This class and you

1. Calculus is challenging and you are up to the challenge.
   • Calculus is the product of hundreds (thousands) of years of human thought.
   • Your human brain is amazing.
   • You can learn calculus by sustained, consistent study and effort.
2. I want you to learn calculus.
   • You will not do that without sustained, consistent study and effort.
   • I am required to give you grades.
   • I will use grades to make you put in sustained, consistent study and effort.
3. Two tasks: Understand and compute.
   • Computing without understanding is a pointless, tedious exercise. (We have machines for that.)
   • Understanding without being able to compute: I don't believe that you really understand.
4. This is not high school.
   • You will need to learn outside of class. (Standard estimate: 3 hours outside of class per credit. This is a 4 credit class. Some will need more time than that, and some less.)
   • You will need to learn by reading the textbook.
   • Sometimes you will see only one example, and sometimes you will see none.
5. How to succeed:
   • Sustained, consistent study and effort.
   • Read the textbook.
   • Attend lectures and recitations and ask questions.
   • Get help immediately if you're confused. (Waiting even a week can cause problems.)