Math 2702-001 – Introduction to Proofs and Fundamentals of Mathematics

Spring  2008

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”

-Sir Winston Churchill

 

Course Description:  This course is intended to equip students with the skills to write quality proofs and write them well.  Topics include Logic, algebra of sets; forms of proof including mathematical induction; elementary combinatorics including the binomial theorem; paradoxes, basic number theory, cardinality and more.

Prerequisite:              MATH 1910 (Calculus I)

Textbook:                   Mathematical Thinking: Problem-Solving and Proofs, 2nd edition (ISBN 0-13-014412-6)  

John P. D’Angelo and Douglas B. West

Course Content:        We will attempt to cover material from chapters 1-8 and 10-14

as well as bits from the remaining chapters.

Meeting Times:         MWF 9:10-10:05

Location:                    Dunn Hall room 231

Instructor:                  Jeffrey Wheeler

Office:                         Dunn 312

Office Hours:             MWF 9:15-10:15 or by appointment.

Email:                         jpwheelr@memphis.edu

Webpage:                   http://jeffreypaulwheeler.com/

Office Phone:             678-1684 (please call sparingly; I share the office with others)

Evaluation:                 Midterm Examination.……………………..…………100

                                    Final Examination…………………………………….150

                                    Unannounced quizzes; collected homework….…….....300

                                                                                                                Total: 550

Grade

Percent

A

93

A-

90

B+

87

B

83

B-

80

C+

77

C

73

C-

70

D+

67

D

60

F

<60

 

 

                                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homework:                This course is a naturally homework-intensive course.  Expect a

high volume of homework.  Additionally, start your home work early;

this will enable you to ask questions and give you time to write your

proofs.  This class is essentially a composition course; you will be doing much writing.  Note that late homework will be severely penalized.

Midterm Exams:       We will have this exam about half way through the semester.  The

date will be announced at least one week in advance.

Calendar:                   First day of classes: Monday, January 14

                                    Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (University closed): Monday, January 21

                                    Last day to withdraw without receiving a “W”: Friday, January 27

                                    Spring Break: Monday, March 3 – Sunday, March 9

                                    Last day of classes: Wednesday, April 23

                                    Study Day: Thursday, April 24

                                    Cumulative Final Exam: Friday, April 25 10:30am-12:30pm

 

Please be sure to read each the following :

 

Email 101:                   Please be aware that you are writing me, the teacher of your mathematics course at a major university, and not text messaging a friend.  The opening of the email should be something of the order of “Dear” or “Mr.”, etc.  As well, please note that “you” is spelled “y-o-u”, not “u”, and are is spelled “a-r-e”, not “r”.  Proper grammar and punctuation are expected; you are university students, not middle-schoolers.  Lastly, please be sure to close your correspondence by stating your name.  It absolutely amazes me how many people email me and expect a response but do not tell me who they are.

Grades 101:                 No one has ever been put on probation because of a single bad grade.  Academic Probation is the result of bad grades, not a bad grade.

                                   

                                    Extra credit assignments are rare (i.e. we will not have any). 

 

                                    Also, the time to improve your grade is now.  You have 15+ weeks to earn your grade.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONTACT ME when the semester is over and ask me if you can do extra credit to improve your grade.

Academic Misconduct:

                                    The following has been borrowed from the University’s faculty handbook:

            “The University of Memphis Code of Student Conduct defines academic misconduct as all acts of cheating and plagiarism. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:

  • using any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes or tests
  • using sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments
  • acquiring tests or other academic material before such material is revealed or distributed by the instructor
  • misrepresenting papers, reports, assignments or other materials as the product of a student's sole independent effort
  • failing to abide by the instructions of the proctor concerning test-taking procedures
  • (examples include laughing, failure to take a seat assignment, failing to adhere to starting and stopping times, or other disruptive activity)
  • influencing, or attempting to influence, any university employee in order to affect a
  • student's grade or evaluation
  • any forgery, alteration, unauthorized possession, or misuse of University documents
  • pertaining to academic scores, including late or retroactive "drop slips" and withdrawal application forms.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full or clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.

Disciplinary Process

Faculty, teaching assistants, and staff are encouraged to contact Student Judicial and Ethical Programs if they suspect dishonesty to discuss various responses under University policies. See also the Code of Student Conduct in the Student Handbook at http://www.memphis.edu/.stuhand2/. As a first step, a faculty member may meet with the student to determine if an actual violation has occurred. Faculty may also take the following actions.

Request for hearing

A faculty member who has good cause to believe a student has engaged in academic miscon­duct may request a hearing of the allegation of academic misconduct by contacting the chair of the Academic Discipline Committee or the University judicial officer. A student found guilty of academic misconduct by the Academic Discipline Committee may be awarded a grade of "F" for the course, assignment, or examination at issue, and is also subject to additional disciplin­ary sanctions including suspension or expulsion. A hearing before the Academic Discipline Committee is conducted under the procedures provided in the Code for Student Conduct. The committee members are faculty and students appointed annually by the president.

Summary Discipline

A faculty member who has good cause to believe that a student has engaged in academic misconduct may choose to exercise summary discipline as outlined below.

A student's grade in the course, assignment, or examination affected by the alleged academic misconduct may be lowered to any extent, including a grade of "F."

If a faculty member exercises summary discipline, the faculty member must notify the appropriate department chair of the action. The department chair will notify the student of the action in writing and advise the student of the right to appeal the summary discipline to the Academic Discipline Committee.

Student Appeal of Summary Discipline: a student may appeal an exercise of sum­mary discipline by a faculty member to the Academic Discipline Committee.

Multiple Acts of Academic Misconduct

Any student who receives more than one "F" as a result of summary discipline by a faculty member may be summoned to appear before the Academic Discipline Committee and may be subject to additional sanctions, including suspension or expulsion. A decision of the Academic Discipline Committee may be appealed by the student to the University Appeals Committee.

Sanctions

In addition to receiving a lower grade on an assignment or in the course, the following sanctions may be imposed by the Academic Discipline Committee upon any student found to have engaged in academic dishonesty.

  • Probation. Probation is for a designated period of time and includes the probability of more severe disciplinary sanctions if the student is found to be violating any institutional regulation(s) during the probationary period.
  • Loss of Privileges. Denial of specified privileges for a designated period of time.
  • Discretionary sanctions. Work assignments, service to the University or other related discretionary assignments.
  • University suspension. Separation of the student from the University for a definite period of time, after which the student is eligible to return. Conditions for readmission may be specified.
  • University expulsion. Permanent separation of the student from the University.”

Please do not put me in a situation where I have to deal with this.  Be smart – do not even give the appearance of cheating.

Student Evaluations: You are encouraged to read former students evaluations at http://www.ratemyprofessors.com.  Please be aware that I have evaluations at

·        The University Of Memphis

·        Rhodes College

·        The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Advice:     I will close with the following advice.  If you wish to do well in my class, then you will

·        Come to class

·        Do all your homework (“all” means all)

·        Ask questions when you have them