Math 346 Syllabus
Course:Number Theory
Term: Fall 2009
Time: TR 6:00-7:15
Location: Room Hyland 102
CRN: 10963
Instructor: Dr. Ken Monks
Office: STT163A
Phone: (570) 941-6101
Email: monks@scranton.edu
Office Hours: Can be seen on my
Schedule.
Required Textbooks (excerpts):
Andrews, George; Number Theory, Dover, 1st ed, ISBN:
0-486-68252-8
Course Prerequisites: a love and passion for math, and either
on proof based math course or permission of the instructor
Course Objective: To provide the student with an deep
understanding of the major topics Number Theory. This will be
accomplished by covering topics given in the book, notes, supplements,
or oral presentations by the instructor. Students should strive
to obtain a mastery of the subject matter by 1) developing both the
technical skill necessary to solve problems and 2) demonstrate a deeper
understanding of the underlying theory. The assignments and
activities will attempt to ascertain if each of these objectives have
been met.
Attendance Policy: Class attendance is required and highly
encouraged. Should you miss a class for any reason, you are still
responsible for all announcements made and all material presented
during that class.
Email and the Web: All students in this course are required
to have a university email account and are expected to check their
email frequently for announcements and other information I may send to
you. I will use email and the internet quite extensively in the course.
If you prefer to check your home email instead of your university email
you can forward your university email to you home account by following
these instructions. I
will not change your email address in my email address book from its
default university account so you must either read your university
email or forward it to your home account. Each student is also expected
to be able to access any information that I post on the world wide web
which is related to your course. You may access this information from
the mathematics department computer lab in STT161. Contact the Help
Desk in the computer center if you need assistance.
Grading and Homework: I will give you your homework
assignments in class. If you miss class you are still responsible for
doing your homework and finding out what it is.
There are several goals that each of you must achieve in the course.
You should be able to
- Learn number theory
- Read proofs and definitions
- Write handwritten informal solutions
- Write formal, typeset, rigorous mathematical proofs
- Do calculations and exercises
- Solve problems
- Discuss math with others
- Present math to others
- Ask interesting questions and investigate them
- Collaborate with others mathematically
To achieve these goals you will be expected to do the following:
Read the assigned sections of the book before coming to class (#1,#2).
Explain the proof of some theorem or definition in the reading
assignment, either in front of the group (#1,#8) or one on one with me
(#1,#7). Discuss the assigned textbook problems among yourselves and
discuss the solutions in class as a group (#1,#5,#6,#7,#10), then
divide the informal writeups between yourselves and write up informally
all of those that are assigned to you (#1,#3,#5), and formally
(#1,#4,#5) one problem per class. Formal writeups must be done in some
form of LaTeX (TeXnicCenter, MikTex, LyX, or Scientific
Notbook/Word/Workplace) must be a substantial proof, and not have a
solution in the back of the book. Earn bonus points by solving problems
in class as a group or individually (as indicated by the instructor)
and prepare to take the Putnam exam and GSUMC (#1,#6). Experiment with
calculations (by hand or computer or calculator) to generate
conjectures, and prove your conjectures (#1,#9).
Late Assignments: Don't even think about it. I have yet
to accept one and don't want to spoil my record. You will receive
no credit for late assignments. I also will not accept EARLY
assignments. Assignments must be handed in, in class, on the day
they are due, during the first three minutes of class. There are
NO exceptions. You may not place a
homework assignment under my office door or hand it to me in the hall
or mail it to me or have an uncle deliver it to my house. You can have
another student hand in your assignment for you during the first three
minutes of class on the day it is due if you cannot make it to class
for some reason.
Cheating: All work must be your own. If you do inadvertently
find the answer to a question somewhere else, you should attribute it
to the source, don't claim it as your own.
In cases where the solution to a homework problem is in the back of
the book you may not simply copy that solution, but should write your
own solution in your own words and symbols, even if you need to look at
the solution to see how it is done.
Any acts of cheating on assignments or exams which come to my
attention will be dealt with in the most severe manner possible under
University guidelines. Plus I will be really upset!
Remember that the best way to learn mathematics by doing it
yourself.
I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand
- Chinese Proverb
Schedule: We will attempt to cover the entire book. Since
there are 15 chapters in the book and roughly 14 weeks in the course,
that means we will try to cover about one chapter per week. Since the
chapter are usually about 2-4 sections each, we will try to cover about
two sections per class.
Adaptability: I retain the right to modify or change any of
the policies stated in this syllabus during the term if I feel it is in
the best interests of the students and the course.
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