Math 303, History of Mathematics
(2:20-3:35 MW in N-102)


Final exam: The final is at 3-5 on Mon, 5/12 in N101 (note this is the room next to our usual classroom). It is a comprehensive exam and covers Chs. 4.1-4 and 1.1-2 in MI and Chs 1-4, 6 (only pp . 133-142 of Ch 6.) in JTG.

Syllabus: Here is the syllabus.

Online resources:
 Textbook: Mathematical Ideas by Miller, Heeron, Hornsby is available online.

Homework: Remember that you do not have to turn in the HW. However you should keep up with it. This is why we have target dates. You should have completed your HW by the target date and have it in a form that you would be confident relying on at the next exam. You can of course come back to it and revise it afterwards. MI stands for Mathematical Ideas, JTG stands for Journey through Genius. All exercises are from MI.

Assigned
 Target date Read
 Exercises
1/23
 1/30
 MI 4.1, 2
JTG Ch. 1
 4.1.18, 23, 29-32, 38-40, 48, 51, 52
1/30
 2/6
 MI 4.3, 4
 4.2.13, 14, 21-24, 36, 37, 47-50
4.3.15, 21, 22, 24, 36-39, 68, 69
2/6
 2/13
 MI 1.1, 2
 4.4.4, 5, 8 (don't worry about associativity in 4, 5, and 8), 15-20, 23-26, 28
2/13
 2/20
 MI 1.1, 2
 4.4.11-14, 21, 22, 27
2/20
 2/27
 MI 1.1, 2
 No exercises from MI this week. Review all the constructions and proofs we did from JTG. Don't just read about them. Try doing them on your own without looking at the book. If you put these in your homework notes, you'll be able to use them during the first half of the exam.
2/27
 3/5
 MI 1.1, 2
JTG Ch. 2
 No new exercises this week. Just do the reading.
3/5
 3/12
 MI 1.3
JTG Ch. 2
 1.1.25-28, 32, 36, 42, 47, 55, 59
1.2.9, 10, 33, 51, 53
3/12
 3/19
 JTG Ch. 2
 1.1.40, 48, 60
1.2.14, 16, 35, 36, 42, 52, 54
3/19
 3/26
 JTG Ch. 2, 3
 Start working on the presentation project. Teams and topics are due on Wed, 3/26.
3/26
 4/9
 JTG Ch. 3
 No new exercises. Work on your presentations and learn the Euclidean constructions and proofs of the propositions in Ch. 2 of JTG. You are responsible for understanding and knowing all of those presented in the book, not only the ones we did together in class. Otherwise, enjoy spring break!
4/14
JTG Ch. 3
 Start working on the paper.
4/16
 4/23
 JTG Ch. 3
 No new exercises. Get your presentation all polished and start doing research for your paper.
4/23
 4/30
 JTG Ch. 4
 No new exercises. Work on your paper. The deadline is getting close.
4/30
 5/7
 JTG Ch. 6, 7
 No new exercises. Finish writing your paper. It is due at 7 PM on 5/5.

The problem of the fortnight: The Mathematics Department in San Diego posts a new fun problem every two weeks.  If you'd like to submit a solution, give it or e-mail it to me, so that I can fax them all together to San Diego. Winners receive prizes.

Sample exam questions: Here are some sample questions for the exams. These are not the only questions that could be on the exam, but they should give you an idea of the type of questions I can ask.
Exam solutions:
 Useful links: The links below lead to sites with encyclopedias of math terms.  You can use them to find definitions, examples, and some theorems.
Some scholarship opportunities for prospective teachers: