Goals
At the end of the course, students should be able to
  • make calculations with agility, accuracy, intelligence, and flexibility;
  • explain the basic concepts clearly and reason logically with them.
Expectations
To achieve these goals, students are expected to
  • attend the lectures and tutorials,
  • read the textbook,
  • complete all homework assignments,
  • discuss mathematics with other students.
Assessment
The course grades will be computed as follows:
  • 20% Homework
  • 30% Midterm exam
  • 50% Final exam
Homework
There will be two kinds of homework.
  • Exercises give you a chance to practice and refine your skills. They will not be collected.
  • Problem sets consist of approximately 3 questions. Intended to be harder than the exercises, they may ask you to apply a technique in a mildly novel context or combine concepts that you have only seen before in isolation. Problems sets are posted in PDF format. Your browser can be trained to automatically open these files with the free program Acrobat Reader. Problem sets are due by the end of Friday tutorials; you may return them to me before Friday lectures or to Kannappan at the tutorial. Late homework will not be accepted. Your best ten problem sets will determine your homework grade.
Tutorials
Tutorials provide an opportunity to collaborate with classmates and obtain expert guidance in reviewing the ideas from class and working on exercises, but are not meant to answer overly specific questions about homework. All students are expected to attend one tutorial per week.
Help
Help is available if you have trouble with homework or lecture material.
  • The tutorials are a good place to ask questions.
  • The teaching assistants and the instructor can answer questions via e-mail, and office hours can be requested.
  • The Math Help & Study Centre (201 Jeffery Hall) is a useful resource and a nice study space. You may drop by whenever the Help Centre is open; no appointment is necessary.
Written work
We write to communicate. Please bear this in mind as you complete assignments and take exams. Work must be neat and legible to receive consideration. You must explain your work in order to obtain full credit; an assertion is not an answer. For specific suggestions, see A guide to writing in mathematics classes.
Disabilities
Students with disabilities who will be taking this course, and may need disability-related classroom accommodations, are encouraged to make an appointment to see the instructor as soon as possible. Also, stop by the Student Wellness Services Office to register for support services.
Academic honesty
It is the obligation of each student to understand the University's policies regarding academic honesty and to uphold these standards. Students are encouraged to talk about the problems, but should write up the solutions individually. Students should acknowledge the assistance of any books, software, students or professors.