Math 421, Spring 2009

General Information

(Last Modified: Jan 12, 2009)

Textbook | Scheduled Lectures | Instructor | Grades

Syllabus & Homework Problems

Textbooks

Topology, 2nd edition, by James Munkres, Prentice Hall, 2000.
A Combinatorial Introduction to Topology, by Michael Henle, Dover Publications, 1994.

Instructor

Instructor Office Phone Email
Prof. Guentner PSB 401 956 - 4660 erik@math.hawaii.edu

My office is PSB 401 (Physical Sciences Building) and telephone number is 956 - 4660. Other than coming to my office hours the best way to contact me is by email at erik@math.hawaii.edu. I do not check my email at hawaii.edu - if you send mail to me at hawaii.edu, for example through myUH, I will not read it.

Lectures

Course Instructor Meeting Time Meeting Place
Math 421 Prof. Guentner TR 1:30 - 2:45 Keller 313

Attendance is mandatory. Once class has begun, it is rude and disturbs both the instructor and other students to leave the room. If you need to leave early, let me know in advance, and sit near the door. Other than that, do not leave the room once class has begun except in case of emergency.

Grading Policy

Your grade in Math 421 will be determined by my professional assessment of your performance in the course, based on homeworks, quizzes, the midterm and final.

Midterm: There will be a single midterm worth 100 points. The precise date of the exam will be announced in class approximately one week in advance. A make-up exam will only be given in very unusual circumstances, with one week prior notification (or in the event of an emergency, ``very'' strong documentation of that emergency). Not attending class, and hence not being present when an exam is announced or adminstered is not an acceptable excuse.

Quizzes: There will be two quizzes, one before the midterm and one after the midterm. Each quiz will be worth 25 points. The policy concerning make-ups for quizzes is the same as that for the midterm.

Final: A comprehensive 2 hour final exam worth 150 points will be given during the final exam period. The Registrar's Office has scheduled the final exam for Thursday, May 14, 12:00 - 2:00. Do not make plans to leave the islands before May 14; exams will not be given early to accommodate travel plans.

Homework and Attendance: Regular attendance to class lectures is required. Homework will be assigned periodically and posted on this web site. A subset of the assigned problems will be collected, graded, and returned. There is a direct correlation between attending lecture and doing the homework and receiving a good grade.

Summary:

Homework 100 points 25% regularly
Quizzes 50 points (25 points each) 12.5% dates TBA
Midterm 100 points 25% date TBA
Final Exam 150 points 37.5% Thursday, May 14, 12:00 - 2:00
Total Points 400 points 100%

Academic Expectations

It goes without saying that all academic work should be done with the high levels of honesty, integrity and excellence that this University demands. Cheating will not be tolerated. It is your responsibility to ensure that you do not copy from another student, or let another student copy from you.

Please read department's web page on academic expectations for more information.