Math 5335 (Geometry I)
TuTh 1:25 to 3:20 p.m.
Anderson Hall 310 (West bank campus)

Instructor: Professor Joel Roberts

• Vincent Hall 351
• 612-625-1076
• e-mail: roberts@math.umn.edu
• URL: http://www.math.umn.edu/~roberts
• Office hours
  • Tuesday 11:15 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. (and the hour after class, when needed)
  • Wednesday 12:20 to 2:15 p.m.
  • Thursday 10:10 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.
    Alternatively, if the established hours don't fit your schedule, please get in touch with me
    (612-625-1076 or roberts@math.umn.edu) to arrange a more convenient time.

Text:

• Geometry I, by B. Fristedt.    Available at Alpha Print, 1407 4th St. SE in Dinkytown, 612-379-8535.
• Online text supplements     [Linked here]

Class webpage: http://www.math.umn.edu/~roberts/math5335/
Check this page regularly for important information about the class. It will be updated frequently.

Subject matter:

1. Vector geometry, congruence, and isometries   [Chapters 1 and 2]
2. Triangles and other plane figures   [Chapters 3 and 4]
3. Classifying isometries   [Chapter 5]
4. Introduction to hyperbolic geometry   [Chapter 8]
5. The axioms of plane geometry   [Chapter 7]
6. A brief study of conformal mappings   [Part of Chapter 6]

Prerequisite:

• Math 2243 or Math 2373 or equiv. (Linear algebra and diff equations)
• Math 2263 or Math 2374 or equiv. (Multivariable calculus)
• Comment: For our purposes, the linear algebra topics are the most important material from Math 2243/2373.
  The most important material from Math 2263/2374 includes:
  • various vector algebra topics, and
  • material about tangent lines of curves [particularly curves given in parametric form], the angle between two curves, etc.
  To a somewhat lesser extent:
  • multivariable integration will be used in considerations about area -- mainly in hyperbolic geometry.
  Some material from single-variable calculus will be used when we discuss lengths of curves.

Required work and expectations:

• Workload: Since this is a 4 credit class, you should on plan on spending about 8 hours per week outside of class on work related to the course. This can include a first reading of the week's material before it is discussed in class -- in fact, that activity is highly recommended.
   
• Homework assignments: Weekly assignments, due at the beginning of class on Thursdays -- but homework won't be collected (a) during the first week of class and (b) during weeks when we have a test.
   
• Two midterm tests.   Tentative dates:
  1. Thursday, October 7  
  2. Thursday, November 11  
      
• Final exam:     
       Friday, December 17
       8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.     according to the official exam schedule
      

Grading policies

• The midterm tests will count for 40% of the grade.
• The final exam will count for 30% of the grade.
• Homework will count for 30% of the grade.

Other policies:

• Late homework will be accepted until the second class meeting after the due date [thus, usually 1 week], but usually will not be accepted after that time. We will likely, however, drop 1 or 2 missing assignments or else the 1 or 2 lowest homework assignment grades from the grade calculation.
   
• Exams must be taken on the scheduled date except for serious emergencies, for example illness that requires medical attention. If you anticipate some other type of schedule conflict on the date of an exam, please check with me well in advance.
   
• An Incomplete is given only when most of the required work for the course has been completed with passing grades and there is a reasonable expectation that the missing work can be made up.
   

The schedule of reading and homework is linked here.

Comments and questions to:  roberts@math.umn.edu

Back to  to the class homepage.