Course Calendar and Homework Assignments for Math 191, Spring 2011
| Date | Section/Topic | Reading Assignment | Hmw to be collected |
| M Jan 17 | Introduction to the course, general info and policies | Read these 4 articles (in the given order) before Wed and write a short reflection paper, at most half a page (or less) for each for a total of 1-2 pages. Print (two-sided if 2 pages) and submit hard copy in class. Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4. | Reflection paper due Mon Jan 24 on Steffens' book. |
| W Jan 19 | Overview, and discussion of articles | Read the preface and chapter 1 of Berggren's text. Answer these reading questions via e-mail (due midnight Thu Jan 20) | Don't forget the reflection paper due Monday. |
| F, Jan 21 | Lives and works of 4 Muslim scientists | Steffen's book: Ibn al-Haytham: The First Scientist | Reflection paper on Steffen's book due Monday. Submit a hard copy in class and save it in your folder in P drive. P>Class>Math>Aydin>191>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, and what you find to be interesting, surprising or impressive about him. |
| M, Jan 24 | Ibn al-Haytam | 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. |
| W, Jan 26 | Berggren 2.1, 2.2 | Read sections 2.3 and 2.4 (upto page 44, Mult Tables) and answer these questions. (due midnight Thu Jan 27) | Due Wed Feb 2: Problems 1,4,5,6 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. |
| F, Jan 28 | Berggren 2.3, 2.4 (first half) | Read rest of section 2.4 (pages 44-48) before Monday. | |
| M, Jan 31 | Berggren 2.4 | Read section 2.5 and answer these questions | |
| W, Feb 2 | Snow day, college closed | ||
| F, Feb 4 | 2.5: Algorithm for square roots | Read section 2.5 again and answer these questions. | Due Fri Feb 11: Problems 9 (division part is bonus. For multiplication, you can use any of the methods described in the book), 10,12,13,14 at the end of Chapter 2. Write up your solutions neatly, and show your steps clearly. |
| M, Feb 7 | 2.5: Justification of the sqrt algorithm | Read section 2.7 and answer these questions | |
| W, Feb 9 | 2.7: Applications of arithmetic to inheritance and zakat | Read sections 3.1,3.2, and 3.3 and answer these questions | |
| F, Feb 11 | 3.1-3.3 | Read section 3.4 and answer these questions | |
| M, Feb 14 | 3.4 Abu Sahl on heptagon | Read sections 3.5 & 3.6 and answer these questions | |
| W Feb 16 | 3.5 and 3.6 | Read section 3.7 and answer these questions | Due Mon Feb 21: Two problems stated in class, and problems 4 & 8 at the end of chapter 3. For extra credit: Problem 3 at the end of chapter 3. |
| F, Feb 18 | 3.7 | Study for the exam. Work on the practice problems. Bring questions to class on Monday. | Reflection paper on Chapter 1 of Saliba will be due Friday Feb 25. |
| M, Feb 21 | Review for the exam | Read chapter 1 of Saliba. | Due Fri Feb 25: Reflection paper on Preface + Chapter 1 of Saliba, about 2 pages. Turn in hard copy in class AND save an electronic copy in P drive. |
| W, Feb 23 | Midterm Exam | Read preface and Chapter 1 of Saliba | Reflection paper due Friday: Among other things make sure you address these questions: What is this book about? What are the most important points in this chapter? How are they supported? According to Saliba what has been the damage of the widespread acceptance of the classical narrative? |
| F, Feb 25 | Saliba Chapter 1 | Read chapter 2 of Saliba | Reflection paper due Monday: Summarize and explain the important points of chapter 2 of Saliba. 1-2 pages. |
| M, Feb 28 | Saliba Chapter 2 | Start reading chapter 3 | |
| W, Mar 2 | Recap Chps 1 &2 | Chapter 3 | Reflection paper due Friday: Summarize and explain the important points of chapter 3 of Saliba. About 2 pages. Don't worry about every astronomical detail, try to capture the main ideas. |
| F, Mar 3 | Chp 3 | Start thinking about final project, and a partner to work with. Start gathering resources | |
| M, Mar 21 | Berggren 4.1-4.3 | Read sections 4.1-4.4 and answer these questions | |
| W, Mar 23 | Berggren 4.4 | Read section 4.5 and answer these questions | Due Wed March 30: Problems 1-4 at the end of Chp 4. |
| F, Mar 25 | Berggren 4.5 | Read section 4.6 and answer these questions | |
| M, Mar 28 | Berggren 4.6 | Read section 4.7 and answer these questions | Due Mon, Apr 4: 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). For Problem 9 interpret and express the answer in terms of money (dirhams and fulus) |
| W, Mar 30 | Berggren 4.7 | Read section 4.7 (again) and 4.8. No formal reading questions | |
| F, Apr 1 | Berggren 4.7 & 4.8 | Read section 5.1 and answer these questions. | |
| M, Apr 4 | Berggren 5.1 | Read sections 5.2 and 5.3 and answer these questions | |
| W, Apr 6 | Berggren 5.2 &5.3 | Read section 5.4 and answer these questions. | Due Wed, Apr 13: Problems 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. 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 |
| F, Apr 8 | Berggren 5.4 | Read section 5.5 and answer these questions | |
| M, Apr 11 | Berggren 5.5 | Study review problems and work on the final project. Midterm 2 will be on Monday April 18. | Study review problems and work on the final project. First deadline for the final project is Friday, April 15. |
| W, Apr 13 | Review | Study review problems | Due Fri Apr 15, Final Project proposal |
| F, Apr 15 | Review | Study review problems. Try to come to class as early as you can on Monday to the start exam early. | Try to come to class as early as you can on Monday to the start exam early. |
| M, Apr 18 | Midterm Exam II | Read Chapter 4 of Saliba | |
| W, Apr 20 | Chapter 4 of Saliba | Read Chapter 5 of Saliba | Due Mon Apr 25, Final Project outline |
| F, Apr 22 | Chapter 5 of Saliba | Read Chapter 6 of Saliba | Due Mon Apr 25, Final Project outline |
| M, Apr 25 | Chapter 6 of Saliba | Attend two lectures by Professor Nasr. Read Chp 7 for Friday | Due Fri Apr 29, Reflection paper on two lectures. A single paper summarizing and highlighting important points of the lectures |
| W, Apr 27 | Professor Nasr | Read Chapter 7 of Saliba | |
| F, Apr 29 | Chapter 7 of Saliba | Be prepared for presentations next week | |
| Last week | Final Project Presentations | Due Tue May 10, 1:30 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. | |