Math 115
Clare Heimer
Fall 2023
Sections 931 and 932—CRN 70975 & 72595
Class overview
Here are the big questions we'll be exploring this semester:
How do we learn new mathematical ideas and how do we communicate them?
What is proof?
I've heard that lots of math doesn't involve numbers. What does math without numbers look like?
What is an algorithm? How do we figure out how fast an algorithm is?
Here's the course description from the course outline:
Set theory, logic, proof techniques, mathematical induction, relations and functions, recursion, combinatorics, elementary number theory, trees and graphs, analysis of algorithms. Emphasis on topics of relevance to mathematics and computer science majors.
About me
Hey there! I'm Clare. I'm really excited to be your math teacher.
I really, really think everyone can be good at math. If you're kinda sheepishly thinking "no, she doesn't mean me, she means most people can be good at math but I'm the exception" – I mean you. I especially mean you. Relatedly, I think for a lot of people, a lot of what math classes do is convince you that you're not good at math: that there's some magical math gene that a few people have that you don't have. Math classes make a lot of people feel stupid, a lot of the time – it hurts, and it makes it harder to try your best the next time. You're not stupid, and I hope nothing in this class will ever make you feel stupid – if I ever do make you feel stupid by accident, please tell me, and I'll do my best to fix it.
One thing this means is that a lot of what I want for you in this class is to heal your relationship with math. That means you have to do more processing of your feelings about math than you might be used to. But your classmates will be here to do it with you, and I'll be here supporting you.
I've felt like I didn't belong in math spaces too. I found my PhD program really alienating, and ultimately dropped out. It was designed around an outdated model of what a "math person" was like, which fit me in some ways but didn't fit me in others, and I ultimately couldn't either fit into the program or fit the program to my needs.
I've been at CCSF since 2016. I live in Oakland with my partner Mika, two cats named Beowulf and Skika, and a preschooler named Shai.
Contact me
Contact me through the Canvas Inbox if you're enrolled; if not, you can reach me by email at cheimer@ccsf.edu or clare.alice.heimer@gmail.com
Important dates:
January 29: Class begins
February 7: Last day to drop for a 100% refund of tuition
February 15: Last day to add; last day to drop without a W on your transcript
April 25: Last day to withdraw
Syllabus
Here's where you can find the course syllabus.
Resources for accessing Canvas
Canvas Support Hotline: (833) 249-3993
Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
If you need classroom or testing accommodations because of a disability, or have emergency medical information to share with me, or need special arrangements in case the building needs to be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. My office hours are by Zoom videoconferencing; click the CityZoom link in the course navigation.
Students seeking disability-related accommodations are encouraged to also register with Disabled Students Programs and Services located in Room 323 of the Rosenberg Library (415) 452-5481. Please see the DSPS website for more information and alternate locations.