MA 16100, Plane Analytic Geometry and Calculus I, Fall 2026

Syllabus Snapshot

Course Information

Lectures

Lectures will be held in person on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Students are expected to attend every lecture. Lectures are run by the professors, listed below.

Recitations

Recitations will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will be led by Teaching Assistants (TAs). Attendance at every recitation is expected. A quiz will be administered during most recitation sessions, so regular participation is important. A complete list of TAs, recitation meeting times, and email addresses is available on the course website: https://www.math.purdue.edu/MA161.

Communication

Due to the large number of students enrolled in this course, students are encouraged to contact their assigned TA first with most questions, particularly those regarding deadlines, grading disputes, or technical issues. TAs are often able to address these concerns quickly. If additional assistance is needed, the TA will forward the question to the instructor.

Instructor(s) Contact Information

Name: Mahesh Sunkula
Email: msunkula@purdue.edu
Office Phone Number: NA
Student Consultation Hours: MWF 1:30pm - 2:30pm

Name: Allan Bickle
Email: aebickle@purdue.edu
Office Phone Number: N/A
Student Consultation Hours: Will be announced on Brightspace

Course Description

Credit Hours: 5.00. Introduction to differential and integral calculus of one variable, with applications. Some schools or departments may allow only 4 credit hours toward graduation for this course. Designed for students who have not had at least a one-semester calculus course in high school, with a grade of "A" or "B". Not open to students with credit in MA 16500. Demonstrated competence in college algebra and trigonometry.

Prerequisites: ALEKS Math Assessment 085 or SATR Math 670 or SAT Mathematics 650 or ACT Math 29 or Undergraduate level, MA 15800, Minimum Grade of B- or Undergraduate level, MA 15900, Minimum Grade of B-.

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

1. To compute limits and to apply limit laws.
2. To apply rules of differentiation to compute derivatives of elementary functions.
3. To sketch graphs of functions with the aid of differentiation techniques.
4. To find maxima and minima of functions; optimization problems.
5. To compute integrals of some elementary functions and to apply the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to compute areas of certain planar regions.

Learning Resources, Technology & Texts

Calculus Early Transcendentals
ISBN: 9780134763644
Authors: William L. Briggs, Lyle Cochran, Bernard Gillett, Eric P. Schulz
Publisher: Pearson Education
Publication Date: 2018-01-02
Edition: 3

Course information and resources such as lecture Boilercast recordings, lecture notes, announcements, important links, and MyLabMath should be accessed through your Brightspace course page at http://purdue.brightspace.com. Additionally, general course information and a detailed course calendar can be found on https://www.math.purdue.edu/~msunkula/MA161/F26/.

Assignments

Homework

There are a total of 36 online assignments (numbered 1-36) associated with online MyLab Math assignments. Pearson MyLab Math is accessed through the Brightspace course page. Due dates and times are listed in the MyLab Math system and on the course calendar. Generally, homework from the Friday and Monday lectures are due Tuesday at 11:59pm and homework from the Wednesday lecture is due Thursday at 11:59pm.

Quizzes

There will be a quiz during recitation on nearly every Tuesday and Thursday (with a few exceptions). Each quiz covers the homework that was due at the immediately preceding recitation session. Students who arrive noticeably late to recitation will not be permitted to sit for the quiz. Recitation sessions are numbered sequentially (Recitation 1, 2, 3, ...) throughout the semester, and quizzes are numbered separately (Quiz #1, #2, #3, ...) - not every recitation includes a quiz. Please see the course schedule for the exact quiz schedule.

Exams

There will be three midterm exams and a final. Dates and times of midterm exams are listed below (rooms to be announced):

Details about the final exam (date, time, and location) will be announced later in the semester by the registrar's office.

All exams are course-wide, multiple-choice and machine-graded. There is no partial credit on the exams, only what is marked on the scantron will be graded. You are not permitted to use calculators, books, notes, electronic devices, websites, or to consult a peer or any other person on the exams. Exam scores are final and there are no exam re-takes.

Policy on Missed Homework, Quiz and Exam

Timely submission of homework is required; late submissions will not be accepted. No makeup quizzes will be provided. To accommodate the challenges of a course of this scale, at the conclusion of the semester, the three lowest homework scores and three lowest quiz scores will be omitted. This accounts for unforeseen circumstances such as appointments, oversights, accidents, illnesses, or emergencies that may cause students to miss class or a homework deadline, aligning with the universal "drop" policy.

Students compelled to miss class due to approved absences by the Office of the Dean of Students should promptly reach out to the office of the Dean of Students, the lecturer, and the TA. Quizzes missed due to approved absences may be exempted by the TA from the overall total. Please visit the webpage: https://www.purdue.edu/advocacy/students/absences.html to see the list of approved absences.

Negotiations for alternate exams due to exceptional circumstances should be conducted with the lecturer, within 24 hours of the exam start time. Students arriving more than 20 minutes late to an exam will not be permitted to take it. They must immediately contact the lecturer to seek permission for a makeup exam, and grade penalties may apply.

Grading Scale

Course grades will be determined from the overall score computed as follows:

The minimum percentages to get each grade are:

For each of these grades, it's possible that at the end of the semester a somewhat lower percentage will be enough to get that grade. (In other words, the lowest percentage to get, for example, an A could be lower but will not be higher than 93%.)

Important Dates

Last day to drop the course without it being recorded: Friday, September 4, 2026

Last day to drop the course with advisor approval, recorded as a "W" grade: Tuesday, November 24, 2026

Please see the Purdue University Academic Calendar for other important dates.

Course Schedule

https://www.math.purdue.edu/~msunkula/MA161/F26/Schedule

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to notify their instructor in advance of any planned absences. For special circumstances such as bereavement, jury duty, military service, or parental leave, students should consult Purdue University's official attendance policy. In the event of a medical emergency, students should submit documentation to the Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS), which will notify instructors and help coordinate arrangements for makeup work without academic penalty.

Transfers

If you transfer recitation sections of MA 16100, it is your responsibility to notify the TA of the new section so that they can ensure that your HW and quiz scores are transferred.

Supplemental Instruction

There are Supplemental Instruction (SI) study sessions available for this course. These study groups are open to anyone enrolled in this course who would like to stay current with the course material and understand the material better. Attendance at these sessions is voluntary, but extremely beneficial for those who attend weekly. Times and locations for the study session can be found here: www.purdue.edu/si. Students who attend these interactive sessions will find themselves working with peers as they compare notes, demonstrate and discuss pertinent problems and concepts, and share study and test-taking strategies. Students are asked to arrive with their student ID card, lecture notes and questions to these informal, peer-led study sessions.

Academic Integrity

Students may collaborate on homework, but all submitted work must be their own. During exams, the use of electronic devices and communication with anyone other than the course instructors is strictly prohibited. Academic dishonesty on homework will result in a score of zero on the assignment, while cheating on an exam will result in a zero on the exam and may lead to failure of the course. In addition, violations may be reported to the Office of the Dean of Students for further action.

AI Policy

Students may use artificial intelligence tools to help them understand the course material and complete homework. Using AI for further exploration of the topics is strongly encouraged. But homework submission must be the student's own work. Students may not turn in answers from AI tools as their own. While AI tools may help students learn the subject, they should be careful about using these resources and make sure they are getting correct information. Moreover, no electronic devices of any kind are allowed during exams, so students will not be able to use AI tools during exams.

Nondiscrimination Statement

Purdue University is committed to maintaining a community that recognizes and values the inherent worth and dignity of every person; fosters tolerance, sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect among its members; and encourages each individual to strive to reach his or her potential. A hyperlink to Purdue's full Nondiscrimination Policy Statement is included in the Academic Resources table on your Brightspace homepage.

Accessibility

I am committed to making all course materials accessible to every student. If you encounter any accessibility barrier or have an unmet accessibility need, please reach out to me. We will work together to identify solutions and ensure you have the support and resources needed to succeed in this course.

Accommodations

Purdue University strives to make learning experiences accessible to all participants. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, you are encouraged to contact the Disability Resource Center at: drc@purdue.edu or by phone: 765-494-1247, as soon as possible.

If the Disability Resource Center (DRC) has determined reasonable accommodations that you would like to utilize in my class, you must release your Course Accommodation Letter to me. Instructions on sharing your Course Accommodation Letter can be found by visiting: How To Use Your Course Accommodation Letter. Additionally, you are strongly encouraged to contact me as soon as possible to discuss implementation of your accommodation.

Mental Health/Wellness Statement

If you find yourself beginning to feel some stress, anxiety and/or feeling slightly overwhelmed, try Therapy Assistance Online (TAO), a web and app-based mental health resource available courtesy of Purdue Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). TAO is available to all students at any time by creating an account on the TAO Connect website, or downloading the app from the App Store or Google Play. It offers free, confidential well-being resources through a self-guided program informed by psychotherapy research and strategies that may aid in overcoming anxiety, depression and other concerns. It provides accessible and effective resources including short videos, brief exercises, and self-reflection tools.

If you need support and information about options and resources, please contact or see the Office of the Dean of Students. Call 765-494-1747. Hours of operation are M-F, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

If you find yourself struggling to find a healthy balance between academics, social life, stress, etc., sign up for free one-on-one virtual or in-person sessions in West Lafayette with a Purdue Wellness Coach at RecWell. Student coaches can help you navigate through barriers and challenges toward your goals throughout the semester. Sign up is free and can be done on BoilerConnect. Students in Indianapolis will find support services curated on the Vice Provost for Student Life website.

If you're struggling and need mental health services: Purdue University is committed to advancing the mental health and well-being of its students. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and/or in need of mental health support, services are available. For help, such individuals should contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 765-494-6995 during and after hours, on weekends and holidays, or by going to the CAPS offices in West Lafayette or Indianapolis.

Emergency Preparedness

In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances beyond the instructor's control. Relevant changes to this course will be posted onto the course website or can be obtained by contacting the instructors or TAs via email or phone. You are expected to read your @purdue.edu email on a frequent basis.

See Purdue's Information on Emergency Preparation and Planning. This website covers topics such as Severe Weather Guidance, Emergency Plans, and a place to sign up for the Emergency Warning Notification System. Students are encouraged to download and review the Emergency Procedures Guide.

The first day of class, the instructor will review the Emergency Preparedness plan for the specific classroom. Please make note of items like:

• The location to where we will proceed after evacuating the building if we hear a fire alarm.
• The location of our Shelter in Place in the event of a tornado warning.
• The location of our Shelter in Place in the event of an active threat such as a shooting.

Student-Related Policies

The Vice President for Ethics & Compliance website includes a list of Student Policies. Among those is the Violent Behavior policy, which explains that Purdue is committed to providing a safe and secure campus environment for members of the university community. Purdue strives to create an educational environment for students and a work environment for employees that promote educational and career goals. Violent behavior impedes such goals. Therefore, violent behavior is prohibited in or on any University facility or while participating in any university activity.

Basic Needs Program

If you are facing challenges securing basic needs such as food, housing, transportation, health services, or access to technology or childcare resources and believe this may affect your performance in the course, please contact the Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS) to help coordinate with community resources. These services vary by location. In West Lafayette, see the Basic Needs Program website, or email basicneeds@purdue.edu. To connect with a Student Support Generalist on the Indianapolis campus, contact them by phone at 765-495-7797 or email studentlifeindy@purdue.edu.

Course Evaluation

Near the end of the semester, you will receive an email titled "Please take 2-5 minutes to complete the survey" with a link to the course evaluation. The survey can also be accessed directly through Brightspace. If you do not see the email in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder. Your feedback is completely anonymous, and instructors will not have access to the results until after final grades have been submitted. Your comments help improve the course and teaching, so you are encouraged to take a few minutes to share your thoughts. Please be honest, constructive, and respectful in your feedback.