2022 Fall Course Syllabus - Mathematics 3061.001
Course: Mathematics 3061.001.
Course Title: Modern Geometry I.
Credits: 3.
How this course will be taught: In person.
Time: TR 12:30-13:50.
Place: WACHMAN 0010.
Instructor: Boris A. Datskovsky.
Instructor Office: WACHMAN 632.
Instructor Email: boris.datskovsky@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: 215-204-7847.
Office Hours: TR 14:00-15:00 and 17:30-18:00.
Prerequisites: Math 2101, Linear Algebra, with a grade of C- or higher.
Course Materials: P.J. Ryan, Euclidean and Noneuclidean Geometry, An Analytic Approach, Cambridge University Press. The book is available at the Temple University bookstore with prices ranging from \$29.10 to \$65.99 It is also available online through Temple University Library.
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: Tuesday, October 11, Final: Thursday, December 8, 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.
Attendance and Your Health: To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to your instructors' requirements. However, if you feel unwell or if you are under quarantine or in isolation because you have been exposed to the virus or tested positive for it, you should not come to campus or attend in-person classes or activities. Students have the responsibility to contact their instructors to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as they are able to do so and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion when illness delays their completion.
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.
Disability Statement: 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 Howard Gittis Student Center South, Rm 420 (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.
Academic Freedom: 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 (opens in new tab/window).
Add/Drop Policy: Students will be charged for a course unless dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date. Check the University calendar (opens in new tab/window) 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).
Incomplete Policy: 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).
Student Support Services:
The following academic support services are available to students (all links open in a new tab/window):
The Math Consulting Center
Student Success Center
University Libraries
Undergraduate Research Support
Career Center
Tuttleman Counseling Services
Disability Resources and Services
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry and the Temple University
Emergency Student Aid Program are in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.