General Information

Lecture 1 place and time: MW 3:50-5:10 Physics P-117

Lecture 1 Professor: Alexander Kirillov, kirillov@math.sunysb.edu, Office: Math 3-112; tel. 632--8289. Office hours: Wed 11-12 in P-143 (Undergrad. Math. office), Thursday 1-3 in my office.

Grader: Arthur Popa, arthur@math.sunysb.edu, Office hours: Tu 4-6 in Math 2-122.

Text: An Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning: Numbers, Sets, and Functions, by Peter J. Eccles, Cambridge University Press, 1997.
Some weeks, you will be assigned readings from the Mathematics Department's Geometry Notes rather than from the textbook. These notes are available from this website as a free download, in PDF format.

Course outline: This course offers an introduction to mathematical reasoning and proofs. It is intended as a bridge between the loose, heuristic approach often used to teach elementary calculus, and the precise, formal style needed for upper-division mathematics courses.

Prerequisites: The prerequisites for this course are:

• a grade of A- or higher in
  • MAT 125, MAT 131, MAT 141, or AMS 151;
• or an average of B- or better in
  • MAT 125/126/127, MAT 131/132, MAT 141/142, or AMS 151/152;
• or a grade of C or higher in both
  • MAT 203, MAT 205 or AMS 261; and
  • MAT 211 or AMS 210;
• or permission of the instructor.

Homeworks: Two different kinds of homework problems will be assigned in this course.

Ungraded problems are not to be turned in, but you are expected to solve them carefully, in great detail; failure to so may result in an inability to understand the course material. Answers to these problems are usually contained in the back of your textbook. Don't peak, though! If you simply look up the answer before seriously trying to find the solution, the only person you will be cheating is yourself.

Homework sets, by contrast, will be typically assigned weekly and due on Monday in class. They will be posted on this web site. (NOT on blackboard site!) Late homework will not be accepted. However, grades for homework assignments may be dropped in cases of documented medical problems or similar difficulties.

Exams. The following is a tentative exam schedule

• Midterm 1: Wednesday, October 10 (in class)
• Midterm 2: Monday, November 19 (in class)
• Final exam: Wednesday, Dec. 19, 5:00pm-7:30pm

Makeup examinations. No make-ups will be given for missed midterms. However, if you miss an exam because of convincingly documented circumstances beyond your control, then, at the professor's discretion, the relevant score may be `dropped' in computing your course grade.

Grades. Grades will be based on the following scheme: Homework -- 15%; Midterms (two) 25% each; Final Exam 35%.

Disabilities. If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services, ECC (Educational Communications Center) Building, room 128, (631) 632-6748. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential. Note that we cannot make special arrangements for students with disabilities except for those determined by DSS.