MAT 200
Lecture 2 

Logic, Language,
and Proof 

Prof. LeBrun
TTh 11:20-12:40



This course offers an introduction to mathematical reasoning and proofs. It is intended as a bridge between the loose, heuristic approach often used to teach elementary calculus, and the precise, formal style needed for upper-division mathematics courses.


Textbook:
An Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning:
Numbers, Sets, and Functions,

by Peter J. Eccles,
Cambridge University Press, 1997.

Contrary to rumor, the campus bookstore, Stony Books, and various other local bookstores still have copies in stock. If necessary, you could instead obtain a copy from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or some other on-line book-seller. Most such merchants offer overnight shipping for an additional charge.


Each week, you will be expected to carefully absorb a chapter or two of the textbook or supplementary materials. The correct way to do so is to carefully read the text before attempting any of the assigned homework problems. Although some of you may have managed to learn calculus by simply doing the problems, while just skimming back through a minimal amount of the text, cutting corners in this manner simply will not work in this course. Fortunately, our textbook is very well written, and should amply reward those who take the time to read it properly.
Some weeks, you will be assigned readings from the Mathematics Department's Geometry Notes, rather than from the textbook. These notes are available from this web-site as a free download, in PDF format. To read them, however, you will need a PDF viewer. In the unlikely event that your computer does not already have such software installed, Adobe Reader may be downloaded, free of charge, by clicking the icon at left.

Two different kinds of homework problems will be assigned in this course.

Ungraded problems are not to be turned in, but you are expected to solve them carefully, in great detail; failure to so may result in an inability to understand the course material. Answers to these problems are usually contained in the back of your textbook. Don't peak, though! If you simply look up the answer before seriously trying to find the solution, the only person you will be cheating is yourself.

Homework sets, by contrast, will be turned in on Tuesdays. Your performance on these assignments will significantly affect your grade in the course. These assignments may be found by clicking on the hyper-link below. Keep in mind that these assignments are subject to revision until the previous Thursday. You are therefore encouraged to frequently check the relevant web-page for changes. Refreshing your browser while doing so will ensure that you are really looking at the latest version.

Late homework will not be accepted. However, grades for homework assignments may be dropped in cases of documented medical problems or similar diffculties.




Readings and Homework


Provisional Exam Schedule

Midterm I Thursday, October 11 11:20 am-12:40 pm
Midterm II Tuesday, November 27 11:20 am-12:40 pm
Final Exam Tuesday, December 18 11:00 am-1:30 pm



Solution Guide for the Final Exam

No make-ups will be given for missed midterms. However, if you miss an exam because of convincingly documented circumstances beyond your control, then, at the professor's discretion, the relevant score may be `dropped' in computing your course grade.

A grade of Incomplete will be granted only if documented circumstances beyond your control prevent you from taking the final exam.

Grading: Your course grade will be based on your examinations and homework, weighted as follows:

Midterm I 25%
Midterm II 25% 
 Final Exam 35%
 Homework  15%


The prerequisites for this course are:



Professor LeBrun's office is Math Tower 3-108. His office hours are TTh 10:10--11:10.


The professor may be reached by e-mail at

This is the best way to make an appointment outside of regular office hours.

The grader for the course is Arthur Popa. His office hours are Tu 4--6 pm, in Math Tower 2-122.

Like many other students enrolled in our doctoral program, Mr. Popa is also regularly available in the Math Learning Center. Any of the MLC's grad students in pure math should be able to help you. However, be sure to explicitly ask for a graduate student in pure mathematics, since the MLC also employs many undergraduate tutors and graduate students from other departments who may not be well qualified to help you with this course.


Stony Brook University expects students to maintain standards of personal integrity that are in harmony with the educational goals of the institution; to observe national, state, and local laws as well as University regulations; and to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty must notify the Office of Judicial Affairs of any disruptive behavior that interferes with their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn.


DSS advisory. If you have a physical, psychiatric, medical, or learning disability that may affect your ability to carry out the assigned course work, please contact the office of Disabled Student Services (DSS), Humanities Building, room 133, telephone 632-6748/TDD. DSS will review your concerns and determine what accommodations may be necessary and appropriate. All information regarding any disability will be treated as strictly confidential.

Students who might require special evacuation procedures in the event of an emergency are urged to discuss their needs with both the instructor and DSS. For important related information, click here.


Illustration: Drawing Hands © 1948 by M.C. Escher. Used here under the educational fair-use provisions of US copyright law. Please do not reproduce this image for non-educational purposes.