INFORMATION CONCERNING Math 1013 INTRODUCTORY CALCULUS
If you are scheduled to take Math 1013 (Introductory Calculus 1) you may be wondering what level of preparation you should have in order to be successful in this course and what to expect when you arrive at your first class.
LET’S START WITH PREREQUISITES
The Acadia University calendar specifies that you need 60% or better in each of Nova Scotia Grade 11 and 12 Advanced Math and Pre-Calculus (or the equivalent of these courses); or 60% or better in Math 0120*. Satisfactory performance on the diagnostic test (more about this in a bit) is also required.
* Math 0120 is a non-credit course offered in the fall term. It is designed for those students who need to take calculus but who do not have the proper prerequisites for the course. And those students who do not achieve a satisfactory performance on the diagnostic test (see below) may be advised to take Math 0120.
We encourage you to have a look at the document ARE YOU READY FOR CALCULUS? to see what we expect you have learned (and understood) in high school mathematics.
THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST: WHAT? WHY? WHEN?
The diagnostic test, that all students in Math 1013 must write, concentrates on the very minimum knowledge that you must have at your fingertips. While you may have forgotten some of the trig identities since you last used them, we expect that you have not forgotten how to solve a quadratic equation or how to use functional notation or how to add fractions. The document SAMPLE DIAGNOSTIC TEST QUESTIONS will give you an idea of what you will be facing when you write this test.
The date and time for the test is Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 4:00 pm in HSH 010. You must write the test. Students who do not, are removed from the course more...
The test will be marked immediately and students who appear to be under-prepared will be contacted by their professor so that they can meet and discuss the options: options such as dropping calculus, if it is not a required course and choosing something else more suitable, or switching to a year-long section of Math 1013. The year long section, covers pre-calculus as well as calculus.
NO CALCULATORS
Students are not allowed to use calculators during our tests and exams. They are not necessary!
LINKS
PREPARING FOR UNIVERSITY CALCULUS This link takes you to a document called Preparing for University Calculus for Atlantic Canadian Students. This document was prepared by a committee of the Atlantic Provinces Council on the Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics (APICS).
These links take you to online tutors and other sources of information about basic math skills.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
You may not receive credit for both Math 1613 and Math 1013. If you have previously taken Math 1613 and now wish to take Math 1013, you will, as a rule, lose credit for Math 1613.
Link to course web page here!
We are looking forward to seeing you this term. If you have any questions about the calculus course, or indeed any other course in mathematics or statistics, you can contact us by email at mathstats@acadiau.ca.
Faculty and Staff
Department of Mathematics & Statistics