Bridge to Abstract Mathematics --MGF 3301-001

Fall Semester 2002--TR 10:00-11:50  PHY 118

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INSTRUCTOR: W. Edwin Clark
   Office: PHY 326 A
   Office Hours: TR 2:00 to 3:25. (Also, immediately after class or by appointment.)
   Email: eclark@math.usf.edu ( If you need to contact me, email is the best way.  I read my email frequently from home as well as from the office. Voice mail is not as likely to reach me. )
   Homepage: http://www.math.usf.edu/~eclark/  (This syllabus will be on my homepage in case you lose it. You may also go there if you are curious about my research and academic genealogy.)

TEXT: Bridge to Abstract Mathematics by Oberste-Vorth and Mouzakitis.  After August 21, 2002, the text can be obtained from Pro-Copy,  5219 E. Fowler Ave. (adjacent to Publix) , for the cost of reproduction and binding.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  An introduction to the axiomatic nature of mathematics through topics in areas such as set theory, algebra and calculus. The rigor of precise definitions, theorems and proofs will be emphasized. It is  not possible to cover all the topics in the assigned text in one semester.  Students will be responsible for material presented in class as well as problems assigned for homework and material assigned for reading.
 

HOMEWORK POLICY: Homework will be assigned frequently. Students will be responsible for knowing how to work correctly all assigned problems. Homework will be collected each Tuesday unless otherwise announced in class. All assigned problems will be collected, but only a few randomly selected problems will be graded. Students should ask in class about problems they are unsure of -- after the homework has been graded. If a given problem is not solved completely significant effort shown on the homework paper will count for full credit.Such effort includes writing down of all definitions involved in the statement of the problem, writing down all previous material related to the statement of the problem,  and working out a number of typical examples related to the problem. Late homework will not be aqccepted, however, I will drop the two lowest homework grades.
 

DATES of EXAMS and QUIZZES:

    Tuesday Quizzes:  On each Tuesday, unless there is a holiday, a quiz will be given at the beginning of class.  This quiz will cover definitions and statements of named theorems presented in class any time prior to the quiz. The quizzes will also cover examples from class and simple computations that will be easy for those doing their homework. There will be no makeups for student who are late or fail to take a quiz. However, I will drop the lowest  2 quiz grades .

    Exam 1: Tuesday, September 24
    Exam 2: Thursday,  October 24
    Exam 3: Tuesday, December 3
    Final Exam: Thursday, December 12, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM

COURSE GRADES:  I will calculate the average of the grades on the Tuesday Quizzes, Homework, Exams 1, 2 and 3. Your course grade will be based on the maximum of this average and your Final Exam grade.  Instead of having makeup exams, the Final Exam will serve as a makeup of any of the missed other exams. I will use the following scale to assign plus/minus letter grades

98-100 = A+, 93-97 = A, 90-92 = A-,
88-89 = B+, 83-87= B, 80-82 = B-,
78-79 = C+, 73-77 = C, 70-72=C-,
68-69 = D+, 63-67 = D, 60-62 = D-,
0-59 = F.

IMPORTANT DATES:

SPECIAL NOTICES: