MHF 3202-4628 (Spr 2016)

Time and Location

M W F Period 3 in Little Hall Room 239

Office Hours:TBD

Textbook

Textbook: How to Prove it: A Structured Approach, 2nd Ed. by Daniel J. Velleman.

This textbook is required as it will both form the basis for in-class lectures and will be the source of homework exercises.

Description and Goals

The goal of elementary mathematics courses such as Calculus or Differential Equations is the memorization and application of formulas and techniques, but the goal of the mathematician is the discovery of new mathematics.  This class is meant to bridge that gap and give students the fundamental tools for practicing mathematics.  First we will learn the terminology and notation necessary to translate between plain English and formal mathematical language.  Next, we will learn the tools of deductive reasoning in order to construct and assess the correctness of mathematical arguments.  Finally we will apply these tools to study functions, relations, and sets.  This corresponds to the entirety of the textbook!

Homework

The goal is to have weekly homework assignments.  Each week a small number of problems (typically 5) will be assigned.  Of these, one or two of the problems will be graded and returned.  Any in-class graded activity or quiz will count as a homework grade.  Doing homework is essential in developing a proper understanding of the course material.

Exams

We will have three in-class exams and a final exam.  The first will cover chapters 1 and 2, the second will cover chapters 3 and 4, and the third will cover chapters 5 and 6.  The final will cover chapters 1-7.  Since the material in this class keeps building on itself, every exam should be considered cumulative with a focus the most recent material.

Grading

Homework contributes 10% to your final grade.  The final exam contributes 30%.  The remaining 60% is divided evenly among the three in-class exams.

Final grades are assigned on a twenty point scale (100-80 for A, 60-79 for B, etc.) with the top and bottom five points reserved for plus and minus grades (80-85 is A-, 75-79.99 is B+, and so on).

Tentative Weekly Schedule

Emphasis should be placed on tentative.  We may move more quickly or slowly depending on the class’s understanding, and we may omit or add sections based on class interest.

Week 1, 1/6-1/8: 1.1-1.3
Week 2, 1/11-1/16: 1.3-1.5
Week 3, 1/20-1/22: 2.1-2.2 (MLK Day on 1/18)
Week 4, 1/25-1/29: 2.3, 3.1-3.2
Week 5, 2/1-2/5: Exam I (On Ch. 1,2), 3.3-3.4
Week 6, 2/8-2/12: 3.5-3.7
Week 7, 2/15-2/19: 4.1-4.3
Week 8, 2/22-2/26: 4.4-4.6
Spring Break: 2/29-3/4
Week 9, 3/7-3/11: Exam 2 (On Ch. 3,4), 6.1
Week 10, 3/14-3/18: 6.2, 6.3
Week 11, 3/21-3/25: 6.4,6.5
Week 12, 3/28-4/1: 5.1-5.2
Week 13, 4/4-4/8: 5.3, Exam 3 (on Ch 5,6)
Week 14, 4/11-4/15: 7.1, 7.2
Week 15, 4/18-4/20: 7.2,7.3
Final Exam date and time to be announced.

Other Information