Course Syllabus
Math 370 - Theory of Numbers
Spring 2008

Text: A Friendly Introduction to Number Theory by Joseph Silverman (third edition).

The Course: This course will be an introduction to the formal study of positive integers. The subject of number theory is a fascinating branch of mathematics that starts with very simple observations about divisibility and builds to a surprisingly rich field of easy-to-understand problems that are very difficult to solve. Number theory was once thought to be the area of mathematics with no practical applications. However, in the past 40-50 years, significant applications of number theory were found in the area of cryptography that you use all the time in web applications and cell phones.

Reading: Reading your textbook is essential to success in this class. Reading assignments will be included with homework assignments and must be completed before the lecture on that topic. Read slowly with a pencil and paper in hand. Try to fill in missing steps as you read. Always try to work out examples before you read text solutions. You will be expected to be ready to discuss the material you read in class, and this will be part of the participation portion of your grade. In addition to this, regular unannounced quizzes will be given on the reading assignment from the previous night assignment. You may bring a page of notes to use on the quizzes. The total of all of these quizzes will be 50 points to your final grade.

Participation: Each student is expected to be a productive member of the class. This means you should expect to attend each class period and be prepared to discuss the material. Excessive absence or unpreparedness will result in deduction of points in this area. Occasionally students will present homework solutions to the rest of the class and also each student will be responsible for presenting one topic or proof during the course. This presentation will be part of your participation grade. Participation will be worth 40 points of your final grade.

Homework: You will be assigned (roughly) weekly homework assignments. You are allowed and indeed encouraged to work on your homework with other people, however what you turn in should be your own understanding of how to do the problems and should not just be a copy of someone else's work. Your homework must follow the homework guidelines given in class. There also may be occasional quizzes which will count towards your homework grade. There may be some announced short quizzes on material we covered in class. The quizzes will count towards your homework grade. The homework for the course will be worth 150 points of your total grade.

Exams: There will be 2 ninety minute exams during the course. The date of each exam as well as the material it will cover will be announced on the website and in class at least a week ahead of time. Make-up exams will not be given. If you have a legitimate excuse you may use your final exam score to make up for missing exam scores. Each exam will be worth 100 points.
There will be a comprehensive 2 hour final given on Tuesday, May 20 at 11 am. The final is worth 150 points.

Disability: For accommodations due to a disability please contact me within the first 2 weeks.

Academic Honesty: Cheating and plagiarism are in violation of USD's academic integrity policy and are taken very seriously. Make sure you are aware of this policy.

Have a Good Semester!