Math 42 is a 5-credit second-term calculus class which covers techniques of integration, applications of integration, differential equations, infinite sequences and series, and Taylor polynomials. The course is designed for those who have taken Math 41 or have equivalent background.
Warning! The course material is challenging and will be covered at a fast pace. It is vital that you devote consistent effort to studying the material and doing the homework.
We will be using CourseWork for grade recording (and possibly other purposes as well). Be sure that you have access!
The textbook is Calculus: Concepts and Contexts, Single Variable, 3rd edition, by James Stewart. This is the same textbook used in Math 41. We will cover the material from Chapter 5 through the end of the book.
The book is sold out at the bookstore and on backorder. It might take unreasonably long for them to get more copies of the book. Instead, I recommend you buy the book online -- for example, at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or half.com. You might also check out BestBookBuys.
Each week you will attend three lectures and two discussion sections. The lectures are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11 a.m. in room 380X or Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1:15 p.m. in room 380X. Feel free to attend either lecture. The discussion sections are Tuesday and Thursday at either 11 a.m. or 1:15 p.m. (or 7:00 p.m. for ACE), in different locations.
The lectures will be used primarily to introduce concepts and develop theory. The discussions will be used primarily to present examples, answer questions, and go over homework.
We will cover the following topics in this course:
A detailed schedule of topics that we will cover is available here.
Homework will be required, taken mostly from your book. Collaboration is encouraged, but you are expected to prepare your solutions on your own. The basic rule of thumb is that you should not be looking at others' solutions (including a solutions manual) when you write your answers. I would consider systematic deviation from this rule to be a violation of the Honor Code.
There will probably be a total of six homework assignments.
Homework 1, due September 30.
Homework 2, due October 9 (in section - formerly Oct. 8); the last problem has been dropped. Extra credit. Warning: I don't know how to do it either.
Extra problems, recommended as review for the first midterm.
Extra problems, recommended as review for the second midterm.
Homework 3, due October 28 in section.
Homework 4, due November 11 in section.
Homework 5 with a list of radii of convergence, due Friday, November 21.
Extra problems, recommended as review for the final exam.
You will be graded on both correctness as well as quality of exposition. The standard is that someone who doesn't know the answer should be able to easily follow your work. This means that you should put equals signs where they belong, show your work, and explain in complete English sentences where necessary. The same standard will be applied to the homework and the exams, and your TAs and I will provide good role models in lecture and section.
Calculators will not be permitted on exams. You may use calculators on your homework if you like, but this won't prepare you best for the exams.
Solutions for the second exam.
Midterm exams were held on Tuesday, October 14, and Tuesday, November 4. There is an Exam Information page and a schedule.
The final exam will be held on Monday, December 8 at 7:00-10:00 pm, in Room 320-105. You must take the final exam at this time.
About the exams: Exams must be taken without book, notes, or calculators. At least half of the exam problems will be chosen from homework exercises from your textbook (not necessarily the ones that were assigned), either verbatim or with only minor changes. At least one problem per exam will ask you to explain some aspect of the theory. You should strive to be concise, thorough, and clear.
Your TAs and I will strive to be good role models for what is expected; if there are any questions then please ask!
The basis for your grade in this class has the following components:
I also very much welcome your comments by e-mail. Please feel free to sign up for a random Google or Yahoo e-mail address if you would like to send your comments anonymously.
There are lots of good ways to contact me. Please feel free to e-mail me at fthorne [at] math.stanford.edu; I will try to respond within 24 hours if possible. You are strongly encouraged to come to office hours as often as you like, and when possible I will make myself available before and after lecture for questions.
CourseWork will be used in Math 42 to allow students to check grades online. Please make sure you have signed up for your discussion there. There is no need to sign up for discussion sections on Axess.