Surely no subject in early college mathematics is more exciting or more fun to teach than the calculus. It is like being the ringmaster of a great three-ring circus. It has been said that one can recognize the students on a college campus who have studied the calculus -- they are the students with no eyebrows. In utter astonishment at the incredible applicability of the subject, the eyebrows of the calculus students have receded higher and higher and finally vanished over the backs of their heads.

Howard Eves, quoted in Thompson and Gardner. Calculus Made Easy. St. Martin's Press. 1998.

Course Goals


  1. I want to help you improve your problem solving skills and mathematical confidence. More generally, I want you to leave this course with an increased ability to do mathematics.
  2. As part of this, I want you to experience using a computer to help you do mathematics.
  3. I want you to learn semi-independently about a topic of your choosing and gain experience orally presenting technical information.
  4. I want you to gain a solid understanding of the theory and applications of integrals.
  5. I want you to get a good introduction to infinite sums and series.
  6. I want you to have, work hard, and learn a lot.