Welcome to MHF3302 Logic & Proof in Mathematics, Fall 2009

 

Professor:   Zixia Song

Office: MAP 231F

E-mail: zsong@mail.ucf.edu
Lecture:  MWF 1:30-2:20pm in MAP 121

Credit Hours: 3

Office Hours:  MWF 1-1:30pm, 2:30 – 3:30pm or by appointment.    

 

Textbook and Other Required Materials:  Smith, Eggen & Andre, A Transition to Advanced Mathematics, 6th Edition (ISBN 0-534-39900-2) and 8.5”X11” blue books for each test and the final exam.  The required blue books will be collected during the second week of class.  At the start of each test, you will be given one of the collected blue books in which you will complete your work.

Prerequisite: MAC 2311, MAC 2312

Course Description:  Basic mathematical logic, Methods of proof in mathematics, Application of proofs to elementary mathematical structures.

 

Course Goals: This course will provide an introduction to the ideas and methods of mathematical proof.   

 

Lecture Schedule: We will cover chapter 1 through chapter 5: the basics of logic and basic proof methods; set theory; set operations; induction; relations; functions; cardinality of sets. Students are responsible for all material covered, as well as announcements made in lectures.

                                                                                                                    

Midterms & Final Exam: Three midterms are tentatively scheduled for Mondays, September 21st, October 19th, November 16th. There will be no make-ups. Please see Dr. Song if you have to miss an exam due to an illness or an emergency. A documented proof will be required. Neither oversleeping nor traffic are acceptable excuses.  The comprehensive final exam is tentatively scheduled for Monday, December 14th (1:00-3;50pm). All exams, including the final, will take place in the usual lecture room. The format for all exams will be in-class, closed notes, closed book, no computers. To receive credit you must explain your solution. Merely stating the answer does not suffice, even if the answer is correct.

 

Homework:  Homework is an important part of this class. Problems will be of two types: Do For Understanding. Usually these problems will be selected from the exercises marked with stars and the answers will be in the back of the text.  Turn In Exercises. Usually these problems will be selected from the exercises not marked with stars. Weekly homework (10 in total, but only the best 8 will be counted) will be assigned in class, collected at the beginning of class (unless specified otherwise), and only a subset of collected problems will be graded. You are expected to do all of it. Homework must be written neatly and stapled together. Late homework will not be accepted. If you're behind schedule, complete as much as you can, and turn that in.

 

Grades: Homework: 10 points each; Tests: 80 points each; Final Exam: 160 points.  You can earn up to 480 points in total. Final course letter grades are given on the standard grading scale:     A: 90%-100%, B: 80%-89%, C: 70%-79%, D: 60%-69%, F: <60%. There are no grades of NC for this class, but plus/minus grades will be assigned. If appropriate, there may be a curve which would ease these cutoffs, but you should not count on that.

 

Re-grading policy: If you believe that a mistake in grading has been made you may request that your paper be regraded. Such request must be submitted in writing within one week from the day the graded test has been returned in class, and must be accompanied by the original unaltered paper.  If you make any changes to the paper your request will be denied. Please note that if you request regrading, all problems are subject to review. 

 

Attendance & Classroom Conduct: Attendance at lectures is required. Common courtesy requires that students arrive in class on time, and stay the entire class period. Turn off your cell-phones. Please treat your classmates and instructor with respect and courtesy.

 

Special accommodations: Anyone who needs special accommodations for this class must let me know during the first week of the semester (by September 2nd at the very latest).

 

Important Dates: Labor Day (Monday September 7th), Withdrawal deadline (Friday October 16th), Veteran’s Day (Wednesday November 11th), Thanksgiving (November 26-28). 

 

Honor code: Everyone is expected to abide by the guidelines for the Academic Honor Code given in the university Golden Rule. Violations will be reported. You are encouraged to study in groups, but any and all work submitted for grading, including homework, must be your own.

 

Course information: This text can be accessed at http://www.math.ucf.edu/~zxsong/MHF3302

 

Disclaimer Statement: This document is furnished for student information only. It is subject to change without previous announcement.