MATH 574 A: Fundamental Concepts of Analysis

Instructor:  Professor Jennifer Taggart

e-mail:  taggart@math.washington.edu

Communication:  I will primarily communicate with you via Canvas.  Class materials like lecture videos and homework assignments will be posted as part of a weekly Module.  A new Module will generally be posted each Monday of the quarter on the Canvas Course Home page. If I need to provide you with any other information in the middle of the week, I will do so using the Canvas Announcements feature.  You should set your Canvas Notifications so that you are notified whenever I post an Announcement --- instructions for that are here:  https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10624-4212710344

Office Hours via Zoom, beginning Thursday April 1:  MF 11:30 am - 2:20 pm PDT and Th 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Note about office hours:  Office hours are your chance to work directly with me (via Zoom) on this exciting and challenging material.  You can ask questions about the lectures, textbook material, or homework.  While I appreciate the opportunity to see your face while we talk, you are not required to share your video if you prefer not to.  If I am working with another student when you arrive, please enter your name in the Zoom chat box and I will work with students in the order listed in the chat. 

Optional Texts: Advanced Calculus (Second Edition) by Patrick M. Fitzpatrick and Principles of Mathematical Analysis (Third Edition) by Walter Rudin

Note about textbooks:  I will post detailed lecture notes throughout the quarter and write my own homework assignments, so you are not required to purchase any text.  Rudin's text will be used for Math 424, so if you choose to purchase it, you will get multiple quarters' use out of it.  AND it's a classic --- I'm still using the copy I used as an undergrad thirty years ago  --- if you have any intention of going to grad school in Mathematics, you should own a copy of Rudin.

Course Objectives:  In this course, we will lay the groundwork for a theoretical understanding of calculus and improve problem-solving and proof-writing skills. We will study properties of the real numbers, sequences of real numbers, series, and limits and continuity of functions.

Grading Policy:  In Spring 2021, since this course will be offered only online, I do not feel that I can with any degree of fairness assign every level of numerical grade, I will only give whole number grades:  0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0.  I expect that most students will earn at least a 2.0.  Your focus this quarter (as it should be every quarter, frankly) should be on demonstrating that you are making an effort and learning. 

Grade Breakdown:

Homework: Homework is an essential component of this course.  You will practice writing proofs and receive feedback on your efforts.  Homework assignments will be posted on-line and will be due on Fridays at 5:00 pm PDT starting April 9 via Gradescope.  Late homework assignments will not be accepted for any reason. I do not grant extensions to anyone.  If you miss the deadline, Gradescope will not allow you to upload your homework.  Do not e-mail it to me. Homework assignments will generally be released well in advance of the due date, which should give you time to work around any schedule conflicts. In addition, I will drop one homework so that you may miss one assignment without penalty to your grade.  You must earn non-zero grades on at least four homework assignments to earn a non-zero grade in the course --- this is a necessary but not sufficient condition. 

Working together:  While students are encouraged to work together on homework, the work you turn in should be your own.  In particular, if two students work together to create a logical argument (the skeleton) of a proof, each student should write up the details of the proof independently.  Do not copy work from another student (or any other source) and do not allow your work to be copied. You should also avoid using internet searches or study help sites for assistance with homework.  Plagiarism will be taken very seriously and may result in a failing grade on specific assignments, which may in turn lead to a failing grade in the course.

Homework Guidelines:  Assignments must adhere to these guidelines.

Proof Portfolio:  At the end of the quarter, I will choose several homework problems from throughout the quarter for you to perfect and turn in as a substitute for an in-class final exam.  You should view this as an opportunity to show me how much you've learned and improved.  This will be due Wednesday, June 9, at 5 pm PDT. 

Religious Accommodations:  Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/.  Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form.

Access and Accommodations:   If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please communicate your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course.

If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to: mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are welcome to contact DRS at 206-543-8924 or uwdrs@uw.edu or disability.uw.edu. DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions.  Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and DRS.  It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.

More UW Resources:

Disability Resources for Students

Student Counseling Center

Center for Learning and Undergraduate Enrichment (CLUE)