Math 126 Home | Syllabus | Schedule | Practice Exams | Exam Scores | Instructors
In order to take MAT 126, you must have either
See the document first year mathematics at Stony Brook for more information about the math assessment and other calculus courses.
The textbook for the course is Calculus: Concepts and Contexts, Single Variable, Third Edition by James Stewart (Brooks/Cole 2001, ISBN 0-534-37862-5).
Basically, this course covers chapters 5 and 6, where integration is studied. You will need a strong knowledge of derivatives and of trigonometry to do well in this course. Assigned sections should be read before the lectures. See the schedule for a week by week list of the sections covered.
New material will be presented during the lectures. The recitations provide an opportunity, in a smaller class environment, to review the material and get questions answered.
The recitation grade will be determined by homework and quizzes.
There are three exams in math 126: two evening midterms, and a final exam. The dates for these exams are:
The rooms for the examinations will be announced later.
The final exam will be
comprehensive.
Make sure that you will be available at all exam times,
as there
will be no make-ups for missed mid-term exams.
If you miss an exam for an acceptable
reason and provide an acceptable written excuse, the relevant mid-term
will be dropped in computing your course grade. A letter stating that
you were seen by a doctor or other medical personnel is not an acceptable
document. An acceptable document should state that it was reasonable/proper
for
you to seek medical attention and was medically necessary for you
to miss the exam (the note/letter need not state anything beyond this point).
Incomplete grades will be granted only if documented circumstances beyond
your control
prevent you from taking the final exam. You must have
ID to be admitted to exams.
No calculators, notes, or books, etc., are allowed during the exams.
The problems will require pencil and paper reasoning only.
Warning about Calculators and Solution Manuals: Calculators and solution manuals can be of great assistance in helping you to learn the material, if used properly. If used improperly, they can actually cause great damage. Here is the proper way to use them, when you want to work on a problem:
First do the problem yourself, without touching the calculator or solution manual.
Then use the calculator or solution manual to check your work.
If the calculator or solution manual reveal any surprises, find a logical explanation for them.
Calculator abuse: When you first see a problem, your first response should be to think, not to punch buttons on a calculator; otherwise you are suffering from calculator abuse. Students with this syndrome lose out in the following ways:
They do not develop self-confidence in their own abilities to work the problems, which is essential for mathematical growth.
Mathematics is outside them, not part of them. You may have noticed that, if you write down a phone number, you are less likely to remember it. Similarly, calculator abusers often find themselves with poor memories for mathematics.
They do not learn to calculate well. Many courses in physics and the other sciences require students to be able to follow, and do, very complicated calculations.
Final course grades will be determined by the following breakdown:
The Math Learning Center is located in room S240A in the basement of the Math Tower. It is staffed most days and some evenings by experienced mathematics tutors, including professors, graduate students, and advanced undergraduate students. Students may drop in, without an appointment. Your lecturer and recitation instructor will hold at least one office hour per week at the Math Learning Center. See the Math Learning Center website for more information.
The lecturers and the recitation instructors will hold three office hours per week, two of which will be held in their office and one of which will be in the Math Learning Center (room S240A of the Math Tower). The specific times of these office hours will be announced by the lecturers and the recitation instructors and will be posted on the instructors page when the times and locations are finalized.
If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact on your ability to carry out assigned course work, you are strongly urged to contact the staff in the Disabled Student Services (DSS) office in the Educational Computing Center Building; 632-6748v/TDD. The DSS office will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. A written DSS recommendation should be brought to your lecturer who will make a decision on what special arrangements will be made. All information and documentation of disability is confidential. Arrangements should be made early in the semester (before the first exam) so that your needs can be accommodated.