Instructor: Adrian Tudorascu
Office: Van Vleck 723
e-mail: tudorasc@math.wisc.edu
                                                                                       Hw 2&3 solutions
                                                                                         Test 1 solutions
                                                                                         Test 2 solutions

                                                                                   Extra Credit Assignment
                                                                                  

Lecture Schedule

   The class will meet three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Van Vleck B231 from 12:05 p.m. to 12:55 p.m. We will not meet on official holidays and on dates I need to travel for scientific purposes. On those dates, someone else may substitute; you will be notified in advance.
Here is an outline of the course content.
         

Course Description and Goals

   Most of the material will be presented in a manner consistent with the presentations in the text. Students are expected to read and study the examples and related material in the text and to work on the assigned problems sets. Similar problems will be used as examples during lectures as preparation for the exams.
 
Prerequisite: Math 234.

The topics covered include: review of high-school geometry, special points of triangle, Simson lines, the theorems of Ceva and Menelaus, vectors techniques of proof, compass and straightedge constructions.

In this course students learn to understand and to write proofs of geometric facts. Also, they gain an appreciation of some of the more beautiful and amazing theorems of Euclidean geometry. The course begins with a thorough review of high-school geometry and continues with a selection of more advanced topics. Upon completion of this course, the student should also be able to apply these notions and techniques to problem solving. For this, the student is expected to have thoroughly understood the theory linking the concepts.

Textbook

  The text to be used for most of the course is "Geometry for College Students"  by I. Martin Isaacs, Brooks/Cole (current bookstore edition).
 

Grading Policy and Evaluation

  There will be homework (assigned after each lecture), a number of quizzes (announced or unannounced), three tests and one final examination.  The lowest scored test will be dropped while the other two are worth 25% the best and 20% the second best. The final exam counts 30% towards the final grade. The homework will contribute 10% (best seven assignments) while the best scored five quizzes contribute 15%. The cutoffs will be 90% for an A, 85% for an AB, 80% for a B, 75% for a BC, 70% for a C and 60% for a D.  The tests will be taken in lecture and are scheduled for  September 30 (Wednesday), October 28 (Wednesday) and December 2 (Wednesday).  The Final Exam is cumulative and it is scheduled for December 18  (Friday) at 7:25 p.m. in room TBA.

                                                         

Homework

   Will be assigned here after each lecture. Students are strongly encouraged to work on all the problems at the end of each section and collaborate (see Course Policy below). Be aware that the problems and exercises tested on quizzes may be similar or even identical to some homework assignments. 
 

Office Hours

 When:  MWF  4:25 p.m.--5:15 p.m.
          
 Where: My Office.
 

Course Policy

   Class attendance is encouraged. The Office Hours are to be used only after you will have thoroughly read the material and tried to understand it.
Since one of the three tests (the lowest scored) will not count towards your final grade, no make-up tests or quizzes will be given for any reason. Failure to take a test or a quiz will result in a score of zero.

Most likely, no calculators will be allowed on any test.

It is important that you not discard returned quizzes and tests! Not only do they constitute good material for review but they are also the only acceptable proof in case of misrecorded grades.
 
You may discuss your assignments with each other; however, solutions should be written down individually. You should not read anyone else's completed work or show yours to anyone else.

Exams and quizzes are to be worked on and written down strictly individually.

How to succeed in this class:

• Attendance will not be taken in this class, however, it is expected that you will attend class regularly. If you do miss a class it is your responsibility to find out what was covered and whether any important announcements were made.
• The single most important thing that you should do is work out at least the assigned homework. You should do the assigned problems, along with an assortment of unassigned problems, as a study aid.
• Collaboration on homework is a good thing. You are encouraged to discuss the homework and to work together on the problems.
  
• Like all mathematics, the material in the course cannot be learned passively. However reasonable, simple, or rational you may find what you read or hear, you do not understand it if you cannot apply it yourself. Thus it is imperative that you test yourself by doing problems. If you have difficulty with a problem, ask your instructor, your TA or your fellow students about it; do not assume that the difficulty will cure itself without treatment.

Have you questions or concern about the course, please see me during the office hours!

Good luck!