This book, and the accompanying license to use the associated online materials,
is available from the bookstore. Note that the same book is used in math 170,
but we will be using the online materials associated with the book while math
170 does not. We will be also use
material from the web to look at the topics in course text from a more advanced
mathematical point of view. I would strongly recommend that you get
an account on Gigapedia. This is an
amazing site for downloading texts of all kinds, including many mathematical
texts which are by now almost impossible to obtain in print. One of the first
assigments is to practice using this; see the September 8 entry of
the Current homework and lecture schedule. Here is
some additional advice about how to use the Gigapedia web site:
- Once you've registered to use Gigapedia, your can search for book using the search window
at the upper right corner of the Gigapedia web page. I would recommend setting the
search domain to "gigapedia" using the tab just to the left of the search window. The
other options tend not to lead to useful results.
- If your search is successful, you will see a window with a picture of the book
and the "comments" tab highlighted. Click on the "links" tab just to left of the "comments"
tab to find a number of sites from which you can download copies of the book.
- You may need to download some plug-ins to see some formats in which the
books are available, e.g. the djvu plug-in, but this is usually straightforward.
- Some of the downloading services create time delays in order to try to
convince users to pay for premium services (which are not in fact very expensive).
To avoid such delays, try downloading at times that are not likely to be popular with other users.
Syllabus:
Game theory, linear programming, probability theory, statistics, geometry and number theory.
Electronic and web resources:
We will be using several different kinds of software to talk about course material.
If you have time, it would be a good idea to try out some of the software below
before we use it in class, if you don't already use it on a regular basis. In some
cases, I would appreciate it if you could send me the information I will need
to contact you, as described below.
- We'll use Skype during
online office hours as well as during course podcasts. It's possible to carry
on a conference call with 24 people on Skype, and we have 22 class members
at the moment. So we can in fact have a conference call which includes everyone in class.
Please send an e-mail to me at ted@math.upenn.edu with your Skype name so
that I can put you on conference calls. If you think there may be times when it would be more
convenient to reach you by phone, please also send a phone number I can use.
- From time to time, I will put both streaming and downloading video on
the web. For example, if I have to be out of town for a particular class, I will
put a video on the web and I will run a simultaneous Skype conference
at our regular class time for a discussion of the video as people watch this.
We can experiment with the chat function on Skype, as well as with periodic
pauses of the video for discussions.
- During conference calls, I will be using an online white board
available from skrbl.com. Have a look at this sample
white board. Feel free to write a message on the white board to test it!
(PG-13 messages only, please.) At the start of a conference call I will
send out the address of the whiteboard we will be using that day.
Everyone should be able to write and to draw pictures on the whiteboard.
Office hours:
By appointment and by Skype in the evenings.
How to make attending lectures efficient:
Before each lecture, check the
current homework and lecture schedule,
and read the appropriate parts ot the text. After each lecture, you should review your lecture notes,
reread the corresponding sections of the book and solve related
homework problems.
Homework:
Homework will be due at the beginning
of the lecture on Monday, after which it will be graded and returned.
I will try to have a lead time of at least 10 days between
the time homework is assigned and the time it is due.
You are encouraged to get help with the homework, and work together on it.
Just copying someone else's work of course does little good to anyone,
but cooperative effort and discussion of problems can be very effective
in learning mathematics. A good procedure is to try the work first on
your own and then go over it with others. Each student must hand in their
own homework.
The first HW will be due Wednesday, Sept. 15.
Exams:
There will be a mid-term exam on Friday, October 8. You will know
how you did on this exam before Penn's drop date of October 15.
The final exam is scheduled by the registrar for Thursday,
Dec. 16, from 12 to 2 p.m.. The room where the exam will
be given
will by publicized later.
Writing project:
During the semester, I will be posting suggestions
about articles and mathematical papers you might find interesting. You'll eventually work with a group of other
students on a project based on one of these papers or a topic
you find yourself. Your group will make a presentation to
the class about your project and also write a paper about this. This is a great
opportunity for you to study a subject in more depth,
and to try doing some research on your own!
Getting help:
You are very welcome to arrange a time to meet with me either in math department
or online.
Approximate Grading Weights:
50% -- Homework
15% -- Midterm exam Friday, Oct. 8, in class.
15% -- Writing project
20% -- Final (cumulative), Dec. 16, 12 - 2 p.m., place TBA
Here are some number
theory links:
A terrific link about the Golden Ratio and Fibonacci numbers!
Euclid's Elements
The Prime Page
Survey article by Peter Shor on quantum computing
Last updated: 9/4/10
Send e-mail comments to: ted@math.upenn.edu
Math. Dept. Undergraduate Program Information
Announcements as of 10/1/10
Current homework and lecture schedule
Possible Term Projects
Homework
Course Guide