Calculus: A Modeling and Computational Thinking Approach

This book is intended for a first-semester course in calculus, which begins by posing a question: how do we model an epidemic mathematically? The authors use this question as a natural motivation for the study of calculus and as a context through which central calculus notions can be understood intuitively. The book’s approach to calculus is contextual and based on the principle that calculus is motivated and elucidated by its relevance to the modeling of various natural phenomena. The authors also approach calculus from a computational perspective, explaining that many natural phenomena require analysis through computer methods. As such, the book also explores some basic programming notions and skills.

Eric Stade, PhD, is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Colorado Boulder. He teaches courses ranging from Math for Elementary Teachers to graduate Number Theory, and his interests span pure mathematics, applied mathematics, and mathematics education. He is the recipient of various teaching awards, including the American Mathematical Society’s 2018 Award for Impact on the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics. He has been active for over a decade in designing and implementing First Year curricula and experiences at CU Boulder.

Elisabeth Stade, MA, MS, is a Professor and the Associate Director for the Applied Computer Science Program at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research includes National Science Foundation Awards in Origami Design for the Integration of Self-assembling Systems for Engineering Innovation (ODISSEI), DataArc (Archeological Databases across disciplines), and educational software applications and simulations.