Tamás Darvas
Assistant Professor, University of Maryland

Fall 2019: MATH 135 "Calculus for Life Sciences"

Description: Introduction to a variety of mathematical topics most often arising in the biological sciences including probability, statistics, matrix and vector algebra with emphasis on models and techniques relevant to the life sciences.

Assignments: Lecture quizzes (5%), mathematics recitation quizzes (10%), biology group worksheets (10%), three in-class midterms (3 x 15%) and a comprehensive final exam (30%).

Classes: TuTh 2pm - 3:15pm, ARM 0131.

Textbook: E. N. Bodine, S. Lenhart, L. J. Gross, Mathematics for the Life Sciences, ISBN 9780691150727. Since the class has no online component a used copy of the textbook is perfectly fine, just make sure the ISBN number is accurate.

Office hours: Tu 1pm - 2pm and Th 3:25-4:25 in my office (MATH 4416), and by appointment.

Syllabus and detailed course policy: (pdf).

Tentative exam dates: Midterm 1: Sept 26, Midterm 2: Oct. 31, Midterm 3: Dec 5., Final: Dec 11, 1:30pm-3:30pm, Location: if your TA is WingYan (Becky) Yuen, then SPH 1312 (School of Public Health Building). If your TA is Hsin-Yi (Lucy) Lin, then MMH 1400 (Marie Mount Hall).

Maintenance of grades: see the ELMS page of this course.

Information on lecture quizzes: Starting the second week, I will administer quizzes at the end of lectures, on average once a week. You will provide your answer using TurningPoint responseware. Please install the TurningPoint app on your smartphone/tablet/computer so you can submit your answer (we will not use 'clickers'). The app is freely available for all students of the university. You can find detailed instructions here on how to set up your account correctly, which is your responsibility. Your lowest two lecture quizzes will be dropped.

Discussion quizzes: at the end of each Monday discussion you can expect a 5-10 minute individual quiz on the topics that were covered during that discussion. Students that solve the assigned homework problems for the discussion will have a distinct edge over the ones that don't. Your lowest two discussion quizzes will be dropped.

Biology worksheets: every Wednesday your TA will give you a worksheet at the start of the discussion session. Group work is encouraged, though each student needs to submit their work individually. At the end of each session the worksheets will be collected and graded. Your lowest two worksheets will be dropped.

Tenative course schedule: (pdf).

Assigned homework: your homework will not be graded, however it is the most important component of the course. Without doing all the homework you will do poorly on the quizzes/worksheets/midterms, and you will likely fall behind. Try to do all the problems below, assigned from your textbook, before attending the discussion sessions.

TA office hours and contact:

  • Mathematics TAs:
    • WingYan (Becky) Yuen (wyyuen AT umd DOT edu). Office hours: WF 11am-12pm in MTH 1305

    • Hsin-Yi (Lucy) Lin (hylin AT math DOT umd DOT edu). Office hours: M 10-11am in MTH 0403, W 1-2pm in CSIC 4117

  • Biology TAs:
    • Mengyu Liu (mliu12 AT terpmail DOT umd DOT edu). Office hours: M 2-3pm in MTH 0103, Th 12-1pm in MTH B0431.

    • Priyanka Gandhi (pgandhi1 AT umd DOT edu). Office hours: W 3-4pm, F 12-1pm, MTH B0429

Additional resources:

Previous semesters: Spring 2019 MATH 740, Fall 2018 MATH 868C, Spring 2017 MATH 430, Fall 2016 MATH 868D, Fall 2015 MATH 220, MATH 401, Spring 2015 MATH 461, Fall 2014 MATH 430.