Math 300, Mondays, Fall 2016 (Whyte)
2-2:50 M, TH 317
Professor: Kevin Whyte
E-mail: kwhyte@uic.edu
Resources
- Syllabus
- Mathematical Sciences Learning Center
- Writing Center
- Introduction to LaTeX
- The mathematics librarian is David Dror, with office hours Th 5-7pm in the library's Idea Commons. You can also e-mail him to make an appointment at another time.
- The library resource guide for math 300
- A guideline for term papers
Assignments and Due dates
Assignments are due by e-mail in pdf format by 4pm on Fridays.
Most weeks we will also be discussing some of what your classmates have written. These readings will be mailed to you in advance - please print these and write notes/comments/suggestions on them. I will collect these at the end of the class discussion.
- Aug 26 : Install LaTex or other typesetting software, submit your write-up of one of the proofs discussed in class on Aug 22.
- Sep 2 : Find another proof of Pythagoras' theorem and write an explanation including a comparison with the proof presented in class.
- Sep 9 : Write a 1-2 introduction to the topic you have chosen for your term paper.
- Sep 16 : Revise and type your "Intro to Calculus" written in class. The final version should be e-mailed by Friday as usual, I will also collect the written drafts in class on the 19th.
- Sep 23 : Essay on "What is Mathematics and why is it interesting?" aimed at Elementary/Middle school students who are bored with the material they're learning in school.
- Sep 30 : Careful proof that the square root of two is irrational, with a focus on explaining what facts from arithmetic are used and why they hold.
- Oct 7 : Outline and bibliography for your term paper.
- For class Oct 10: Read A Math\
ematician's Apology by G. H. Hardy. Write your comments ( agreements, disagreements, parts that are interseting, boring, or confusing, etc) and bring them to class for discussion (they will be collected along with your comments on the student works discussed).
- Oct 14: First draft of term paper ( 8-10 pages ) is due.
- Oct 28: Write up probablitiy puzzles from class.
- Nov 4: Write "Nim" : rules, strategy, and justification.