Course Description and Grading Breakdown Math 109a is the first course in the Ma 109 sequence, Introduction to Geometry and Topology. In the first part of the course, we will introduce notions of general point-set topology, basic examples and constructions. Topics will include the notions of compactness, metrizability, separation properties, and completeness. The second part of the course will be an introduction to algebraic topology, including the fundamental group and homology theory. Grading: HW 50%; Midterm 20%; Final 30% Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10:00 - 10:55 am B111 Downs Physics Laboratory (DWN) Course Instructor Contact Information and Office Hours 411 Downs Physics Laboratory (DWN) office hours by appointment TA Contact Information and Office Hours TA: Lingfei Yi; email: lyi@caltech.edu; Office: 210-C, Math Building(Building 15); Office hour: Friday 4-5pm Course Schedule and Textbook Textbooks: Munkres, "Topology", Pearson (whatever edition, it doesn't matter); Hatcher, "Algebraic Topology", Cambridge University Press (also freely available online): https://www.math.cornell.edu/~hatcher/AT/AT.pdf The lectures may cover additional material that is not always contained in the textbooks, so attendance and participation in class is recommended.
Note: No class on Wednesday November 22 (day before Thanksgiving) Additional Reading Material - Homotopy groups of diagonal complements Course Policies Homework is due at 3PM on Mondays in the homework math drop boxes in Downs, near classroom 113 (directly across from the elevator); For students with FERPA waiver, graded homework can be picked up in the pick-up boxes in Downs (students without FERPA waiver: make specific arrangements with the TA on where to pick up your graded homework) Late work will not be graded You can discuss homework problems with other students in the class, but each of you should individually write up your own set of solutions. Collaboration on the exams is not allowed. Assignments The midterm will be posted on 10-23 and is due on 10-30 (same schedule as the HW). The final exam will be posted on Monday 11-27 and is due on Wednesday 12-6 at 3PM. Follow the guidelines below regarding HW and exams. Note about Midterm and Final: it is NOT required that you use a blue book for the exams: you can use one if you wish, or you can write up your solutions in your preferred form (handwritten, LaTeX written...): if you don't use a booklet make sure to staple your pages together before handing them in (we decline all responsibility for loose sheets of paper getting lost) Collaboration Table
* You may use a computer or calculator while doing the homework, but may not refer to this as justification for your work. For example, "by Mathematica" is not an acceptable justification for deriving one equation from another. Also, since computers and calculators will not be allowed on the exams, it's best not to get too dependent on them. |