Syllabus

Math 1231 – Applied Calculus for Economics, Business and Finance

Course Information

 

Instructor: Leon Kaganovskiy    

E-mail: [email protected]        Class is online at https://zoom.us/j/4408199320

Textbook: I will not use any specific textbook. Instead, I will provide you with slides and prerecorded videos with all the course content, complemented by online homework assignments on MyOpenMath. In case you would like to have a textbook as an additional reference, you may consider using Business Calculus, by Calaway, Hoffman, and Lippman. This is a zero-cost textbook. It can be downloaded for free using this link: http://www.opentextbookstore.com/buscalc/BusCalc.pdf .

Prerequisite: a grade of C- or higher in Mathematics 1006.

Class Meetings Schedule:  see your CUNYfirst

Office hours:    Online after class.    

Course Requirements:

There is regular online homework (20%), 6 short quizzes (40%), and Final exam (40%).

Mode of instruction: Online

All the meetings are online!!!   Use the following Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/4408199320

Students who participate in the online synchronous class meetings with their camera on or use a profile image are agreeing to have their video or image recorded solely for the purpose of creating a record for students enrolled in the class to refer to, including those enrolled students who are unable to attend live. If you are unwilling to consent to have your profile or video image recorded, be sure to keep your camera off and do not use a profile image. Likewise, students who unmute during class and participate orally are agreeing to have their voices recorded. If you are not willing to consent to have your voice recorded during class, you will need to keep your mute button activated and communicate exclusively using the “chat” feature, which allows students to type questions and comments live.

 

– Readings and prerecorded videos with course content to be posted at the beginning of each week.

– Selected set of homework exercises due each week.

 

Technology: A computer or tablet with internet access and functioning webcam and microphone is needed to participate fully in the course. If you do not have access to a computer, Brooklyn College currently has Chromebooks that can be loaned to you. Please access the Brooklyn College Virtual Front Desk for, among other things, further information regarding assistance with connectivity and technology.

Blackboard: I will use Blackboard to send you announcements of relevance to our course. Please make sure that your e-mail address is up to date in Blackboard. For help with Blackboard, check the Brooklyn College support site.

E-mail: I will share information with you by e-mail. I will do this under the assumption that you check your e-mail at least once a day, so please make sure you do so, whenever possible. Feel free to e-mail me with any course-related questions you might have.

MyOpenMath: Assigned readings, prerecorded videos with course content, and homework assignments will be posted on MyOpenMath. If you don’t yet have an account, please register at their webpage https://www.myopenmath.com/ following my instructions in the announcement.  After registering, enroll in our course using the information:

 

Useful Websites:

http://www.opentextbookstore.com/buscalc/BusCalc.pdf

http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/about/offices/studentaffairs/health-wellness/coronavirus/device-loan-requests.php

https://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/about/offices/studentaffairs/health-wellness/coronavirus/student-resources.php

https://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/cis/it-resources-for-remote-work-teaching

https://libguides.brooklyn.cuny.edu/Blackboard for Students

http://www.myopenmath.com

 

 

Course Objectives: At the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. discuss the principal concepts of calculus of a single variable;
2. apply calculus to solve real-world problems related with Business, Economics and Finance and interpret the results within the problems framework;
3. analyze quantitative concepts of relevance to Business, Economics and Finance using calculus techniques;
4. create mathematical models associated with problems originating from Business, Economics and Finance, so that calculus techniques can be applied to seek a solution.

Expectations for student participation: Please make sure to review all the assigned slides and videos posted on MyOpenMath, to prepare personal notes of the course content, and to consider the respective homework assignments.

All of these tasks should be completed prior to our synchronous meetings covering the corresponding course content.  I strongly recommended you fully engage with all synchronous meetings. This syllabus provides only a guideline and you will need to actively engage with the course content to be aware of what is actually being covered during each lecture. If you have to miss an online synchronous class meeting, make sure to catch up with the discussion using the recordings made available on Blackboard for asynchronous use. No recordings will be made of any in-person meeting. You are strongly encouraged to bring to our synchronous meetings any questions you might have regarding the course content and your homework.

Work Outside of Class: While attending our classes will help you in grasping the material, it will probably not be sufficient to pass the course. A four-credit-course entails a commitment of 180 hours throughout the semester, of which roughly 45 hours correspond to class time. This means you are expected to devote approximately 135 hours to work on the course content on your own, which during a 17-week-long summer semester corresponds to an average of approximately 8 hours per week working on the course content outside of class. (This number may vary depending on how comfortable you feel with the class material.)

Online homework: I will assign homework regularly, on MyOpenMath, worth up to 20% of the course grade. Late submissions will be accepted until December 15, 2021, but a 10% penalization will be applied to work submitted past the deadline. The homework exercises are meant to make you think about the content you are learning and to prepare you for all of the midterm exams and the final exam. You are encouraged to work on the assigned homework problems and to ask me about them during our synchronous class meetings. In-person midterm exams: There will be two one-hour-long midterm exams throughout the semester, whose average score is worth up to 40% of the course grade. The midterm exams are not cumulative. In-person final exam: The final exam is cumulative, and worth up to 40% of the course grade.

Exams:  There are 6 short quizes and Final exam. 

 

I will not give make-up midterm exams. If you are forced to miss a midterm exam, I need to be notified within 48 hours. Your final exam grade will fill in for the score of any midterm exam you may have to miss. If you do not follow these guidelines, a score of zero will be given for the missed midterm exam.

Grades: Your course grade will be determined as follows:

– Online homework assignments are worth 20% of the course grade

– The average score of the midterm exams is worth 40% of the course grade

– The final exam score is worth 40% of the course grade

 

Note that you will be asked to share your device camera on exams, which should be pointed at you and your work area, for the full duration of each of any of the midterms or final exam that need to be moved online. Virtual backgrounds shall be allowed, provided the student and the working area surrounding the student are still fully visible.  Calculator and technology policy for midterm exams and the final exam: You may use a calculator during the midterm exams and the final exam as long as it supports no computer algebra system or any other system or software providing any sort of step-by-step algebraic manipulation. The use of additional technology, such as computers, tablets, phones or any other electronic gadgets is not permitted during in-person midterm exams and the final exam. Any non-sanctioned use of technology during the midterm exams and the final exam may result in a zero grade for the complete assignment and a failing grade for the course.

 

University’s policy on Academic Integrity:

The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for policy implementation can be found at http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member MUST report the violation. Students should be aware that faculty may use plagiarism detection software. Please be aware that submitting the work of another person or persons without proper attribution is considered plagiarism, and will be treated accordingly. Proper attribution requires identifying the source of your work. Failure to do so may result in a charge of plagiarism, and students can be subject to administrative actions, including:  “0” grade on the assignment or exam;  “F” grade on the course.

Additional actions may be taken by the College, including admonition, warning, censure, disciplinary probation, restitution, suspension, expulsion, complaint to civil authorities, and ejection.

 

Center for Student Disability Services: The Center for Student Disability Services will be working remotely for the fall semester. In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be registered with the Center for Student Disability Services. Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability are invited to schedule an interview by calling 718-951-5538 or emailing [email protected]. If you have already registered with the Center for Student Disability Services, email [email protected] or [email protected] to ensure the accommodation email is sent to your professor.

Student Bereavement Policy: Please consult the Brooklyn College Student Bereavement Policy7.

Nonattendance because of religious beliefs: The New York State Education Law provides that no student shall be expelled or refused admission to an institution of higher education because he or she is unable to attend classes or participate in examinations or study or work requirements on any particular day or days because of religious beliefs. Students who are unable to attend classes on a particular day or days because of religious beliefs will be excused from any examination or study or work requirements. Please see p. 66 of the Brooklyn College Undergraduate Bulletin.

Classroom behavior: Disruptive classroom behavior negatively affects the classroom environment as well as the educational experience for students enrolled in the course. Any serious or continued disruption of class will result in a report to the Office of Judicial Affairs.  http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/about/initiatives/policies/bereavement.php