Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Geometries , Third Edition, Marvin Jay Greenberg, W.H. Freeman and Company, 1993.
1:00 P.M. - 1:50 P.M. | Mon., Wed., and Fri. |
1:30 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. | Thursday |
I am also available for meetings at other times. In particular I expect to consistently be available from 3:00 to 3:30 on class days. If you have trouble meeting during office hours please make an appointment for a better time.
Examination One | Thursday February 12 |
Examination Two | Thursday March 11 |
Examination Three | Thursday April 8
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The primary goal of this course is for you to learn the basics of `mathematical reasoning' or `mathematical ways of knowing'. You will learn how mathematics addresses the related concepts of proof, communication, meaning, and truth. To provide contrast with mathematical methodology, your paper will examine how some other discipline (your major, minor or some other field of interest) approaches these same fundamental concepts. You can find examples of such papers at
math.ups.edu/~bryans/Current/journal_toc.html.
Clearly this material begs for entire books rather than a paper written in 2-4 weeks, so keep your topic focussed. The primary goal of the paper is for you to investigate how some other discipline deals (or doesn't) with such philosophical fundamentals as: proof, communication, or truth.
Due March 12: Last day to have a topic accepted. Merely turning in a topic on this date does not guarantee it will be accepted. You should meet with me before this to discuss possible topics. Don't wait until the last minute.
Due April 1: Turn in 3 copies of a draft of the paper (please print on both sides to save paper). I will distribute 2 of those copies to your referees. (This means each of you will referee two papers.) The referees will read the paper for accuracy, clarity of exposition and appropriateness for the Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics at Puget Sound as outlined in the Journal Guidelines for Authors (see the class web page for details).
Due April 15 Referees give their reports to authors.
Due April 22: Turn in the final version of the paper along with all referee comments. If the paper receives a passing grade, it will be published in the journal.
The author will receive a grade for the paper itself and the referees will receive grades for the quality of their comments.
Feel free to use (or not) any technology that you like (e.g., CABRI, Geometers Sketchpad, calculators, Mathematica, MATLAB, etc.). You may also work with others in solving these problems but there is to be no collaboration in the writing of the solutions. Moreover, you must cite each resource you use. This includes: technological tools, texts read, participants in discussions and anything else other than your own thoughts. Citations are to occur in the text proper (in-line) except for your list of discussants which should appear on the cover page. Do not use footnotes or endnotes except in exceptional circumstances. Remember, failure to include references is intellectual theft!
Homework | 45% |
Paper | 12% |
Referee Reports | 3% |
Examinations | 30% |
Final Examination | 10% |
and locate the Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics at Puget Sound ``Guidelines for Authors'' page. Then send an e-mail message to me at bryans@ups.edu indicating that you have an account, understand how to access the World Wide Web, and are aware of how to avoid mistakenly sending e-mail to Beverly Smith that is meant for Bryan Smith.