Math 300: Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning

Rutgers University


Instructor: Tom Benhamou

My Office: Hill 205

Office hours: Wed 11:00 am to 12:00 pm

E-Mail tom.benhamou (at) rutgers (dot) edu

Mon and Wed 2:00pm to 3:20pm at TIL-230 (LIV)

Textbook: Douglas Smith, Maurice Eggen, Richard St. Andre, A Transition to Advanced Mathematics 8th Edition.

Description

The propose of this course is to grant the students with the necessary tools to access advance mathematics. The main difficulty you will encounter during the shift to advance mathematics is the high standard of formality used by mathematicians. We will put an emphasize on this matter, especially on writing proofs. The second part of the course is devoted to the development of Set Theory and the mathematical universe which is the place where most regular mathematics (such as Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability, Combinatorics etc.) occurs.

Final Grade

The final grade will be based on the results of the examinations and the solutions of the homework problems. Here are the weights of the different components of the course:

Workshop

We will have an hour a week of a workshop where we practice proof writing in class.

Home Work

HW will be assigned weakly on Friday and are due the following Friday. Please submit your solutions on the Canvas platform in a clear, readable, properly scanned, unrotated single pdf file.

Home Work Solutions:


Class Notes:



Chapter 1: Introduction to Mathematical Logic

Chapter 2: Formal Proofs

Chapter 3: Basic Set Theory and Induction

Chapter 4: Functions

Chapter 5: Equinumerability

Chapter 6: Equivalence Relations

Exams:


Midterm Solutions

Midterm example 1

Midterm example 1-Solutions

Midterm example 2

Midterm example 2-Solutions

Midterm 2-Perparation

Midterm 2-Preparation Solutions

Midterm 2

Finals-Exmaple

Finals-Preparation problems

Finals-Preparation problems Solutions

Other material:


Syllabus

Writing a Mathematical Proof

Logic Identities

Set Operations Identities