MATH 215
Introduction to Advanced Mathematics

Fall 2012

The webpage for Fall 2103 is here.


Instructor: David Marker
Call Number: 24546
Class Meets: 10:00 MWF 308 Taft Hall
Office: 411 SEO
Office Hours: M 1:00-2:00, W: 8:30-9:45
phone: (312) 996-3069
e-mail: marker@math.uic.edu
course webpage: http://www.math.uic.edu/~marker/math215-F12
There is also a Blackboard site for the course. The Blackboard site will be used for grades and to post solutions to problem sets, exams and study guides.

Teaching Assistant: Landon Kavlie
TA-Office Hours: Tu 10-12, Th 1-2 (TA Office Hours are held in the Mathematical Sciences Learning Center on the 4th floor of SEO)

Text

Prerequisites

Grade of C or better in MATH 181 and approval of the department.

Description

This is a first course is a first course in theoretical mathematics. It is a prerequisite to all advanced theoretical courses in the department.

The Primary Goal of the course is to learn how to create and write mathematical proofs. We will introduce basic proof techniques, like proofs by induction and contradiction. We will also learn some basic mathematics that will be used in many advanced courses including: sets, functions, equivalence relations, cardinality and infinite sets. As time permits, we will cover much of Parts I-III and parts of Part V of the text.
A detailed week-by-week syllabus will be posted at
http://www.math.uic.edu/~marker/math215-F12 /wtw.html

Practice Problems and Problem Sets

Doing problems is the way to learn mathematics!


Each chapter of the text has a number of excercises. These exercises have solutions in the back of the book. Below I will pick out several of these from each chapter and encourage you to try them and check your answers in the back of the book. You are welcome to come talk to me about these problems.

There will be weekly problem sets that will be collected and graded. The two lowest grades will be dropped. Late homework will be accepted only in exceptional circumstances.

Most problem sets will consist of writing proofs. All proofs must be written in complete gramatical sentences. Since learning to write proofs is the central goal of the course, you will be graded on the clarity of your writing.

You may discuss homework problems with other students, but you must write up your solution independently.

Grading

There will be 2 midterm exams and a final exam. Each midterm will count for 25% of your final grade. The final will count for 35% and the problem sets will count for 15%. The lowest two problem set grades will be dropped.
This course is prerequisite for all advanced theoretical courses in the department, particularly Math 313, 320 and 330. To receive a grade of C or better you must master the material in the course and be able to write proofs at a level where you are likely to be able to pass these more advanced courses.

Midterm 1: Friday October 12
Midterm 2: Friday November 16
Final Exam: Friday December 14 10:30-12:30

Problem Sets

Solutions are now found on the course Blackboard page

Practice Problems

Handouts and Useful Links





David Marker's homepage



Last Updated 12/7/12