ASU MAT 210 Brief Calculus: Topics, Study Guide and Practice

ASU MAT 210, Brief Calculus, is Arizona State University's one-semester applied calculus course. It is a 3-credit-hour Mathematical Studies course for students who need calculus as a working tool rather than as the start of a long sequence. This guide maps every MAT 210 topic to a lesson you can practice with instant feedback.

What ASU MAT 210 covers

The ASU catalog describes MAT 210 as differential and integral calculus of elementary functions, with applications.

In practice that covers the main ideas of Calculus 1: rates of change, derivative rules for polynomial, exponential and logarithmic functions, using derivatives to graph and optimize, and the definite integral as accumulated change and area. Applied courses like this usually spend less time on limit theory and trigonometry and more on interpreting results. On PracticeCalculus the most relevant lessons are in the derivative, derivative rules, applications and integrals units of Calculus 1.

MAT 210 topic map

MAT 210 vs the ASU calculus sequences

MAT 210 is a stand-alone applied course. If your major might later require Calculus 2 or multivariable calculus, start with MAT 265 or MAT 270, which lead to MAT 266 and beyond.

Example problems at the MAT 210 level

1. A power rule derivative.

2. Maximum revenue. If R(x) = 120x - 2x^2, then R'(x) = 120 - 4x = 0 at x = 30. Since R''(x) = -4 < 0, this is a maximum, and R(30) = 3600 - 1800 = 1800.

3. A definite integral.

How to do well in MAT 210

• Connect every derivative to a rate. Ask what the units are: dollars per item, people per year. The notation and meaning lesson builds this habit.
• Learn the rules in order. Start with the power rule and sum and difference rule, then add the product and chain rules.
• Set up optimization problems the same way every time: write the quantity as a function of one variable, differentiate, set it to zero and check that you found a maximum or minimum.
• Keep the formula sheet close, review common calculus mistakes, and practice with timed practice exams.

Tip: a definite integral of a rate gives the total change. If r(t) is a rate in units per hour, \int_a^b r(t)\,dt is the total number of units added between hours a and b.