Day/Time: TTh 9:30-11am; Location: JGB 2.202 and Zoom; Unique: 55480

Instructor

Mirela Ciperiani (mirela at math dot utexas dot edu); Office: PMA 12.164

Office Hours Thursday 2:30-3:30pm

Text

Elementary Number Theory and it applications by Kenneth H. Rosen, Sixth Edition. The book is available at the University Co-op.

Objectives of the Course

This course aims to be a little window into the beauty of number theory as well as a tool to sharpen the clarity of your thinking in proof writing.

Prerequisites

Mathematics 325 or 341 with a grade of at least C.

Exams

Midterm Exam I: Thursday, October 5, 9:30 -11am in JGB 2.202

Midterm Exam II: Thursday, November 9, 9:30 - 11am in JGB 2.202

Final Exam: Monday, December 11, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm in JGB 2.202

• Notes, books, computers, phones, and calculators cannot be used or even be visible during exams.
• Your final exam grade will replace the lower of your two midterm exam grades, if the final exam score is higher than either of them.
• Students will be excused from the exams only because of a serious illness or another emergency of similar gravity. In such a case you must contact me via email before the exam (if physically possible) and have documentation indicating your inability to take the exam at the scheduled time. In such a case the grade weight of a midterm will be shifted to the following exams in the most advantageous way for the student and a make-up final will be given.

Use of Class Time

Tuesdays: the class will break into small groups and work on a homework problem, then we come together and discuss. When we are done, we will proceed with new material in a lecture format

Thursdays: Standard lecture style. The recoded video will be posted on canvas.

Recorded lecture / Extra notes

Starting the second week of classes I will record a lecture and make it available on Friday (time TBA) or just post lecture notes (we will decide which in class). The material covered in this lecture or notes is needed for the homework set that is posted on that Friday.

Homework

Most of the homework problems will consist of statements to be proved, and a few will involve computations. With respect to the problems that are statements to be proved, a correct solution consists of a complete proof of the statement. Proofs should be written out in a manner similar to the proofs in the text or during my lectures. Students are encouraged to discuss the homework with others but should write their solutions individually.

• The homework assignments will be posted on Gradescope by Friday evening each week.
• A first attempt of the homework set is due on Tuesday 9am (upload on Gradescope). The final attempt of the homework is due on Thursdays at 9am (upload on Gradescope). In order to receive full credit (4 points) on a problem you must attempt it on Tuesdays submission, otherwise the problem is graded out of 3 points.
• The solutions to the homework set are posted on Thursday after class.
• The graded homework will be returned to you on the following Tuesday.
• No late work will be accepted. We will drop the two lowest assignment scores to allow for legitimate reasons for not turning in or underperforming in an assignment.

Grading

Homework 20%

Midterms 20% (each)

Final exam 30%

Participation in the problem session class 10%

• The grade of the final exam will replace the lowest of the two midterm grades is it is better than either of them.
• Plus/minus grades will be assigned for the final grade in this course.
• All your grades will be posted on Gradescope. It is your responsibility to insure that your grades are recorded correctly on Gradescope. If an error occurs you must alert the instructor within two weeks from the date when the correct grade should have appeared.
• On all work, your grade will be computed as a percentage: the number of points you earned divided by the number of points possible. The percentages of each type of work that will be used to compute your final grade are given above. Your letter grade will be given based on your numerical average earned in the class, on a scale not stricter than the following: you are guaranteed a D for 40 or above, C- for 50 or above, C for 55 or above, C+ for 65 or above, B- for 70 or above, B for 75 or above, B+ for 85 or above, A- for 90 or above, and an A for 93 or above.

Conflicts

Students with special concerns, be they athletes who might miss class meetings, students with religious observances that interfere with class meetings, or students with disabilities who need special accommodation, are all supposed to notify the instructor about these special needs.

Disabilities

Students with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, 512-471-6259.

Student Conduct

• Attendance: This course is structured with the expectation that you will attend every class. Please join the class on time; joining late will affect your ability to benefit from the class and may disturb others.
• Participation: I appreciate your questions. Having a discussion about one person's confusion (whatever the cause) helps others in various ways. So, please don't hesitate to interrupt me.
• Academic Honesty: Copying your written work from somebody else or from any other source is considered cheating and will be dealt with severely. Cheating will be penalized as harshly as possible under the rules of UT.