Fall 2017 & IAP 2018 Single & Multivariable Calculus
Calculus I and II
Math 18.01A-18.02A, Concourse - MIT

Lectures and Recitations by:
Robert Winters
robert@math.rwinters.com

Calendar of topics and
homework assignments
Solutions
(username/password required)

Concourse 18.01A (CC.181a)
Stellar site

Concourse 18.02A (CC.182a)
Stellar site


(former) Concourse 18.03 site

(former) Concourse 18.02 site

(former) Concourse 18.01A-02A site


Torus

The text for the course is
Calculus with Analytic Geometry, 2nd Edition by George F. Simmons (ISBN 9780070576421), published by McGraw-Hill
[Click on the image below for prices.]

Simmons, 2nd Edition
You can probably get the best price for this book from MIT students who took this course. The book has not changed in years.

In addition, you will want to purchase or download a copy of the 18.02A Course Notes.


Table of Contents:

• Ch. 1 - Numbers, Functions, and Graphs

• Ch. 2 - The Derivative of a Function

• Ch. 3 - Computation of Derivatives

• Ch. 4 - Applications of Derivatives

• Ch. 5 - Indefinite Integrals and Differential Equations

• Ch. 6 - Definite Integrals

• Ch. 7 - Applications of Integration

• Ch. 8 - Exponential and Logarithm Functions

• Ch. 9 - Trigonometric Functions


18.01A Topics

Ch. 10 - Methods of Integration

Ch. 11 - Further Applications of Integration

Ch. 12 - Indeterminate Forms and Improper Integrals

Ch. 13 - Infinite Series of Constants

Ch. 14 - Power Series

• Ch. 15 - Conic Sections

• Ch. 16 - Polar Coordinates


18.02A Topics

• Ch. 17 - Parametric Equations, Vectors in the Plane

• Ch. 18 - Vectors in Three-Dimensional Space, Surfaces

• Ch. 19 - Partial Derivatives

• Ch. 20 - Multiple Integrals

• Ch. 21 - Line and Surface Integrals, Green’s Theorem, Gauss’ Theorem, and Stokes' Theorem

This is the site of the Concourse 18.01A-02A course (a.k.a. CC.181a and CC.182a) that ran for 8 years from Fall 2011 through Fall 2018. Some version of this course may at some point again be offered within the remnants of the Concourse Program, a program that billed itself as “integrating science and the humanities” but which made no effort to actually do so for at least the last 8 years. Concourse has sold that false bill of goods simply to justify its continued existence as an MIT Freshman Learning Community.

The students of Concourse are much the same as virtually all MIT students - curious, smart, and a pleasure to know. The Concourse Program, in contrast, is built on a foundation of hypocrisy. Themes like justice and truth and knowledge are presented to its students, but what has come to define Concourse are the need for control and enforcing obedience and taking care of the selfish needs of the administrators of the program. Those of us who were simply very good at teaching our courses (and greatly appreciated by our students) and who did our best to actually integrate science and the humanities or, in my case, civic responsibility, have never been valued by the directors of the program. Those who teach in Concourse actually have very little say in how the program operates, and the program has largely been on auto-pilot for some time. That said, you could probably randomly pick 50 MIT freshmen and make it work as long as good teachers were in the program who actively engaged students.

I treasure all of my relationships with students built up over 9 years working in Concourse as well as the absolute joy of sharing an office for most of my time there with a truly wonderful teacher of Chemistry and mentor of students. I miss the students more than I can put into words. However, I don’t at all miss working an an oppressive environment with an incompetent and vengeful Assistant Director and a Director who values only blind obedience and who would gladly throw under the bus anyone whose independence in any way threatened her personal insecurities. Any academic program, including any MIT Freshman Learning Community, should aspire to greater things. - Robert Winters

Announcements:

You will find me at the Harvard University Extension School.
email: robert@math.rwinters.com


This sequence, intended for students who have had a full year of high school calculus, begins with 18.01A, a six-week review of one-variable calculus, emphasizing integration techniques and applications, polar coordinates, improper integrals, sequences, and infinite series. Prerequisite is a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Calculus AB exam or a passing grade on the first half of the 18.01 Advanced Standing Exam, covering differentiation and elementary integration. Most students completing 18.01A continue directly into 18.02A, in which the remaining weeks of the fall term is devoted to the material in the first half of Calculus II. 18.02A is taught at the same pace as 18.02. Concourse students complete the second half of Calculus II during Independent Activities Period (IAP) in January.

Syllabus for Concourse Math 18.01A/02A     Printable syllabus (PDF)

Supplementary Notes:
18.01 Supplementary Notes authored by Prof. Arthur Mattuck of the MIT Mathematics Department, exercises by David Jerison.
18.02 Supplementary Notes authored by Prof. Arthur Mattuck of the MIT Mathematics Department.


Text: Calculus with Analytic Geometry, 2nd Edition by George F. Simmons (ISBN 9780070576421), published by McGraw-Hill

18.01/02 Mathlets (to appear)

Homework: Homework will be posted on the course website and will be due approximately weekly. Typical assignments will include some exercises that are to be turned in as well as additional practice problems. Homework may be submitted in class or at my office, but it should be completed by the posted due date. Additional time will only be given if requested before the due date and if appropriate for the circumstances. You should not consult any solutions manual in preparing your assignments. You are encouraged to work with your fellow students on the homework, but your written solutions must be your own. Solutions will be made available (as PDF files) on the course website shortly after they are due.


Class during IAP is expected to be at the same time as the mainstream class: Daily, Mon-Fri, 12:00-1:00pm. We could meet for longer on some days in order to create a free day, but only if everyone agrees.

We'll also schedule a few recitation times during the week based on the preferences of the class. Alternatively, we can hold informal meetings on several afternoons around the conference table in the Concourse Lounge.


Condensed Syllabus: (See the Calendar for day-by-day details and assignments, updated as the course proceeds.)

18.01A Topics:

  • Review of basic ideas of Differential Calculus. (Chaps. 2-7)
  • Applications of Integration: area, volume, volume of solids of revolution, arclength, area of a surface of revolution, work and energy, hydrostatic force. (Chap. 7)
  • Techniques of integration: substitution, trigonometric integrals, trigonometric substitutions, partial fractions, integration by parts, miscellaneous methods, numerical integration and Simpson's Rule. (Chap. 10)
  • Further Applications of Integration: Center of mass, centroids, moment of inertia. (Chap. 11)
  • Indeterminate forms, L’Hôpital's Rule, improper integrals.
  • Sequences, infinite series, convergent vs. divergent series, comparison tests, integral test, ratio and root tests, alternating series, absolute vs. conditional convergence. (Chap. 13)
  • Power series, interval of convergence, differentiation and integration of power series, Taylor Series and Taylor’s Formula, applications to differential equations. (Chap. 14)
  • Probability. (Supplementary Notes)

18.02A Topics:

  • Coordinates, vectors and vector algebra in R2 and R3; dot product, cross product, projection, equations of lines and planes, matrix methods. (Chaps. 17-18 and Notes)
  • Parametric equations of curves in R2 and R3; coordinates, derivatives of vector-valued functions, velocity and acceleration, tangent vectors, arclength; curvature and unit normal vector, tangential and normal components of acceleration, Kepler’s Laws and Newton's Law of Gravitation. (Chaps. 17-18)
  • Cylinders and surfaces of revolution, cylindrical and spherical coordinates; parameterized surfaces in R2 and R3. (Chap. 18)
  • Functions of several variables - limits, continuity, and differentiabilty; partial derivatives, gradients, linear approximation, directional derivatives, Chain Rule. (Chap. 19)
  • Optimization - unconstrained and constrained; implicit functions and implicit differentiation. (Chap. 19)
  • Multiple integrals, integration over regions in R2 and R3 and their applications using Cartesian, polar, cylindrical, and spherical coordinates, gravitational attraction. (Chap. 20)
  • Vector fields and their applications. (Notes)
  • Integration over curves in R2 and R3 by parameterization; work integrals, and applications; independence of path and conservative vector fields; Green’s Theorem. (Chap. 21)
  • Integration over surfaces in R3 by parameterization - flux integrals, surface area, and applications. (Chap. 21)
  • Calculus of vector fields; curl and divergence of vector fields; Stokes’ Theorem, Divergence Theorem; Maxwell’s equations. (Chap. 21)

Topics and Assignments are posted in the Course Calendar.


Mega-List of Math 18.02 techniques     Math 18.02 Useful Facts


Singular Sensations - Steve Strogatz in the New York Times


Here's something:  http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/index.html


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Please send comments to Robert Winters.
URL: http://math.rwinters.com/18012A
Last modified: Tuesday, January 3, 2023 10:27 AM