Course:SLU MATH 124: Math and Escher - Fall 2007 - Dr. Anneke Bart

General Information

Class Time: 9:00 am - 9:50 am MWF

Where: TBA

Contact Information: • Office: Ritter Hall 115 • Email: barta@slu.edu • Phone: (314) 977-2852

Books:

• M.C. Escher: Visions of Symmetry by D. Schattschneider. W.H. Freeman and Company (1990)

• Flatland: A romance of many dimensions by E.A. Abbott, Dover Publ. (1992).

Prerequisite: 3 years of high school mathematics or MT A 120 (College Algebra).

Grading:

• One exams – 15%
• Tessellation Project – 10%
• Basilica Cathedral Fieldtrip - 5%
• Homework and in-class work – 15%
• Saint Louis Museum Fieldtrip - 5%
• Final – 25%

Final: Monday December 17 8:00 am – 9:50 am

Grades: 93-100 A, 89-92 A-, 86-88 B+, 82-85 B, 80-81 B- 77-79 C+, 70-76 C, 60-69 D, 0-59 F

Curve: I do not technically grade on a curve, but your work will of course be compared to that of your classmates, and even to students who have taken the class before you. To give an example: when evaluating answers that require an explanation, I will collect all the answers I consider “A-level” and then rank them. If the question is worth 20 points, an A is somewhere between 18 and 20 points. The best answers will receive 20 points, the next best group will receive 19 points, and the others 18. They are all awarded an A, but the best answers receive a few more points. If someone writes answers that are truly excellent, then I will award extra credit.

How to do well: Attendance and participation is extremely important. Missing class regularly causes students quite a bit of trouble. It is very hard to make up this material on ones own.

Further Information: See complete Syllabus.

Schedule

The schedule below is a tentative schedule.

This section is unfinished.

Week of August 27 - Euclidean Geometry

Introduction to the course.

Explorations:

• Do the Quadrilaterals Exploration
• Do the Triangles and Quadrilaterals Exploration
• Do the Tessellations, a first look Exploration

Reading:

• Read the Fundamental Concepts with special attention to triangles, quadrilaterals and convexity.
• Read Schattschneider page 1-19

Week of September 3 - Symmetry

Explorations:

• Symmetric Figures Exploration
• Symmetry of Stars and Polygons Exploration
• Rotational and Reflectional Symmetry in Escher’s Prints
• Celtic Art Exploration

Reading:

• Read section Introduction to Symmetry

Other:

• Monday September 3 Labor Day: Official University Holiday
• Friday September 7 Last day to drop without a "W"

Week of September 10 - Basic Tessellations

Explorations:

• Tessellation Exploration: The Basics
• Tessellations: Why There Are Only Three Regular Tessellations

Reading:

• Read Schattschneider page 19-34

Week of September 17 - More Tessellations

• Polynominoes Exploration
• Wallpaper Exploration

Reading:

• Read Schattschneider page 34-52
• Read Tessellations by Polygons

Week of September 24 - Escher’s tessellation

Explorations:

• Do Wallpaper Exploration
• Do Escher-Like Tessellations Explorations
• Look at Escher Tessellations Using Geometer’s Sketchpad

Reading:

• Read Tessellations by Recognizable Figures

Week of October 1

• Tessellation Art Project : Copies of at least 5 preliminary sketches are due on Wednesday October 3; The project (including all sketches) is due on Friday October 5.
• Grading rubric - Dr. Bart -Fall 2007

Week of October 15

Mon-Sat October 15-20 Midterm Exams

Week of October 29

Fri November 2 Last Day to Withdraw

Week of November 19

• Wednesday -Friday November 21-23 Thanksgiving: Official University Holiday