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This is the preliminary syllabus for Math 150 in the spring of 2010. Math 150 is intended to provide an introduction to Mathematics - both its historical development and the way that it is evolving today.
The information found here is subject ot change; updates will be posted as needed.
Math 150 - Mathematics from a Mathematician's Perspective - is scheduled to meet MWF 10:30-11:20. The tentative classroom assignment is TBA (as of 10.14.2009, at 13:50). Shortly before classes start, you should check that the room did not change. You can check that sort of detail by using the Searchable Schedule of Classes at the registrar's web pages.
The first class is Monday January 11. The last class is Monday April 26. The final exam is Thursday April 29, from 8:30 to 11:30, in a location that will be announced.
Prerequisites: None.
Textbook: There is no textbook for the course as a whole; reading material will be provided regularly, as class handouts and/or as material to be downloaded on the web.
Website: The website of the course, with links to the syllabus, calendar, handouts, hw assignments, office hours, etc., is
Description: Math 150 is an introduction to Mathematics - both its historical development and the way that it is evolving today. The content of the course changes from year to year. The theme of Math 150 in the spring will be "the evolving concept of number". We will consider how the problems to be solved and the techniques available have historically determined which numbers were "allowable" and how they were interpreted. Here are two examples:
To the Greeks finding a square root literally meant constructing a square (i.e., finding the length of its sides), given the area of the square. Since a square cannot have negative area, not even the question of the square root of a negative number could arise. Later advances in ways of representing numerical quantities (algebra) made it possible to ask the question and to come up with reasonable answers, but it was still later that further developments (solving cubic equations) made it clear that roots of negative numbers were useful (and therefore they became "allowable").
In the modern world, computers are used extensively in numerical calculations. Since a finite machine can only express finitely many different numbers, computers make limitations on the numbers that are "allowable" for them. We will explore some consequences of this in the light of recent developments (in the last 20 years) in the study of "chaotic dynamics".
The registrar's information about the course, including the catalog description, can be accessed here.
Grading:
There will be two midterm exams and a final exam.
Each midterm will determine 15% of your grade, and the final will determine 30%. The remaining 40% of your grade will be based on homework assignments, which may include a short paper. It is expected that the homework assignments will be done carefully and that they will be turned in on time. There is no provision for extra credit or other make-up work at the end of the semester.
Schedule: Here is a link to a calendar for the course.
Final exam: The final exam will be held Thursday April 29, from 8:30 to 11:30, in a location that will be announced.
Homework: Homework will be assigned and collected regularly; it is important that you keep up with the work. Do the homework as it is assigned; and ask questions right away if you find there is something you do not understand. The easiest way to do poorly in this class is to get behind on the homework assignments. You are welcome to discuss the problems with each other (and with me), but any work you hand in must be your own. For instance, if two of you discuss a problem and the discussion leads to a solution, you should each write up the solution independently. You should acknowledge the fact if any substantial part of a solution came from another student.
Here is a link to the list of homework assignments.
Midterm grades: Midterm grades will be assigned. They are not a prediction of a likely final grade. They are based solely on the work that has been completed at the time that they must be submitted; which usually includes no more than one third of the total work for the course. Their purpose is mainly to warn students who may not be doing as well in the course as they think.
Contact information:
The instructor is Michael Hurley.
Email: mgh3@case.edu
Phone: 216-368-2885. Generally, email is a better way to reach me than phoning. A message can be left for me on voice mail at the number above, or if necessary a message can be left at the department office, 216-368-2880.
Office hours: My office is Yost 307B; my office hours during the spring semester are
- Monday, 12:30 - 1:20
- Wednesday, 3 - 4
- Friday, 11:30 - 12:20
If you want to see me, don't feel that you have to wait for an office hour. Make an appointment, or just drop by.
Other links relevant to the course:
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