Course Description
Math 21 is a 4 credit course in introductory calculus,
the last one in the Math 19-20-21 sequence. The class provides an introduction to the idea of infinite accumulation,
first in the form of improper integral and then for series.
For a more detailed syllabus see the schedule of topics
Per University policy, your decision to take the course implies that you agree to these requirements and to the grading policies spelled out here; so be sure to read everything on these pages.
Prerequisites
- Strong foundation in precalculus, such as comfort with the concept of functions, equations of lines,
trig and inverse trig, ability to manipulate algebraic expressions, factoring polynomials, etc.
- Be comfortable with the idea of a limit, the idea of the derivative and the integral,
- Some techniques of integration and differentiation.
- Product rule, chain rule, substitution, and integration by parts: be comfortable in applying those.
Text:
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Calculus: Volume 2
by Edwin Herman and Gilbert Strang
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The text may be downloaded for free or purchased online for about $30. We will cover
material from chapters 3.7, 5 and 6.
Grades:
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Grades will be based on the following components:
- Homeworks: 15%
- 2 evening midterm exams: 25% each
- Final exam: 35%
Students who elect credit/no credit grading basis need to obtain the grade of C- or better to receive
credit.
Students with Documented Disabilities
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Stanford is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for disabled students. Disabled students are a valued and essential part of the Stanford community. We welcome you to our class.
If you experience disability, please register with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE). Professional staff will evaluate your needs, support appropriate and reasonable accommodations, and prepare an Academic Accommodation Letter for faculty. To get started, or to re-initiate services, please visit oae.stanford.edu .
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If you already have an Academic Accommodation Letter, please use the googleform tinyurl goto.stanford.edu/math21oae
to upload it and detail the specific accommodations you will need in this course.
- Deadlines for submitting accommodation request:
- January 19th, 5pm: for Midterm 1.
- February 5th, 5pm: for Midterm 2.
- March 2nd, 5pm: for Final exam.
You need only submit your letter once per quarter. For urgent OAE-related accommodations needs that arise after the deadline, please consult your OAE advisor.
First Day Checklist
This web site details the course's policies, schedules, and expectations,
including for assignments and grading calculation.
Per University policy, your decision to take the course implies that you agree to
these requirements and to the grading policies spelled out here; so be sure to read
everything on these pages.
- Enrollment in a lecture and a section:
Math 21 students attend lectures on MWF, starting on the first Monday of the quarter, and discussion sections on Tu, starting on the
first Tuesday of the quarter.
Enroll in lectures and discussion sections on Axess; registration for a given class time-slot is subject to availability.
- Check for exam conflicts right away and contact us: Except in case of emergency, you must inform us of exam conflicts at least two weeks prior to the exam, together with a valid reason for the conflict. The allowable reasons are course-related or competition-related schedule.
Students with course or competition-related exam conflicts must fill out the same googleform goto.stanford.edu/math21oae
to make arrangements for an alternate exam sitting on the same day.
The schedule of exams is posted here.
Attending Lecture and Section
Attendance is not required at lecture, but regular attendance is important to your success in this class.
A student who misses class is responsible for finding out what was discussed and learning the material that
was covered on that day.
Discussion sessions are a great additional resource we have in Math 21.
Held at various times on Tuesdays this term, they will provide opportunities to see more guided examples and try your hand at exercises
with a member of the teaching team present. Although the problems are not graded, the additional exposure to and practice with the material will greatly aid to
your learning.
Special situations adaptations
As standard practice, lectures and discussion sections in Mathematics
courses are taught in-person. As such, Zoom links will not be provided. Additionally, in-person
lectures and discussion sections will not be recorded.
Students who miss class due to illness (including COVID-19) should
make arrangements to obtain lecture notes from other students
in the class. As standard practice, there are no make-up exams or
remote exams. If you will miss an exam due to illness, please
reach out to your instructor for more information.
Winter 2026
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