What is real analysis?
The very short answer is that real analysis is the
mathematical theory behind elementary calculus.
A slightly longer answer is that mathematical analysis is the branch of
mathematics that deals with properties of functions. (In the same drastically
oversimplified sense, the other two main branches of mathematics
are
Instructor: Paul Zorn, Old Music Hall 203, phone x3414, e-mail zorn@stolaf.edu
Office Hours, Spring 2006:
Keeping in touch: This is our class web page. I'll update it frequently with homework assignments, solutions, hints, etc.
Text: Russell A. Gordon, Real Analysis, A First Course, Second Edition .
What we'll cover: We'll cover most of Chapters 1-5 (omitting a few sections); and perhaps add a few selections from later chapters.
Grades, tests, important dates, etc.: There will be a midterm (75 pts, in class), three short quizzes (25 pts each), and a final exam (100 pts; part take-home, part in-class). Homework will also contribute heavily to your grade (up to 150 points over the semester). Here are some dates; all are tentative except for the final.
About learning disabilities : If you have a documented disability for which accommodations may be required in this class, please contact Ruth Bolstad or Connie Ford in the Academic Support Center (x3288) located at the very back of The Village. If you already have documentation on file in the Academic Support Center you are required to present your letters to the professor within the first two weeks of class.
Samples, solutions, etc: Here is a sample quiz. Here is a sample midterm test.
Homework policy:
Homework will be assigned at most classes; a first draft is due on
the
I strongly encourage you to work with classmates on homework, but everyone should hand in his or her final paper. Homework assignments are listed below.
About homework drafts: The first draft response from the student grader is not a guarantee of correctness. (Sometimes I'll correct papers; in that case you should take my word for things, though of course I could be wrong.) It is up to you, not the grader, to be sure your second draft is as good as you can make it.
For your second draft, turn in a completely clean copy of every problem that you see any need to revise. Marks on your paper made by me or by a student reader on your paper are not ``corrections'' in the sense that you can hand them in and receive credit.
Think very hard about whether what you write makes sense by the strict standards of mathematical writing. For instance, the sentence
Using LaTeX: LaTeX is a wonderful tool for mathematical word processing --- especially if (as in this course) you're producing multiple drafts of things. Here is some information on using LaTeX for word processing.
On writing proofs: There's a lot of writing in this course. Here are some hints and tips on coping with mathematical writing.
About homework:
Unless otherwise stated, assignments are from our text. Unstarred problems need not be handed in, but you should know how to do them! Only the starred problems will be graded, but you should think about all the problems. Each assignment is worth six points. (The two dates in each case represent first draft/final draft.)
Homework assignments--final drafts, especially--should be written up carefully, using full sentences (which may involve mathematical symbols), proper punctuation and grammar, etc. I'll say more about this in class.
Double-star problems: Problems marked with a double star are optional, but worth two points extra credit. They can be handed in at any time. Here are several.