| Instructor: | Jonathan Rogness | |
| Office: | Vincent Hall 4 | |
| Phone: | 612-625-2861 | |
| Email: | rogness@math.umn.edu (By far the best way to reach me!) | |
| Web Page: | http://www.math.umn.edu/~rogness/ | |
| Course Page: | http://www.math.umn.edu/~rogness/math5335/ |
The fastest, most reliable way to reach me is via email. Occasionally I get a deluge of email, but anything with "Math 5335" in the subject line will get tagged as a high priority message.
Please note: I have two different offices on campus. My "department office" is Vincent 431. My regular office is in the Vincent 4 suite of MathCEP offices. Unless announced otherwise, office hours will be held in Vincent 4. There is generally a student worker at the desk just inside the door who can point you in my direction.
| Course Description: | The first part of the semester will use vector techniques in advanced study of Euclidean geometry in the plane, concentrating on figures such as polygons and circles. We will also study a special functions called isometries, and classify all possible isometries on the plane. The later part of the semester will focus on (1) showing that our vector techniques are consistent with the "regular" geometry one might find in a high school classroom, and (2) learning the basics of hyperbolic and elliptic geometry and how they compare to Euclidean geometry. |
| Prerequisites: |
Either [ Math 2243, 2374 or 2573 ] or [ concurrent enrollment in Math 2263, 2374 or 2574 ]
The ability to read, write, and understand proofs is important for success in this course. If you haven't previously taken such a course, pay careful attention to comments on your homework, and make use of office hours to ask me questions. |
| Textbook: | Required: Geometry I booklet for Fall 2009, Fristedt & Baxter. Available at Alpha Print (1407 Fourth Street SE) in Dinkytown for approximately $40.00. Ask for bin number 1. |
| Homework and Exams: |
Homework will be due roughly every 1-2 weeks, depending on our pace, selection of material, scheduled exams, etc. Assignments will be announced in class and placed online. Homework will not be accepted after an announced due date unless you've made previous arrangements with me. Collaboration is highly encouraged -- please work with other students! However, your solutions need to be written in your own words, and your homework should include a note saying whom you worked with. Occasionally I might give a special problem in class which is not required, but might be worth some extra credit.
We'll have in-class two midterms, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday 10/14 and Wednesday 11/18. Our final exam is scheduled for 8:00am-10:00am Wednesday, December 23, but I plan to give you a take-home final instead; details will be forthcoming later in the semester. Make-up exams will only be permitted in extraordinary situations. (Think "emergency surgery," not "oversleeping," although I will be impressed if you manage to sleep through 12:20pm class.) |
| Grading Scheme: |
30% Homework 40% Midterms (20% each) 30% Final Exam Overall course grades will be at least this generous; I reserve the right to lower gradelines if a test or homework assignment turns out to be harder than intended.
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| Other Policies: | We will follow all University and IT policies regarding academic honesty and other matters. The most common situation involves asking for a grade of incomplete. Incompletes are given only in extremely unusual circumstances, and only if you arrange it with me in advance. Incompletes are given only if you have completed most of the course material at a satisfactory level -- at least two midterms at a C level -- but some terrible, unexpected event prevents you from finishing the course. In particular, we cannot give you an incomplete if you simply fall behind in your work. |