Announcements

Here is where I'll be posting timely information about the class.

• Final Exam: Ours is scheduled for 12/10/2018 from 1-3 PM. Dr. Tony Rickard has agreed to proctor for me (I'll be at a conference in Cananda).
  • You will be allowed a single side of an 3x5 index card of notes - both sides, handwritten. (Hint: Less is more. Also, turn it in with your exam.)
  • The exam is comprehensive, but will emphasize material that appeared in the most recent material (so expect more questions from Chapters 5-7).
  • I'm shooting for an exam you can finish in 90 minutes, but you will be allowed the full 120 to complete your exam.
• Finalized office hours: MWF 10-11:30 AM.
• Homework is due at the beginning of class on the assigned date.
• I frequently make use of standard proofreading marks when grading.

Resources

We'll be using LaTeX throughout this course. My colleague, David Maxwell, has prepared some excellent installation instructions, which I have modified for use in this course. If you are using a Mac, you should download these, and if you are using a PC, you should download these. Let me know if you notice any errors in the instructions, and I'll update them. If you are running a Linux distribution, you are on your own (but probably don't need any help anyway). You may also find this list of LaTeX math symbols helpful.

Homework Formatting Instructions

• When preparing your homework in LaTeX, you must use this template. If you compile the template sample file in LaTeX you should get this. If you run into trouble, let me know.
• Your name, class name, and assignment due date should appear at the top of the first page of your assignment. Your assignment must be stapled together in the top lefthand corner and your paper must be devoid of those nasty scritchy bits from having been ripped out of a spiral bound notebook.
• You must include a complete problem statement with each exercise.
• You must write in complete sentences, with appropriate grammar, etc..
• Your language should be appropriately formal, e.g., the use of specialized symbols such as the inverted capital A in place of the words "for all" should generally be avoided. Look to your textbook for a model of when the use of such symbols or abbreviations is appropriate.
• Counterexamples should be specific, not generic, i.e., π+(-π) is a counterexample to the claim that the sum of two irrational numbers is always irrational. Using a generic irrational x∈ℝ\ℚ isn't good form.
• You should proofread the template to avoid making mistakes.
• You should ALWAYS justify your answer.

Failure to follow these instructions will result in deductions from your grade.

Interpreting Graded Problem Scores

I want to give you some idea of how to interpret your performance on each graded exercise. Generally, each graded problem will be assessed on a 5 point scale: 5=entirely or nearly correct, 4=nearly correct but solution is poorly presented or contains a notable error, 3=mostly correct but a significant mathematical error, 2=significant progress in the right direction but multiple errors, 1=a genuine attempt at the problem, 0=little or no real attempt at the problem.

Homework Assignments by Due Date

Be sure to follow the instructions above for the formatting of written assignments. Assignments with study guides will be available to download below.

Corrections to assignments due dates will be written in red.