MAT 364

syllabus

MAT 364 Topology and Geometry

Stony Brook Fall 2012

About this course: A broadly based introduction to topology and geometry, the mathematical theories of shape, form, and rigid structure. Topics include intuitive knot theory, lattices and tilings, non-Euclidean geometry, smooth curves and surfaces in Euclidean 3-space, open sets and continuity, combinatorial and algebraic invariants of spaces, higher dimensional spaces.

Prerequisite: Prerequisites: MAT 203 or 205 or 307 or AMS 261.
Advisory Prerequisite: MAT 319 or 320.

Instructor: Moira Chas
Office Hours: : Mo 10:00am-12pm in 3-119 Math Tower, Wednesday 11am-12pm in P-148 Math Tower.
Email: moira at math.sunysb.edu

Grader: Long Li
Office hours: We 10 to 11 in MLC, Th 2:30 to 3:30 in MLC. Fr 1-2 in 3-118 Math Tower.
Email: llong at math.sunysb.edu

When: The course meets Mo-We-Fr 12pm-12:53pm.
Where: Chemistry 128.

Text: Introduction to Topology: Pure and Applied, by Colin Adams and Robert Franzosa.
This book is available at the campus bookstore.
There are also electronic-only versions of the text available at CourseSmart (Price to Student $64.99).

Homework

Since this is an upper level class, (hopefully) you already know that you can not learn mathematics without working problems.
Expect to spend between 6 and 8 hours a week solving problems; do all of the assigned problems, as well as additional ones to study.
If you do not understand how to do something, get help from your instructor, your grader, your classmates.
You are encouraged to study with and discuss problems with others from the class, but write up your own homework by yourself in your own words. All your collaborators and sources should be listed.
Make sure you understand how to do the problems.
There will be about ten problems each week, five or six of those ten will be graded. You should solve all the problems (or more!) in order to succed in this course.
Each problem "worths" 10 points.
Homework is due on Wednesdays.

Problem assignments can always be found on the web at

http://www.math.sunysb.edu/~moira/mat364-fall12/hw.html.

Every homework assignment must be handed in with a header containing:

Surname, Name
University ID Number
Date Submitted
Assignment number.

All of the homework pages must be stapled together.
Use black or dark blue ink when writing up answers for your homework assignments.
Mathematical writing is an important part of this course; therefore all problem sets must be legible and must use complete English sentences, correct grammar, correct spelling, etc.
All steps should be clearly justfied. In particular, if you refer to a statement of the book, please include the number.
Try to minimize the number of symbols.
Problem sets which prove too difficult for the grader to read may be marked incorrect or may be returned to the student for rewriting (as the instructor sees fit).
The grader will grade selected problems and post the grades in Blackboard.
All questions regarding grading of a problem set must be addressed to the grader.

Examinations and grading: There will be one midterm exam (in class), and a cumulative final exam. The dates are listed below;&; Success on the exams will require correct and efficient solutions to the more difficult of the homework problems. Part of your grade will be based on class participation in the lecture (note that asking questions in class counts as class participation).

Exam	Date		% of Final Grade
Midterm 1	Monday, Oct 8th	12-12:53pm	20%
Midterm 2	Monday Nov 12th	12-12:53pm	20%
Final Exam	Thursday, December 13th	5:30pm-8pm	40%
Homeworks, participation, etc.			20%

Make sure that you can attend the exams at the scheduled times; make-ups will not be given. If one midterm exam is missed because of a serious (documented) illness or emergency, the semester grade will be determined based on the balance of the work in the course.

Grades will be posted in Blackboard.

All exams are closed notes and closed book. It is not permitted to use cell phones, calculators, laptops, MP3 players, Blackberries or other such electronic devices at any time during exams. Once the exam has begun, use of such devices or having such devices in view, as well as having notes or books on the desk or in view will be considered cheating and will be referred to the Academic Judiciary. Similarly, once the exam has begun any communication with a person other than the instructor or proctor will be considered cheating and will be referred to the Academic Judiciary.

Reading: The textbook is intended to be read. Read the assigned sections before the lecture! This will greatly increase your comprehension, and enable you to ask good questions in class. Furthermore, the lectures will not always be able to cover all of the material for which you will be responsible.

Disabilities: If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services at http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/dss/ or (631) 632-6748. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.

Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with their professors and Disability Support Services. For procedures and information go to the following website:

http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/fire/disabilities.shtml

Academic Integrity: Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty are required to report any suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at

http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary/

Critical Incident Management Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, and/or inhibits students' ability to learn.