Math 12 Business Calculus

This course is designed for non-math business majors. However, students should have a solid math background in algebra. This is essentially a calculus course that focuses on the mechanics of how to do calculus, and the applications are geared towards business concepts (supply & demand, max/min problems in business, etc.). Some business schools may indeed require you to take a full year of calculus rather than this course, so do check with the school to which you are planning on transferring.

Make sure you have read the General Information page as well as this entire introductory page; this may take a bit of time, but it is important to you, and worth it. Time on Task is an essential ingredient to student success. Do make sure you can dedicate an appropriate amount of time each day, including weekends, for review, homework, and study for this course.

Student Learning Outcomes (What math from this course you should be able to do at the end of the quarter)

1)  Use correct notation and mathematical precision in the evaluation and interpretation of derivatives and integrals.

2)  Evaluate, solve, interpret and communicate business and social science applications using appropriate differentiation and integration methodologies.

Don't look for short-cuts in your learning of math; learn how to read a math text by working the examples as you read through each section. Do not just jump to the homework problems. Be patient and persistent; be willing to spend the time it takes for you to learn the material.
Several specific items as it relates to the (Bittinger-Calculus and Its Applications) text used in this course:
As you read a given section there will be -at the beginning of the section- a short list (2-4) of basic objectives (skills that are developed in the section); As you go through the section and work the examples, there will be "Quick Check" items associated with the examples. Do them! The answers to the "Quick Check"s are at the end of the Exercise Set for that section.
On page xix is a Diagnostic Test (in two parts); you should take this test without any studying or reviewing of the questions; this is to check your basic algebra skills; answers are available in the text. Take this "test" as if it were given under in-class test conditions: set a time limit for each part (say 45-50 mins); do not allow others to interrupt you; shut off your cellphone; do not check your answers until you are finished with the test. Do this long before the first day of class so that you have an idea of your strengths and weaknesses, thus giving you some additional time to review previous algebra, should you need it.
The very first chapter "Chapter R" is a review of some basic algebra which you are expected to have already mastered. I will do a quick review of just the highlights of the chapter, but you should review it thoroughly. Should you need additional review, try the On-Line Tutorials for help in algebra and calculus.
As you come to the end of a section, there will be a set of "Exercises" (just a few problems); these are not the homework problems, but problems associated with the material you just covered in the section. Do them! (even before you do the actual HW problems in the "Exercise Set").
At the end of the section there will be a short "Section Summary"- a review of the basic concepts of the section. It is a good idea to read this both before we begin the section -to prepare you for the material we will be covering- and after concluding the section -as a first step in reviewing the section. This can be used as a study guide for what you should have learned in the section. NOW you are ready to do the homework problems! ("Exercise Set")
At the end of the chapter is a set of Chapter Review Exercises, as well as a chapter test. This is a great way to test your overall knowledge of the chapter. As you can tell from all of the above, it takes a lot of work and dedication to do well in this (or any) math course. Please make sure you have the time for this class.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR SUMMER SESSION: The workload is doubled each class day; thus anticipate that we cover TWO or more sections per day, and therefore anticipate spending 5 to 6 or more hours per day, and also at least half that time per day on each non-class day. (Yes, even the weekend is valuable class study time; forget the beach!) You should take just this ONE class.

To obtain the current Summer 2017 Syllabus click on the link

Math 12 Syllabus You can either print it or save it to your desktop.

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