Autumn 2017
Math 220: Foundations of Mathematics   Section 902.

Piazza: Sign Up     Piazza Class page.
Giudelines for Flatland.   Flatland in html. When re-reading Flatland, you may find this study guide useful.
Homework can be found here.
Answer key to first exam Here.
Instructor: Frank Sottile       Weekly schedule
email: fjsteachmath@gmail.com
WWW: www.math.tamu.edu/~sottile
Office: Blocker 601K
 Office Hours : Mondays 13:30--14:30
Fridays10:00–11:00
By appointment
Textbook: The Tools of Mathematical Reasoning,   by Tamara J. Lakins
Lectures: 902: TuTh 9:35–10:50 Blocker 148
Help Sessions: Monday & Wednesday 8–10 PM in Blocker 202
Course Forum: We will be using Piazza as a forum for class discussion.
For technical prolems with that site email team@piazza.com
Our class page.
Course Content: From the catalog: Foundations of mathematics including
logic, set theory, combinatorics, and number theory.
Prerequisites: Second Semester Calculus with a grade
of 'C' or higher.
Course webpage: https://www.math.tamu.edu/~sottile/teaching/17.2/220.html
Departmental page for Math 220
Special Note: Your goal in this course, as in every course that you ever take, should be a complete mastery of the material. Anything less is aspiring to mediocrity and doing yourself a disservice. I expect you to read the section in the text that we will be covering before we meet. Come to class ready to ask questions about what you do not yet know. After class, re-read the text and your notes, and do some exercises to complete your mastery of the material. Finally, ask questions in class, lots of them.
Grading   You will be expected to attend all class meetings; I do keep track of such matters, but allow a few absences before penalties begin. There will be three in-term exams, each worth 20% and a paper inspired by/related to Flatland for 15%. The remaining 25% will be homework and attendance. NO FINAL EXAM, the paper is in lieu of the exam.
Exam Schedule
First exam:   Tuesday, 26 September
Second exam:   Thursday, 26 October
Third exam:   Tuesday, 5 December
Flatland paper dates:   Class discussion:   2 November
Paper topic:  13 November
Paper Draft:  21 November
Peer review:  30 November
Paper due:  8 December
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. I will take your word in such a matter; do not make yourself sicker by leaving your sickbed for a doctor's note.
Homework:
Homework is assigned most classes, and will be due on Tuesdays. It will be marked and returned by the following Tuesday. More details are on the homework page.

    Late homeworks are not accepted. The two lowest homework scores will be dropped before computing your grade.

Zeroeth Assignment : Read the course web page, and send Frank an email that you have read and understood the course descriptions and policies. This includes signing up on Piazza.
Please also answer the following questions:
    (1) Why are you taking this course?
    (2) What do you hope to get out of this course?
    (3) Is there anything else that you want to tell me (that is relevant to the course)?
First homework : (Due second day of class, Tuesday 5 September 2017)
  (1) Read the Preface to our book, particularly its section To Students.
  (2) Watch several Numberphile videos.
  (3) Write at a paragraph or two on your favorite one; indicating what it was about and what you learned.
  (4) Write a short recommendation about a second one.
  Hand in a printed copy of (3) and (4), and include the names of the other Numberphile videos you watched for this assignment (along with your name, etc.).

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: Sat Jul 27 16:25:57 CDT 2019