MATH 1510
Calculus I
Derivatives of algebraic, trigonometric, and transcendental functions, techniques of differentiation, Mean Value Theorem, applications of the derivative. The definite integral and Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Areas. Simpler integration techniques. Prerequisites: high school algebra and precalculus, including trigonometry.
Instructors
Andrew Green, Dominique Green, Evans, Jan-Li Lin, Jennifer Shrensker, Johnson, Lin, Minh Nguyen, Parker Evans, Rachel Roberts, Shrensker, Silas Johnson
Reviews
On the very first day of class the professor literally called me out and made fun of me because he didn't like my shirt (no it was not in a funny way, it was legitimately very rude). What followed throughout the year was horrid instruction which was equivalent to your 4th grade teacher reading notes taken by a calculus professor with no explanation
10/17/2024
2 or less hrs/week
Johnson is a great professor, and really passionate about his teaching. If you pay attention somewhat or know some calculus beforehand you will do well in the class.
5/21/2024
2 or less hrs/week
Shrensker was new to teaching Calc I when I took it and it showed. I never learned anything in class so opted to not show up because teaching myself was a better use of my time. However, she refused to post lecture videos and the completed notes, so take that as you will.
5/18/2024
2 or less hrs/week
Went to the first lecture and then never again, watched Johnson's lectures before exams to learn content and practiced by following Organic Chemistry Tutor's calc 1 videos. Not that hard if you took AP calc AB/BC in high school, even if you didn't do well on the AP test.
5/18/2024
He's a very nice person especially if you attend office hours which I found really helpful to walk through specific problems much slower. The practice exams closely reflect the actual exams and there was a generous curve applied. My only critique is that sometimes in class he would go very fast and wouldn't record lectures.
5/8/2024
10/10 professor- easily the best for Calc 1. Tests aren't too hard- definitely use the Study hub section that he posts on canvas to study because he puts a lot of extra practice there. Textbook can be found for free online and is only used for optional extra practice. Homework is much harder than exams, but you'll get that with every math prof.
1/24/2024
Excellent prof, teaches really well but includes a lot of extra information that would not be tested.
1/8/2024
Professor Johnson is a nice guy. Lectures are helpful but not mandatory (he may get off track during lectures by trying to prove theorems but it's okay). Tests weren't too hard. There were also many opportunities given to receive extra credit. If you pay attention and study a bit, then you'll be fine. Textbook isn't really necessary.
12/29/2023
Enthusiastic about math, but must put lots of time into calc outside of just understanding lectures. Well-organized Canvas page. Webwork was stressful & above exam-level difficulty. Master practice exams, bc final grade is based on exams.
1/16/2023
Very nice guy and consistently accessible outside of class. I did not find his lectures helpful though. He spent a lot of time talking about hypothetical problems or working out problems that were WAY more difficult than what we were actually expected to learn. Homework was very difficult too. Master the practice tests and you will do fine.
1/5/2023
Prof Johnson is clearly passionate about math and teaching. He cares about his students and wants them to succeed. His enthusiasm made me appreciate calc more. The practice exams were very similar to the actual exams.
12/30/2022
Johnson cares a lot about math and making sure student feedback is received. But, he spends too much time in lectures talking about things that aren't on the exams and that are useless. Sometimes classes drag on and he would ask us to participate in the most random questions. Exams are only 18 questions, so be careful on that.
12/28/2022
Wasn't really a fan of Silas's lecture style/lectures in general hence the 3-star rating, but you can tell he cares about his students and really loves math. He is accessible during office hours and the class itself will vary in difficulty depending on your background with Calculus, so try to stay on top of your work.
12/7/2022
Silas Johnson is a phenomenal professor. Although I haven't completed my first semester here at WashU, I highly doubt my opinion of Dr. Johnson will change in the next month or so. In general, he's a great professor who cares about his students and teaches well, and the course itself, Math 131, is made rather easy through him.
10/27/2022
Super interesting and helpful math teacher! Glad I took him for Calc I because he really helps you with any problems you have during office hours. Tests are also very similar to practice exams, so no surprise on exam day :)
4/3/2022
make sure to go to your subsection meetings... it surprisingly affects your grade more than you might think
12/22/2021
You can tell he's passionate about what he does, and he seems to genuinely care about it. If you stay present during his lectures and follow his lines of reasoning, you will do well. His tests are very fair, which I always appreciate. There will be almost NO random stuff on the tests that you've never seen before, so just know the stuff from class!
12/13/2021
Explained math concepts very well. Goes into depth about the proofs for theories and math problems.
2/24/2021
Prof. Silas is one of the best math teachers I've had. He gives very detailed explanations of the material we're learning and he's very accessible outside of class. If you're ever struggling make sure to go to his office hours! He's really cool and an overall good teacher. Calculus is hard in general, but he tries his best to explain it well!
12/4/2020
Dr. Johnson is a hit or miss for many students. While I attended almost every lecture, many of my friends chose to skip and did well in the class. His lectures can be very boring but he truly loves what he is doing. Exams are super easy if you know the content on the practice exam beforehand.
1/5/2020