Math 119: Ideas in Geometry
Fall 2007

Instructor: Tom Cooney

Email: tcooney@math.uiuc.edu

Classroom: 147 Altgeld

Time: 9:00-9:50am Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Office: 150 Altgeld

Office Hours: 10:00-10:50am Monday, Wednesday, Friday or by appointment.

Homework assignments, exam dates and other course details will be posted on this website. Here is the syllabus. You can check your grades at the compass website.

Homework 4 Due Date: Friday, the 16th of November

Hour Exam 4: Friday, the 30th of November - (Compass Required!)

Take Home Exam: Friday, 30th of November

This will be handed to you in class on Friday, the 30th of November, as you leave Hour Exam 4. It is due in class at 9am on Monday, the 3rd of December with no exceptions. You cannot collaborate on this. Any "teamwork" on this exam would count as cheating and will result in an F on the course and a letter in your university file.

Final Exam: Monday, 10th of December, 8.00am to 11.00am

Homework Assignments

Homework Assignment 1

Section 1.1: Problem 7.
Section 1.2: Problems 6, 21, 36, 46.
Section 1.3: Problems 10, 18, 20, 26, 29.
Due Date: Wednesday, the 12th of September.

Homework Assignment 2

Section 2.1 Problems 14, 18
Section 2.2 Problems 2, 8, 18, 22, 28, 29, 34, 39
Due Date: Wednesday, the 3rd of October.

Homework Assignment 3

Section 3.1 Problems 13, 17
Section 3.2 Problems 5, 8, 10
Section 3.3 Problem 4
Section 3.4 Problems 2, 9, 33
Due Date: Friday, the 26th of October.

Homework Assignment 4

Section 4.1 Problem 15
Section 4.2 Problems 7, 8, 24, 26
For 24 and 26, use this handout.
Section 4.3 Problems 3, 10, 14, 33
Section 4.4 Problem 4.
Due Date: Friday, the 16th of November.
(It is possible that the due date for the last two problems on this list (and only the last two problems on this list) will be extended, depending on the speed at which we cover the material.)

Very Tentative Exam Dates

You will be given a week's notice of the actual exam dates. The hour exams will be held (in class) near the following dates:

  • Hour Exam 1: September 17th. This exam will cover Chapter 1.
  • Hour Exam 2: October 8th. This exam will cover Chapter 2.
  • Hour Exam 3: October 31st. This exam will cover Chapter 3.
  • Hour Exam 4: November 30th.This exam will cover Chapter 4.
    • Also,
  • Take Home Exam: Handed out on November 30th. Due in class 9AM December 2nd.
    • The final will definitely be held:
  • 8:00-11:00 AM on Monday, December 10th 2007. The final will cover the entire course.

    • Links

  • Math 119 Webpage with online course notes
  • Tom Cooney's homepage
  • The Euclidean Toolbox An online tool to help you with compass and straightedge constructions. If you are in one of the University's computer labs, it should have at least one of the following: (The Geometer's) Sketchpad, Dr Geo. All very interesting and all with the potential to be very helpful.
  • Wikipedia A good source for interesting and often also true mathematical tidbits. Try searching for biographies of the mathematicians listed below.
  • Euclid, Erastothenes, Pythagoras, Heron, Brahmagupta, Descartes, Newton, Euler
  • Lots of mathematical info from Wolfram Research , one of the world leaders in mathematical computer software, based right here in Urbana-Champaign.
  • Euclid's Elements: The book(s) that helped start it all.
  • The MacTutor History of Mathematics archive : Mathematicians' biographies and more!
  • The Most Pleasing Rectangle Web Poll Poke around the rest of Jim Loy's webpage for some more interesting stuff.
  • Demetri Martin (a stand-up comedian) corrects the Rock, Paper, Scissors game (among other things).
  • The Geometric Meaning of the Geometric Mean Plenty of pictures showing the geometric mean in action.
  • When would you use the Geometric Mean? Average rate of return on investments, averages of things that fluctuate (the stock market for example), center frequencies, averages of things that you are multiplying by.