This is the public-facing page for the University of Michigan’s Math 115, Calculus I. This is the first course in our standard complete introduction to the concepts and methods of calculus (which is Math 115, Math 116, and Math 215). It is taken by students intending to major in mathematics, science, or engineering as well as students heading for many other fields. The emphasis is on conceptual understanding and problem solving rather than formal manipulation, rote procedure, theory, or proof-writing.
Important Course Information: If you are looking for the course site for a current offering of Math 115, you should look for your current Canvas course site. This site provides general information about the course, and does not include any deadline and assignment information that you need when taking the course.
Background and Goals
Math 115 serves as a free-standing course in the ideas of single-variable Calculus: functions, how they change, and how change may accumulate. It helps students develop critical and logical thinking skills, and provides them with the background needed to work in many areas of science and engineering, as well as developing critical and logical thinking skills that are of use to any student. A student completing Math 115 is prepared for Math 116, Calculus II.
Context
This course presents the concepts of calculus from four points of view: geometric (graphs), numeric (tables), symbolic (formulas), and written (verbal descriptions). The emphasis throughout the course is on the mathematical modeling of real-life problems using linear, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions. Students develop their reading, writing, and questioning skills in an interactive classroom setting.
