Send me email at leader@rose-hulman.edu.
Contemporary Mathematical Problems is a seminar-style two-credit introductory survey of problems of current interest in mathematical research. We will focus on the seven Clay Institute Millennium Prize Problems. In addition to learning about these problems, students will develop facility with the TeX typesetting system for mathematics. We will cover all of the Devlin book and selected readings from the Davis/Hersh/Marchisotto book.
There will be two essays on material from the readings (10% each), and five short write-ups primarily intended to demonstrate TeX proficiency (5% each). There will be one midterm exam (15%) and a final exam (20%). In addition, 20% of your grade is reserved for class participation. Attendance and attention are very important in this class; after the second absence, or if unprepared for class, a grade penalty may be applied.
The Mathematics Academic Integrity Policy is in effect in this course.
ASSIGNED READINGS: For 6 Mar.: Devlin Ch. 0 For 10 Mar.: Devlin Ch. 1; Davis pp. 212, 233, 330, 405 For 13 Mar.: Davis pp. 9, 17, 26, 29 For 17 Mar.: Davis pp. 163, 323 For 20 Mar.: Devlin Ch. 2; Davis pp. 48, 359, 448 For 24 Mar.: Davis pp. 227, 241 For 27 Mar.: Devlin Ch. 3; Davis pp. 76, 356, 377 For 31 Mar.: Davis pp. 368, 411, 422 For 7 Apr.: Davis pp. 38, 261 For 17 Apr.: Devlin Ch. 4; Davis pp. 64, 279 For 21 Apr.: Davis pg. 417; Wigner For 24 Apr.: Devlin Ch. 5; Davis pp. 306, 317 For 28 Apr.: Davis pg. 304; Flatland Sec. 1, Flatland Sec. 5, Flatland Sec. 16 For 1 May : Devlin Ch. 6; Davis pg. 360 For 5 May : Davis pg. 59; Rice and Brown, Johnson For 8 May : Devlin Ch. 7; Davis pg. 442 For 12 May : Davis pg. 6; Hilbert's Lecture For 15 May : Davis pp. 97, 383, 433 For 19 May : Davis pg. 85; The Two Cultures of Mathematics
ASSIGNED HW: Due 17 Mar.: TeX #1 (Cardano's formula) Due 31 Mar.: TeX #2 (Davis pg. 298 #6, 7, 8, 9, 10) Due 7 Apr.: Essay #1 (Devlin Ch. 1, 2, or 3) Due 21 Apr.: TeX #3 (Navier-Stokes equations) Due 5 May : TeX #4 (Triple integrals) Due 12 May : Essay #2 (Devlin Ch. 4, 5, 6, or 7) Due 19 May : TeX #5 (Davis pg. 399 #8; one-page, with picture)
MIDTERM EXAM: 3 April
TeX Resources:
Downloader: https://miktex.org/download Online Compiler (free sign up req.): https://www.overleaf.com/ Tutorial Site: https://www.latex-tutorial.com/
Maintainer: leader@rose-hulman.edu.