Courses and Syllabi on Dr. Courtney R. Gibbons

Math 116: Calculus 2

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

“This is a calculus problem.”

“Get out! You think so?”

“Yeah. It’s area under the curve, man!”

“Oh, jeez, it is.”

“You’ll have to call back next week.”

—Ray and Tom Magliozzi of Car Talk

#1045: Pi Over Two Dopes, Nov 06, 2010

Text(s)

Calculus II by Lumen, an online calculus textbook and platform where you will complete auto-graded problem sets (available from the Hamilton College Bookstore; see one of us if you have difficulty acquiring the book). For reference, you can also use OpenStax Calculus 2, which the Lumen OHM system is adapted from.
- Registration Course ID and Enrollment Key are available on Blackboard; you have two weeks of complimentary access

Instructors

Courtney Gibbons, crgibbon@hamilton.edu; Office: CJ 109; Office Hours: usually MWF 2:30-3:45 pm
- Section 01: 10-10:50 am
  - Monday, Wednesday, Friday in Kirner-Johnson 202;
  - 12-12:50 pm Tuesday in Kirner-Johnson 125 (Bradford Auditorium)
- Section 02: 11-11:50 am
  - Monday, Wednesday, Friday in Kirner-Johnson 202;
  - 12-12:50 pm Tuesday in Kirner-Johnson 125 (Bradford Auditorium)
James Burton, jjburton@hamilton.edu; Office: CJ 119; Office Hours: usually MTWF 10 am - Noon
- Section 03: 9-9:50 am
  - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday in Christian A. Johnson 222

About the Course

Skills and Practices

Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning. Students will use mathematical models (like graphs, equations, and geometric objects) to represent patterns, relationships, and data.

Math 525: Computational Algebra

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

“A computation is a a process that obeys finitely describable rules.” -Rudy Rucker

It’s all fun and games until someone introduces an $i$… Have you ever wanted to take a game like sudoku and make it less fun with commutative algebra? Have you ever wondered how to do cryptology, especially cryptanalysis, with algebra? If so, you’re going to really enjoy this class!

Math 325 (Writing Intensive): Modern Algebra

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Revised Spring 2025

The word “Algebra”…

… and its mathematical connotation stem from a 9th century Arabic treatise entitled, The Concise Book on Calculation by Restoration and Compensation, by al-Kwarizmi. This historical text dealt with finding the roots of a general quadratic polynomial equation, $ax^2+bx+c=0$ for nonzero $a$, by completing the square—hence “restoration” and “compensation.” This is where our journey begins. By the end of the course, we’ll have an understanding of what tools and techniques “modern” (19th and 20th century) algebra brings to bear on polynomials and their roots. This course gets more abstract as the semester progresses, so set good habits early. (See Endotes 1)

Math 498 (Seminar): Mathematics in Social Context

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Revised Spring 2025

The Big Picture

This course is designed to examine issues of social, structural, and institutional hierarchies that intersect with mathematics and statistics. This year, the course will examine several big themes:

Math 325 (Writing Intensive): Modern Algebra

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Revised Fall 2024 (updates still coming)

The word “Algebra”…

Math 512: Number Theory

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Revised Fall 2024

“Number Theorists are like lotus eaters - having tasted this food they can never give it up.” -Leopold Kronecker

“What’s up with prime numbers?” is our motivating question for a lot of this course. “How can we use that cool property of prime numbers?” is our motivating question for most of the rest. Number theory begins with the integers and the relationships (and remainders) that come from trying to divide one integer into another or find integer solutions to polynomial equations (like $x^3 + y^3 + z^3 = 42$). Although some original numberphiles celebrated number theory’s purity (read: its lack of applications to the “real world”), they’d be annoyed to know that we now use their results to accomplish many practical ends, like sending information via secure webpages, listening to scratched CDs, and speed-testing computers. This course will focus on the fundamental results in the field and their applications (especially to cryptography and cryptanalysis). Expect distinguished visitors from different schools and sectors to give short guest presentations in class. (See Endnotes 1)

Math 325 (Writing Intensive): Modern Algebra

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Revised Spring 2022

The word “Algebra”…

… and its mathematical connotation stem from a 9th century Arabic treatise entitled, The Concise Book on Calculation by Restoration and Compensation, by al-Kwarizmi. This historical text dealt with finding the roots of a general quadratic polynomial equation, $ax^2+bx+c=0$ for nonzero $a$, by completing the square—hence “restoration” and “compensation.”" This is where our journey begins. By the end of the course, we’ll have an understanding of what tools and techniques “modern” (19th and 20th century) algebra brings to bear on polynomials and their roots. This course gets more abstract as the semester progresses, so set good habits early. (See Endotes 1)

Math 498 (Seminar): Mathematics in Social Context

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Revised Spring 2022

The Big Picture

This course is designed to examine issues of social, structural, and institutional hierarchies that intersect with mathematics and statistics. This year, the course will examine several big themes: