Math 409: Geometry
Fall 2009
- Instructor: L. Peterson
- Phone numbers: 777-4609
(office), 795-8984 (home), 777-2881 (Mathematics office)
- E-mail
address: lawrence.peterson@und.edu
- Office: 322 Witmer Hall
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Office hours:
| Mondays: | 10:00-10:50 A.M.
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| Tuesdays: | 2:00-2:50 P.M.
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| Wednesdays: | 10:00-10:50 A.M.
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| Thursdays: | 2:00-2:50 P.M.
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| Fridays: | 10:00-10:50 A.M.
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These office hours do not apply
during university recesses, on Reading and Review Day, or during final
exam week. It is generally better for me if you come to see me during
my posted office hours rather than at other times. If necessary, we
can set up an appointment.
- URL for Web site: http://www.und.nodak.edu/instruct/lapeters.
I will post all of the assignments and most class announcements on the
Web site. Use of the Web site is optional.
- Section information: Section
1, class number 10627, 12:00 noon-12:50 P.M., MoWeFr,
Witmer Hall, Room 305
- Prerequisites: Math
208 (Discrete Mathematics) or Math 330 (Set Theory and Logic)
- Textbook: Euclidean and
Non-Euclidean Geometries: Development and History, Fourth
Edition, Marvin Jay Greenberg (New York: W. H. Freeman and
Company, 2008). The bookstores may run out of copies of the book.
In such cases, the stores may not order any more copies, unless you
talk to someone at the store and ask him or her to order a copy
specifically for you.
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Protractors and compasses: You will
not need a protractor or a compass for this course.
- Computers: There will be virtually
no need for a calculator in this course. You may not use
calculators on exams.
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Exams: There will be three midterm exams and
one final exam. The midterm exams will occur in class during regular
class periods. The final exam will be comprehensive with an emphasis
on the material that we cover after the third midterm. I will
announce firm exam dates in class.
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Homework: I will assign homework regularly,
collect it on announced due dates, and grade selected problems.
Unless I note otherwise, all assigned homework problems will come from
the "Exercises" and not from the "Review Exercises," the "Major
Exercises," or the "Projects." Feel free to discuss homework problems
with your classmates, but do not copy other people's solutions. A
file folder in the Mathematics Learning Center (rooms 310 and
312, Witmer Hall) will contain worked out solutions to past homework
problems. Feel free to photocopy these solutions.
- Late homework: Homework is due at
4:20 P.M. on the announced due date. I will accept late homework up
until 4:20 P.M. on the next business day following the announced due
date, but I will reduce the score for the assignment by approximately
50 percent in this case. If I am not in my office, you may leave
homework off with the secretary in the Mathematics Department office
(Room 313, Witmer Hall).
- Grading:
- Midterm exams: 60%
- Final exam: 25%
- Homework: 15%
- Grading scale: 90% A, 80% B,
70% C, 60% D
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Course content: We will use axioms, undefined terms,
definitions, and mathematical reasoning to prove geometric theorems.
We will cover as much of the first six chapters of the text as
possible. If time permits, we may also cover portions of Chapter 7.
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Nature of the course: Although part of the
purpose of Math 409 is to teach you something about geometry,
perhaps the main purpose is to help you to increase your ability to
perform mathematical reasoning. The knowledge of geometry that you
gain from this class is unlikely to provide you with much
direct help in becoming a better engineer or industrial worker;
you are probably already familiar with most of the geometry that you
will likely use in these types of careers.
- Nature of the homework: In many
introductory mathematics courses, the instructor often teaches
specific problem-solving techniques that apply to many problems of a
particular type. For example, in an elementary algebra course, the
teacher may explain how to divide polynomials and then assign
problems which ask the student to divide polynomials. For the most
part, Math 409 will not be like this. The assigned homework
problems may often seem to be somewhat different from the examples
we discuss in class. If you work diligently, however, it should be
possible to do most of the homework problems by using the
definitions, axioms, and theorems that you have seen in class or
read about in the textbook.
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Course objectives:
- To improve the ability to understand and write mathematical proofs.
- To improve the ability to deal with abstract mathematical and
logical concepts.
- To develop a stronger understanding of basic geometry.
- To learn something about the history of geometry, including
advances that have taken place in the last two hundred years.
- Disabilities and medical
information: If you have emergency medical
information to share with me, if you need special arrangements in
case the building must be evacuated, or if you need accommodations
in this course because of a disability, please make an appointment
with me. If you plan to request disability accommodations, please
register with the Disability Services for
Students (DSS) office (190 McCannel Hall, 777-3425 voice/TDD).
- Final exam: 1:00-3:00 P.M.,
Monday, December 14, 2009, in the usual classroom.
Links
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Lawrence J. Peterson home page
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Information on tutoring
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Mathematics Computer Lab home page
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Department of Mathematics home page
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University of North Dakota home page
Notes on Web Page
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Contact Person: Larry Peterson
E-mail: lawrence.peterson@und.nodak.edu
Phone: (701) 777-4609
Date of most recent update: 21 August 2009
University of North Dakota home page