Important Announcement (May 21, 2008):
For your convenience, Math 666 for Summer 2008 is open for business early. Students should access the course via TAMU Elearning (http://elearning.tamu.edu). Under "Vista Logins", click on "TAMU (NetID)" Use your TAMU NetID and password for access. Please report any difficulties to me.
The first class day is May 27. The first assignment ("Getting Started") due on May 28. This is a straightforward but important orientation exercise. Because of time constraints, effective immediately you are welcome to work on "Getting Started" before May 27 if you wish.
Geometry is one of the oldest human intellectual creations. Yet now in modern times, geometry is one of the most active fields of mathematical research and one of the critical tools in many practical applications. While a casual lay person might believe that there is only one geometry (Euclidean plane geometry), there are in fact many geometries, both practical and fanciful. Math 666 is a graduate course in geometry including axiomatic systems, geometric transformations and modern geometry. The broad purpose of the course is to expand understanding of the variety and importance of modern geometries. Several viewpoints for studying geometries will be considered.
Math 666 is web-based with an accompanying text. Math 666 is part of the Texas A&M University Masters in Mathematics with a Teaching Option under the auspices of the Texas A&M University Mathematics Department and Distance Education Program. The material in Math 666 is Copyright © 2001-2008 by Jon T. Pitts.
Academic prerequisites for the course are consent of the instructor. Students who have questions about their course preparation are encouraged to contact Dr. Pitts (j-pitts@tamu.edu).
The course is entirely web based. Students will wish to have ready access to a personal computer with access to the Internet, and normal peripheral hardware and software, including access to a printer and a reasonably modern browser and word processor. There will be some file sharing and adjustments may be required for compatibility.
Math 666 (Seminar in Geometry) will be administered through Vista at Texas A&M University. There is an extensive (password protected) web site for Math 666 that will normally be accessed through Vista.
The text is Modern Geometries, 5th ed. by James R. Smart, Brooks/Cole, 1998, ISBN 0-534-35188-3. The text will be supplemented by other resources including web-based resources. The text can be purchased any place (locally or on the net) that stocks the 5th edition.
Math 666 is web-based. Course materials are available at all hours. Web based contact hours will be determined in consultation with the class. There are three sections to be taught as one course.
Jon Pitts
FAX: (979) 845-6028
URL: http://www.math.tamu.edu/~Jon.Pitts
Email: j-pitts@tamu.edu
The course grade will be based on graded written assignments, including regular homework assignment assignments and one or more papers, some potentially web-oriented. Students will often work in groups and submit work on that basis. Homework and papers will normally be submitted through Vista.
Course grades will be awarded as follows.
| A - Excellent performance in all aspects of the course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B - Satisfactory completion of all course requirements. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C - Passing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A printable version of this document is available in PDF format.