Math 180A Winter 2018

Math 180A (45260) - Winter 2018

Number Theory

Lecturer Neil Donaldson
Office RH 472
Office Hours M 4-6, W 10-12
Email ndonalds@math.uci.edu
Lecture Times MWF 2pm MSTB 124
Homework/Resources page

Discussion Session
(45261) TuTh 2pm RH 114
Teaching Assistant Luke Fredericks
Office/Hours RH 250A/TuTh 11-1
Email lrfreder@uci.edu

Syllabus Pythagorean Triples, Divisibility, GCD, Linear Equations, Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, Congruence, Primes, RSA, Quadratic Reciprocity.

Course Text A Friendly Introduction to Number Theory, Joseph H. Silverman, 4th ed.
The exact version of the book is not required as homework questions will posted in pdf form on the homework page.
For a more detailed syllabus including assessments click here

Assessment The final grade for the course will tentatively be computed as follows: 45% final, 25% midterm, 20% Quizzes, 10% Homework

Homework Questions will be set each week. A small number of these will collected the following week, some or all of which will be graded. One homework will be dropped. Solutions to the homework questions will be placed in a eee drop-box after the submission deadline.
Six Quizzes will be given in discussion class, and assume knowledge of the homework material for that day. One quiz will be dropped.
There will be one midterm during normal class time on Wednesday 7th February
The final exam is in the usual classroom on Friday 23rd March, 1:30--3:30pm The exam will be comprehensive.

Add/Drop & Enrollment Questions

In Mathematics classes, decisions pertaining to wait-lists, adds, drops, and pass/no-pass changes are NOT made by Instructors. Refer here for information on how to navigate the system. Essentially you have till the end of week 2 to complete all adds, drops and grade changes, all of which is done online.

Class Policies + Grading

The final exams will be available for you to consult, but not take away, in the Spring quarter.
No calculators in the quizzes and exams - make sure you can do the homework questions without them!
Make sure you have a legible ID card for the exams. If your UCI ID has a smudged picture, bring your driver's license. Your exams will not be graded without proof of who you are.
Late homework will not be accepted for credit although we will be happy to discuss its mathematical quality with you.
The purpose of dropped quizzes and homework is to allow you a day off, for whatever reason, be it fun or serious. In order to have a second quiz or homework dropped, you must provide documentation to the TA covering AT LEAST TWO assessments. If you choose to sleep in and miss one assessment early in the term before getting sick later on, you will have wasted your lifeline.
There will be no opportunity for extra credit. Generally speaking, any request to be treated differently to other students will be granted only in the case of a documented emergency.
No curving of scores will be done. As a guide to how you are doing, you will receive a letter-grade equivalent with your midterm score. The overall letter-grade scale will be determined at the end of term in line with the following metrics:
- A grade of C/C- means you are considered ready to take any class that has this one as a pre-requisite.
- An A grade means two things:
  - You know the definitions and theorems well enough to be able to apply them in unfamiliar situations.
  - You should be able to teach the core course material. This means being able to explain what the concepts mean, not simply being able to perform computations.

Academic Honesty Both the Math department and UCI take a dim view of dishonest behavior with regards to assessments: submitting another's work as your own, copying during exams, bringing notes to exams, etc. Harsh penalties are in place for students who are caught; depending on the seriousness you may be given an F for the assessment, for the class as a whole, or even suspended from the University.