Section 01
Thursday 12:40-14:25 in West Duke, room 104
 

Lab Instructor:	Andreas Toumassis
Office:	27A Physics Building
Telephone:	TBA
Email:	atoumass@math.duke.edu

Lab Schedule:

September 2	Using Your Calculator
September 9	Linear Models: Breast Cancer, Basic Skills Gateway
September 16	Odd and Even Functions
September 23	Log Scales
September 30	Test #1
October 7	U.S. Population Growth
October 14	Exploring Limits Using Your Calculator
October 21	Test #2
October 28	Compound Interest
November 4	Log Plots
November 11	First & Second Derivatives and Roots
November 18	Test #3
November 25	No Class
December 2	Optimization
December 9	Review

Calculator Expectations:
The labs will require the use of a scientific graphing calculator and it is required that students in all sections of Mathematics 25L have a Texas Instruments TI-83 calculator. The TI-83 will be the calculator of instruction which means that all lab demonstrations will be conducted using this calculator and that the instructors will be able to provide technical advice about this calculator. Personally, the only calculator that I know how to use is the TI-83. I am not familiar with the Casio, Sharp or Hewlett-Packard calculators.

Although last year it was "strongly recommended" that students use the TI-83 calculator, most of the students who tried to make another model or brand work ran into problems in some of the more advanced labs. The first lab of the semester, Using Your Calculator, includes a Calculator Drill which students are required to work through so that they will be prepared to use the appropriate features of their calculators when the need arises later in the semester.

If a student wishes to use another calculator in lab, then the Calculator Proficiency Test must be completed by Thursday, September 9, 1999. A student who successfully completes the majority of this test using a calculator other than the TI-83, may use that non TI-83 for the remainder of the semester.

For further details, please consult the Summary of Calculator Requirements on First-year Mathematics web page.

Lab Grade:
As was noted on the Course Outline, there will be 9 lab quizzes and 5 lab reports. Each quiz will last 20 minutes and will be worth 20 points. There will also be 3 short reports, worth 20 points each, and 2 long reports, worth 30 points each, assigned for various labs. It is also possible that other assignments may be given in lab; some of which may be graded, some of which may be not. However, you are responsible for ALL of the material that is covered in lab. There will be questions relating to lab activities on the quizzes, the term tests, and the final exam.

It is expected that students come prepared to all labs. This means having brought all your supplies to lab, including your Coursepack, calculator, and calculator manual. It also means having read the lab in advance.

Lab Reports:
When required to submit a written report, it is expected that all members of the group contribute to, and proofread, the final submission. If the report is not stapled and complete, then it will not be accepted. Furthermore, it is expected that the lab reports are presentable and are written in complete and grammatically correct English sentences. Consequently, typing mathematics is necessary. Microsoft Word, which is available on the IBM PC public computer cluster machines, is adequate for the purposes of preparing the final lab report. As noted on the Course Outline, there are some books on technical writing available on closed reserve in Lilly Library. You are advised to look at one of these books before handing in a lab report to get an idea of what is expected and acceptable, and what is not, in a written tehnical document. For more information, please refer to the separate Writing Guidelines handout.

Lab Quizzes:
If a quiz is held it will be closed-book and individually written. Calculators will be allowed. The quiz will contain a selection of problems taken verbatim from the daily problem sets as well as concepts from the previous lab. That is, the quizzes will test an understanding of the content of the lab and may involve calculations similar to the ones done during the lab period.

Extra Help:
The Mathematics Department operates a Help Room where students can get assistance on a drop-in basis. It is staffed by calculus teachers, lab instructors, and assistants. The Help Room is located in Room 132 of the Carr Building on East Campus. The hours of operation are available from the first-year calculus web site. I will be available Thursdays from 18:00-20:00 and Michael will be available Tuesdays from 20:00-22:00. If you would like to stop by my office, then please email me so we can schedule an appointment.

Duke Honor Code
It is expected that all students abide by the Duke University Undergraduate Honor Code.