Math 124 G & H, Winter 2005

(last updated 3/8)
New!

What and Why?

Math 124 is the most often taken calculus course at UW. It is also required for many majors. Why is that? Well, calculus studies how one quantity changes with another quantity, including its rate of change (velocity, acceleration) This allows us to deduce how planets move around the sun, how airplanes fly, how climates change, how economies interact, how biological systems evolve, etc. So, even when you are burning the midnight oil to study for your exam, keep in mind that what you are learning is good and useful!

Important: Please read a Note to Math 124 Students from the math department.

Where and When?

On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, you will meet with your instructor in lectures (about 80 students) to learn general concepts. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, you will meet with your TA in small quiz sections (about 27 students) to work on problem solving, using worksheets. Here you will solve more complex problems, including multi-step story problems, and the learning is more interactive. [We welcome your feedbacks on this.] The place and time for the lectures and quiz sections are shown below (good luck on finding the rooms!) I am also arranging for extra review sessions at time and room TBA to review materials and answer your questions.
Lecture Section M, W, F Quiz Section T Th
G 1:30-2:20
GLD 322
GA 2:00-3:20
DEN 305 		1:30-2:20
DEN 305
GB 2:00-3:20
DEN 306 		1:30-2:20
DEN 306
GC 12:30-1:50
DEN 305 		2:30-3:20
DEN 305
H 2:30-3:20
GLD 322
HA 12:30-1:50
DEN 306 		2:30-3:20
DEN 306
HB 12:30-1:50
DEN 307 		2:30-3:20
DEN 307
HC 2:00-3:20
DEN 307 		1:30-2:20
DEN 307

Who?

  • Instructor: That's me, Paul Tseng (Office: Padelford C-344; Email: tseng@math.washington.edu). I have been a professor at UW since 1990. And this job is never dull! You can click on my name to read more about me.
  • Teaching Assistants: They are graduate students dedicated to your success and happiness--well, almost...

    Course Information

  • Syllabus: Information about grading and course schedule is given in the course syllabus, which will be handed out on the first day of class. You can also download them as pdf file here: 124 G syllabus and 124 H syllabus.

  • Textbook: Calculus: Early Transcendentals , 5th edition, by James Stewart (available from the University Book Store). Get the big one if you plan to take Math 126.

  • Prerequisites for Math 124: Math 120 or its equivalent. Knowledge of functions/graphs, trig, and story problems is needed.
  • Important Dates
  • Calculator & Notes

  • Resources

  • Course Schedule
    Week HW, Wksheet Quiz/Exam Topics and Textbook Sections
    1 HW1 (omit #4,7,10; due Jan 11), Wksheet1 Precalculus (Sec. 1.2, 1.3, Appendix D)
    2 HW2 (omit 1.5.7,10.1.5,2.1.5,#9; due Jan 18), Wksheet2 QUIZ 1, Jan 13 More precalculus, including parametric equations; introduce tangent lines, rates of change, average velocity, instantaneous velocity. (Sec. 1.5, 1.6, 10.1 or supplement reading, 2.1-2.2)
    3 HW3 (not turn in), Wksheet3 Limits and their calculation, continuity, asymptotes. Back to velocity and rates of change. (Sec 2.3, 2.5, 2.6-2.7)
    4 HW4 (due Feb 1) MIDTERM 1, Jan 25 Midterm Review, Midterm 1, derivative, graphical differentiation, differential rules. (Sec. 2.8-2.9, 3.1)
    5 HW5 (omit #8; due Feb 8), Wksheet5 More differentiation rules, highlighting the chain rule. (Sec. 3.2, 3.4, 3.5)
    6 HW6 (omit 3.7.1, 3.7.55; due Feb 15), Wksheet6 QUIZ 2, Feb 10 Implicit differentiation, higher order derivatives, logarithmic differentiation. (Sec. 3.6, 3.7, 3.8)
    7 HW7 (omit #6; not turn in), Wksheet7 Related rates, tangent line approximation, Midterm Review. (Sec. 3.10, 3.11)
    8 HW8 (omit 4.1.31; due Mar 1) MIDTERM 2, Feb 22 Midterm 2, intro to min/max value detection, derivative tests. (Sec. 4.1, 4.3)
    9 HW9 (omit 4.4.77(b) and #8(c); due Mar 8), Wksheet9 QUIZ 3, Mar 3 L'Hopitals rule, curve sketching, optimization. (Sec. 4.4, 4.5, 4.7)
    10 HW10 (omit 4.7.35, 4.7.51 and #2; not turn in) FINAL EXAM, Sat, Mar 12, BAG 131 Finish the course, Final Exam Review.

  • Homeworks

    Since we have only one grader for 85 students, only a small number of assigned homework problems will be graded. Still, it's vital that you can solve all homework problems since the exam and quiz questions will be based on them (in particular, the supplementary problems and the high numbered textbook problems). The low numbered textbook problems are for "warmups". Since this is a 5 credit course, expect to spend at least 10 hours outside of classes on your homework. In some cases, 12-15 hours will be needed. Fasten your hmwk with staples or clips and write your section on it. Late homeworks will not be accepted. Answers to selected problems are posted. However, worked solutions might not be posted due to concerns about them getting circulated to other classes. Either the TAs or I will be happy to discuss with you the detailed solution to specific problems.

  • HW 6.
    Hint for #4: Think of the range of cos(x).
    Hint for #7: Tangent line for f(x) at a has slope f'(a) and goes through (a,f(a)). Tangent line for g(x) at b has slope g'(b) and goes through (b,g(b)). If these lines are the same, then f'(a)=g'(b) and both (a,f(a)) and (b,g(b)) are on the lines. Use this to find a and b.
  • HW 8.
    Hint for page 275, #4: Since the parabola has (0,0) as its vertex, its equation is of the form y= a x2.
    Hint for page 276, #7: Let (0,y0) be the center of the circle and let (x,y) be the point where the circle is tangent to the parabola. Then, these two curves have the same tangent slope at (x,y). Also, (x,y) is on both the circle and the parabola. Solve these equations to get x,y, y0.
    Hint for page 276, #9(a): This a related rate problem. Use trig to relate the two angles theta and alpha.

  • Study Suggestions

    The course goes at a brisk pace, but you can stay on top of it by reviewing the course material frequently and start working on homeworks early. Try studying in groups at the Math Study Center. Don't be discouraged if you get stuck, especially on the multi-step problems and story problems. Work on other problems and come back to it later. For social types, please refrain from disturbing your classmates during lectures or quizz sections by talking loudly or arriving late or leaving early.

  • Math Quotes

    If it's incomprehensible, it's mathematics. -- Bennett Cern

    And for mathematical science, he that doubts their certainty hath need of a dose of hellebore. -- Joseph Glanvill

    an excessive study of mathematics absolutely incapacitates the mind... -- Sir William Hamilton

    Round numbers are always false. -- Samuel Johnson

    In my free time I do differential and integral calculus. -- Karl Marx

  • Math Jokes

    sin x / x = sin

  • UW Math Department
  • American Mathematical Association