Mathematics 300: Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning

Rutgers University, Spring 2008

Anders Buch (asbuch at math dot rutgers period edu)

Section 01: TF2, Tuesday and Friday 10:20 AM - 11:40 AM in ARC-110
Section 03: TF3, Tuesday and Friday 12:00 PM - 1:20 PM in SEC-205

UPDATE:

The deadline for Homework #4 has been extended until Friday 2/29.

Course web site:

http://sites.math.rutgers.edu/~asbuch/reason_s08/

Text:

Smith, Eggen, and Andre, A Transition To Advanced Mathematics, Brooks/Cole, 2001 (6th ed.)

Office Hours:

Tuesday 1:30-2:30 and Friday 1:30-2:30 in Hill Center 234.

Grading:

Midterm 1, Tuesday, February 26 in class, 20%
Midterm 2, Tuesday, April 8 in class, 20%
Final exam, see below, 40%
Weekly Homeworks, 20% total.

Final exam:

Section 03 (TF3): Thursday May 8, 2008 at 12pm-3pm in SEC 205
Section 01 (TF2): Wednesday May 14, 2008 at 4pm-7pm in ARC 110
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The final exam will cover chapters 1-5 in the textbook.
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To prepare for the final, I suggest doing the following:
1) Read through the book and think about what you read. Make sure you know what definitions and theorems say. And make sure you know when they apply. For example, a function can be bijective, but it does not make sense to ask if two sets are bijective. Use the examples as a way to check that you understood the statements of theorems and definitions correctly; if unexpected things happen in an example, it may be because you didn't understand a theorem or definition that it uses. Make sure you can formulate the theorems and definitions yourself without looking in the book, and without memorizing the exact phrasing used in the book. (I.e. know what they mean and how to express that.) As always, logical symbols are preferred.
2) IMPORTANT: Review the two midterms. MAKE SURE you know EXACTLY how to solve all the problems there to PERFECTION! Even better, redo the problems from the midterms without looking at your earlier answers, then compare afterwards. Follow the template for writing proofs that I explained in class after the 2nd midterm.
3) IMPORTANT: Review the homework problems. Make sure you at least know EXACTLY how to solve the problems that were graded. Even better, redo the problems, especially the ones that were graded.

Math 300 Clinic:

Wednesdays 8-9:30 pm in ARC 332.
Instructor: Raul Furnaguera

Midterm 2:

The approximate scores-to-grades table is as follows:

D < 18 ≤ C < 25 ≤ B < 49 ≤ A

Homework Policy:

1) Late homework is not accepted.

2) It is fine to discuss the problems with others, but writeups must be individual. If you have received help for solving a problem, then cite your source(s).

Homework assignments will appear on the course web site.

Assigned homework sets:

Homework set 1 due February 1 in class.
Homework set 2 due February 8 in class.
Homework set 3 due February 15 in class.
Homework set 4 due February 29 in class.
Homework set 5 due March 7 in class.
Homework set 6 due March 14 in class.
Homework set 7 due March 28 in class.
Homework set 8 due April 4 in class.
Homework set 9 due April 18 in class.
Homework set 10 due TUESDAY April 29 in class.