Math 1231: Single-Variable Calculus I
Section 16
Fall 2021

Contact Info
Fall 2021

Office: Phillips Hall 720E
Email: jaydaigle@gwu.edu

Office Hours:

Often in office:

Course Information

Lecture:

TA

TA Office Hours:

Official textbook:

Recitations

Section 48:

Section 49:

Section 50:

Daily Assignments

Wednesday December 15, 5:20–7:20 PM: Final Exam!

December 8: Volumes

December 6: Physical Applications

December 1: Averages and Areas

November 29: Integration by Substitution

November 22: FTC2 and Computing Integrals

November 17: The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, part 1

November 15: The Definite Integral

November 10: Integration and Area

November 8: Interlude on Approximation

November 3: Optimization

November 1: Sketching Graphs

October 27: Classifying Extrema

October 25: Mean Value Theorem

October 20: Midterm!

October 18: Maxima and Minima

October 11: Tangent Lines and Implicit Differentiation

October 6: Rates of Change and Tangent Lines

October 4: Linear Approximation and Rates of Change

September 29: Trigonometric Derivatives and the Chain Rule

September 27: Computing Derivatives

September 22: Linear Approximation and the Derivative

September 20: Infinite Limits

September 15: Trigonometry and the Squeeze Theorem

September 13: Computing Limits

September 8: Formal Limits

September 1: Informal Continuity and Limits

August 30: Syllabus and Review of Functions


Course Goals

This is the first semester of a standard year-long sequence in single-variable calculus. The main topics are limits and continuity; differentiation and integration of algebraic and trigonometric functions; and applications of these ideas. This corresponds roughly to Chapters 1–6 of Herman–Strang.

By the end of the course, students will acquire the following skills and knowledge: students will know the intuitive and formal definitions of the limit, derivative, antiderivative, and definite integral of a function. Students will be able to distinguish continuous from discontinuous functions by visual and algebraic means; to calculate derivatives of functions both by definition and using various simplification rules; to formulate and solve related rates and optimization problems; to accurately sketch graphs of functions; to calculate antiderivatives and definite integrals of a variety of functions; to compute areas of regions in the plane and volumes of solids of revolution; and to explain the significance of important theoretical results such as the Extreme Value Theorem, Mean Value Theorem, and Fundamental Theorems of Calculus.

The course syllabus is available here.

Course notes

Mastery Quizzes

Major Topics

  1. Computing Limits
  2. Computing Derivatives
  3. Linear Approximation
  4. Extrema and Optimization
  5. Integration

Secondary Topics

  1. Definition of a limit
  2. Squeeze theorem
  3. Definition of derivative
  4. Rates of change and models
  5. Related rates
  6. Curve sketching
  7. Numeric approximation
  8. Riemann sums
  9. Integral Applications [EDIT!]

Tests

Graphing calculators will not be allowed on tests. Scientific, non-programmable calculators will be allowed. I will have some to share, but not enough for everyone.

Edfinity online homework system

We will be using Edfinity for Math 1231-16. To enroll, please follow the steps below:

  1. If you already have an Edfinity account from a previous course, please sign into it. Otherwise, go to step 2.
  2. Go to the following registration link: https://edfinity.com/join/E4YACCKC
  3. You will be prompted to pay (I believe the fee should be $25) and enroll in our section.
  4. Start working on your assignments :)

Textbook

The official textbook for Math 1231 is OpenStax Calculus Volume 1 by Gilbert Strang and Edwin Herman. It is available for free online here. You can also buy copies from Amazon; a paperback is a little under $30.

I will be loosely following the textbook, but will often be giving my own take or focusing on topics the textbook doesn’t emphasize. All my course notes will be posted to the course web page.