Course Info

Virtual format

This course will be offered virtually and using a "flipped classroom" model. Before each class, students are expected to read assigned sections of the lecture notes. (See the syllabus.) Course meetings will take place on Zoom, where students will have the opportunity to ask questions about the course material. DGDs will also take place on Zoom. (See below for more information on the DGDs.)

About the course

MAT 1362 is an introduction to rigorous mathematical reasoning and the concept of proof in mathematics. It is a course designed to prepare students for upper-level proof-based mathematics courses. We will discuss the axiomatic method and various methods of proof (proof by contradiction, mathematical induction, etc.). We do this in the context of some fundamental notions in mathematics that are crucial for upper-level mathematics courses. These include the basics of naive set theory, functions, and relations. We will also discuss, in a precise manner, the integers, integers modulo n, rational numbers, and real numbers. In addition, we will discuss concepts related to the real line, such as completeness, supremum, and the precise definition of a limit. In general, this course is designed to provide students with a solid theoretical foundation upon which to build in subsequent courses.

Who should take this course?

MAT 1362 is a required course for several programs, including the honours and major programs in mathematics/statistics, the honours program in financial mathematics and economics, and the joint honours programs of mathematics with economics and physics

In addition to students in the above programs, this course may be of interest to students who feel dissatisfied with mathematics courses in which computation is favoured over proof and explanation. In MAT 1362, we will rarely perform computations based on standard techniques and algorithms, such as computing derivatives using the chain and product rules. Instead, we will focus on why certain mathematical statements are true and why given techniques work. This is often much more difficult than following an algorithm to perform a computation. However, it is much more rewarding and results in a deeper understanding of the material.

Official course description

Elements of logic, set theory, functions, equivalence relations and cardinality. Proof techniques. Concepts are introduced using sets of integers, integers modulo n, rational, real and complex numbers. Exploration of the real line: completeness, supremum, sequences and limits. Some of the concepts will be illustrated with examples from geometry, algebra and number theory.

Prerequisites

MAT 1339 or Ontario 4U Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U) or an equivalent. MAT 1362 and MAT 1348 cannot be combined for credits.

Reference material

Course text

Matthias Beck and Ross Geoghegan, The Art of Proof, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-4419-7022-0 (Hardcover) 978-1-4419-7023-7 (eBook).

While connected to the university network (on campus or via VPN), this book is available for free download by clicking on the link above. It has also been posted in Brightspace.

Lecture notes (version française)

Click the above header to download lecture notes for the course. They are a single file that may be updated as the course progresses. Students will be expected to read assigned sections of these notes before class. (See the syllabus.)

Additional references

If you're looking for additional references, you can try the books listed in the "Proofs" section on OpenAccessTexts.com.

DGDs

You should be registered in one of the DGDs associated to this course. The DGDs are an important part of the course. They will take place on Zoom; the links are posted in Brightspace. They are led by a graduate student and supplement the material covered in the lectures. You will be given an opportunity to ask questions about the lectures. In addition, the TA will go through the recommended exercises that correspond to the lectures from the past week. To get the most from the DGDs, you should attempt the recommended exercises before the DGDs. That way, you can focus on clearing up any difficulties that you encounter.

Course website

There are two main locations for information regarding the course:

  • alistairsavage.ca/mat1362/. This is the main course website. It will be updated regularly and contains important material for the course.
  • Brightspace. Grades will be posted on Brightspace.

Other resources