MATH 266A A01(04574), Winter 2005

Calculus with Applications to Biology I

Catalog Description:
Introduction to dynamical systems, limits, and derivatives in the context of biological applications. Students cannot earn credit for both 266A and either of 163A or 263A.
Course Content:
MATH 266 is a calculus sequence that has been specifically designed to meet the needs of prospective life science majors. The mathematical concepts covered in these courses will be developed in the context of biological questions, and numerous exercises will demonstrate further applications of calculus in the life sciences. MATH 266A roughly corresponds to MATH 263A and is considered a sufficient prerequisite for MATH 263B. More detailed information about the course content can be found at http://www.math.ohiou.edu/~just/biocalc/ninf266.html.
Prerequisites:
MATH 115 or Placement level 3.
Instructor:
Martin J. Mohlenkamp, mohlenka@ohio.edu, (740)593-1283, 554 Morton Hall.
Office hours: Monday 10-11am, Tuesday 10-11am, Thursday 10-11am and 5-6pm, and Friday 10-11am.
Web page:
http://www.ohiouniversityfaculty.com/mohlenka/20052/266A.
Class hours/ location:
MTuThF 11:10-12am in 222 Morton Hall.
Text:
Calculus for Biology and Medicine, second edition, by Claudia Neuhauser; Prentice Hall, 2004.
Homework:
Several problems from each section of the book are assigned. In addition, problems using the computer package MATLAB are assigned. These problems will not be collected or graded, but you will need to do them in order to learn.
Good Problems:
Six Good Problems are assigned, and will be collected and graded. These are homework problems that will be graded half on content and half on presentation. The idea is to practice writing mathematics regularly but in small pieces.
Tests:
There will be four mid-term tests, in class. Calculators are not permitted.
Final Exam:
The final exam is on Thursday 17 March at 8:00am in our regular classroom. Calculators are not permitted.
Grade:
Each Good Problem is worth 1 unit, each test is worth 2 units, and the final is worth 4 units. Your lowest 2 units will be dropped and then your average is computed and a 90% guarantees you at least an A-, 80% a B-, 70% a C-, and 60% a D-.
Missed or Late work:
Only reasons given in advance of a missed test will be considered; otherwise a score of 0 will be given. Late Good Problems are penalized 5% for each 24 hour period or part thereof, excluding weekends and holidays.
Attendance:
Attendance is assumed but is not counted in your grade. It is your responsibility to find out any announcements made in class.
Academic Dishonesty:
You are strongly encouraged to work together on the homework. You can work together on the Good Problems, but you must acknowledge in writing what help you received and from whom. The tests and final exam must be your own work, and without the aid of notes, etc. Dishonesty will result in a zero on that work, and possible failure in the class and a report to the university judiciaries.
Special Needs:
If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible so that your learning needs may be appropriately met.
Resources:
  • Your classmates are your best resource. Use them!
  • The Academic Advancement Center's Math Center http://www.ohiou.edu/aac/math has drop-in help, tutors, online help, and a telephone hotline.
  • The calculus page http://www.math.ucdavis.edu/~calculus/ at UC Davis.
  • Using Matlab at Ohio http://www.math.ohiou.edu/courses/matlab/
  • Schedule

    The Good Problems and Tests are fixed, but we may not cover sections on exactly the days shown.
    Week Date Section Materials/Homework (ungraded) Good Problem/ Test
    1 January 3 Introduction Farewell Fargo? .pdf;
    January 4 1.1 1-115odd
    January 6 1.2 1-103odd
    January 7 Entering formulas in Matlab .pdf; Graphing functions with Matlab .pdf; Compositions of functions and their graphs .pdf Good Problem 1: Autobiography.pdf, using Layout .pdf
    2 January 10 1.3 1-85odd, 89-115odd
    January 11 Curve fitting, loglog plots, and semilog plots .pdf
    January 13 2.1 1-77odd; Fargo follow up .pdf
    January 14 2.2 1-109odd Good Problem 2: Section 1.3 #74, using Graphs .pdf
    3 January 17 Martin Luther King Day, no class
    January 18 2.3 1-29odd, 35-57odd (drop deadline)
    January 20 Review study guide .pdf
    January 21 Test 1 on 1.1-1.3 and 2.1-2.2
    4 January 24 3.1 1-53odd
    January 25 Finding limits in Matlab .pdf
    January 27 3.2 1-47odd
    January 28 3.3 1-29odd Good Problem 3: Section 3.1 #2 (with a graph), using Flow .pdf
    5 January 31 3.4 1-17odd
    February 1 3.5 1-13odd
    February 3 Review
    February 4 Test 2 on 2.3, 3.1-3.4
    6 February 7 4.1 1-59odd; Definition of a derivative .pdf (drop deadline with WP/WF)
    February 8 4.2 1-81odd
    February 10 4.3 1-93odd
    February 11 4.4 1-87odd; Implicit Differentiation .pdf Good Problem 4: Section 4.1 #60, using Logic .pdf
    7 February 14 4.5 1-73odd
    February 15 4.6 1-73odd
    February 17 Review
    February 18 Test 3 on 3.5,4.1-4.4
    8 February 21 4.7 1-75odd
    February 22
    February 24 4.8 1-49odd
    February 25 5.1 1-55odd Good Problem 5: Section 4.7 #6, using Symbols .pdf
    9 February 28 5.2 1-43odd
    March 1 5.3 1-43odd
    March 3 Review
    March 4 Test 4 on 4.5-4.8, 5.1-5.2
    10 March 7 5.4 1-19odd, 23
    March 8 5.5 1-57odd
    March 10 5.6 1-19odd
    March 11 Review Good Problem 6: Section 5.4 #20 (give an introduction rather than recopying the problem), using Intros .pdf
    11 March 17 Final Exam 8-10am Thursday, in our classroom

    Martin J. Mohlenkamp
    Last modified: Fri Sep 3 13:53:57 EDT 2010