Options for Calculus II

Options for Calculus II: Math 32, Math 32L, or Math 41L

First-semester students who have AP or transfer credit for Math 31L and who want to continue in mathematics should generally enroll in either Math 32 or Math 41L. Math 32L is intended for students (typically Sophomores or second semester Freshmen) who have taken Math 26L or Math 31L at Duke. All three of these courses are second-semester calculus courses, all three will prepare students to take Math 103, and each of them will satisfy any other department's major requirements for a second-semester calculus course.

Comparison of Calculus II courses
Math 32
Math 41L
Math 32L
Notes on grades

Comparison of Calculus II courses

	Math 32	Math 41L	Math 32L
Recommended for entering Freshmen	Yes	Yes	No
Open to Sophomores and above	No	No	Yes
Fulfills prerequisite for Math 103	Yes	Yes	Yes
Satisfies major requirements for Calc II	Yes	Yes ¹	Yes
Help Room available	Yes	Yes	Yes
Weekly lab session	No	Yes	Yes
Calculator use allowed	No	Yes	Yes
Weekly format	Lectures (75, 75, 50)	Lectures (50, 50, 75) 75 min lab	Lectures (50, 50, 50) 105 min lab

¹Math 41L will fulfill any departmental requirements for Calculus II. As it is a newly re-designed course, it is possible that some departments have not updated their requirements to reflect these changes. If you encounter outdated material, please alert the Math Department so we can inform your department of the changes.

Math 32

Math 32 focuses on learning the formal aspects of integral calculus. The course emphasizes the definition of the integral, integration techniques and mathematical problem solving. It also covers Taylor series and formal solutions to differential equations. All methods use pencil and paper calculations; calculators are not allowed. One of the goals of Math 32 is for students to develop an understanding and appreciation of the structure of calculus. The class has three lectures per week, with two sessions lasting 75 minutes and another session lasting 50 minutes. (Math 32 homepage)

Math 41L

Math 41L is designed for first year students who have had AP Calculus credit for Calculus I but are not yet ready for Calculus III. In addition to Calculus II material, it covers topics that are typically omitted or poorly explored in high school Calculus I courses. The course emphasizes series, and covers the definition of the integral, integration techniques, and basic differential equations. Math 41L is meant to develop both an understanding of the formal structure of calculus and an understanding of how calculus is used in applications. Math 41L will meet 4 times per week -- two 50 minute classes and two 75 minute classes. One of those classes will be a lab session where problems are studied in depth. These problems may be applications taken from the physical, social and biological sciences or topics from the mathematical theory of calculus. Calculators and/or computers are used extensively in this course. (Math 41L homepage)
Note: The "old" Math 41 was redesigned for Fall 2007 and the current Math 41L course is very different from the Math 41 which was offered prior to Fall 2007.

Math 32L

Math 32L is intended for students (typically Sophomores or second-semester Freshmen) who have taken Math 26L or Math 31L at Duke. It emphasizes the applications of mathematics to the physical and social sciences, as well as covering series, integration techniques, and basic differential equations. One of the goals of Math 32L is for students to develop an intuitive and conceptual understanding of calculus. The use of calculators is central to the course, as are the weekly 105 minute lab sessions where students work in groups to explore how the mathematical content learned in class can be applied to solving particular problems. Students also learn how to write about mathematics through lab reports. As this is a continuation of the Duke calculus curriculum, first semester Freshmen who enroll in this course should ensure that they are familiar with the entirety of the Math 31L syllabus. (Math 32L homepage)

Notes on grades

According to the results of the end-of-semester questionnaires, students spend about the same total time outside of class on each of these courses.
The overall distribution of grades in these courses has been approximately the same.
Students who completed Math 32, 32L, or 41L performed about the same in Calculus III (Math 103) according to a 2007 study.
In addition to credit for Math 31 students enrolling in Math 32 or Math 41L should have an SAT score of at least 680 and an Achievement (I or II) score of at least 680.
A student who has AP credit for Math 31 and who does not meet these minimum SAT and Achievement score requirements may still enroll in Math 32L, but it is possible that the student would miss important material unless they forgo the AP credit and enroll in Math 31L.