has similar homework problems with Solutions for the Discrete Dynamical Systems (with selected complete solutions).
Week 7: Lectures continue the material in the Discrete Malthusian Growth section. The lectures will begin the material in the Linear Discrete Dynamical Models section. The problems in WebWork called set ABiocdiscrete are due by Fri. Oct. 15 at 4 AM. The WebWork problems parallel the ones in the text or on this website. The text has similar homework problems with Solutions for the Discrete Dynamical Systems (with selected complete solutions). The problems for Webwork are being developed that parallel the homework in the Linear Discrete Dynamical Models section. Solutions for the Linear Discrete Dynamical Models (with selected complete solutions) are available.
Week 8: This week we will begin the material on the derivative, so you should read the notes in the Introduction to the Derivative section. Lectures continue the material in the Linear Discrete Dynamical Models section. A review sheet for the exam next week is available with solutions to these problems. The problems in WebWork called set ABioclindiscrete are due by Sat. Oct. 23 at 4 AM. The WebWork problems parallel the ones in the text or on this website. The text has similar homework in the Linear Discrete Dynamical Models section. Solutions for the Linear Discrete Dynamical Models (with selected complete solutions) are available. WebWork problems will be developed for the Introduction to the Derivative material. The text has related homework problems for the Introduction to the Derivative section. Solutions for the Introduction to the Derivative (with complete solutions) are available.
Week 9: Exam 2 happens on Thur. Oct. 28 or Fri. Oct. 29. A review sheet for the exam this week is available with solutions to these problems. There is also a Practice Lab for the Lab part of the exam and solutions. The material for this exam covers up through the notes on the Introduction to the Derivative section. WebWork problems are available for the Introduction to the Derivative material and are called set ABiocintroderiv are due by Sat. Oct. 30 at 4 AM. The text has related homework problems for the Introduction to the Derivative section. Solutions for the Introduction to the Derivative (with complete solutions) are available.
Week 10: This week continues material on the derivative. Read the lecture notes for the Velocity and Tangent Lines and the Limits, Continuity, and the Derivative sections. WebWork problems are available for the Velocity and Tangent Lines material and are called set ABiocveltang are due by Thur. Nov. 11 at 4 AM. WebWork problems are available for the Limits, Continuity, and the Derivative material and are called set ABioclimits are due by Sat. Nov. 13 at 4 AM. The text has related homework problems for the Velocity and Tangent Lines and Limits, Continuity, and the Derivative sections. Solutions for the Velocity and Tangent Lines sections (with complete solutions) and Limits, Continuity, and the Derivative (with complete solutions) are available.
Week 11: This week continues material on the derivative. Read the lecture notes for the Rules of Differentiation and Applications of the Derivative sections. The Web Work problem sets have been extended a few days. WebWork problems are available for the Velocity and Tangent Lines material and are called set ABiocveltang are due by Sat. Nov. 13 at 4 AM. WebWork problems are available for the Limits, Continuity, and the Derivative material and are called set ABioclimits are due by Wed. Nov. 17 at 4 AM. WebWork problems are being developed for the sections Rules of Differentiation and Applications of the Derivative and will be posted soon. The text has related homework problems for the Rules of Differentiation and Applications of the Derivative sections. Solutions for the Rules of Differentiation (with complete solutions) and Applications of the Derivative (with complete solutions) sections are available.
Week 12: This week continues material on the derivative. Read all lecture notes for the Applications of the Derivative and Derivative of ex and ln(x) sections. WebWork problems are available for the Limits, Continuity, and the Derivative material and are called set ABioclimits are due by Wed. Nov. 17 at 4 AM. WebWork problems are available for the Rules of Differentiation material and are called set ABiocrules are due by Fri. Nov. 19 at 4 AM.WebWork problems are being developed for the sections Applications of the Derivative and Derivative of ex and ln(x) will be posted soon. The text has related homework problems for the Applications of the Derivative and Derivative of ex and ln(x) sections. Solutions for the Applications of the Derivative (with complete solutions) and Derivative of ex and ln(x) (with complete solutions) are available.
Week 13: This week continues material on the derivative. There is a Review sheet for Exam 3 with solutions. There is a Practice Lab exam available with solutions. Read all lecture notes for the Product Rule sections. WebWork problems are available for the Applications of the Derivative and the Derivative of ex and ln(x) material are called set ABioapplder (due by Tues. Nov. 30 at 4 AM) and set ABioexpln (due by Wed. Dec. 1 at 4 AM). WebWork problems are being developed for the Product Rule section and will be posted soon. The text has related homework problems for the Product Rule section. Solutions for the Product Rule (with complete solutions) are available.
Week 14: Exam 3 occurs on Thur. Dec. 2 or Fri. Dec. 3. There is a Review sheet for Exam 3 with solutions. There is a Practice Lab exam available with solutions. Read the lecture notes for the Quotient Rule section.WebWork problems are available for the Applications of the Derivative and the Derivative of ex and ln(x) material are called set ABioapplder (due by Tues. Nov. 30 at 4 AM) and set ABioexpln (due by Wed. Dec. 1 at 4 AM). WebWork problems are being developed for the Product Rule section and will be posted soon. The text has related homework problems for the Product Rule section. Solutions for the Product Rule (with complete solutions) are available. The text also has homework problems for the Quotient Rule section. Solutions for the Quotient Rule (with complete solutions) are available.