Course Calendar and Homework Assignments for Math 128, Fall 2012
| Date | Section/Topic | Reading Assignment | Hmw to be collected |
| F Aug 30 | Introduction to the course, general info and policies | Read these 5 articles (in the given order) before Monday and write a short reflection paper, at most half a page (or less) for each for a total of about 2 pages. Print (2-sided ) and submit hard copy in class. Article 1, Article 2, Article 3Article 4 Article 5 handed out in class. Also save your paper in P drive. | First summary paper due Monday Second one will be due Fri Sep 7 (on Steffens' book). |
| M Sep 3 | Overview, and discussion of articles | Read the preface & chapter 1 of Berggren's text. Answer these reading questions by midnight Tue Sep 4 by e-mail | Don't forget the reflection paper due Friday. |
| W Sep 5 | Lives and works of 4 Muslim scientists | Steffen's book: Ibn al-Haytham: The First Scientist | Reflection paper on Steffen's book due Friday. Submit a hard copy in class and save it in your folder in P drive. P>Class>Math>Aydin>128>Students>YourFolder>ReflectionPapers. Around 2-3 pages. Among other things include: Ibn al-Haytam's motivation and approach to study science, his most important contributions to science, his approach to scientific inquiry, what happened in the centuries after he died, and what you find to be interesting, surprising or impressive about him. |
| Fri Sep 7 | Ibn al-Haytham | Read sections 2.1 and 2.2 of Berggren and answer these questions E-mail your answers by midnight Sunday | |
| Mon, Sep 10 | Berggren 2.1, 2.2 | Read sections 2.3 and 2.4 (upto page 44, Mult Tables) and answer these questions. | Due Wed Sep 19: Problems 1,2,4,5,6, 8 at the end of Chapter 2 of Berggren. Write up your solutions neatly, and show your steps clearly. Do not submit scratch or sloppy work. For problem 2, change the statement of the problem as "Apply Kushyar's method of halving starting with the highest place. Does it work"? In number 8, interpret the numeral according to the Greek system. The symbol "E" is the digit for 5 (in the table on page 40). Giving 2 possible values is enough. Assume that the sexagesimal system is consistently used for both integer and fractional parts. |
| Wed Sep 12 | Berggren 2.3,2.4 | Read section 2.4 again. No formal reading questions this time | |
| Fri Sep 14 | Berggren 2.4 | Read section 2.5 answer these questions | |
| Mon, Sep 17 | Finish 2.4, start 2.5 | Read section 2.5 again answer and answer these questions | Due Wed Sep 26: Problems 9 (division part is bonus. For multiplication, you can use any of the methods we discussed. Interpret each of these two sexagesimal numbers as degrees and minutes), 10 (note that these are decimal numbers), 12,13,14 at the end of Chapter 2. For 14, find the corresponding digits in base 60 for the example in the book (page 66).Write up your solutions neatly, and show your steps clearly. |
| Wed Sep 19 | Justification for the sqrt algorithm | Read section 2.7 and answer these questions | |
| Fri Sep 21 | 2.7: Applications of arithmetic to inheritance and zakat | Read sections 3.1,3.2, and 3.3 and answer these questions | |
| Mon Sep 24 | 3.1-3.3 | Read section 3.4 and answer these questions | |
| Wed Sep 26 | 3.4 | Read section 3.5 and 3.6, and answer these questions | |
| Fri Sep 28 | 3.5,3.6 | Read section 3.7 and answer these questions | Due Wed October 3: Two problems stated in class, and problems 4 & 8 at the end of chapter 3. Make sure you explain your solutions and each one of your steps. Use words (full sentences) in addition to figures. For extra credit: i) Problem 3 at the end of chapter 3. ii) Given a circle find a method to locate its center using straightedge and compass (problem stated on page 93 of the textbook, just before Problem 4) |
| Mon, Oct 1 | 3.7 | Study review/practice problems for the exam located at P>Class>Math>Aydin>128>ReadingMaterials>ReviewEx1.docx | Start reading chp 1 of Saliba. A summary/reflection paper due after the exam. |
| Wed, Oct 3 | Finish 3.7 and review | Study for the exam, work on review problems. Start reading chapter 1 of Saliba. | There will be a summary paper on Chp 1 of Saliba due after the exam |
| Fri Oct 5 | Review | Study for the exam, work on review problems. Start reading chapter 1 of Saliba. | |
| Mon Oct 8 | Exam 1 | Read Preface + Chp 1 of Saliba | Due Wed Oct 10: Read preface + Chapter 1 of Saliba. Summarize important points of the reading. What is this book about? What points does the author make in the first chapter? Write about 2-3 pages. Turn in hard copy in class AND save an electronic copy in P drive. |
| Wed Oct 10 | Saliba Chp 1 | Read Chp 2 of Saliba | Be prepared to discuss the important points of this chapter in class. |
| Fri Oct 12 | October Break | Read Chp 2 of Saliba | |
| Mon Oct 15 | Saliba Chp 2 | Read Chp 3 of Saliba | Due Fri Oct 19: Summarize and explain the important points of chapter 3 of Saliba. About 2 pages.Turn in hard copy in class (print two sided) AND save an electronic copy in P drive. |
| Wed Oct 17 | Recap of Chps1 and 2 of Saliba | Read Chp 3 of Saliba | |
| Fri Oct 19 | Saliba Chp 3 | Read sections 4.1-4.3 of Berggren and answer these questions (due Sunday night) | Start thinking about final project, and a partner to work with. Start gathering resources |
| Mon Oct 22 | Berggren 4.1-4.3 | Read section 4.4 of Berggren and answer these questions | Due Wed Oct 31: Problems 1-4 at the end of Chp 4. For Problem 4, make sure you give a geometric argument to prove the algebraic identity. |
| Wed Oct 24 | Berggren 4.4 | Read section 4.5 of Berggren and answer these questions | Due Mon, Nov 5: Problems 7,8,9 at the end of Chp 4. For Problem 8, find the quotient up to (and including) the term x^(-1) (pt) and write it in polynomial form. For Problem 9 interpret and express the answer in terms of money (dirhams and fulus). Do not use a calculator for any of these problems. |
| Fri Oct 26 | No Class-Holiday (Eid al-Adha) | Work on homework problems | |
| Mon Oct 29 | Berggren 4.5 | Read section 4.6 of Berggren and answer these questions Note: There are several typos in "The First Example" pages 115-7 |
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| Wed Oct 31 | Berggren 4.6 | Read section 4.7 of Berggren and answer these questions | |
| Nov 2 | Berggren 4.7 | Read section 4.7 (again) and 4.8. No formal reading questions | Think about the final project. Gather resources. The first deadline is in two weeks |
| Nov 5 | Berggren 4.7, 4.8 | Read section 5.1 and answer these questions | |
| Nov 7 | Berggren 5.1 | Read sections 5.2 and 5.3 and answer these questions | Due Fri Nov 16: Problems 1,3,4,10 at the end of Chp 5. Note that for problem 4 you will need more of the chord table than what is given in the book (on page 129). The hand-out distributed in class gives the rest of the chord table. It is available in P drive as pdf documents. In Pr 10, GH is perpendicular to AD. In Pr 3, assume that at such small angles the chord length = arc length |
| Nov 9 | Berggren 5.2, 5.3 | Read section 5.4 and answer these questions | |
| Nov 12 | Berggren 5.4 | Read section 5.5 and answer these questions | Proposal for Final Project due Friday. Homework due Friday. |
| Nov 14 | Berggren 5.5 | Study review problems in P drive | Two things due Friday |
| Nov 16 | Finish 5.5/Review | Study review problems | Have a nice break and happy Thanksgiving! |
| Nov 26 | Review | Study review problems | |
| Nov 28 | Exam II | Read Chapter 4 of Saliba | Due Mon Dec 3: Summarize,explain and reflect on the important points of chapter 4 of Saliba. About 2 pages.Turn in hard copy in class (print two sided) AND save an electronic copy in P drive. |
| Nov 30 | Saliba Lecture | Write a short summary/reflection paper (at least two paragraphs). | Due Mon Dec 3: Pick at least two points from Professor Saliba's lecture and write a short summary/refection paper. |
| Dec 3 | Saliba Chp 4 | Read Chp 5 of Saliba | Final project outline due Wed, Dec 5 |
| Dec 5 | Saliba Chp 5 | Read Chp 6 of Saliba | Due Fri Dec 7: Summarize,explain and reflect on the important points of chapter 6 of Saliba. About 2 pages.Turn in hard copy in class (print two sided) AND save an electronic copy in P drive. |
| Dec 7 | Saliba Chp 6 | Read Chp 7 of Saliba. Also read the article titled "Ghazali" in P drive (under Reading Materials) | |
| Dec 10 | Saliba Chp 7 | Prepare for Presentations. Need to provide all the following electronically in your folder in the P drive i) Class Presentation ii) Final Paper iii) Final Reflection Paper | Due Mon Dec 17, 6:30 pm (due with the final paper or earlier): Write an overall reflection for the course (2-3 pages). Among other things include most important, interesting or surprising things you have learned in this course (including the final project) in some details. Do you see any connections between the two textbooks that we used? Explain. If you have any suggestions for the future offerings of the course, you are welcome to include those as well. |