2019 Fall Course Syllabus - Mathematics 2061.001
Course: Mathematics 2061.001.
Course Title: Euclidean Geometry.
Time: Directed reading course.
Place: Wachman Hall 512.
Instructor: Dumitru Dan Rusu.
Instructor Office: Wachman Hall 512.
Instructor Email: dumitru.rusu@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: 215-204-1654.
Course Web Page: Canvas
Office Hours: W 1:00 - 2:30 or by appointment.
Prerequisites: Math 1042 (Calculus II) with a grade of C or better or equivalent transfer credits for Math 1042.
Textbook: Kenneth Peng - Geometry Through Problems, 2017, ISBN 9781976079467. Lecture notes and various hand-outs will be provided by the instructor.
Course Goals: Since Euclid's The Elements, a book written around 300 BCE and used in mathematics instruction until the 20th century, geometry has been taught as a deductive science, with theorems and proofs. In the words of Ludwig Wittgenstein: "If you want to know what a mathematical proposition says, look at what its proof proves". By studying geometry students learn how to think, and how to develop and write mathematical proofs. Rather than trying to discuss in depth the subtleties of the axiomatic system and to cover many concepts, I will concentrate on the fundamental theorems and their consequences and adopt a problem solver's perspective on a variety of challenging questions. Therefore, the emphasis in this course will be placed on mathematical rigor, concepts, theorems, and their proofs.
Topics Covered: We will cover methods of proof, axiomatic system, basic definitions and facts, congruence, parallelism, metric relations, similarity, circles, geometric locus, concurrence, and vector geometry. If time permits, you will also be introduced to non-Euclidean geometries although we will only scratch the surface of these other geometries.
Course Grading: Your course grade will be computed according to the following scheme: Homework - 25%, Exam 1 - 25%, Exam 2 - 25%, Final Exam - 25%. Correspondence between the numerical and letter grades: 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.
Exam Dates: There will be two midterm exams: Exam 1- Wednesday, October 2, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM, Exam 2 - Wednesday, November 13, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM and a comprehensive Final Exam: Thursday, December 12, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. The midterms and the final will consist in problems similar to some of those of the homework.
Attendance Policy: You will need to dedicate at least 10 hours per week to this independent study course. Mathematics is not a spectator game and you are going to work hard consistently throughout the entire semester to be successful in this course. Mathematics can be only learned through practice. Be sure to allocate enough time to stay current and keep up with the assigned homework.
Homework: A substantial portion of your learning in this course will take place through homework, and for this reason it is essential that you be conscientious about doing them. Almost every week, I will give you a homework assignment consisting of selected homework problems that I will collect and grade. While you may discuss the assignment with a classmate, you are not supposed to copy it or share it with the classmate. In other words, your final submission of the assignment for grading must be based on your own work and efforts.
Drawing Tools: In this course, you will not only calculate but will be compelled to draw lots and lots of pictures. Geometry is something for everybody and being able to visualize is as important as being able to reason or to calculate. Using a straightedge, a compass, and unlined paper is highly recommended. If after a while you will be able to make your judgements using imperfect figures done by hand, that would be great. Using mathematics software like GeoGebra can also be useful since it allows to quickly draw flexible, accurate pictures that can be easily modified, facilitating further investigation and experimentation. You can download the free of charge GeoGebra on your computer or work on it online: https://www.geogebra.org/geometry?lang=en.
Exam Security Policy: We have a zero tolerance policy for cheating on the tests. Any student caught cheating will receive a score of 0 on the test and will be reported to the Student Code of Conduct Board. All electronic devices such as cell phones, computers, or smart watches items must be turned off and stowed away and out of sight for the duration of the exam. Any student found with such a device during an exam will not be allowed to complete the test and will receive a score of 0 for the test, and will be reported to the Student Code of Conduct Board. In addition, under no circumstances, will students be allowed to bring in any kind of papers for use during the exam. Should a student need extra paper during a test, he / she should ask the instructor to provide it. Any student found using papers that they themselves brought into the exam will not be allowed to complete the exam and will receive a score of 0 for the test.
Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) in 100 Ritter Annex (drs@temple.edu; 215-204-1280) to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential.
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 dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date. Check the University calendar for exact dates.
During the Drop/Add period, students may drop a course with no record of the class appearing on their transcript. Students are not financially responsible for any courses dropped during this period. In the following weeks prior to or on the withdrawal date students may withdraw from a course with the grade of "W" appearing on their transcript. After the withdrawal date students may not withdraw from courses. Check the University Calendar (Opens in new tab/window) for exact dates. See the full policy by clicking here. (Opens in new tab/window)
The grade "I" (an "incomplete") is only given if students cannot complete the course work due to circumstances beyond their control. It is necessary for the student to have completed the majority of the course work with a passing average and to sign an incomplete contract which clearly states what is left for the student to do and the deadline by which the work must be completed. The incomplete contract must also include a default grade that will be used in case the "I" grade is not resolved by the agreed deadline. See the full policy by clicking here. (Opens in new tab/window)