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Advanced Calculus Course Syllabus

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
15 views4 pages

Advanced Calculus Course Syllabus

Uploaded by

bizhan1996abbasi
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
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MA 411 Fall 2021

Prof. Mark Kon


Room 260, MCS Building (111 Cummington St.Ñ
Tel. 617-460-1232
Email: mkon@[Link]

Office HoursÀ
Tuesday 3 pm - 4:15 pm
Thursday 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm
... and by appointment

Scope: This course will cover rigorously and in greater generality aspects of differential and
integral calculus. Notions of differentiation will be generalized to arbitrary functions between
vector spaces, and integral theorems Ðand their applicationsÑ will be presented more rigorously
and for vector functions as well.

Text: The text for this class is Kaplan's Advanced Calculus, 5th Edition

Problem Sets: These will generally be assigned out of the text, with an assignment
corresponding to each lecture. Problems for the lectures of a given week will be collected on
Thursday of the following week.
Problem set scores will contribute to 30% of the final grade. Homework will be an
integral part of the course, and it will be difficult to perform well without it. In general, it is
probably good practice to complete a portion of the assignment after the corresponding
lecture. Note that answers for odd numbered problems are in the back of the book. In general
an answer without an explanation will be considered insufficient, unless the answer is
obvious. Problems which do not show reasons or work will not be given full credit.

Please note: No late problem sets will be accepted, unless you have a medical excuse
(generally this means a note from a clinic). No makeups for exams will be given, and exams
will not be excused without a medical reason.

Grading: There will be two in-class exams and a final. The two exams will count for 20%
each, and the final, 30% of the final grade. Problem sets will determine 30% of the grade.
Exams will cover in-class and assigned text material. Note that this class is small enough that
it will also be possible to recognize individual effort, interest, and participation in the material.

In class: Questions in the class are welcomed, and brief discussions of questions on
problems and course material will be held at the beginning of each class, in which questions
will be encouraged.

Problem set writeups: Problem set solutions should be written up clearly - communication
skills will determine a large part of your mathematical success in life, and will also determine
a large part of your success in this course. Please make it a habit to rewrite problem set
solutions if they are not entirely in satisfactory final form on first writeup. In arguments
involving proofs, you should focus on sentence construction and clarity of arguments in final
write-ups. Proofs can create notorious difficulties if they are not written clearly and
succinctly.

Consultation on problem sets: You are permitted and encouraged to consult with other
students on problem sets, but this should be done on a general level of finding the solution of a
problem. The final writeup of a problem set must be done by each student individually.

Lectures: After the lecture and before the next one, you should (i) read the relevant part of
the text (unless this has been done before the lecture to facilitate your understanding); (ii)
rewrite your lecture notes, adding any remarks, calculations, examples, that are needed so that
you understand the material.

Please note: No late problem sets will be accepted, unless you have a medical excuse
(generally this means a note from a clinic). No makeups for exams will be given, and exams
will not be excused without a medical reason.

Note on plagiarism: Boston University's policies on plagiarism are quite unbending. If a


student cheats on an exam, it is the policy of the University that he or she be given a hearing,
the results of which may range anywhere up to termination.
Syllabus:

Week 1: Review of linear algebra


Functions of several variables
Limits and continuity

Kaplan: Sections 1.16, 2.1-2.4

Week 2: Derivatives, differentials

Kaplan: 2.5-2.7

Week 3: Composite functions, chain rule

Kaplan: 2.8-2.9

Week 4: Implicit functions and implicit function theorem

Kaplan: 2.10-2.11

Week 5: Inverse functions


Curvilinear coordinates
Directional derivatives
Higher order derivatives
Laplacian in other coordinate systems

Kaplan: 2.12-2.17

Week 6: Vector and scalar fields


Divergence, gradient, curl, and combined operations
Definite integrals
Multiple integrals
Integrals of vector functions

Kaplan: 3.1- 3.6, 4.1, 4.3-4.5

Week 7: Changes of variables and the Jacobian


Line integrals and their properties
Green's theorem

Kaplan: 4.6, 5.1-5.5

Week 8: Arc length and surface area


Independence of path; simply connected domains
Extensions to multiply connected domains
Surfaces in space; orientability
Surface integrals

Kaplan: 4.7, 5.6-5.10

Week 9: Divergence and Stokes's theorems


Independence of path
Infinite sequences, infinite series
Tests for convergence and divergence

Kaplan: 5.11-5.13, 6.1-6.6

Week 10: Sequences and series of functions


Uniform convergence, Weierstrass M-test
Power series, Taylor series

Kaplan: 6.7, 6.11-6.16

Week 11: Taylor's formula with remainder


Fourier series and their convergence properties

Kaplan: 6.17, 7.1-7.4

Week 12: Fourier cosine series and sine series


Applications
Fundamental theorem of Fourier series

Kaplan: 7.5-7.9

Common questions

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The course utilizes Kaplan's textbook to structure its content, providing a systematic approach to topics ranging from basic calculus concepts to advanced applications. Each week, sections from Kaplan's book are assigned, aligning with the lectures to reinforce the material through structured problem sets. This structured integration of textbook content with lectures ensures that students are consistently engaging with well-established material, facilitating a deeper understanding and aiding retention through continuous reinforcement .

The course allows collaboration on problem sets at a general level; however, it mandates individual write-ups to ensure personal comprehension and originality. This requirement fosters independent learning and guards against academic dishonesty. Furthermore, the university's strict policies on plagiarism back the course's integrity measures, with severe consequences like termination for severe infractions, thus discouraging plagiarism and promoting ethical academic practices .

Professor Kon encourages a comprehensive and interactive learning environment by welcoming questions and fostering discussions at the start of each class. He expects students to read relevant text sections before and after lectures to solidify understanding. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of rewriting lecture notes with personal remarks and examples to ensure clarity and depth of understanding. His strategies promote active engagement and independent learning, which are crucial for mastering complex calculus concepts .

Problem sets are expected to significantly impact a student's performance, comprising 30% of the final grade. They are structured to reflect the weekly lecture content, prompting students to apply learned concepts and solidify understanding. This structure ensures continuous engagement with course material beyond passive listening, promoting active problem-solving skills critical in calculus. The requirement for clear write-ups encourages development of mathematical expression and reasoning, essential skills for successful outcomes both academically and professionally .

Problem sets in this calculus course are crucial, contributing 30% to the final grade. They are assigned according to weekly lectures and are expected to be submitted on time, with no late submissions accepted without medical reasons. These assignments are intended to reinforce lecture material and require students to independently rewrite their solutions for clarity and understanding. Non-compliance with providing explanations or failing to show work results in lower credit. Therefore, the problem sets not only assess comprehension of the course material but also gauge the students' mathematical communication skills .

The course by Professor Mark Kon rigorously covers generalizations of differentiation for arbitrary functions between vector spaces. This generalization is significant because it extends calculus from functions of one variable to more complex functions involving several variables, vector spaces, and transformations between them. Such an extension is crucial for understanding and solving complex problems in higher dimensions, facilitating applications in fields like physics and engineering. By doing so, the course provides students with the tools to handle a broader and more versatile range of mathematical problems .

Fourier series are significant in this course because they provide a method for expressing functions as infinite sums of sine and cosine terms, which is useful in solving differential equations and analyzing periodic functions. The course covers the convergence properties of Fourier series, the Fourier cosine and sine series, and their applications. By gaining a rigorous understanding of these, students can apply them to real-world situations, particularly in signal processing and heat transfer analysis .

The inclusion of topics such as the Weierstrass M-test and power series indicates a high-level focus on thorough understanding of series and convergence criteria. These advanced topics are typically covered in more rigorous calculus courses, emphasizing the course's commitment to providing a deep and comprehensive understanding of mathematical analysis. This focus allows students to develop a robust conceptual foundation, preparing them for further studies or professional scenarios requiring advanced analytical skills .

Green's Theorem is integrated into the course as part of the study on changes of variables and the Jacobian, and line integrals. This theorem is important because it relates the line integral around a simple closed curve to a double integral over the plane region bounded by the curve. Understanding this relationship helps students explore the properties of vector fields and facilitates better comprehension of various physical phenomena and engineering problems dealing with fluid flow and electromagnetism .

The emphasis on clarity and correctness in problem set solution write-ups stems from the importance of mathematical communication skills. Clear and precise writing ensures that the logic and reasoning behind solutions are understandable, which is essential for learning and demonstrating mathematical concepts effectively. Moreover, proficiency in communication is vital for professional success in mathematics-related fields, making it a key component of the course's objectives .

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