Announcements


Mathematics 220 (Mathematical Proof), Fall 2013

Lecture times and locations: Lecturer: Prof. I. Laba (Section 101) Lecturer: Prof. A. Nachmias (Section 102) The best way to contact instructors is by email. Please note that email received on evenings and weekends will be answered on the next business day.

Prerequisites: Either (a) a score of 64% or higher in one of MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 105, SCIE 001 or (b) one of MATH 121, MATH 200, MATH 217, MATH 226, MATH 253, MATH 263.

Course web page: http://www.math.ubc.ca/~ilaba/teaching/math220_F2013

Homework assignments are posted here.

Workshop problems with solutions are posted here.

Textbook: Gary Chartrand, Albert D. Polimeni and Ping Zhang: "Mathematical Proofs - A Transition to Advanced Mathematics", 3rd ed., Pearson / Addison Wesley, 2013. ISBN 978-0-321-79709-4.

Course goals: To learn how to construct and write mathematical proofs, with strong emphasis on clarity and mathematical rigour. Specific topics will include: This list is somewhat provisional and may be adjusted as needed.

Your course mark will be based on homework (15%), workshop participation (5%), the midterm exam (30%), and the final exam (50%). The grades may be slightly scaled at the end of the course.

Examinations: There will be one in-class 50-minute midterm scheduled on Monday, October 21, and a 2.5 hour final exam in December. The date of the final examination will be announced by the Registar later in the term. Attendance at the final examination is required, so be careful about making other committments (such as travel) before this date is confirmed. All examinations will be strictly closed-book: no formula sheets, calculators, or other aids will be allowed.

Homeworks: There will be 5 homework assigmnents, due tentatively on September 16, September 30, October 11, November 4 and November 18. Each homework will be announced and posted here at least a week in advance. The homeworks are to be handed in at the beginning of class. If you cannot come to class, you may drop off your homework at your instructor's office prior to the start of class. Late assignments will not be accepted. Solutions will be posted on the course webpage immediately after the lecture. To allow for minor illnesses and other emergencies, the lowest homework score will be dropped.

Workshops: Every other week, there will be an in-class workshop led by Dr. Sandra Merchant, Science Teaching and Learning Fellow at UBC, and your instructor. The workshop schedule is as follows: At the end of each workshop, there will be a short 10-minute quiz based on that workshop's problems. Your workshop participation mark will be based on these quizzes. As with homeworks, the lowest quiz score will be dropped.

Academic concession: Missing the midterm, or handing in a homework after the deadline, will result in a mark of 0. Exceptions may be granted in two cases: prior consent of the instructor, or a documented medical reason. Your course mark will then be based on your remaining coursework.

Additional course related resources:

General links:
[Mathematics Department] [University of British Columbia]