Winter 2014
Math 467: Modern Geometry

   
Homeworks. Due Thursdays  Special Note: You can/should (must?) work with some of your classmates on these problems. That is, discuss the problems amongst yourselves. However, your write-ups should be completely separate, for you should put your conclusions in your own words. To facilitate this, you are asked to list on your homeworks those with whom you worked out the questions. Getting answers from a source such as a book or the web is, of course, not permitted.
Möbius Bridge     Vi Hart's Wind and Mr. Ug
Sign up for Piazza.     Piazza Class page.
Information on papers.
Flatland paper: Due 20 February. Topic and sources: 28 January.     First Draft: 6 February.     Peer review: 13 February.     Final version: 20 February.
Second paper: Due 29 April. Topic and sources: 8 April.     First Draft: 17 April     Peer review: 24 April.     Final version: 29 April.
Link to Euclid's elements.
Instructor: Frank Sottile       Weekly schedule
No Telephone (Budget Cuts)
email: sottile@math.tamu.edu
      Text-only email with 467 in the subject line.
      Many questions about the class can be efficiently dealt with using Piazza (see below)
WWW: ../../index.html
Office: Blocker 601K
 Office Hours : Mondays: 9:30–10:30
Tuesdays: 14:10–15:10
By appointment
Textbook: Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Geometry
(4th edition), by Greenberg.
Lectures:     TΘ 12:45–14:00 Blocker 164.
Grader:   Kaitlyn Phillipson
Course Forum: We will be using Piazza as a forum for class discussion. For technical prolems with that site email team@piazza.com
Find our class page at: https://piazza.com/tamu/spring2014/math467900/home.
Course Content: From the catalog: Rigorous development of Euclidean
Geometry; Classic non-Euclidean models; Matrix
representations of transformations in R3; Isometries;
Transformation and symmetric groups; Similarity and
Affine transformations. Prerequisites. Math 304 or 323.

Our course: We will cover the rigorous development of
Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry, as well as their
history and the scientific controversy and resulting
revolution caused by the discovery of non-Euclidean geometry.
Later topics will be covered as time permits.
Special Note:     This is a W (Writing Intensive) course, and we will meet the writing requirement in several ways. Foremost, you will write two papers, one due before the midterm, and one due near the end of the term. At a secondary level, we will be writing proofs, and some attention will be paid to the writing aspect of proofs, including the elegance and clarity of proofs.
    Our book also features extensive historical notes. This is appropriate, for the subject of Euclidean geometry is over 2000 years old, and the scientific controversies and their resolution revolving around the parallel postulate revolutionized mathematics and continue to exert a profound influence on the philosophy and practice of mathematics.
    I will expect you to thoroughly read the text book, both before a topic is covered in lecture and afterwards, for the material can be subtle, and benefits from reflection.
    Ideally, our class will be lively; unlike many other classes, but like life, for us the goal is the journey and not the destination. I expect to foster a classroom atmosphere in which the free exchange of ideas is encouraged. In particular the students are encouraged to ask questions, and I will often call on students in turn.
    We will have regular activity/discussion sessions to explore
Course webpage: /~sottile/teaching/12.1/467.html
Grading
The course will have two mid-term exams, as well as two substantial papers, regular homework assignments, and participation in the class. The mid term exams will each be worth 20% of your final grade, the papers 20% each, and the homeworks and class participation (including Piazza participation), will be 20%. Failing the writing component will result in not getting the `W' credit for this course.
Schedule
Flatland paper: Flatland discussion: 28 January.     Flatland paper topic: 30 January.     First Draft: 6 February.
Peer review: 13 February.     Final version: 20 February.
Mid-Term:   25 February.
Second paper: Topic and sources: 3 April.     First Draft: 15 April.
Peer review: 22 April.     Final version 29 April (no class).
Second Mid-Term:   24 April. 6—9 PM BLocker 164.
No Final Exam: The final is scheduled for 7 May, 8:00–10:00 AM, which is too close to graduation for grading.
Emergencies: If you have a valid reason (medical or family emergency) for missing an exam, then I will give you an alternative exam, preferably before the scheduled exam. Missing an exam without a valid reason will result in a score of zero for that exam.
Homework:
Homework will be assigned regularly. While much of it will be exercises from the book that involve proving propositions, some will be essay questions. Details such as due dates, etc. are being worked out.

    Late homeworks are not accepted. The two lowest homework scores will be dropped before computing your grade.
First Assignment : Read this web page, and send me a text-only email that you have read and understood the course descriptions and policies. Please also answer the following questions:
    (1) Why are you taking this course?
    (2) What is your major?
    (3) What do you hope to get out of this course?
    (4) Is there anything else that you want to tell me (that is relevant to the course)?

COPYRIGHT POLICY: All printed materials disseminated in class or on the web are protected by Copyright laws. While personal use is permitted, sale of any of these materials is strictly prohibited, and, as that constitutes stealing is a violation of the Aggie honor code.
University wide policies and statements:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy Statement
The following ADA Policy Statement (part of the Policy on Individual Disabling Conditions) was submitted to the University Curriculum Committee by the Department of Student Life. The policy statement was forwarded to the Faculty Senate for information.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities, in Room 126 of the Koldus Building or call 845-1637.
Academic Integrity Statement "An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do." For more, see the Honor Council Rules and Procedures.
Last modified: Wed Apr 30 08:10:43 CDT 2014