INSTRUCTOR: Alex Voronov
OFFICE: VinH 324
PHONE: (612) 624-0355
E-MAIL ADDRESS: voronov@umn.edu. You are welcome to use e-mail to send questions to me.
CLASS WEB PAGE: All class announcements and assignments will be posted on the class homepage http://www.math.umn.edu/~voronov/5378s13 and NOT handed out in class.
OFFICE HOURS: Mon 10:10-11:00, Wed 11:15-12:05, Fri 2:30-3:20, or by appointment.
TEXT: Geometry from a Differentiable Viewpoint by John McCleary, 2nd edition, 2013. Available for purchase at the bookstore and online, and for free electronically through the library.
GOALS: This is an introductory course in differential geometry of curves and surfaces in space, including Frenet formula, theory of surfaces, differential forms, and Riemannian geometry. The course should prepare the student for studying more abstract methods in pure and applied mathematics as well as provide base for further study in geometry and areas of mathematics, science, and engineering which use substantial amounts of geometry.
COVERAGE (tentative): Chapters 5-7 and 8-13, 4, 7bis (Stereographic Projection only), and 14-15 of the textbook, as well as some lecture material on differential forms. Topics include: basic geometry of curves in space, Frenet formulas, surfaces, curvature, geodesics, metrics, the Gauss-Bonnet theorem, abstract surfaces, non-Euclidean geometry, manifolds, Riemannian geometry, and differential forms.
PREREQUISITES: Students should have some background in linear algebra and differentiable equations (as in Math 2373) and multivariable calculus (as in Math 2374). Experience with a proof-based class (such as Math 3283W) is strongly recommended.
GETTING HELP:
HOMEWORK: Homework will be collected at the beginning of each Wednesday class, and a random selection of problems graded. Late homework will be discouraged by assessing a penalty. We will be regularly discussing homework solutions in class. Also note that selected homework problems (or similar) may be given on tests. This is another reason why you should do homework during the week, rather than when the homework is due and, moreover, remember the ideas and techniques used in your solutions. Getting together with other students (that is, in study groups) is a very efficient way to do homework (and have fun and pizza), see also GETTING HELP above. However, everyone should work on every problem; a solution you get together with other students should be written down in your own words. Copying someone else's solution will be penalized.
MIDTERM EXAMS: There will be two hour-long midterm exams: Wednesday, March 6, and Wednesday, May 1. All tests are closed-book, closed-notes, no "cheat sheets", no calculators.
FINAL EXAM: The final exam will be given on Tuesday, May 14, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in VinH 1, our regular classroom.
MAKE-UP TESTS: There will be no make-up tests. However, early tests will be given, if you have a valid reason. If you miss an hour test for a valid reason, your grade on it will be determined by the final exam, prorated to 100 points.
GRADING POLICY: Grades will be assigned on a curve, using the following weights:
CALCULATOR POLICY: Calculators will neither be needed, nor allowed on any tests.
IMPORTANT DATES:
January 29 - Last day to register for a class without instructor
approval or drop a course and receive a 100% refund
February 4 - Last day to drop a course without receiving a "W" on
transcript and receive a 75% refund
March 6 - Midterm Exam I
March 18-22 - Spring break
May 1 - Midterm Exam II (and International Workers' Day)
May 10 - Last day of classes
May 14 - Final examination
Page created on 01/23/2013, minor spelling correction on 02/01/2013, SMART tutor info added 03/26/2013