MA 123 (Elementary Calculus)

The text listed in #1 below is the official text for the course. It is very readable and has many worked out examples. The set of notes listed under #3 below is available for free online. The fourth text listed below is a good study guide for students.

1. Calculus by Elliot Gootman. The book is published by Barron's, and it will be the primary text for the course. The book can be purchased from the bookstores or online. We shall cover the first ten (10) chapters of this book.
2. Supplemental Handouts and/or Lecture Notes. (Click here to download.)
3. A Brief Introduction to Calculus by Robert Molzon. (Click here to download.)
   This is a set of notes that you may find useful for basic concepts. You might want to download the notes and print a copy. The initial part of the course will review algebra, and these notes should be very useful for that review.
4. How to Ace Calculus: The Streetwise Guide by C. Adams, J. Hass, and A. Thompson.
   This inexpensive book might be a useful guide to study methods for calculus and math in general.

This course will cover each of the topics from the first ten chapters of the text, Calculus, by Gootman. All of these topics are covered in the online homework sets. Your main goal should be to learn the material well enough so that you can use calculus in an applied context such as business or social science. It is virtually impossible to learn mathematics without actively taking part in the learning. To understand what this means, consider the impossibility of learning to play tennis by listening to someone describe how to play tennis. You will not learn the material in this course by listening to the lectures, and thinking to yourself - "Yes, I understand that". You must work the problems and make mistakes before you will begin to learn. The instructor's task is that of an assistant to help you learn as much of the material as you desire.

In this course it will not be sufficient to memorize an algorithm for doing specific types of problems. You will be expected to understand the material well enough so that you can work problems similar to, but not identical to the ones we work in class and the ones you encounter in the homework.

You should have a strong understanding of college algebra and an ACT score of at least 26 or a score of 70% on the placement exam. If you have a weak algebra background it is essential that you immediately brush up on this prerequisite. Most students who do not do well in calculus, find that the required algebra is the major roadblock.

Corrections to: corso@ms.uky.edu