Oberlin Course Catalog--Mathematics

Mathematics

As mathematics is both a cultural and a technical field of study, the curriculum is planned with the following objectives: (1) to offer students an introduction to mathematics as an important area of human thought; (2) to prepare students for graduate study in pure or applied mathematics, and in such related fields as statistics and operations research; (3) to serve the needs of students in fields that rely substantially on mathematics, such as the physical, biological, social and information sciences, engineering, and business administration; and (4) to provide liberal arts students with an introduction to the kinds of mathematical and quantitative thinking important in the contemporary world.

Individual guidance in the selection of courses and the design of course sequences to serve particular needs and interests is offered by all members of the Department to all students, but the following information will provide a preliminary basis for making plans and choices.

Advanced Placement. Students who have taken one of the two College Board Advanced Placement Program examinations in calculus, or the examination in statistics, will receive credit as follows. Students scoring 4 or 5 on the BC examination in calculus receive eight hours credit, equivalent to Mathematics 133 and 134. Students scoring 3 on the BC examination in calculus with an AB sub-score of 4 or 5 receive four hours credit, equivalent to Mathematics 133. Students scoring 4 or 5 on the AB examination in calculus receive four hours credit, equivalent to Mathematics 133. Students scoring 4 or 5 on the examination in statistics receive four hours credit, equivalent to Mathematics 113.

Students given credit for one or more courses in this way do not need to take a Mathematics Placement Exam. They are encouraged to place themselves at the appropriate level in the mathematics curriculum according to the guidelines given below (see Initial Placement and Course Sequence Suggestions) in consultation with a member of the Mathematics Department.

Mathematics Placement Exams. Students wishing to enroll in an entry-level calculus course (Mathematics 131, 132, or 133) must take the Calculus Readiness Exam (which does not cover calculus, only precalculus). Likewise, students wishing to enroll in an entry-level statistics course (Mathematics 113 or 114) must take the Statistics Readiness Exam. The placement exams are given twice during orientation. At other times they may be taken by arrangement with the Mathematics Department secretary. Please note that all students, regardless of their examination scores, are encouraged to consult with a member of the Mathematics Department concerning their placement in the mathematics curriculum.

Initial Placement and Course Sequence Suggestions. Students who wish to continue their study of mathematics can choose among the following courses:

Courses Without Prerequisites. Students who wish to satisfy the quantitative proficiency requirement, or who, simply out of curiosity, want to take a course in mathematics are encouraged to consider the courses numbered 100 and below.

Entry-level Statistics Courses. Students whose primary interest is in the social, behavioral, or biological sciences and who have no need for calculus are encouraged to consider enrolling in Mathematics 113Statistical Methods for the Social and Behavioral Sciences or Mathematics 114Statistical Methods for the Biological Sciences. These courses presuppose good algebra skills and require an appropriate score on the Statistics Readiness Exam. Students with less background are encouraged to consider enrolling in Mathematics 100Elementary Statistics.

Entry-level Calculus Courses. Students whose interests are in mathematics, or in a field requiring calculus, will normally enroll in Mathematics 131Calculus Ia: Limits, Continuity, and Differentiation, or in Mathematics 133Calculus I: Limits, Continuity, Differentiation, Integration, and Applications. The particular course, Mathematics 131 or Mathematics 133, depends on the student's score on the Calculus Readiness Exam. Note that students who wish to continue with calculus after completing Mathematics 131 should take its sequel, Mathematics 132Calculus Ib: Integration and Applications. The two-semester sequence Mathematics 131, 132 is equivalent to the more intensive single semester course, Mathematics 133.

Courses Following Entry-level Calculus. Students whose secondary-school preparation includes satisfactory work in calculus obtained in the College Board Advanced Placement Program or in another comparable course of study, as well as students who have completed either Mathematics 132 or 133, can continue their study of calculus with Mathematics 134Calculus II: Special Functions, Integration Techniques, and Power Series. This course completes the standard introduction to the calculus of functions of one variable.

Courses Following Calculus. Students who have completed Mathematics 134 or have been granted credit for this course through the College Board Advanced Placement Program or another comparable course of study can register for Mathematics 220Discrete Mathematics, or Mathematics 231Multivariable Calculus, or Mathematics 232Linear Algebra. Students planning to major in mathematics are strongly encouraged to enroll first in Mathematics 220, and thereafter in Mathematics 231 and Mathematics 232. Students planning a concentration in Applied Mathematics will also need to take Mathematics 113Statistical Methods for the Social and Behavioral Sciences or Mathematics 114Statistical Methods for the Biological Sciences. First-year students should not register for a 300-level mathematics course without consulting with a member of the Mathematics Department.

Major. A major in mathematics consists of thirty-four hours, including Mathematics 220, 231 and 232. In addition, students select one of the following two concentrations:

Concentration in applied mathematics. Students selecting this concentration must take either Mathematics 113 or Mathematics 114, and at least 12 hours of advanced mathematics courses numbered 300 and above. This must include either Mathematics 301 or 327 and three courses from among 331, 335, 336, 337, 338, and 340.

Concentration in pure mathematics. Students selecting this concentration must take at least 12 hours of advanced mathematics courses numbered 300 and above, including both Mathematics 301 and 327, and at least one of the following two-course sequences: Mathematics 301/302, 301/356, 301/358, 327/328 or 327/329.

Important note: Students planning to pursue graduate work in mathematics, or a closely related field, need to complete more than the minimum requirements for the mathematics major. Such students should plan their major carefully with the advice of a member of the Mathematics Department.

It is strongly urged that students specializing in mathematics also obtain substantial background in some field that uses mathematics. In particular, students majoring in mathematics are encouraged to gain some experience with computing. To that end, credit for one computer science course (that would also count toward a Computer Science major) may also be counted toward the thirty-four hour requirement for the major in mathematics. Private readings are also available, with the consent of an instructor, in any area of mathematics appropriate for a student's major. Finally, interdisciplinary majors involving a coherent program of work in mathematics and a related field can be arranged through the College Individual Majors Committee to suit special student interests and needs.

Minor. A minor in mathematics consists of at least fifteen hours of course work, including any three of Mathematics 220, 231, 232, 234, and at least six hours of courses numbered 300 and above.

Honors. At the end of their junior year, students with outstanding records are invited to participate in the Mathematics honors program. Seniors in the program normally elect three hours of independent study each semester. This special study is supervised by a faculty advisor who works closely with the student. Honors students take a comprehensive examination, written and oral, at the end of the senior year. This honors examination is conducted by an outside examiner and is designed to test both the candidate's knowledge of undergraduate mathematics and mastery of the subjects emphasized in his or her independent honors study.

Winter Term. Most members of the Mathematics Department will be participating in Winter Term 2003, and will be available to sponsor projects.

Mathematical interests in the department include abstract algebra, algebraic geometry, combinatorics, dynamical systems, mathematics and computation, differential equations, differential geometry, history of mathematics, mathematics education, non-Euclidean geometry, number theory, operations research, probability, real and complex analysis, topology, and statistics.

Avocational interests of Department members which could form the basis for a sponsored Winter Term project include electronic composition and synthesis of music, games of strategy, and juggling. For further information regarding these possibilities, inquire in the Mathematics Department office.

Distinguished Visiting Scholar. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, the Mathematics Department is able to sponsor an annual visit by an eminent mathematical scientist who will conduct classes and deliver a public lecture.

John D. Baum Memorial Prize in Mathematics. Established by the Mathematics Department, this $100 prize is awarded annually to the Oberlin College student who has achieved the highest score on the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition.

Rebecca Cary Orr Memorial Prize in Mathematics. Established by the family and friends of Rebecca Cary Orr, this $2000 prize is awarded annually by the Mathematics Department on the basis of scholastic achievement and promise for future professional accomplishment.

030. Topics in Contemporary Mathematics 3 hours

3NS, QPf

First Semester. The interaction of mathematics with the social sciences is the central theme. Topics are drawn from: graph theory, game theory, linear programming, coding theory, exploratory data analysis, and combinatorics. Applications are given to social choice, decision-making, management and ecological modeling. Prerequisite: A working knowledge of elementary algebra and geometry. Notes: This course does not count toward a major in Mathematics. It is intended for students who have not satisfied the quantitative proficiency requirement. Enrollment Limit: 30.

Staff

050. Dots, Lines, and Coin Flips 3 hours

3NS, QPf

Second Semester. An introduction to two important ways of describing the world mathematically. Graphs model maps and networks--road, telephone, computer, social. Probability theory describes the order that can lurk in random phenomena. Using both these tools, we will examine questions like: How random is the stock market? How tightly is the World Wide Web connected? Are there just six degrees of separation? Notes: This course does not count toward a major in Mathematics. It is intended for students who have not satisfied the quantitative proficiency requirement Enrollment Limit: 30.

Ms. Wilmer

080. Lies, Damned Lies, and Decisions 3 hours

3NS, QPf

Next offered 2003-2004.

090. Environmental Mathematics 3 hours

3NS, QPf

First Semester. This course focuses on the application of mathematics to problems concerning the environment. Topics include simulation (models of population growth, predator-prey relationships, and epidemics); optimization (applications to groundwater hydrology, herbivore foraging, and transportation of hazardous wastes); and decision analysis (applications to management of endangered species and resolution of environmental disputes). Notes: This course does not count toward a major in mathematics. It is intended for students who have not satisfied the quantitative proficiency requirement. Not open to any student who has received credit for a course in MATH 131 or higher. Enrollment Limit: 20.

Mr. Bosch

095. Chaos 3 hours

3NS, QPf

Second Semester. An introduction to fractal geometry, chaotic dynamical systems and complexity. Emphasis will be placed on how fractals and chaos relate to each other and to natural phenomena. Applications to many fields including biology, economics, physics, computer graphics, literature and the visual arts will be given. Notes: This course does not count towards a major in mathematics. It is intended for students who have not satisfied the quantitative proficiency requirement. Not open to any student who has received credit for a course in MATH 131 or higher. Enrollment Limit: 30.

Mr. Walsh

100. Elementary Statistics 4 hours

4NS, QPf

First and Second Semester. An introduction to the statistical analysis of data. Topics include exploratory data analysis, probability, sampling, estimation, and hypothesis testing. Statistical software is introduced, but no prior computer experience is assumed. This course focuses on statistical ideas and downplays mathematical formulas. It is intended for students in the social sciences and humanities with minimal mathematical experience who have not satisfied the quantitative proficiency requirement. Notes: MATH 100 does not count toward a mathematics major and is not open to students who have completed a semester of calculus. Students may not receive credit for more than one of MATH 80, MATH 100, MATH 113, and MATH 114. Enrollment Limit: 36.

Mr. Witmer, Mr. Andrews

113. Statistical Methods for the Social and Behavioral Sciences 4 hours

4NS, QPf

First and Second Semester. A standard introduction to statistics for students with a good background in mathematics. Topics covered include exploratory data analysis, descriptive statistics, probability, sampling, estimation, and statistical inference. A broad spectrum of examples is employed. Statistical software is introduced, but no prior computer experience is assumed. Prerequisite: An appropriate score on the Statistics Readiness Exam. Notes: The statistical content of this course is largely the same as MATH 114; the applications are different. Students may not receive credit for more than one of MATH 80, MATH 100, MATH 113, and MATH 114. Consent of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 36.

Mr. Bosch

114. Statistical Methods for the Biological Sciences 4 hours

4NS, QPf

First and Second Semester. A standard introduction to statistics for students with a good background in mathematics. Topics covered include exploratory data analysis, descriptive statistics, probability, sampling, estimation, and statistical inference. Biological and medical examples are emphasized. Statistical software is introduced, but no prior computer experience is assumed. Prerequisite: An appropriate score on the Statistics Readiness Exam. Notes: The statistical content of this course is largely the same as MATH 113; the applications are different. Students may not receive credit for more than one of MATH 100, MATH 113, and MATH 114. Consent of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 36.

Mr. Witmer, Mr. Andrews

131. Calculus Ia: Limits, Continuity and Differentiation 4 hours

4NS, QPh

First Semester. A first course in the calculus of functions of one variable including supporting material from algebra and trigonometry. Topics include limits, continuous functions, solution of equations and inequalities, differentiation of real-valued functions of one variable, and the graphical analysis of functions. The two-course sequence MATH 131, MATH 132 is equivalent to the more intensive MATH 133. Prerequisite: An appropriate score on the Calculus Readiness Exam. Consent of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 32.

Ms. Knight, Staff

132. Calculus Ib: Integration and Applications 4 hours

4NS, QPf

Second Semester. Continuation of MATH 131. Topics include integration of real-valued functions of one variable, basic properties of the trigonometric and exponential functions, the fundamental theorems of the calculus, and applications. Prerequisite: MATH 131 or an appropriate score on the Calculus Readiness Exam. Consent of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 32.

Ms. Knight, Staff

133. Calculus I: Limits, Continuity, Differentiation, 4 hours
Integration, and Applications

4NS, QPf

First and Second Semester. A standard first course in the calculus of functions of one variable. Topics include limits, continuous functions, differentiation and integration of real-valued functions of one variable, the fundamental theorems of calculus, and applications. This course is equivalent to the two-course sequence MATH 131, MATH 132. Prerequisite: An appropriate score on the Calculus Readiness Exam. Consent of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 32.

Mr. Schirokauer, Staff

134. Calculus II: Special Functions, Integration Techniques, 4 hours
and Power Series

4NS, QPf

First and Second Semester. Continuation of the study of the calculus of functions of one variable. Topics include logarithmic, exponential and the inverse trigonometric functions, techniques of integration, polar coordinates, parametric equations, infinite series, and applications. The course sequences MATH 133, 134 and MATH 131, 132, 134 both provide a standard introduction to single-variable calculus. Prerequisite: MATH 132 or MATH 133. Enrollment Limit: 32.

Staff, Mr. Young

Mathematics

Introductory Courses

Intermediate Courses

Advanced Courses