Spring 2023
Instructor: Enrique Treviño
Lectures: MWF 9:00 - 9:50 am in Brown Hall 116
Office Hours: MWF from 10am and 11:45am. You can also arrange a meeting by appointment.
Office: Brown Hall 123
Email:
Phone Ext.: #6187
Announcements
No class on Monday March 6, Wednesday March 8 and Friday March 10.
Regarding chapter 6, Ebra and KJ talked about the mathematical duels in Italy concerning the solution of the cubic. To learn more about it, there's an Italian book (translated to English) titled "The Secret Formula: How a Mathematical Duel Inflamed Renaissance Italy and Uncovered the Cubic Equation". It's a very interesting book.
Regarding chapter 4, Mike and Trevor talked about Ramanujan and Hardy. To learn more about them, I recommend the book "The man who knew infinity". There is also a movie, from 2015, based on their story.
Eratosthenes estimation of circumference of the Earth segment from the TV show Cosmos narrated by Carl Sagan.
Introduction to Probability by Charles Grinstead and J. Laurie Snell. Free book online that has a very nice reference for Markov chains in chapter 11.
Schedule for the Presentations.Course Description
Seminar course to introduce students to various masterpieces in the development of mathematics. Some of the most historically important proofs and ingenious logical arguments from mathematics will be presented and discussed. An emphasis will be placed on the interconnectedness among various subject areas within mathematics. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.Journey through Genius by William Dunham.
Goals of the Class
The goals of this class are the following:
Grading
The course grade will be based on:
Class Presentations | 40% |
Beamer Presentation | 20% |
Paper | 20% |
Pi-Day Colloquium | 10% |
Homework | 10% |
Class presentation
The class will form into four groups of 2 (or 3 if necessary). The groups will be assigned three chapters from the book Journey through Genius and they will present each chapter to the class over two class periods (two class periods per chapter). The students not presenting will have to attend and they will provide feedback to the presenters by the next class session. I will also get a copy of this feedback.Beamer presentation
Paper
For the paper, you have to find a subject on your own and write about it. The assignment has the following rules:LaTeX and Beamer
As described above, the final paper should be written in LaTeX (and compiled to a pdf) and the individual presentation should be written in a special LaTeX package called Beamer (also compiled to a pdf). Below I include links to useful manuals, websites and also templates for LaTeX and Beamer.
Pi-Day Colloquium
Working in groups, students will prepare a short sketch of a mathematical paradox or a puzzle to present in mid-March at a Pi-Day Colloquium. Things related to the number pi are preferred, but not necessary. The colloquium will be during class time on Friday March 3. The groups will have to present to me their plans by February 27.Homework
I will post a homework assignment for each presentation from Journey Through Genius. Students need only turn in homework assignments for 5 of the assignments, they get to choose which ones they want to turn in.
Writing Center
The Writing Center offers free tutorial assistance, information, and resources for every stage of the writing process.
Accommodations Statement
If you are a student who needs an accommodation because of a disability or medical or psychological condition that limits your ability to fully participate in this course, please contact Kara Fifield, Director of Disability Services, to document your disability with the College and with the professor of this course. Academic accommodations should be reasonable and not alter the fundamental nature of this course. Because it can take a week or more to arrange requested accommodations, you are encouraged to establish your semester accommodations as early in the semester as possible. Contact Kara Fifield by email or phone: kfifield@lakeforest.edu or 847-735-5167. For more information about services for students with disabilities at Lake Forest College, see: http://www.lakeforest.edu/academics/resources/disability/
You are also welcome to contact me privately to discuss your academic needs. However, all disability-related accommodations must be arranged through Kara Fifield.
Description of instructional time and expectations:
This course meets 3 times per week for 3 hours per week. The course carries 1.0 course credit (equivalent to four semester credit hours). Students are expected to devote a minimum of 12 hours of total work per week (in-class time plus out-of-class work) to this course.Academic Honesty
Please read the College's information on Academic Honesty. If a student cheats in an exam, quiz or homework assignment, I will proceed with charging the student with the Academic Honesty Judicial Board. The usual (first) penalty is a 0 in the assignment on which the cheating occured plus some ethics lectures the student would take. The second penalty is usually suspension.Last modified on February 22, 2023.