MA 225-003

Foundations of Advanced Mathematics

Mathematics

MA 225-003 Home Page

Semester: Fall 2004
Meeting time: MWF 12:25 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Meeting place: HA 272

Name: Stephen Schecter
E-mail address: schecter@math.ncsu.edu
Office location: HA 349
Office hours: 9:10 - 10:00 a.m. MTWHF
Office telephone number: 515-6533
Office fax number: 515-3798

Students will
1. Learn to use the basic language of mathematics (logic, sets, relations, functions).
2. Learn to outline, write and criticize mathematical proofs about numbers, sets, functions, and cardinality.

MA 241 or equivalent.

Smith, Eggen and St. Andre, A Transition to Advanced Mathematics, 5th edition (ISBN: 0-534-38214-2), $100.95.

• Chapter 1: All sections (3-4 weeks)
• Chapter 2: Sections 2.1-2.5 (3-4 weeks)
• Chapter 3: Sections 3.1 and 3.2 (1-2 weeks)
• Chapter 4: Sections 4.1-4.3 (2-3 weeks)
• Chapter 5: Sections 5.1-5.3 (2-3 weeks)

The final exam is Monday, December 6, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., in the usual room.

Students are expected to arrive on time, to contribute to group work and class discussions, and to stay until the class ends. Attendance at all meetings of the class is expected. We will take attendance beginning Monday, August 23. Attendance records are used to answer questions from University administrators and academic advisors; they are not used for grading.

I will assign homework regularly to be turned in and graded. If you miss class please check the homework page.

Please feel free to discuss homework all you want with other students or with me. However, you should write up your solutions yourself. You should not copy them. (Duh.)

Please see the University guidelines on academic integrity (Code of Student Conduct, items 7 through 13).

I sometimes send e-mail to the class. E-mail goes to the address you have given to the University. To see what this address is, go to the University OnLine Directory and look yourself up. If that is not the e-mail address you want, there is a link that lets you change it.

WebCT can be used for on-line discussions about the course, and to check your grades.

To log in to WebCT, go to http://webct.ncsu.edu, log in, and click on MA 225-003. Then click on "Discussions" or "My grades."

If you click on "Discussions," you will see a list of discussion topics, and you will see if there are any messages you have not read. You can post messages under the various topics, read messages, and reply to messages. Only people in our class have access to these messages.

You can use the topic "About us" to introduce yourself to the class. The topic "All" includes all the messages from all the topics.

Apparently only the instructor can create new topics. If you would like a topic added, send me an email.

Some suggestions about messages:


• When you compose a message, try to give it a subject that helps people decide if they want to read it. The subject should not be "Re: previous message" if a different subject would be clearer.
• The compose window has an equation editor to help you type mathematics.
• If you post a message that you later regret, let me know. I can delete it.

Some suggestions about WebCT:


• WebCT pages have help buttons at the upper right.
• The managers of WebCT suggest that you not use your browser's back and forward buttons within WebCT.
• There is much helpful information at http://webct.ncsu.edu.

There will be three tests and a final exam. If you miss a test, I will need a letter documenting the reason. Makeup tests can only be given for reasons such as illness, family emergency, participation in a University-sponsored event, required court attendance or military duty, or religious observances as certified by the Department of Student Development.

If you know you will be absent on a test date, you must clear the absence with me in advance and schedule a makeup date. In the case of an unanticipated absence on a test date, you must give me documentation and schedule a makeup date as soon as possible. See the University policies.

• Homework counts 10% of your grade.
• Each in-class test counts 20% of your grade.
• The final counts 30% of your grade.

The NC State policy on working with students with disabilities can be found here.

Tutoring in MA 225 may be available through the Undergraduate Tutorial Center. Send e-mail to Barbara_Windom@ncsu.edu.

NC State home page