Math 492 - Junior-Senior Honors Seminar
|
 |
General Information (Catalog listing)
Undergraduate Mathematics Seminar
Reading, presentation, and discussion of mathematical topics.
This is an honors-level seminar. The topics discussed in the seminar vary from semester to semester. Minimal course prerequisites are linear algebra and multivariable calculus (math 250 and 251/291). Higher level courses such as math 350 (linear algebra II), 351 or 451 (algebra), or 356 (number theory) are helpful, but are not explicitly required.
Admission to the Junior-Senior Honors Seminar is by special permission. All students in the mathematics honors track are automatically admitted; other students are invited to participate in the seminar based on recommendations by mathematics faculty. The students in the seminar participate actively by contributing to discussions, making presentations in the seminar, and collaborating with other students in preparing talks.
Questions may be addressed to the director of the Honors Track, Simon Thomas.
Fall 2009 Schedule
This course is offered each Spring Semester.
Information will be available during the registration period, through the Honors Track or the Undergraduate Office.
Textbook and Syllabus
Textbook, syllabus, and content change each time the seminar is offered. See the individual course descriptions, or the current textbook list
Spring 2009 Title: Matrix groups, where geometry meets algebra
Description: Matrix groups form the backbone of many areas of modern mathematics, from string theory to Riemannian geometry and representation theory. Matrix groups bring together the power of algebra with the strength of geometry to form an amazing and beautiful subject. Possible topics for the seminar include: symmetries of the sphere, quaternions, topology of matrix groups, Lie algebras and Lie groups, matrix groups as manifolds, maximal tori, the classification of compact matrix groups, representation theory, and other topics as time and interest direct.
Textbook
Kristopher Tapp; Matrix Groups for Undergraduates, American Mathematical Society, 2005 (166 pp, softcover); (ISBN: 0-8218-3785-0; ISBN-13: 978-0-8218-3785-6)
Archives
Previous semesters:
- Prof. Carlen, Inequalities
Text: G. H. Hardy, J. E. Littlewood, and G. Pólya; Inequalities, Cambridge University Press, 1988 -
Prof. Woodward
Elementary Number Theory, Group Theory, and Ramanujan Graphs - Spring 2006, Professor Beck
- Spring 2005, Professors Tunnell and Woodward
- Spring 2004, Professors Goodman and Sahi
Notes
This seminar satisfies an honors track requirement.
There is also a U-seminar, for first or second year students.
Disclaimer: Posted for informational purposes only
This material is posted by the faculty of the Mathematics Department at Rutgers New Brunswick for informational purposes. While we try to maintain it, information may not be current or may not apply to individual sections. The authority for content, textbook, syllabus, and grading policy lies with the current instructor.
Information posted prior to the beginning of the semester is frequently tentative, or based on previous semesters. Textbooks should not be purchased until confirmed with the instructor. For generally reliable textbook information—with the exception of sections with an alphabetic code like H1 or T1, and topics courses (197,395,495)—see the textbook list.