Course Calendar and Homework Assignments for Math 128, Fall 2011
| Date | Section/Topic | Reading Assignment | Hmw to be collected |
| F Aug 26 | Introduction to the course, general info and policies | Read these 4 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. Also save in P drive. | Reflection paper due Fri Sep 2 on Steffens' book. |
| M Aug 29 | Overview, and discussion of articles | Read the preface & chapter 1 of Berggren's text. Answer these reading questions by midnight Tue Aug 30 and save in P drive | Don't forget the reflection paper due Friday. |
| W Aug 31 | 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. 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 1 | Ibn al-Haytham | Read sections 2.1 and 2.2 of Berggren and answer these questions | Save answers to the reading questions in your folder in P drive (by midnight Sunday) |
| Mon Sep 5 | Berggren 2.1, 2.2 | Read sections 2.3 and 2.4 (upto page 44, Mult Tables) and answer these questions. | Due Wed Sep 14: Problems 1,4,5,6, 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. 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 7 | Berggren 2.3, 2.4 | Read section 2.4 again. No formal reading questions this time | |
| Fri Sep 9 | Berggren 2.4 | Read section 2.5 and answer and answer these questions | |
| Mon Sep 12 | Finish 2.4, start 2.5 | Read section 2.5 again answer these questions | Due Wed Sep 21: 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 (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.Write up your solutions neatly, and show your steps clearly. |
| Wed Sep 14 | Justification for the sqrt algorithm | Read section 2.7 and answer these questions. | |
| Fri Sep 16 | 2.7: Applications of arithmetic to inheritance and zakat | Read sections 3.1,3.2, and 3.3 and answer these questions | |
| Mon Sep 19 | 3.1-3.3 | Read section 3.4 and answer these questions. | |
| Wed Sep 21 | 3.4 | Read section 3.5 and 3.6, and answer these questions | |
| Fri Sep 23 | 3.5, 3.6 | Read section 3.7 and answer these questions | Due Wed Sep 28: Two problems stated in class, and problems 4 & 8 at the end of chapter 3. Make sure you explain your solutions and your steps. Use words (full sentences) in addition to figures. For extra credit: Problem 3 at the end of chapter 3. |
| Mon Sep 26 | 3.7 | Study review problems located at P->Class->Math->Aydin->HistMath->ReadingMaterials | |
| Wed Sep 28 | Review | Study for the exam, work on review problems. Start reading chapter 1 of Saliba. | There will be a reflection paper on Chp 1 of Saliba due after the exam. |
| Fri Sep 30 | Review | Study for the exam. Read Chapter 1 of Saliba | Due Wed Oct 5: Reflection paper on Preface + Chapter 1 of Saliba, about 2 pages (single space). Turn in hard copy in class (print two sided) AND save an electronic copy in P drive. |
| Mon Oct 3 | Exam I | Read Preface + Chp 1 of Saliba | Summarize important points of the reading. What is this book about? What points does the author make in the first chapter? |
| Wed Oct 5 | Saliba Chp 1 | Read Chp 2 of Saliba | Due Mon Oct 10: Summarize and explain the important points of chapter 2 of Saliba. About 2 pages.Turn in hard copy in class (print two sided) AND save an electronic copy in P drive. |
| Mon Oct 10 | Saliba Chp 2 | Read Chp 3 of Saliba | Due Fri Oct 14: 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 12 | Recap of Chps1 and 2 of Saliba | Read Chp 3 of Saliba | |
| Fri Oct 14 | Chp 3 of Saliba | 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 17 | Berggren 4.1-4.3 | Read section 4.4 of Berggren and answer these questions. | Due Wed Oct 26: 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 19 | Berggren 4.4 | Read section 4.5 of Berggren and answer these questions. | Due Mon, Oct 31: 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 21 | Berggren 4.5 | Read section 4.6 of Berggren and answer these questions. | |
| Mon Oct 24 | Berggren 4.6 | Read section 4.7 of Berggren and answer these questions | |
| Wed Oct 26 | Berggren 4.7 | Read section 4.7 (again) and 4.8. No formal reading questions | |
| Fri Oct 28 | Berggren 4.7, 4.8 | Read section 5.1 and answer these questions | |
| Mon Oct 31 | Berggren 5.1 | Read sections 5.2 and 5.3 and answer these questions. | Due Fri Nov 11: Problems 1,3,4,10 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. That hand-out 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 |
| Wed Nov 2 | Berggren 5.2, 5.3 | Attend two lectures by Professor Saliba. Thursday 7:30 pm, Higley Aud; Friday (9-10 am) Olin Aud | Due Mon Nov 7: Reflection paper on two lectures. A single paper summarizing and highlighting important points of the lectures. Friday morning the class meets at the library. |
| Fri Nov 3 | Special Guest | Class Meets at Olin Library | Reflection paper due Monday on two lectures. Check out the first deadline for the final project |
| Mon Nov 7 | Berggren 5.4 | Read section 5.5 and answer these questions | Proposal for Final Project due Friday. Homework due Friday. |
| Wed Nov 9 | Berggren 5.5 | Study review problems in P drive | Two things due Friday |
| Fri Nov 11 | Review | Study review problems in P drive | Project proposals due Monday (for those who did not submit on Friday) |
| Mon Nov 14 | Review | Study review problems | Come to class by 8:40 on Wednesday for the exam |
| Wed Nov 16 | Exam 2 | Come to class by 8:40 | Read Chapter 4 of Saliba |
| Fri Nov 18 | Saliba Chp 4 | Read Chapter 5 of Saliba | Final project outline due Wed, Nov 30 |
| Mon Nov 28 | Saliba Chp 5 | Read Chp 6 of Saliba | Final project outline due Wednesday |
| Wed Nov 30 | Saliba Chp 6 | Read Chp 7 of Saliba. Also read the article titled "Ghazali" in P drive (under ReadingMaterials") | Drawing for order of presentations that will take place next week |
| Fri Dec 2 | Saliba Chp 7 | Prepare for Presentations next week | Monday's presentations: 1. Connor & James, 2. Andrew N, 3. Jamie, Zack & Padraig |
| Mon Dec 5 | Presentations | Come to class by 8:50 on Wednesday | Due Mon Dec 12, 4:30 pm (due with the final paper): Write an overall reflection for the course (about 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. If you have any suggestions for the future offerings of the course, you are welcome to include those as well. |