Program Overview

Program Overview

The Math 9 program is a course on multivariable calculus with linear algebra, focusing on dimensions 2 and 3. The program covers various topics, including vectors, equations of lines and planes, arc length and curvature, matrices and linear transformations, functions of several variables, and optimization problems.

Program Details

• Instructor: Salim Tayou
• Schedule:
  • Meeting times: Monday-Wednesday-Friday: 8:50 AM-9:55 AM (9L)
  • X-hour: Thursday, block 9LX (9:05 - 9:55 AM)
  • Room: 108 in Kemeny Hall
  • First/last meeting: Monday, September 15th/Tuesday, November 18th, 2025
• Office Hours: See Canvas or by appointment, in Kemeny Hall 341

Syllabus

The program syllabus includes:

• Vectors
• Equations of lines and planes
• Arc length and curvature
• Matrices and linear transformations
• Functions of several variables (limits and continuity, partial derivatives, the derivative as a linear transformation, tangent planes and linear approximation, the Chain Rule, directional derivatives and applications, and optimization problems including the use of Lagrange multipliers)
• Linear algebra plays a crucial role in modern mathematics and will be a great tool for understanding the concepts in this class

Textbook

• James Stewart, Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, Eight edition
• Calculus Multivariable, Jon Rogawski and Colin Adams, Third Edition
• OpenStax Calculus, volume 3, Gilbert Strang, Edwin Herman

Prerequisites

Advanced placement into MATH 9 or MATH 11

Grading

• Homework will be assigned and will account for 10% of the final grade
• Mideterms will account for 50% of the final grade
• Final exam will account for 40% of the final grade
• Collaborative work on homework is accepted, but students must write their own solutions and include the names of collaborators

Collaboration

• Attempt each part of each problem yourself
• Read each portion of the problem before asking for help
• Each student must write their own solutions with their own words and include the name of collaborators and sources used

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Understand the basic concepts of multivariable calculus and linear algebra
• Solve mathematical problems by utilizing abstraction and thinking creatively```