Math 20630, Fall `09

Schedule

I will update this page very often. It will be your responsibility to check it frequently to see what's going on in class.  In particular, you will find all new homework assignments here, and soon after you turn in an assignment, I will post solutions for you to look at.


Dates

Topics

Reading

Homework

Miscellaney

8/26-8/28

Integers: arithmetic and order

Sections 1 and 2 from my notes.

Skim chapter 1 (especially 1.1, 1.4 and 1.6) from the textbook.

Homework 1

My solutions to homework 1 are now posted.  Just re-download the homework to see them.

8/31-9/4

Well-ordering principle, b-ary expansions, divisibility and the Euclidean algorithm

Sections 3, 4, and 5 from my notes.

Textbook sections 2.1, 2.4, 2.2

Homework 2

We now have a room (125 Hayes-Healy) for our help sessions on Monday evenings (starting 9/4) from 6-7(ish) PM.  Also, I'm now planning to hold office hours on Tuesdays from 2:30-4 PM.

Check out some interesting webpages about the distribution of prime numbers here, here, and here (Thanks to Cameron Shane for the links!)

9/7-9/11

Diophantine equations, prime factorization

Textbook sections 2.3, 2.5

Homework 3


9/14-9/18

Sets, equivalence relations and congruence

Section 6 in my notes.

Textbook sections 1.3, 3.1, 3.3

Homework 4


9/21-9/25

More congruences

Textbook sections 3.2, 3.4-3.6

Notes section 7

Homework 5

 Thursday 9/24 from 8-9 PM in DBRT 117, Tom Banchoff will talk to the computer club about
his work on mathematical modeling and computer animation.  He's a mathematician from Brown and a good lecturer, so you might find this fun to go to.

9/28-10/2

Induction and the binomial theorem

Textbook sections 4.1 and 4.3

Homework 6

There will be a Q & A type review session for the 1st midterm on Sunday 10/4 from 6-7 PM in Hayes-Healy 125.  Also, here's a review sheet for the midterm.

10/5-10/9

Rational numbers

Textbook section 5.1

Notes, section 8


1st midterm, Monday 10/5 in class. 

No homework picked up this week.

10/12-10/16

Rational numbers 

Functions

Textbook 6.1-6.5

Homework 7

There will be no class on Monday 10/12, but the help session will take place as usual that day.

The textbook is a tad garrulous on the subject of functions.

10/26-10/30

More functions, cardinality

Text 6.6; also see my notes for a proof of the Schroeder Bernstein Theorem

Homework 8

The extra credit problem about the logicians trying to cross the river is now closed to new attempts.  If you're revising a previous attempt, you're welcome to keep trying.

11/2-11/6

Sequences,

Notes, sections 9,10

Homework 9


11/9-11/13

sequences,

Notes, section 11

Homework 10

Math Club Talk This Thursday
Time and Place:  11/12 at 5:30 p.m. in Hurley 258

Title: "Rational points on algebraic curves"
(Excellent) Speaker: Michael Broshi
This talk is aimed at a general audience.  Biggest prerequisite is a little mathematical curiosity and a willingness to consume post-talk refreshments.

11/16-11/20

and more sequences

Notes, section 12,13

Homework 11

Here's a review sheet for the second exam.  I'll update it as soon as I have a definite room for the Sunday review session.


Undergrad math research conference/REU information session Thursday 11/19 from 5-7 PM in Hayes-Healy 129.

11/23/09


2nd midterm


2nd midterm, Monday 11/23 in class

11/30-12/4

continuity


complex numbers

Notes, section 14

Text 8.1-8.7



12/7-12/9

complex numbers



Math Club Talk This Wednesday
Time and Place:  12/9 at 5:30 PM in Hurley 258
Title:  The Laudabilis Lemniscate 
(Tall, but not intimidating) Speaker:  Arlo Caine
Pizza to follow.

Final exam, Friday 12/18 from 8-10 AM.  Here is a review sheet for the final.


A little parting wisdom