Math 10A Syllabus
Summer 2024

Course:   Math 10A ( Course Catalog)

Title:  Differential Calculus

Credit Hours:  4  

Prerequisites:   Math Placement Exam qualifying score, or AP Calculus AB score of 2, or SAT II Math Level 2 score of 600 or higher, or MATH 3C, or MATH 4C.

Catalog Description:  Differential calculus of functions of one variable, with applications. Functions, graphs, continuity, limits, derivatives, tangent lines, optimization problems. (No credit given if taken after or concurrent with MATH 20A.)

Textbook:  OpenStax textbook Calculus Volume 1, available for free here .

Course Readings:  Reading the sections in the textbook that correspond to what we are discussing in class is a very important part of learning the subject. Lecture time is very limited and not every subject can be fully covered in the time allotted for lecture. With material at this level, it is in your own interests to read the related chapters in the textbook.

Homework:   Homework assignments will be announced on Canvas.


• Homework will be assigned and submitted through an online platform. I will give more details in class.
• Your lowest homework score will be dropped.
• In view of the above, NO late homework will be accepted for any reason. This includes illness, emergencies, and so on. If there is an extended issue that may prevent you from turning in three or more homeworks, then please contact me.
• You can work on the problems with your classmates, but you must submit your own version. Copying solutions from others, ChatGPT, Chegg, etc. is not accepted and is considered cheating.
• Due to limited grading resources, only a subset of the problems will be graded for accuracy each week. The rest will be graded for completion, but with a much lower weight.
• A good portion of the exams will be based on the homework assignments. So it is extremely important for you to make sure that you understand each one of them.

Exams:  There will be two midterms and a final exam:


• Midterm 1: Monday, July 15 in class
• Midterm 2: Thursday, July 25 in class
• Final Exam: Saturday, August 3 3:00PM-6:00PM


• Unless otherwise prohibited explicitly in the instructions, you can use one 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of handwritten notes (both sides).
• You must bring a valid photo ID to all the exams.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that you do not have a schedule conflict involving the final examination or midterms.
  You should not enroll in this class if you cannot sit for the final examination or midterms at their scheduled times.
• Make-up exams will not be given.

Grading:

Your weighted score is the best of


• 15% Homework,   25% each midterm,   35% Final Exam
• 15% Homework,   35% best midterm,   50% Final Exam


Your letter grade is determined by your weighted score using the best of the following methods:



• A+	A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	C-	D	F
  97	93	90	87	83	80	77	73	70	60	<60



• Based on a curve corresponding to historical department averages.

Please notice that outside factors, including the need for a certain grade for admission/retention in any academic program, scholarship or transfer credit, graduation requirements or personal desire for a specific grade DO NOT appear in the above calculations, and thus are not considered in any way in the determination of your course grade. Effort, improvement, and participation will all dramatically improve your grade in the course in that they will allow you to do well on exams, and the final exam. They will NOT, however, actively participate in the calculation of your course grade.

Regrades:  All graded exams will be returned using Gradescope; regrading will also be administred using Gradescope. Any regrade requests must be submitted via Gradescope during the given window. No other regrades will be accepted. Regrade requests are to be used to correct factual grading errors only. Anything resembling fishing for partial credit will be denied. Disrespectful regrade requests will be denied.

General Advice:
• Please ask questions in class. There are no stupid questions!
• Come to office hours when you're stuck. Or just to work on the homework. Or to talk about math, life, or anything else.
• Attend class and discussions.
• Do not fall behind early. This is doubly true since this a 5 week, fast-paced course. Most of the material in this course builds upon previous lessons.
• Success in mathematics is more about putting in hard work than having natural talent.
• Study by DOING problems rather than passively reading notes

Academic Dishonesty:  Academic dishonesty is considered a serious offense at UCSD.  Students caught cheating will face an administrative sanction which may include suspension or expulsion from the university.  It is in your best interest to maintain your academic integrity. (Click here for more information.)

Accommodations:  Students requesting accommodations and services due to a disability for this course need to provide a current Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter issued by the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) , prior to eligibility for requests. Receipt of AFAs in advance is necessary for appropriate planning for the provision of reasonable accommodations. OSD Academic Liaisons also need to receive current AFA letters.

Name and Gender Pronouns:   UC San Diego is committed to supporting its students' name and gender preferences. Class rosters provided to your instructor and TAs have students' legal names, but we will strive to honor your request to be addressed using a preferred name or gender pronoun. Please let your instructor and TA know your preferences so that we can make changes to our records. (Certain university records may be beyond our ability to change, however.)

Equity, Inclusion, and Respect:   We are committed to the UC San Diego Principles of Community . "To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to maintain a climate of fairness, cooperation, and professionalism. These principles of community are vital to the success of the University and the well being of its constituents." The principles of community include (but are not limited to): "We affirm each individual's right to dignity and strive to maintain a climate of justice marked by mutual respect for each other." "We reject acts of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and political beliefs, and, we will confront and appropriately respond to such acts." "We promote open expression of our individuality and our diversity within the bounds of courtesy, sensitivity, confidentiality, and respect." "We are committed to promoting and supporting a community where all people can work and learn together in an atmosphere free of abusive or demeaning treatment." Visit the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for more information.

Acknowledgement:   I would like to thank Amir Mohammadi for creating the original version of this syllabus.