Assignment 7: Differential Calculus and Its Uses

Weeks 7 and 8

In class on Monday, [day 18]:

·        Time for questions about the Benchmark

·        Lecture/discussion on power functions and exponential functions

·        Falling-body problems, word problems from the Exercises of Section 3.3

·        Benchmark #1 (last 30 minutes of class)

In class on Wednesday, [day 19]:

·        Chapter 4: Differential Calculus and Its uses

Section 4.1: Derivatives and Graphs

In class on Friday, [day 20]:

·        Section 4.2: Second Derivatives and Graphs

·        Section 4.3: Newton’s Method

Study Guide for Test #2 will be available on Friday afternoon.   This test will cover material through Section 4.2.

In class on Monday, [day 21]:

·        Complete Section 4.3

·        Questions and review for the test

In class on Wednesday, [day 22]:

·        Test #2

Don’t forget about retaking the Benchmark!

Window-of-opportunity for Benchmark #1: [dates for window-of-opportunity]

·        If you did not pass the Benchmark when you took it in class on Monday, you may retake it outside of class up through [final date of window-of-opportunity].

o       Although the pass mark for the Benchmark is set very high (you must get 9 of 10 problems completely correct), you may take it up to three times.  If you passed it on your first attempt, your grade was recorded as 100%.

o       If you pass the Benchmark on a retake, your grade will be recorded as the average of your scores on all of your attempts; so it is to your advantage to do as well as you can each time you attempt it.  If you do not pass this Benchmark, your score will be recorded as the lower of 40% or your average on all of your attempts.

o       A word to the wise:  Don’t wait until the last minute to retake the Benchmark! In fact, studying to retake the Benchmark will also help you to prepare for the Test.