BASIC CALCULUS 1
Many mathematical models in the natural and social sciences take the form of
systems of differential equations. This introduction to the calculus is
organized around the construction and analysis of these models, focusing on the
mathematical questions they raise. Models are drawn from biology, economics, and
physics. The important elementary functions of analysis arise as solutions of
these models in special cases.
The mathematical theme of the course is local linearity. Topics include the definition of the derivative, rules for computing derivatives, Euler's Method, Newton's Method, Taylor polynomials, error analysis, optimization, and an introduction to the differential calculus of functions of two variables.
4 credits.