MATH 175 - First Day Handout
Number Theory - Spring 2024
General information
The class webpage is a good source
for all class related information; in particular, homework
assignments will be posted on the class webpage weekly. Please
check it regularly.
Catalog course description:
Properties of integers,
congruences, Diophantine problems, quadratic reciprocity, number
theoretic functions, primes.
Prerequisite:
MATH 32 and MATH 60, or instructor's consent
Material to be
covered:
The goal of the present course is to give an introduction to the
subject and some of its methods. The topics covered will include
the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, Euclid's algorithm,
congruences, Diophantine problems, quadratic reciprocity,
arithmetic functions, and distribution of primes. If time allows,
we may also discuss some geometric methods, coming from lattice
point counting, such as Gauss's circle problem and Dirichlet
divisor problem, as well as some applications of Number Theory to
coding theory and cryptography.
Grading policy
Class attendance and homework
completion are required parts of the course. Homework
assignments will be regularly posted on the course webpage and
collected every Thursday. Late homework will not be accepted. There will
be an in class midterm exams and a final exam. Here is the tentative exam schedule.
Midterm:
Thursday, February 29, in class
Final Exam:
Monday, May 6, 2:00 - 5:00 pm in Davidson Lecture
Hall or take-home
-- TBA
Make-up exams will only be given with documented CMC-approved
excuses (see College Regulations).
The grade break-down will
be as follows:
The grading scale used for this
class will be:
- 95-100% = A, 90-94% = A-
- 85-89% = B+, 80-84% = B, 75-79% = B-
- 70-74% = C+, 65-69 % = C, 60-64% = C-
- 57-59% = D+, 52-56% = D, 50-51% = D-
- 0-49% = F
I reserve the right to introduce a curve (up or down) at the end of
the semester depending on the class's overall performance.
Additional Resources
Our Teaching Assistant (TA) Sehun Jeong (CGU) will be
available for consultations in the CMC Math Commons Room (Adams
Hall, 2nd floor) one night per week -- tentatively, Wednesdays
7:00 - 9:00 pm. Sehun can also be contacted via email at: sehun.jeong@cgu.edu
Special policies Please notice that
confidentiality reasons prevent me from providing you with any
information regarding your performance in this class except for
in person. Please DO NOT email or call with any kind of
grade inquiries.
The following are basic rules that all students should follow in
order not to disturb the class.
- Please make sure to turn off all you cellular phones, pagers,
and any other devices that make noise before entering
class.
- Please do not text during the lecture.
- Please do not use computers during class unless necessary for
taking notes.
- Please do not come late or leave early; if on some occasion it
is necessary and cannot be avoided, please do it in a way that
does not disturb the class.
The use of
calculators, or any other electronic devices, as well as any books
or notes, is prohibited during all tests.
Important dates
- January 29,
Monday: Last day for adding courses for the Fall
semester.
- March 7, Thursday:
Last day to drop courses.
- March 11 - 15, Monday -
Friday: Spring break.
- April 12, Friday: Last day to opt for CR/NC grading in
elective courses; last day to withdraw voluntarily from a full
semester course with a grade of "W".
- April 30, Tuesday:
Last class meeting.
The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the class
policies.
All printed handouts and web-materials are protected by
US Copyright Laws. No multiple copies can be made without
written permission by the instructor.