Fall 2013 Course Syllabus - Mathematics 3061.001

Course: Mathematics 3061.001.
Course Title: Modern Geometry I.
Time: TR 12:30-13:50.
Place: BARTNB 405.
Instructor: Datskovsky, Boris A.
Instructor Office: WCHMAN 632.
Instructor Email: boris.datskovsky@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: 215-204-7847.
Office Hours: TR 2:00-3:00 or R 9:45-10:45.
Prerequisites: Math 2101 (0147), Linear Algebra, with a grade of C- or higher.
Textbook: P.J. Ryan, Euclidean and Noneuclidean Geometry, An Analytic Approach, Cambridge University Press.
Course Goals: This course will expose students to Euclidean, spherical, projective, and hyperbolic geometries in an analytic setting with an emphasis on metric and incidence properties of each of these spaces.
Topics Covered: Euclidean geometry: distance and parallel and intersecting lines. Spherical geometry: distance, lines and their intersection properties, spherical triangles, spherical trigonometry. Projective geometry: lines and their incidence properties, Desargues' Theorem. Hyperbolic geometry: lines and their incidence properties. If time allows, we will also discuss isometries in Euclidean and spherical geometries.
Course Grading: The grade will be based on a midterm, a final and weekly homework based quizzes. Each the midterm will count for 25% of your grade, the final for 35%, and homework quizzes for 40%.
Exam Dates: Midterm: Thursday, October 17, Final: Thursday, December 12, 10:30-12:30.
Attendance Policy: Regular attendance is expected. If you miss a class, please contact me by e-mail in order to find out what material you have missed and what homework problems have been assigned.
Homework: Homework will be assigned at the end of every class but will not be collected. Instead, I will begin each class by answering homework questions. Weekly quizzes will consist of slightly modified homework problems. Both exams will be based on the homework as well.
Numeric-to-Letter Grade Scale: 93-100 A, 90-92 A-, 87-89 B+, 83-86 B, 80-82 B-, 77-79 C+, 73-76 C, 70-72 C-, 65-69 D+, 55-64 D, 50-54 D-, 0-49 F.
Make Up Policy: Make ups for exams and quizzes will only be given in case of documented emergencies and only before the graded quizzes/exams are returned. In case of such an emergency, please contact me by e-mail as soon as possible.
Calculator Policy: Unless I tell you otherwise, no calculators are allowed on exams or quizzes.

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at (215) 204-1280, 100 Ritter Annex, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here.

Students will be charged for a course unless a withdrawal form is processed by a registration office of the University by the Drop/Add deadline date given below. For this semester, the crucial dates are as follows:

• The first day of classes is Monday, August 26.
• Labor Day is Monday, September 2.
• The last day to drop/add (tuition refund available) is Monday, September 9.
• Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 28.
• The last day to withdraw (no refund) is Tuesday, October 22.
• The last day of classes is Wednesday, December 4.

During the first two weeks of the fall or spring semester or summer sessions, students may withdraw from a course with no record of the class appearing on the transcript. In weeks three through nine of the fall or spring semester, or during weeks three and four of summer sessions, the student may withdraw with the advisor's permission. The course will be recorded on the transcript with the instructor's notation of "W," indicating that the student withdrew. After week nine of the fall or spring semester, or week four of summer sessions, students may not withdraw from courses. No student may withdraw from more than five courses during the duration of his/her studies to earn a bachelor's degree. A student may not withdraw from the same course more than once. Students who miss the final exam and do not make alternative arrangements before the grades are turned in will be graded F.

The grade I (an "incomplete") is reserved for extreme circumstances. It is necessary to have completed almost all of the course with a passing average and to file an incomplete contract specifying what is left for you to do. To be eligible for an I grade you need a good reason and you should have missed not more than 25% of the first nine weeks of classes. If approved by the Mathematics Department chair and the CST Dean's office, the incomplete contract must include a default grade that will be used in case the I grade is not resolved within 12 months.