MATH 436 - Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces
Instructor: Chris Truman
Office: Math 1113
Office Hours: 11:30-12:30, Tuesdays and Thursdays, or by appointment.
Email: cbtruman at math dot umd dot edu
Department Course Description
You should be familiar with the University's policies on
Academic Integrity, including the Honor Pledge.
In this course: you are cheating on homework if let someone else do your homework for you, or do someone else's homework for them. It is fine to work together; in fact I encourage it -- you just
have to complete the assignment from your own understanding,
without simply copying.
E-MAIL:
I'll send email sporadically throughout the semester. Email is sent by a course
reflector to
email addresses officially registered with the
University, and students are responsible for
maintaining a correct address. If your
official email address
is not correct, then click
here to update it.
Official calendar.
Click here
for the academic calendar, academic deadlines
and final exam schedule.
Text:
Elementary Differential Geometry, by Pressley
Schedule:
A tentative schedule can be found in the syllabus handed out in class. I reserve the
right to give unannounced quizzes and make changes in the syllabus
that I feel are necessary. Any changes in the syllabus will be announced in class and posted to the website. The website is the definitive source for up to date information about the course.
Grading:
Your grade will be based on the following 600 points:
| 3 exams @ 100 points each | 300 points |
| Homework | 100 points |
| Final Exam | 200 points |
| Total Points | 600 |
I expect to give grades based on cutoffs of 90%, 80%, 70%, and
60%. IF any curving is done, it will be to adjust these final cutoffs at the end of the semester. However, these cutoffs represent what you would need to guarantee yourself any particular grade.
Make-up exam and quiz policy:
Exam makeups will only be
given for University Excused Absences. Any student with a valid reason
to be excused from an exam must contact me prior to the exam, either
by email or by phone (leave a message at 301.405.5047), and present
documentation at the next class session attended. If you need to be
excused from an exam or quiz for a religious observance, you should let me know as soon as
possible, but in any case no later than the end of the schedule
adjustment period.
You can find an excellent exposition of Hopf's Umlaufsatz here.
Homework:
I encourage you to work in groups on the homework assignments. Homework will
be given out each Tuesday (and posted below), and collected the following Tuesday. Exam questions will be similar if not identical to
homework questions. In addition to assigned homeworks, Pressley has exercises in each section,
with full solutions in the back; these will be great for practice problems and to study for tests.
The in-class Quiz and the Solutions, which will work into the homework grade somehow.
Emergency closures:
In case of an emergency that closes the University for an extended period of time (for example, due to inclement weather), be sure to access your email for instructions from me. Also check the University's home page.
Expectations/philosophy:
You are expected to come to class, do the homework, and most important of all be actively engaged in trying to understand. Two tips for success:
- Don't fall behind.
- Make friends. Help each other (especially after trying alone first).
Religious observances:
If your religion dictates that you cannot take an exam or hand in assigned work on a particular date, then contact me at the beginning of the semester to discuss alternatives. You are responsible for making these arrangements at the beginning of the semester.
Disabilities:
If you have some disability related to testing under the usual timed, in-class conditions, you may contact the office of Disabled Students Services (DSS) in Shoemaker. If they assess you as meriting private conditions and/or extra time, then you may arrange to take your tests at DSS, with extra time as they indicate. You must arrange this well in advance of a test (in particular: no retakes). See Disability Support Services for further information.