Fall 2005-06MWF 10:00 // 153 Sloan Daniel Groves |
Note: No Lecture Friday, November 4. Also, no office hours Thursday, November 3.
Course Description:
Math 151 is the year-long graduate sequence in topology and geometry. In the first term,
we'll cover the fundamental group, homology, and some basics of manifold topology. Mostly, the
material will closely follow Chapters 0-2 of Allen Hatcher, Algebraic Topology, Cambridge University Press, 2002. (This is the required text.)
The full text of this may be downloaded
here, but
you will probably want to buy it; it is only $32 for over 500 pages. (You may want to look at
a useful list of errata.) Prerequisites are flexible, due to the different background of students. However, you should
have an understanding of the basics of point-set topology. The fundamental group will also be covered
quickly at the start, and those not familar with this should at least look at Section 1.1 of Hatcher
before classes start. There will be weekly homework assignments (50%), a midterm (20%) and a final (30%). Letter
grades will be given, unless you specifically enroll otherwise. Weekly homework is due in class on Fridays at the beginning of class (with beginning
slightly generously interpreted -- 10 minutes). Homework turned in after that until the beginning
of class on Monday will be graded but count for half-credit. Beyond this, late homework will not
be accepted unless an extension is granted before the due date .
The lowest homework grade will be dropped. If you will not be in class on Friday,
homework may be dropped in the 151a box outside the math department office before the start of
class. (Late homework can also be put there). There will be no homework due the week of Thanksgiving
(Nov. 24) but there will be lectures on Monday and Wedensday of that week.
Collaboration on homework is encouraged, but all answers must be written up individually, and collaboration must be acknowledged. There is no collaboration allowed on the midterm or final. The midterm will replace the 6th homework set, and thus be due on Friday, November 4th. It will
be given out in class on Friday, October 28th and, beyond that, there are no time restrictions. The final will be given out in class on Wednesday, November 30th and due at 5pm on
Wednesday, December 7th. Once again, otherwise there are no time restrictions for the final. All problem numbers refer to Hatcher's book. |