College Geometry, MATH 480/680, Fall 2007

This is the home page and first day handout for MAT 480/680, meeting MW from 4:00 -- 5:15 in CBC-C114.  My name is Dr. Arthur Baragar, my office is CBC-B 308, and I can be reached at 895-0378. Important information announced in class will also be posted on WebCampus. The prerequisite for this course is MAT 181 or consent of the instructor. To survive in this course, you must also know how to multiply, invert, and take determinants of 2x2 matrices (so you should have studied some linear algebra -- this is covered in MAT 126 and MAT 253 or MAT 330).

Syllabus: This course will cover the following topics of geometry:

Text:  A Survey of Classical and Modern Geometries, by Arthur Baragar, published by Prentice Hall. The website for this text (which includes errata) is at http://www.nevada.edu/~baragar/geometry.html.

Other Details:  Sketchpad assignments will be handed in electronically.  The prefered format is by email through WebCampus, and in one file (I'll explain how to do this when the time comes).  If working in Windows, I can accept a CD-R or CD-RW, memory stick or memory card, or a floppy.  Unfortunately, Sketchpad assignments done on a Mac and stored on PC formatted memory are not readable by a PC version of Sketchpad (but emailed assignments are readable -- go figure). 

Sketchpad assignments can be done on campus computers in CEB 309, CBC-B133, CBC-B322, or at home if you have a copy of Geometer's Skecthpad.  Geometer's Sketchpad is currently on all Clark County School District computers, so you may want your own copy (or maybe not -- once in the school system, you can get a copy for home through the District's site license).  A student version of Geometer's Sketchpad can be purchased from Key Curriculum Press for $39.95 plus shipping.

A ruler and compass will also be required to do some exams.  

Grading Scheme: This is the grading scheme for this course:

Exams one and two will have an in class component and a take home component.  Exam three is a take home exam.  The take home components are due the following Monday at the beginning of class.  The grading scheme for students taking MAT 680 will be slightly different. There is no preset corelation between numerical grades and letter grades.  A letter grade (without + or -), a report card, if you like, will be posted on WebCampus after every exam.  Sample exams will be posted on WebCampus.

Office Hours: If you need to see me, please look for me during the office hours posted below, or please make an appointment. Office hours begin the second week of classes.

The morning office hour immediately follows my MATH 126 class, and is primarily intended for those students, though you are welcome to show up at that time too.  However, I may be  helping students in our classroom, rather than in my office, so do not be surprised if I show up late.  A good time to ask quick questions is in our classroom between 3:45 and 4:00.   Other Important Dates:  (See the UNLV calendar for more details.) "If you have a documented disability that requires assistance, you will need to contact Disability Services (DS) for coordination in your academic accommodations. DS is located within the Learning Enhancement Services (LES), in the Reynolds Student Services Center (SSC), Room 137. The DS phone number is 702-895-0866, TDD 895-0652."  Their website is at http://studentlife.unlv.edu/disability/.

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UNLV Home Page * Arthur Baragar's Home Page
URL: http://www.nevada.edu/~baragar/courses/MATH480f07.html
e-mail: baragar@unlv.nevada.edu