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Instructor:  Jerry Farlow, 332 Neville    (email:  farlow@math.umaine.edu)

MAT261:  Introduction to Abstract Mathematics, Fall 2008

  Professor:  Jerry Farlow,  332 Neville

  Text:   A Taste of Pure Mathematics by Jerry Farlow

 The book is still in note form and can be found here  at no cost.  I have also printed out copies of the notes and if you prefer will give you copies at cost ($10) on the first day of class.

 I will collect homework every two weeks, which will consist of the assigned problems in the problem set and this will constitute 25% of your grade.  You can work the problems with other students, but you should write up the homework on your own.  Your homework grade will depend both on mathematical accuracy as well as neatness and exposition.   I will be extra impressed if the homework is typed using a math add-on to your word processor.  MathType can be found at http://www.dessci.com for $99, which can be used as an add-on to MS Word or Apple's word processor.   

I will post the solutions to the homework problems here after they are handed in.

 Another 25% of the grade will be determined on class attendance.  I will hand out a slip of paper each day for you to sign.  If you miss 0-3 times you get an A+,    4-5 a B, 6-7 times a C, 8-9 times a D, 10-more an E.   No exceptions, daily attendance is critical for understanding the material in this course.  This material is not easy.  The material in this course is not the “cook book” mathematics you studied in calculus.  

 The remaining 50% of your grade will be based on 4 exams, each counting 100 points, followed by a 200 point final exam.  There will be no make-up tests, but the lowest grade of the 4 exams will be thrown out.  That said, you will be expected to take the last exam.   The final 200 point exam will be an out-of-class take-home test you can do with others.   I will ask each of you to come to my office and defend your solutions on the final exam.

 Office Hours:  I will meet with you individually or in groups at any time.   My scheduled office hours are 10 AM on M,W,F and 8AM-11AM on Thursday.  If you cannot make my scheduled office hours, you can always make an appoint to meet with me.   I will always be free at 4 P.M.  immediately after class.   It seems to be more beneficial, however, if we meet in groups of 2-3-4.    

Good Math Links
 

1.   George Boole's seminal 1848 paper on symbolic logic

2.   Mathtype is a good program for entering math symbols.  It is used in conjunction with MS Word.   You can buy an academic version of it for $57 at Mathtype.    The abstract math book, which has a link to it below, was typed using MS Word with a Mathtype addon. 

3.   A website that deals with truth tables.  

4.   Biography of Gottfried Frege .. founder of first-order logic.

5.   Good discussion of first-order logic.

6.   Good discussion of the various types of proofs.

7.   A summary of propositional logic.

8.   Foundations of Mathematics.    Good links to to web pages about the foundations of mathematics.