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Syllabus for Math 461
Fall Semester 2006
Background and goals: This course is designed primarily for undergraduates intending to go
to graduate school in mathematics, statistics, or engineering. Some beginning graduate students in
these areas may also take this course. Although students will need some background in writing proofs,
one of the principal goals of the course is to improve proof-writing skills.
Textbook:
Elementary Topology, by Michael Gemignani. We will cover most of Chapters
2-4 and 7-9 of the book.
Prerequisites: MTH 320 or MTH 428H. Recommended: MTH 310.
Grading Scheme
The main components of the final grade are homework, exams, and an in-class presentation.
(The test dates are tentative for now.)
Component | Date |
Worth |
Homework | Wednesdays | 30% |
Midterm Exam | October 13 | 25% |
Presentation | Various | 15% |
Final Exam | December 12 | 30% |
Policy on missed work. The only valid reasons for missing
an exam are: (1) illness, or (2) a conflicting
University activity that cannot be rescheduled. Claims involving
such contingencies must be supported by verifiable documentation
signed by: (1) your physician in case of illness, or (2) your
faculty supervisor in case of a non-rescheduleable University
activity. Each case will be handled on an individual basis.
No late homework will be accepted. However, I will drop your lowest homework score.
Homework Policy
Homework assignments will be posted on the course webpage, and
will typically be due on Wednesdays.
No late homework will be accepted. I encourage you
start early and work in groups. There are only a couple of caveats to group work:
- You should try to do all of the problems on your own
before getting together with others. It does not benefit you
(on exams and in the real world when you need to use math) to simply
get solutions from your classmates! In fact, there is research
suggesting that group work is much more productive when everyone has
thought about the problems before getting together.
- Everyone must turn in their own solutions. In other words, you
should write up your final solutions in the privacy of your own room
(or your own library, cafe, bar, roof, etc.).
Here are a few guidelines for how to write up the proofs:
- Write up the problems in order,
using only one side of the page and leaving lots
of space for me to write comments. Please staple your
sheets together.
- Begin each problem with a statement of that problem.
- Proofs should be written in complete sentences, with appropriate
use made of mathematical notation (your textbook will serve as
a guide to how to do this). Proofread what you've done to be
sure that it's complete and makes sense. Remember that proof-writing
is above all an act of communication, and that the ultimage goal is
clarity.
- If you leave a small gap in a proof that you're not able
to fill in, note this down. I'll try to indicate how to fill
it in my comments.
- Start early! This way, if you are stuck, you can still discuss
the problem with other students or with me.
Presentations
Toward the end of the semester, every student will have to give a 20-minute in-class presentation
on a self-contained topic in topology. The purpose of this is two-fold. First of all, this field of
math has many interesting examples and special topics that don't fit neatly into a linear exposition.
These presentations are a way for all of us to be exposed to these ideas. Second of all, these
presentations are intended to help you practice the art of explaining difficult concepts. The ideas
of mathematics and the related quantitative sciences are hard enough that it becomes very important
to communicate them clearly. In fact, I've found that having to explain something makes me understand
it on a much deeper level.
We will start scheduling student presentations in late October or early November. You should definitely
discuss the topic with me before presenting it. I would also be more than happy to suggest topics for
presentations.
Academic Integrity
Students are reminded that the University's policy concerning academic integrity is
covered in the Spartan Life booklet, General Student Regulations. According to the
handbook, "no student shall claim or submit the work of another as one's own".
Important Dates
9/1/06 |
Open add period by computer enrollment ends. |
9/21/06 |
Last day to drop with no record of course on transcript; end of tuition refund period. |
10/17/06 |
Last day to drop a course or withdraw from all courses with no grade reported. |
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Last modified: Wed Aug 23 14:31:53 PDT 2006
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