MTH 330 ¾ Modern Geometries ¾ Summer, 1999

3 credits ¾ Dr. Stephen Andrilli

Classes: Tue, Thu 6:00pm – 7:40pm (including ten-minute break) in Olney 111

Office Hours: Tue, Thu 5:00pm – 5:45pm

Office: Olney 138 Office phone: 951-1135

Text: Smart: Modern Geometries, 5th edition, published by Brooks-Cole

Software: Students will be required to complete several assignments using The Geometer’s Sketchpad software.

 

Course Prerequisite: MTH 240 (Linear Algebra)

Course Objectives: This course is an extension of Euclidean ("high-school") geometry. In addition to reviewing the basics of two- and three-dimensional Euclidean geometry, we will spend about half of the course covering important results involving transformations, triangles, circles, and straightedge-and-compass constructions. In the remainder of the course, we investigate other types of geometry, including finite geometries, projective geometry, and non-Euclidean (hyperbolic and elliptic) geometries.

 

Syllabus:

Chapter 1 (all) Sets of Axioms / Finite Geometries

Chapter 2 (Sect. 1- 4, 6- 8) Euclidean Transformations / Motions in Plane & Space

Chapter 4 (Sect. 1- 3, some of 6) Euclidean Geometry of the Triangle / Golden Ratio

If time: Chapter 8 (Sect. 4- 5) Euclidean Surfaces: 4-Color Thm. / Euler’s formula

Chapter 5 (Sect. 1- 2, 4) Euclidean Straightedge-Compass Constructions

Chapter 9 (Sect. 1- 4, 6- 7) Non-Euclidean (Hyperbolic/Elliptic) Geometries

 

 

 

Grading: There will be 4 tests: one test will be given every 3rd Thursday (June 3, June 24, July 15, Aug 5). The lowest test grade will only count ½ as much as the other 3 tests. Each of the highest 3 tests count as 24% of the course grade; while the lowest test counts for 12% of the course grade. The remaining 16% of the grade is based on the daily homework assignments and labs.

Final grades: 87 - 89 % = B+ 77 - 79 % = C+ 67 - 69 % = D+

93 - 100 % = A 83 - 86 % = B 73 - 76 % = C 60 - 66 % = D

90 - 92 % = A- 80 - 82 % = B- 70 - 72 % = C- below 60 % = F

NOTE: There will be NO make-up tests or homeworks in this course for any reason, including sickness. If a student has a valid excuse for missing more than one test, I will take this into account in making up his/her final grade.

 

Attendance Policy: See the section on Attendance Policy in the current La Salle University Bulletin. In a course like this, which is constantly building on the material covered in previous lectures, students will find it difficult to get a good grade if crucial ideas are missed due to unnecessary absences.

Academic Honesty: Students discovered cheating on a test/final exam will receive a zero grade for their work. Students may, however, work together on difficult homework assignments. (However, a student that must continually seek help to complete homework is probably not going to fare well on tests!)