Math 170 Ideas in Mathematics: Metamathematics
Summer 2006 Session I (May 16 - June 23)
Course Details |
Instructor: | |
Asher Auel
auela AT math.upenn.edu |
Time: | | MTWR 4:20-6:30 pm |
Location: | | DRL 4C4 |
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Office: | | DRL 3E2 |
Phone: | | (215) 898-8175 |
Office hours: | | TBA
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Text: | | Douglas R. Hofstadter,
Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid. |
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Lecture and reading schedule
Homework and solutions page
Policies
(or otherwise the small print)
- Work:
Homework: Bi-weekly homework assignments will be due at the
beginning of class each Tuesday and Thursday starting May 18th, and
will be posted on my website 4-6 days
before they are due. If you cannot get the homework to me by the
beginning of class on the due date, please contact me ahead of time to
make other arrangements (for example, like emailing it to me if you're
trapped on a desert island with internet access.)
Homework must be stapled and with your name clearly written on the
top. Consider the pieces of paper you turn in as a final copy:
written neatly and straight across the page, on clean paper, with nice
margins, lots of space, and well organized. If I can't read it, I
won't grade it. I highly recommend that you get into the habit of
playing around with the problem for a while then working out all your
solutions on scratch paper, and then writing up your final
copy. This way you can avoid erasing whole pages. If your
handwriting is naturally illegible, then type up your papers, as you
would for your English class. Where appropriate, write in paragraphs,
complete sentences, and English words, complete with punctuation and
transitional words and phrases to clearly delineate your thoughts and
flow of idea.
Final Paper: Near the end of the course, I'll announce the
possible topics for a final paper.
Late Homework: I do not accept late homework, where late is
defined as after I have finished grading it. Please don't abuse this
system. Religious obligations, severe illness, and family emergencies
are valid excuses, to the extent that your length of absence will not
disqualify you from receiving a passing grade in the course.
- Grade breakdown
homework | 50% |
class particip. | 30% |
final paper | 20% |
extra credit | + |
This course is not graded on a curve! Class participation includes
attending class and, more importantly, contributing to in-class
discussion. Keeping on track with the readings will help with this.
Extra credit problems will appear throughout the course and may be
handed in at any time, some will be fun and others may be quite subtle
and/or challenging.
- Group work, honestly
Working with other people on mathematics is not only allowable, but is
highly encouraged and fun. You may work with anyone
(absolutely anyone) on your homework problems. If done right, you'll
learn the material better and more efficiently working in groups. The
golden rule is:
you may work with anyone on solving your homework problems,
but you must write up your final draft by yourself.
Writing up the final draft is as important a process as figuring out
the problems on scratch paper with your friends. Mathematical writing
is very idiosyncratic - I will be able to tell if papers have been
copied - just don't do it! You will not learn by copying solutions
from others! Also, if you work with people on a particular
assignment, please list your collaborators somewhere on the top of the
paper. Make the process fun, transparent, and honest.
Links: | | |
Kurt Gödel links
M.C. Escher links
J.S. Bach links
Douglas R. Hofstadter/GEB links
Mathematics Department links
Math Help Resources
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